Best Towing Rigs For This Trailer

[vampress_me]

jack65 - Thank you for posting the sticker from the F-150. I appreciate that so we can all see and now there's no more guessing from anyone.

I liked our older Dodge 1500, and would definitely say check out and test drive one. And a Chevy too, just in case you (or your wife) like them better. There's definitely no harm in trying out different vehicles to see what you think of them. And, now, before you bought a truck is a good time to see what will fit the best with your camper.

From what I was looking at on the Ramtrucks webpage, a 2013 quad cab 4x4 with the 5.7 V8 *should* be around 6800 GVWR and 1480 lbs payload. But, the only way to know for sure for any truck you look at is to check the sticker on the door pillar.

[jack65]

Originally Posted by vampress_me

jack65 - Thank you for posting the sticker from the F-150. I appreciate that so we can all see and now there's no more guessing from anyone.

I liked our older Dodge 1500, and would definitely say check out and test drive one. And a Chevy too, just in case you (or your wife) like them better. There's definitely no harm in trying out different vehicles to see what you think of them. And, now, before you bought a truck is a good time to see what will fit the best with your camper.

From what I was looking at on the Ramtrucks webpage, a 2013 quad cab 4x4 with the 5.7 V8 *should* be around 6800 GVWR and 1480 lbs payload. But, the only way to know for sure for any truck you look at is to check the sticker on the door pillar.

Here is the Sticker for the 2013 Dodge

[Big Boy w/ Big Toys]

When looking around take a look at the 3/4 tons. You may find one a year or two older then you are looking at currently but easily near the same price. I am one that hates seeing someone getting just barely enough truck. Give yourself a bunch of room in the GVW category and you will be a lot happier when you need to throw in a extra few bundles of firewood or a couple extra jugs of water/gas for an extended stay somewhere.

As for gas or diesel that is your preference. Staying 2012 or newer in any of the big 3 you will find all good quality rigs with each having something the other doesn't....back to the personal preference.

Give you an idea on price...a year ago for the business I picked up a 2016 F350 XL, 6.2l, extra cab loaded. Has electric windows, door locks, Cruise control, and sync radio for $30k and it only had 5500 miles on it.

[sourdough]

Here's a link to a towing guide for a 2012 Ram 1500. The guide for the 2013 was so small I couldn't read it and neither could anyone else.

https://www.amazon.com/OutdoorsTM-De.../dp/B00Z7D3ZZC

Note the 4.7 is limited in towing ability. Axle ratio makes a big difference. I did not find a different chart for WDH which some/many have so the numbers could be higher if that's the case but I doubt it.

[Big Boy w/ Big Toys]

hey Sourdough you trying to talk him into tent camping....lol...check your link

[jack65]

Originally Posted by Big Boy w/ Big Toys

hey Sourdough you trying to talk him into tent camping....lol...check your link

...and after 40+ years of tent camping, I don't want to go back.

[sourdough]

Well.....guess I'm blinder than I thought. I knew these quadfocals were getting a little weak, and I scratched them up when I fell down the mountain a few months ago, but I THOUGHT I could still read....sorry. Let's try this and see if it's anything close to right....

https://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_...wing.Specs.pdf

and no, I too have no interest in tent camping.

[jack65]

These two don't show towing max until my wife calls or I check the door post. But they both have the Transmission 6 speed Automatic Drive 4WD Engine 5.7L Cylinders 8 Horsepower 395 horsepower@5600rpm Torque 410 torque@3950rpm

https://www.carmax.com/car/15564676

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=201408310

If I get the positive on these two here, I will go look / test drive them tomorrow.

Edit: sourdough posted chart shows those two should be enough...

[Big Boy w/ Big Toys]

Jack I wish you all the luck in finding your new ride. A lot of good info. I do tend to be the bigger is better guy. I have traveled the world and have seen some pretty scary stuff. Even remember my Dad towing a 24 foot Shasta with the Ford Station wagon with us 5 kids on board. Having to weld the hitch to the frame in some long forgotten town in middle of no where Maine.

[Big Boy w/ Big Toys]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Well.....guess I'm blinder than I thought. I knew these quadfocals were getting a little weak, and I scratched them up when I fell down the mountain a few months ago, but I THOUGHT I could still read....sorry. Let's try this and see if it's anything close to right....

https://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_...wing.Specs.pdf

and no, I too have no interest in tent camping.

You all good...I am most likely just a small bit younger then you but I notice the other day I couldn't read the Channel guide on the TV....So I am getting there for glasses soon.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jack65

These two don't show towing max until my wife calls or I check the door post. But they both have the Transmission 6 speed Automatic Drive 4WD Engine 5.7L Cylinders 8 Horsepower 395 horsepower@5600rpm Torque 410 torque@3950rpm

https://www.carmax.com/car/15564676

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=201408310

If I get the positive on these two here, I will go look / test drive them tomorrow.

