2011 Ram 1500...how much to tow?

[Klute]

I been to several RV dealers and they all tell me I can tow many travel trailers, but they are in the business of selling campers. I would like to get honest opinions how much I cansafely tow trailer weight, tongue weights and truck contents capacity. I do not want to run at the limits of the truck.

I currently own 2011 Ram 1500, 5.7-liter V8, quad cab, short bed, 2WD, 20-inch wheels, 3.55:1 axle.

I think the GVWR is 14,000 but I am not sure if the towing capacity is 7,650 or 8,700 (I have found different numbers on different sites). Having trouble finding the weight of the truck by itself.

We are looking at an Outback 250 RS rated at dry weight of 5955 lbs with cargo weight of 1595 lbs.

Also considering a sway control/load leveler. I want to be safe as many folks just hook up and go and don't care about capacities.

Once trailer is hitched, how to calculate the available weight for truck occupants & gear..

Any feedback suggestions is appreciated.

Thanks.

[Javi]

Look for these two stickers on the driver's door post, they answer most of those questions.

[hankpage]

If you don't feel the door stickers give enough info GO HERE and input your vin # and dodge will give the exact limits for YOUR truck as it was equipped from the factory. Find red box "LOOK UP MY VEHICLE" and select it.

Or download This pdf file to find your model as equipped.

Your GVWR is no where near 14000 lbs. (maybe GCWR???)

[Klute]

Thanks for the link Hank (this why I need to get educated on this!). I looked up the vin and it shows:

2011 1500 BIG HORN QUAD CAB 4X2 6'4" BOX
5.7-LITER V8 HEMI MDS VVT ENGINE
5-SPEED AUTOMATIC 545RFE TRANSMISSION


MAX PAYLOAD=1,636lbs
MAX TOWING=8,800lbs
CURB WEIGHT=5,050lbs
MAX GCVW=14,000lbs

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Klute

Thanks for the link Hank (this why I need to get educated on this!). I looked up the vin and it shows:

2011 1500 BIG HORN QUAD CAB 4X2 6'4" BOX
5.7-LITER V8 HEMI MDS VVT ENGINE
5-SPEED AUTOMATIC 545RFE TRANSMISSION


MAX PAYLOAD=1,636lbs
MAX TOWING=8,800lbs
CURB WEIGHT=5,050lbs
MAX GCVW=14,000lbs

Now look at the stickers on the door and see if they match..

[Klute]

Stickers:

Combined weight of occupants never exceed 1452 LB

GVWR:6700 LB

GAWR front: 3700 LB

GAWR rear: 3900 LB

[f6bits]

You're in pretty good shape. The trailer's gross is 7500 lbs. Your truck has enough headroom there. With the trailer gross, the max tongue will be around 1,000, leaving you 500 lbs for people and stuff, probably more since you probably won't be maxing out your trailer & tongue weight.

The quad cab gives you enough wheelbase for that length of trailer. Just get a good hitch setup like an Equalizer or Reese dual cam.

The best way to weigh everything is to drive just the truck with a full tank of gas to a scale and weigh front, then both axles (that'll tell you rear if you calculate). Then go back when you're all loaded up for a trip and weigh front, then both, then the whole truck & trailer. That'll tell how you're set for being within capacities.

[Klute]

The 250RS specs:

Shipping weight =5955
Carrying Capacity=1595
Hitch=640

So the 7500 is 5955 + 1595?

I assume the 1595 includes everything loaded into the camper (water(s), gear, equip etc).

So if I am at 7500 lbs in the trailer and the towing capacity is 8800 lbs that would be about 85%?

Help me do the math...

GCWV(GCWR?) = 14000
curb weight = -5050
trailer weight = -7500
-------
1450

1450 lbs for occupants/gear in tow vehicle???

if I am correct (big 'IF') that puts the rig at max...right?

[Javi]

Shipping weight =5955 What the trailer weighed as it was towed to dealer

Carrying Capacity=1595 The total weight which can be added to the trailer. So the trailer (unhitched) cannot exceed 7550 lbs total.

Hitch=640 this is as shipped not loaded for travel or camping, approximately 11% of the shipping weight. Using that percentage the hitch weigh can potentially be 800 to 1000 pounds depending on how you load the trailer. More stuff in front of the axles means more hitch weight.

