Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-18-2018, 08:47 AM   #21
Tufelhunden
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Nampa
Posts: 58
Congratulation!!. We looked at that trailer too. It's a nice one.

I'm towing a 27SABWE Cougar with a F150. My only complaints have been the porposing and the truck body moving in wind while the trailer stays straight. Porposing, IMO, is the result of under dampned shocks so I'm trying the Rancho 9000 with the adjustable damping and adding a sway bar so the truck body stops rolling although that could also be a function of the under dampening. Interestingly I've never hit the stops so I have plenty of spring it's just the bits connected that I think are weak.

Just some ideas.
Tufelhunden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 07:46 AM   #22
Blackrock
Senior Member
 
Blackrock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Fort Thomas, AZ
Posts: 144
Your Ram 1500 is more truck than a lot of people think it is. You can upgrade to LT tires and add air bags in the rear coil springs and have a great tow unit. I really like the way that 8 speed transmission works. I am towing a 5th wheel with my 2016 Ram 1500 with no problems, Alaska and back in 2016.
__________________

Bob n Judy n Nanook n Biscuit n Elsa
2016 Ram 1500 - 2016 Laredo 265SRK
Running on the ragged edge of respectability
Blackrock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 01:50 PM   #23
Third Degree
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Green Cove Springs
Posts: 45
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tufelhunden View Post
Congratulation!!. We looked at that trailer too. It's a nice one.

I'm towing a 27SABWE Cougar with a F150. My only complaints have been the porposing and the truck body moving in wind while the trailer stays straight. Porposing, IMO, is the result of under dampned shocks so I'm trying the Rancho 9000 with the adjustable damping and adding a sway bar so the truck body stops rolling although that could also be a function of the under dampening. Interestingly I've never hit the stops so I have plenty of spring it's just the bits connected that I think are weak.

Just some ideas.
I am also running this combination of the F150 and the Courgar 27SAB. The F150 is a 2018 running the 5.0 V8. The Cougar weighs 6610 dry. I do feel like the truck is wandering a bit. I have the Equilizer 4 point and the Firestone air bags. I still am playing around with the air bags as to what pressure to run them at. I am currently at 28 lbs with everything mostly level. Like others have said power is not an issue but feeling like I have control still is, but I'm not done messing around with the hitch and bags. Let us know if the shocks and sway bar help.
Third Degree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 02:28 PM   #24
66joej
Senior Member
 
66joej's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
Quote:
Originally Posted by Third Degree View Post
I am also running this combination of the F150 and the Courgar 27SAB. The F150 is a 2018 running the 5.0 V8. The Cougar weighs 6610 dry. I do feel like the truck is wandering a bit. I have the Equilizer 4 point and the Firestone air bags. I still am playing around with the air bags as to what pressure to run them at. I am currently at 28 lbs with everything mostly level. Like others have said power is not an issue but feeling like I have control still is, but I'm not done messing around with the hitch and bags. Let us know if the shocks and sway bar help.
The Cougar I tow has a dry weight of 5400# dry. Truck came with the Goodyear Wrangler tires which were P rated. Changed to LT E rated tires made a world of difference. Tow with 50#PSI in them.
__________________

2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
66joej is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 02:46 PM   #25
Third Degree
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Green Cove Springs
Posts: 45
Quote:
Originally Posted by 66joej View Post
The Cougar I tow has a dry weight of 5400# dry. Truck came with the Goodyear Wrangler tires which were P rated. Changed to LT E rated tires made a world of difference. Tow with 50#PSI in them.
It is interesting of the difference in trailers. Mine is the 2018. It came with the Trailer King tires, 10 ply, with an E rating, 80 psi. Yes, I know, Trailer King tires, but I'll run them for the three seasons and trade them out.
Third Degree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 03:21 PM   #26
68GS400
Junior Member
 
68GS400's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 14
I have 2004 Dodge Ram Hemi AWD with tow package 3.92 gears pulling 5500# Passport 2890RL. We’ve gone coast to coast up to 10000 ft from sea level. I have used the Wrangler HP tires with success (55000 miles) our total weight per CAT scale was 13,600# with tanks near full and all our gear near end of a 6 week trip I think the 3.92 helps this 169,000 mile truck continue to do well
__________________
Regards, John
2015 Passport Ultralite 2890RL
2004 Dodge Ram AWD Hemi with trailer tow package
Residents of Marietta, GA
US Navy 69-74
68GS400 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 04:06 PM   #27
66joej
Senior Member
 
