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Old 03-10-2022, 09:40 AM   #1
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Ram 1500 w/5.7 ft. Bed Towing Tips

Hello all, I'm a new subscriber from Virginia Beach. I am on the Escape waiting list for a 5.0 5th wheel and I have a Ram 1500 w/a 5.7 ft short Bed. I am looking for any tips related to towing, since this will be our first travel trailer. It looks like i will need to have a ball installed over the rear axle so i can attach and remove the 35 lb. cage that attaches to the trailer. I dont know if the raised system or rail/flush system is better? At this point I'm looking at the Anderson ultimate hitch. I only have the 7 pin connector in the bumper. Any tips are welcome.
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Old 03-10-2022, 10:11 AM   #2
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You do realize your towing capacity for your Ram is not too high. Mine is about 1200# so a bumper pull is less likely to reach that limit but a 5th wheel set up may be more.
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Old 03-10-2022, 03:10 PM   #3
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Assume you mean towing capacity online of 12000 lbs, not 1200 lbs. GVWR is0 7200 lbs inside the door. Escape 5.0 us around 5000 - 5500 if I remember correctly. No such thing as a Ram 1500 with a 1200 lb towing capacity.
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Old 03-10-2022, 03:49 PM   #4
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I was referring to carrying capacity, what you put in your truck as well as on the bumper. It is on the door jamb.....
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Old 03-10-2022, 05:11 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by billswave View Post
Assume you mean towing capacity online of 12000 lbs, not 1200 lbs. GVWR is0 7200 lbs inside the door. Escape 5.0 us around 5000 - 5500 if I remember correctly. No such thing as a Ram 1500 with a 1200 lb towing capacity.
But, some, including mine, get awfully close to 12,000.
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Old 03-10-2022, 05:55 PM   #6
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Yes, it will pull a lot but carry a lot less, one can use 10% here, pull 12000 but carry 1200....also note those numbers will be less depending on vehicle options.
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Old 03-10-2022, 10:51 PM   #7
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I have a 2021 ram 1500 with the 5'7" bed. It's heavily optioned and it's carrying capacity is 1254lbs. With myself, wife, dog, Andersen ultimate and 5.0 hitched up but nothing else in the bed or cab I'm guessing I have about 150lbs left. I haven't gone to a weigh station yet but plan to this year on our next trip.

I'm assuming from you mentioning the 5'7" bed that you are concerned about hitting the cab while reversing. I was able to get the trailer to be basically 90 degrees to the truck and though it is uncomfortable to watch from the drivers seat, I always remind my wife to keep an eye on it as she guides me back.

The debate about which Andersen to get (rail mount vs gooseneck mount) usually comes down to 2 things. The rail mount version has a smaller footprint, leaving more space in the bed for cargo but the gooseneck version gives you a flat, clean bed when removed. Depending on your cargo carrying capacity though, you probably don't want to be putting a bunch of extra cargo in the truck. I've seen many people say that the rails being left in the bed when the hitch is removed doesn't bother them. I don't use the bed of my truck very often but when I do, the last thing I want is to be tripping over the rails or trying to lay a piece of furniture on top of them without damaging anything.

Whichever you decide, get it done at Trademasters in Chilliwack when you pick up the trailer, unless you are having it delivered of course.

Also, make sure your truck has a trailer break controller.

There is a ton of info that could be given but feel free to ask any other specific questions and hopefully some of the more experienced members of the forum can chime in with their 2 cents.