So if you use the trucks payload (1452 lbs)as the limiting factor you would not have a lot of room for passengers, bikes, firewood, tools, ice chests or other assorted items in the truck.

You might also want to look at the rating on your hitch to see if it has the capacity for a potential 1K hitch weight.

[audio1der]

The truck should have a class IV hitch unless you had something else installed yourself- no worries there.
Look into some Airlift 1000 bags to help level the rear and control sway, but know they don't any capacity to our payload or towing #s.
If you haven't already bought the trailer/hitch, over-buy on the hitch. Invest in the best quality WD hitch you can reasonably afford.
Once you have it, spend some time making sure the hitch is set up for YOU and YOUR truck. The dealer will likely give you a generic setup which isn't optimized.

[randygk]

Howdy,
I tow a 2013 Hideout 23rbwe with a 2012 Ram 1500 Hemi Crew 2wd with 3.55.
I'm very happy with it and tow mostly 50 to 60 mph. If I had to do over again I would get the 3.94 axle, but will stick with what I have.

[08quadram]

I pull a Passport 2920bh with my '08 Ram. Probably the biggest I would pull with a 1/2 ton. It does pull it fine, will hold 70 without much problem. I keep a close eye on what I carry as to not max out my payload.

I'm in the market for new tires on the truck, so with 20" rims, it is difficult to find something to suit what I'm looking for.

[Klute]

Originally Posted by 08quadram

I pull a Passport 2920bh with my '08 Ram. Probably the biggest I would pull with a 1/2 ton. It does pull it fine, will hold 70 without much problem. I keep a close eye on what I carry as to not max out my payload.

I'm in the market for new tires on the truck, so with 20" rims, it is difficult to find something to suit what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the reply. I figured mine would tow it OK, but I tend to error on the safe side.

As far as tires, what requirements do you have? I have had good luck with Bridestone Alenza's on my old 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 and would consider them and the Firestone Destinations to replace my EOMs (which I dislike).

[08quadram]

Currently I have Cooper's Discoverer H/T plus. They are a good tire for highway driving, but my office is several miles on gravel and back in the woods (Project Manager for an Architectural firm). Snow is a big issue. They are considered an xl tire with a load rating of 119. That is what I'm looking for in a more aggressive tread.

[audio1der]

Originally Posted by 08quadram

Currently I have Cooper's Discoverer H/T plus. They are a good tire for highway driving, but my office is several miles on gravel and back in the woods (Project Manager for an Architectural firm). Snow is a big issue. They are considered an xl tire with a load rating of 119. That is what I'm looking for in a more aggressive tread.

Wow- thanks!
I was looking at General Grabbers, but felt I wanted something between the AT2 and HS; these Dicoverers are IT!:bouncey:

[Klute]

Originally Posted by audio1der

Wow- thanks!
I was looking at General Grabbers, but felt I wanted something between the AT2 and HS; these Dicoverers are IT!:bouncey:

I did some research on those Cooper Discovererrerers and they look pretty nice and a good price. Only problem is one local tire chain carries them...and I don't really that that chain...might talk to the one I frequent to see if they can get them.

[08quadram]

I might get 38k miles out of my set before I replace them yet this summer, but as I said above, I drive a fair amount of gravel. I also end up putting air in them every couple of weeks in the winter. I'm assuming when they were put on, the installer didn't get the rim cleaned enough. I was hoping to get many more miles out of them, but that won't happen.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by 08quadram

I might get 38k miles out of my set before I replace them yet this summer, but as I said above, I drive a fair amount of gravel. I also end up putting air in them every couple of weeks in the winter. I'm assuming when they were put on, the installer didn't get the rim cleaned enough. I was hoping to get many more miles out of them, but that won't happen.

I had a set of "dedicated snow tires" for my F150. They were Cooper Discoverer M&S. Excellent traction and a great "really round" tire that gave a smooth ride. My only problem, as you indicated, is the 40K warranty. I might, if very lucky, get almost that much before they were worn too much for my preference. Other brands wear much better, but other than wear, Cooper builds a great M&S tire in the Discoverer line.