66joej's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
Quote:
Originally Posted by Third Degree View Post
It is interesting of the difference in trailers. Mine is the 2018. It came with the Trailer King tires, 10 ply, with an E rating, 80 psi. Yes, I know, Trailer King tires, but I'll run them for the three seasons and trade them out.
Actually I was referencing the truck tires. LT E load range has a 3600# weight rating compared to the originals at 2600#. The big difference is in the sidewall.
__________________

2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
66joej is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 05:55 PM   #28
Wingerdinger
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Oak Grove
Posts: 56
1200 Lb equalizer?

Hankster, did I read that the dealer installed a 1,200 lb (I assume 12,000 lb gross) rated Weight Distribution hitch? I'd like to get other's opinion on this, but that seems like overkill.
Do you know the tongue weight?
I pull a Crossroads 26ft, 6500 lbs, 600 lb tongue, with my F-150. I use the hitch that the previous owner sold me with the TT, and it is 600/6000 lb hitch. I have bags, and keep the pressure at 25-30 pounds. When I first got the trailer, my bags were not working for the first few trips, and I had no problems, no sway, no dip. It rides level and smooth, and frankly better than I expected.
I would think that yours would buck like a bull.
Others Thoughts?
Wingerdinger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 07:06 PM   #29
Hankster
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Panama City
Posts: 146
They are 800-1200 # rated.
The trailer unloaded is putting about 600# on the rear of the truck. I imagine it's probably going to be closer to 800# when it's loaded up for camping. We just moved out of our house and the RV is going to be our home for the next 8 months, and the drive to the RV park was less than 1/2 a mile from our house so I wasn't concerned about the weights yet. I will definitely be more concerned about them come June when we head to Florida.
__________________
2019 Bullet 261 RBSWE
Tow vehicle 2015 Ram 1500 Bighorn 5.7L
Hankster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 09:28 PM   #30
Tufelhunden
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Nampa
Posts: 58
Quote:
Originally Posted by Third Degree View Post
I am also running this combination of the F150 and the Courgar 27SAB. The F150 is a 2018 running the 5.0 V8. The Cougar weighs 6610 dry. I do feel like the truck is wandering a bit. I have the Equilizer 4 point and the Firestone air bags. I still am playing around with the air bags as to what pressure to run them at. I am currently at 28 lbs with everything mostly level. Like others have said power is not an issue but feeling like I have control still is, but I'm not done messing around with the hitch and bags. Let us know if the shocks and sway bar help.
I just add the Helwig rear sway control and the Ranch RS9000XL shocks on mine. Without the trailer the truck feels more "planted" in the corners and the shocks are a huge upgrade over stock. With a 3 setting, of 9, the dampening is better and the rear end doesn't hop like it used to over bumps. Can't wait to give it a whirl with the trailer hooked up. Good luck finding your sweet spot.
Tufelhunden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 09:35 PM   #31
Tufelhunden
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Nampa
Posts: 58
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wingerdinger View Post
Hankster, did I read that the dealer installed a 1,200 lb (I assume 12,000 lb gross) rated Weight Distribution hitch? I'd like to get other's opinion on this, but that seems like overkill.
Do you know the tongue weight?
I pull a Crossroads 26ft, 6500 lbs, 600 lb tongue, with my F-150. I use the hitch that the previous owner sold me with the TT, and it is 600/6000 lb hitch. I have bags, and keep the pressure at 25-30 pounds. When I first got the trailer, my bags were not working for the first few trips, and I had no problems, no sway, no dip. It rides level and smooth, and frankly better than I expected.
I would think that yours would buck like a bull.
Others Thoughts?
I just saw a video on e trailer and there guy recommends at most a one class jump on equalizer hitches. They range about they 200 pounds for the equalizer hitch I have. 600 max, 800 max, 1000 max, etc. If your trailer only had 600 or even 800 pounds on the tongue I'd bet 1200 pound bars will ride really rough as the bars aren't getting into their "normal" range of use. Think adding f350 shocks onto a ford ranger. You might be able to do it, but it probably would ride like you didn't have shocks.
Tufelhunden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 02:41 PM   #32
brodiegg
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 42
So 4 months ago I got a Cougar half ton 27res. I had at the time a Ram 1500 with the same gear and engine as you have. The Ram people, the trailer people and the tow site all said it was OK. I too looked into air bags because of the sag from my trailer. Then it all became clear, the payload of my truck was 1000lbs. the tongue weight is 850, my wife and I were 300 combined. So not including the Equalizer 4 hitch we were over payload and that is not a good place to be especially legally. So open the driver door and check your payload. Yes I did tow the TT with the 1500 for one trip, but then I was told by my wife ---a true and great lady--to upgrade the truck, which I did and now tow with a Ram 2500 with a payload of 2700 lbs.
brodiegg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 03:09 PM   #33
Northofu1
Senior Member
 