If you aren't used to backing up trailers, I found this video helpful:
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Old 03-10-2022, 11:22 PM   #8
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Payload is the key factor Easy to exceed it. Crew cab trucks with lots of options and 4 wheel drive have relatively low payload. 5.0. Pin weight is pretty heavy I expect. My upcoming trailer will have a tongue weight near 800 lbs . Any truck I’m looking at that is 1/2 tone is extended cab and 2 wheel,drive.
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Old 03-11-2022, 12:49 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
Yes, it will pull a lot but carry a lot less, one can use 10% here, pull 12000 but carry 1200....also note those numbers will be less depending on vehicle options.
That document is from my vehicle as equipped. The “other options” disclaimer is provided because buyers add stuff at the dealer or aftermarket and RAM wants it on record that the tow capacity and payload can change with accessories that were added later.
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Old 03-11-2022, 01:08 AM   #10
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So 1250 lb payload minus ~ 800 lb 5th wheel tongue weight means you have about 450 total lbs of payload including driver and passenger(s) and cargo.
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Old 03-13-2022, 11:33 AM   #11
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Thanks all. I didn't realize my truck carrying xapacity was that close. Is there any guidance regarding that 800 lb. tongue weight? Am I wrong in assuming that if the trailer is perfectly level or slightly higher in the front, the tongue weight would be less? Is this something that can be weighed or measured?
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Old 03-13-2022, 01:24 PM   #12
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If you start messing with tongue weight you can create other towing issues. Just be careful what you carry while towing.....
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Old 03-13-2022, 02:10 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by billswave View Post
Is there any guidance regarding that 800 lb. tongue weight? Am I wrong in assuming that if the trailer is perfectly level or slightly higher in the front, the tongue weight would be less? Is this something that can be weighed or measured?
Pin weight does vary with hitching height, just like conventional trailer tongue weight, but the trailer should be level regardless of what pin weight results. It's going to be roughly 800 pounds.

Pin weight can certainly be measured, by various methods.
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Old 03-13-2022, 06:30 PM   #14
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You need to review the payload on your specific truck. It can vary a great deal by the specifics of your truck. Someone suggested looking at the sticker on the door handle. That’s the place to start - and get the exact payload of your truck (unless there have been mods later on). That will give you the starting point for what you are trying to meet. The payload of the truck needs to exceed -
- Pin weight of the camper (around 800 lbs, as Brian B-P says)
- Weight of the driver and passengers (including the dogs, etc.)
- Any cargo
- Hitch weight (gooseneck / rails + Andersen ultimate) - around 90-100 lbs

So, it is important to find out the numbers that apply to your truck and your camping needs.
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Old 03-13-2022, 07:25 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by billswave View Post
Thanks all. I didn't realize my truck carrying xapacity was that close. Is there any guidance regarding that 800 lb. tongue weight? Am I wrong in assuming that if the trailer is perfectly level or slightly higher in the front, the tongue weight would be less? Is this something that can be weighed or measured?
Hi: billswave... Here's a pic of my door sticker. It's from a 1/2 ton 2016 Ram 1500 w/ almost all the "Bells and whistles" that can't carry a half ton!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Old 03-15-2022, 01:07 PM   #16
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The pin weight of a fifth wheel sits entirely on the rear axle. So what you want to do is weigh your truck, and get the rear axle weight ( any truck scale will give you that as a breakout ) and look at the gross axle weight rating for the rear of your truck, and that's how much pin weight you can tolerate, assuming there's nothing else in the bed of the truck. This is a somewhat different calculation than the tongue weight of a hitch tow
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Old 03-15-2022, 03:52 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
The pin weight of a fifth wheel sits entirely on the rear axle. So what you want to do is weigh your truck, and get the rear axle weight ( any truck scale will give you that as a breakout ) and look at the gross axle weight rating for the rear of your truck, and that's how much pin weight you can tolerate, assuming there's nothing else in the bed of the truck.
Yes, that's one limit, but the truck may hit the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) before the rear axle load hits its gross axle weight rating (GAWR). So you need to check that adding the pin weight and everything else in the truck doesn't put the vehicle over GVWR, as well as checking that pin weight (and cargo in the box, and the rear axle's share of weight in the cab) doesn't put the rear axle over GAWR, and confirming that the trailer's weight plus all cargo and passenger doesn't put the vehicle combination over GCWR (which is unlikely to be a problem).
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Old 03-15-2022, 05:01 PM   #18
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I have quad cab with the diesel with rails and the Anderson hitch . Your weight will be close to mine with two adults. I have about 150 lb. of payload left on the rear axle going by the door sticker. Nobody going to cause you a problem going over little is not a big deal as some people believe, your axle is factory rated much higher . You will also need stiffer springs or airbags as I installed Tuftruck TTC-1211 .
Rides level when loaded , better control same ride .
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Old 03-15-2022, 05:10 PM   #19
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Yes, I installed Firestone Air bags on my Ram, add about 15 psi and it rides nice towing....
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Old 03-15-2022, 09:27 PM   #20
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Looking at new campers like Northern lite . I bet lots of 3/4 and 1 ton owners with newer campers are overloaded with all the gear they carry and it does looks obvious and they don't get harassed . Loaded there 4000 Lbs. plus
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