35' passort 3220BH towing, Ram 1500 Big Horn

[crisco]

New to the site so bear with me. Looking to purchase a Passport ultra lite 3220BH. 35 foot 6,100lbs dry weight. TV is Ram 1500 5.7 hemi, 3.92 rear end(I think), HD transmission cool(supposedly),Big Horn with Tow package. Pretty sure the charts put me at 8,500 max trailer.
How can I be sure about the rear end and if the tranmission cooler is really HD, etc.
Longest trip planned is 500miles I90 thru, New York State.
Am i being overly opptimistic about this 1/2 ton handling things safely.
Help.

[snow]

Welcome crisco , iam towing a 31 bhpr bullet ,6400 lbs without supplies with a GMC Denali 1500 6.2 with tow package , I have plenty of power ,the trans seems to do great I put it tow mode and get on down the road , no problems so far , trans temp has went to about 225 degrees but just for a few minutes going up Afton mnt in Virginia hope this helps , have fun , be safe, and god bless ,⛄⛄⛄⛄⛄⛄

[x96mnn]

Your build sheet will tell you for sure what rear you have. Big Horn Quad Cab with the 3.92 has a Trailer tow of 10,050PDs and Max Payload of 1400.

[JRTJH]

Crisco,

First of all to the Keystone forum. I'm sure you've looked around a little and hopefully have found some good information about Keystone, your future RV and the RV lifestyle in general.

Your question about whether your truck is a good match for that trailer is more complicated than just max trailer recommendation and finding a trailer below that weight.

If you consider any travel trailer, the tongue weight should be maintained between 10 and 15% of total trailer weight. That means the 3220 which weighs 6100 lbs empty should have a tongue weight between 610 and 915 lbs. When loaded at maximum weight, that tongue weight should be between 750 and 1125 lbs. Since you're buying a bunkhouse model, I'm guessing you have children that will be travelling with you. So, let's assume you have 4 people at 150 pounds each, that's 600 pounds of people, their cargo/toys, the weight of the hitch AND the tongue weight of the trailer to consider against the maximum truck payload of 1400 pounds. You can see that you will quickly max out your payload unless you carefully manage your loading and restrict what you carry with you.

Another consideration is wheelbase length. Most people recommend a wheelbase of 110" for a 20' trailer and add 4" for every foot of trailer. The 3220 is 35.5' long, so that trailer "should" have a truck with a wheelbase of aroujnd 170" to adequately tow a 35' trailer. The Ram 1500 quadcab with 6'4" bed has a wheelbase of 140.5". That's about 30" too short to adequately tow that trailer.

Bear in mind that the above are basic guidelines for towing, not specifically matching your vehicle to the trailer you indicated, but using it as a general measure of where your vehicle matches up with that trailer. I'm inclined to think that even though you should have the "power" to pull it, you will find the experience frustrating every time an 18 wheeler passes or a crosswind comes up. Not to mention downhill attempts at trying to manage the rig.

I'd think it's too much trailer for that truck. Others may have a different opinion.

[audio1der]

Check your build sheet (or search online w/ your VIN) that you have the trailer tow package. If so, it includes the HD trans cooler. It would be wise to ensure you have the 3.92 as opposed to the 3.55s as well; that is the 8500lb vs. 10050 lb factor.
I would strongly suggest towing with your fresh water tank full. The light weight and length of the 3220 makes it feel like you're towing a balloon LOL
If you have good sway control/a great hitch setup and you use common sense when pulling you'll be just fine

[Ken / Claudia]

If your truck doesn't have a transmission temp. gauge, you will be like me. I found out the factory cooler was not good enough when I fried the tranny due to over heat. I got a Gauge and put on a after market cooler (about $200) 2x as big as the factory one. Money that was well spend.

[f6bits]

With something that long, I'd strongly recommend that you get a Hensley or Propride hitch to keep that massive sway minimized. It'd be a couple grand very well spent.

[EcoboostKev]

Welocome to the site! The trailer has a GVWR of 7500lbs so you have to figure about 12%(900lbs) of that will be your tongue weight. Plus the weight of the weight distribution hitch itself 80-100lbs. If your trucks payload is 1400lbs that leaves you roughly 400lbs for you, the family and whatever you want in the bed of the truck. Will that be enough?? That trailer is also 35 1/2' long. Not sure what length your trucks wheelbase is but if it's a short wheel base that could be asking for trouble with sway..If the payload numbers workout i would also recommend the Hensley or Propride hitch which guarantee no sway or your $$ back. Good luck,
Kevin

[crisco]

Wow, Thanks to all that responded so quickly. I was surprised to see so many in just one day. I wil take it all into consideration and Welcome any others that have thoughts on this matter.

[zuley]

Take the last eight digits of your VIN into your local goat dealer and ask them to print you off a line sheet from "dealer connect". If they won't do it for you PM me with your VIN and I'll do it for you. It would just be easier if you had a hard copy from your dealer.
Sorry, if this has already been answered for you. I did not read the other responces.