Northofu1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Markham, Ontario
Posts: 1,942
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tufelhunden View Post
Congratulation!!. We looked at that trailer too. It's a nice one.

I'm towing a 27SABWE Cougar with a F150. My only complaints have been the porposing and the truck body moving in wind while the trailer stays straight. Porposing, IMO, is the result of under dampned shocks so I'm trying the Rancho 9000 with the adjustable damping and adding a sway bar so the truck body stops rolling although that could also be a function of the under dampening. Interestingly I've never hit the stops so I have plenty of spring it's just the bits connected that I think are weak.

Just some ideas.
Hi Tuf,
Also had some light porpoising on my trailer, might have neglected to load properly, I got the air lift 5000 air bags, next step will be the Bilstein mono shocks. Towed it with air bags on a 100 km run and was very smooth at 20 lbs.
__________________
Dan & Serena

2019 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SLE
2015 Cougar X-Lite 29 RET
Northofu1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 06:47 PM   #34
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,599
Quote:
Originally Posted by brodiegg View Post
So 4 months ago I got a Cougar half ton 27res. I had at the time a Ram 1500 with the same gear and engine as you have. The Ram people, the trailer people and the tow site all said it was OK. I too looked into air bags because of the sag from my trailer. Then it all became clear, the payload of my truck was 1000lbs. the tongue weight is 850, my wife and I were 300 combined. So not including the Equalizer 4 hitch we were over payload and that is not a good place to be especially legally. So open the driver door and check your payload. Yes I did tow the TT with the 1500 for one trip, but then I was told by my wife ---a true and great lady--to upgrade the truck, which I did and now tow with a Ram 2500 with a payload of 2700 lbs.

After experiencing the same thing so many of us have, you made the PRUDENT choice to do what was required to be safe. Good on you. It's unfortunate that so many can't "read numbers" and believe they mean nothing.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:24 PM   #35
busterbrown
Senior Member
 
busterbrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackrock View Post
Your Ram 1500 is more truck than a lot of people think it is. You can upgrade to LT tires and add air bags in the rear coil springs and have a great tow unit. I really like the way that 8 speed transmission works. I am towing a 5th wheel with my 2016 Ram 1500 with no problems, Alaska and back in 2016.
Not to start a towing war with regards to the towing "ability" of a Ram 1500, but I see in no way that a 10,000 lb GVWR 5th wheel can be safely mated to a 4th gen half ton Ram. Assuming 20% pin weight of the coach, the problem there lies in the max payload capacity of a 2016 RAM 1500 in its regular cab, bare bones form (1880 lbs). Air bags, shocks, sway bars, tires will do NOTHING to change the overloaded condition. As the RV gods have said more than once, "just because it can be towed, doesn't mean it should be".
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier

busterbrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:35 PM   #36
busterbrown
Senior Member
 
busterbrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough View Post
After experiencing the same thing so many of us have, you made the PRUDENT choice to do what was required to be safe. Good on you. It's unfortunate that so many can't "read numbers" and believe they mean nothing.
I agree! There should be a towing guideline on prudency and due diligence for RVers.
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier

busterbrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.