Edit: sourdough posted chart shows those two should be enough...

Here's a chart on the truck you have listed first....I did not pull up the 2nd one. You look good to go with this one I believe....

https://www.ramtruck.ca/en_dir/pdf/towing_1500.pdf

Note the differences in kg vs lbs so it's not so confusing.

[Big Boy w/ Big Toys]

Originally Posted by jack65

These two don't show towing max until my wife calls or I check the door post. But they both have the Transmission 6 speed Automatic Drive 4WD Engine 5.7L Cylinders 8 Horsepower 395 horsepower@5600rpm Torque 410 torque@3950rpm

https://www.carmax.com/car/15564676

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=201408310

If I get the positive on these two here, I will go look / test drive them tomorrow.

Edit: sourdough posted chart shows those two should be enough...

And If I read it right with a bit of room to spare....having nearly an extra 1k in buffer does make a difference.

On Edit: I like the red one...also has a few more gadgets it appears...

[jack65]

Exciting time... got a new (well, 2007, newlike condition) trailer this week, hopefully a nice used truck to tow it with tomorrow and if things go right, have the house we've lived in for 15 years sold and find a nice place in the country. This will all be good for my wildlife / mountain / nature photography. AND thanks so much for all the help and info... I think I'm gonna like hanging out here. Use to hang out at the Corvette forums when I owned six of them over the years... if you love the outdoors, you will like my websites:
http://www.1-4u-computer-graphics.co...hotography.htm

[JRTJH]

Here are the window stickers on the red and the blue RAM 1500's. It looks like both have tow packages, the red truck has a LOT of optional equipment (takes away from the payload) and the blue one (in the options list) shows that the class IV receiver is deleted, so it may not have a factory trailer hitch receiver on it. Anyway, with these (and every half ton truck) be sure to check the payload as well as the GVW. Here's the window stickers in case you have not yet seen them:

[jack65]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Here are the window stickers on the red and the blue RAM 1500's. It looks like both have tow packages, the red truck has a LOT of optional equipment (takes away from the payload) and the blue one (in the options list) shows that the class IV receiver is deleted, so it may not have a factory trailer hitch receiver on it. Anyway, with these (and every half ton truck) be sure to check the payload as well as the GVW. Here's the window stickers in case you have not yet seen them:

How'd you get those window stickers? That's great stuff... wife wants me to get the red one. And originally she wanted blue. LOL
Anyways, window sticker says it has 8 speed tanny, whereas the ad says 6 speed? Maybe they don't know or?

[Tinner12002]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Here's a link to a towing guide for a 2012 Ram 1500. The guide for the 2013 was so small I couldn't read it and neither could anyone else.

https://www.amazon.com/OutdoorsTM-De.../dp/B00Z7D3ZZC

Note the 4.7 is limited in towing ability. Axle ratio makes a big difference. I did not find a different chart for WDH which some/many have so the numbers could be higher if that's the case but I doubt it.

Personally I'd walk, no, I'd run from a 4.7 powered truck. driven a couple and didn't seem to have the power to pull the hat off your head. Stay with the 5.7 or 6.4 hemi, much better and more powerful motors!

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by jack65

How'd you get those window stickers? That's great stuff... wife wants me to get the red one. And originally she wanted blue. LOL
Anyways, window sticker says it has 8 speed tanny, whereas the ad says 6 speed? Maybe they don't know or?

Enter the Dodge/RAM VIN in the appropriate block at this link: https://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Numb...ker/Dodge.html

always, Always, ALWAYS remember that a dealer, if his lips are moving, is giving you "suspect information".... Few (if any) dealerships actually spend enough time to know what they're talking about. Their "life function" seems to be to sell vehicles, not to be accurate with information.

Believe half what they tell you and VERIFY that half before you put any trust in a salesman's claim !!!!!

[jack65]

Decided to go with the Cherry Red 2014 RAM 1500 SLT 4X4 with a 5.7L HEMI, rear ratio of 3.92 and 49K miles on truck. Drove really nice, a LOT of power, looked even better! I'll close the deal after my mechanic goes through it Friday. If there is anything wrong, he will find it. I put a refundable thousand down to hold it depending on my mechanic inspection. If I get it, I'll post lots of pics.

Again, thanks for all your help!

[B-O-B'03]

Congratulations, nice truck.

Time to get to camping.

keep us posted of your travels.

-Brian

[aaron_huber]

You can get the specific payload and towing ratings on Ram trucks by entering the VIN at https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html. On mine that matches exactly what is on my door sticker. Your red truck (1C6RR7GT0ES367523) is listed with a payload of 1485lbs.