[crisco]

ZULEY, thanks for the offer. I will try the dealer tomorrow.
Quick question. If the guy who baught the truck originally ask them to change something on the vehicle, for example swap out the 20inch rims for 17's would that be reflected on the line sheet?
Also what is your take on towing a 35 foot TT with the quad cab short bed, as long as I use a WD and anti sway hitch?
Thanks

[Javi]

Originally Posted by crisco

ZULEY, thanks for the offer. I will try the dealer tomorrow.
Quick question. If the guy who baught the truck originally ask them to change something on the vehicle, for example swap out the 20inch rims for 17's would that be reflected on the line sheet?
Also what is your take on towing a 35 foot TT with the quad cab short bed, as long as I use a WD and anti sway hitch?
Thanks

It didn't work out well for me, I tried every trick in the book to get my F-150, short bed, crew cab (145" WB) to tow my 32ft 9" Passport 2890RL... Tires, 3 different hitchs, twin friction sway bars, loading the front end for 13% - 15% TW... finally figured it was usless and traded for an F250 longbed, CC (172" WB) difference was night and day... don't even need the W/D bars (although I do use them anyway...)

[audio1der]

@crisco- have you tried this?
http://www.dodge.com/hostc/windowSticker.do?vin= into your address bar then type your vin after the = sign. It worked for me when none of the other online VIN searches did.
Dealers aren't supposed to change features like wheels; it screws up inventory. The build sheet reflects how it left the factory and would not account for dealer add-ons or changes.

[tomsws6]

I will say this...I tow a 37ft springdale with my shortbed denali..Im not sure how the physics really play a part in it or if its because shes AWD(stability?) but She doesnt sway at all..Trans doesnt get above 200 very much at all. Now Im also mainly flatground, dont drive like an idiot(dont go above 65mph), first sign of something not feeling right slow down and I believe I have one of those Hensley hitches. I will also add that I am trying to upgrade to a bigger truck this yr for longevity, saftey and and for a bigger camper in the future.

This is the hitch I have
http://www.trucktrend.com/features/c.../photo_04.html

[f6bits]

That's definitely not a Hensley design. That looks much more like an Equalizer.
The Hensley design has a big ol' honkin' assembly that mounts to the hitch on the trailer and has the big square tube that you peg into your hitch receiver.

[tomsws6]

Originally Posted by f6bits

That's definitely not a Hensley design. That looks much more like an Equalizer.
The Hensley design has a big ol' honkin' assembly that mounts to the hitch on the trailer and has the big square tube that you peg into your hitch receiver.

You are correct. I have a husky centerline towing system
http://www.huskytow.com/product/husk...towing-system/

[robo]

I towed ours with a 2003 f150 super crew f150 dual friction
5.4 auto with3.73 gears not the fastest but going easy tows great

Just as an fyi i do not tow about 55 mph sorry that is me. I do not want to end up on a fail video

[GaryWT]

I know I do not research the numbers like many and have never been to the scales but for 2 years I towed a 34 foot North Trail 30QOK (6000 lbs dry, 7200 top weight) with a 2010 F150 5.4 liter, extended cab, 8600lbs towing, forget the gears but they are not the best, if I hat the proper gears the towing would be around 10,000 according to the book.

Anyway the towing was fine, speed, stopping, up hills etc. all good, I did have some sway at times, mostly when I did not take the time to put enough gear up front. Adjusted the equilizer E2 hitch a couple times raising the bars on the trailer end and that helped. I chaulked most of the sway problems to the trailer axles and tires as I feel the axles were bent slightly.

Just brought home a Premier Bullet 31 BHPR which is just over 35 feet (6400 dry, something like 7800/8000 loaded) Probably a little heivier than I wanted but it towed fine coming home in the wind. I expect to have no problems as we hit the road this spring.

Enjoy your camper, you should be fine.

[08quadram]

HA. I'm looking at the same TT. from this site http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicl...ght.jsp?year=8 you can see that the GCVWR is 10,700lbs. I don't see how people are pulling this trailer safely. that said,
I really like the 3220bh, and the dealer assures me that my truck (08 Ram 1500; 5.7 hemi, 3.92 gears) can pull it NO PROBLEM. Even told me he had a couple of explorers pulling it. I told him he was full of crap. He probably mean expeditions, but still. I would be using the Equal-i-zer WD/sway hitch. My wife is really liking the 3220bh, but after reading post after post after post saying DONT' DO IT. It isn't worth it. she ain't so excited about it anymore. I would love to actually talk with people who pull this trailer with a ram 1500.
Currently, I pull a 2003 Dutchmen Lite 27BG. This has a UVW of 5,150.lbs and a GVWR of 7,450lbs. I know when I bought the trailer, I was not aware of the 10,700lbs limit GCVWR on the 08 Ram. It does pull it just fine and have had no problems.

[robo]

The dutchmen u speak of is on 300 yes 300lbs less than the 3220 gross
I tow witha 03 f150 sup crew 4x4