Towing with RAM 1500 V8 4x4

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by thiggins

What year Ram ? I had a 2010 4x4, hemi, 1500 SCREW that I towed with.

"SCREW" is Ford's abbreviation for "SuperCrew", which is their name for the cab configuration with four front-hinged doors. Ram calls them "Regular Cab", "Quad Cab", "Crew Cab", and "Mega Cab". All except the Regular cabs have four front-hinged doors; the Mega Cab is not available in a 1500. Tim, is yours a Crew Cab?

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

This is the Payload for my 2014 Ford F-150. Yes, I wish it was higher. But I too can live within it's restrictions.

I'll see your 1437 and raise you 192.🙂 So far I have to say payload has been a non issue for us.

[Y is Me]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Checked out the Laytonville to DeHaven road; used to be dirt until 2011. Wondering if anyone has done the Nacimiento Ferguson road from Kirk Creek to Ft. Hunter-Liggett which is about the same distance. Did it once back in the 80's and it was dirt then, looks paved now too though. Signs say not recommended for trailers, but that doesn't mean Escapes does it

Last time I drove Nacimiento Ferguson Road was from Hunter-Liggett to Hwy 1 back in December of 2003 in a '97 Pontiac Grand Am. Part of the road was paved, part of it wasn't, and I thought I was going to meet myself on some of the curves. Parts of that road were a only a gnat's whisker over one lane and I could see why they say not recommended for trailers, the outside wheels of even a small trailer would have run off the road on at least two of those curves. They may have widened the road since then.

[Y is Me]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

For quite a few years, Ford has given the F-150 and the Super Duty (F-230, F-350, etc) trucks entirely different cabs and suspensions, so it's not surprising that Ford allows a buyer to option-up to a higher capacity while staying with the F-150 if that suits them.

Since the Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 trucks use nearly the same cabs, Ram pickup buyers might be expected to buy the next series up, rather than putting a high-payload package on the lower-series truck. That's just my speculation.

I did a quick comparison, of the most comparable configuration of a Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 (using the 2017 specs which I found readily available):

• Crew Cab (largest cab for 1500, middle cab size for 2500)
• 5.7 L Hemi V8
• 6-speed transmission (closest match available: 65RFE in 1500, 66RFE in 2500)
• 4X4
• 1.9 m (6'4") box (longer box of 2 available for 1500; shorter box of 2 available for 2500)

1500

• GVWR = 3,130 kg (6,900 lb); payload = 676 kg (1,490 lb)
• implied curb wt = 2454 kg (5410 lb)
• this is the only GVWR offered
• 3,869 kg (8,530 lb) or 4,572 kg (10,080 lb) max trailer, depending on final drive ratio and thus GCWR
• wheelbase: 3,797 mm (149.5")

2500

• GVWR = 4,082 lb (9,000 lb); payload = 1,075 kg (2,370 lb)
• implied curb wt = 3007 kg (6630 lb)
• this is the only GVWR offered
• 5,080 kg (11,200 lb) or 5,983 kg (13,190 lb) max trailer, depending on final drive ratio and thus GCWR
• wheelbase: 3,782 mm (148.9")

So you can have a Ram pickup with the payload you need for a loaded 5.0TA, hitch, passengers, and some cargo totalling over 1,500 pounds... but you need to buy a much (22%) heavier (even though it is not larger) truck to get it. You also get a stronger transmission, bigger brakes, and all the other bits that come with a truck intended for heavier loads. With the 2500, you lose the better-riding and better-handling independent front suspension of the 2500. The max trailer capacity goes up too, but that's not relevant to towing any model of Escape.

Or, you can live with between 1400 and 1500 pounds of payload (just like some F-150 owners), and manage what you are carrying appropriately.

The choices within pickup trucks are bewilderingly complex; I don't blame people for being confused.


Perhaps all the specs will change for 2019.

Bewilderingly complex is right. Looking at the towing chart for the 2017 Ram 1500, the payload capacity changes radically depending on the configuration of cab and bed alone. The payload capacity for mine is 1570, which will be fine for handling a shell on the bed and hauling around an Escape 19. I prefer to err on the side of caution since I tend to roll ones on a luck check. That and I would prefer not to have to buy a new tow vehicle any sooner than absolutely necessary.

[thiggins]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

"SCREW" is Ford's abbreviation for "SuperCrew", which is their name for the cab configuration with four front-hinged doors. Ram calls them "Regular Cab", "Quad Cab", "Crew Cab", and "Mega Cab". All except the Regular cabs have four front-hinged doors; the Mega Cab is not available in a 1500. Tim, is yours a Crew Cab?

Super Crew, the largest cab with 4 doors.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by thiggins

... the largest cab with 4 doors.

So... Crew Cab, not Quad Cab. Thanks The largest Ram cab - the Mega Cab - isn't available in a 1500.