Towing with RAM 1500 V8 4x4

[Lotbb1]

Havent seen a thread about this, which I could have overlooked. Interested in the TA 5.0. Ive got a RAM 1500 V8 4x4. Anyone have the same or input would be appreciated.

[thiggins]

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

[Lotbb1]

Sounds great. Mines a 2015 Hemi and shouldn't have a problem then! I have a 17 ft. Casita now going to put up for sale then order the TA. Thanks for the reply

[Brian B-P]

To find previous discussions, I think you need to search for the marketing name of the engine - "Hemi" - rather than "V8".

[thiggins]

The main issue I had with mine ( besides the transmission bump shifting, 2010 ) was the coil springs in the rear end were much too soft. I ended up adding air bags to get the support and stability I wanted for towing. I tried the Timbren load "springs", but they bruised our kidneys badly. The airbags worked great. I know Ram added air bags as a factory option later.

Do you have the air bags ?

[steve dunham]

We've owned both a 2011 & 2014 Ram 1500 4x4 Quad cab with the Hemi V8 engine. Both trucks had air bags in the rear suspension.
We find the Ram 1500 adequate for towing our 17 ft fiberglass trailer. We are at or slightly over our payload limit when towing.

I have not nor would I attempt to tow an Escape 5.0 TA with my Ram 1500 truck

[cpaharley2008]

I have a 2014 Ram Hemi Sport Quad with 3:21 rear and 8 speed transmission, tow package. I avg 15 mpg towing my Escape 19, tongue weight 450#. The issue with the Ram is 2 fold, one you do not have a full sized spare, but a temp spare, unless you purchase one after market. The second issue is capacity, If you check your door jamb, your GCWR is around 1450 lbs. This is for occupants and cargo. Thus with 2 adults and 2 dogs plus my tongue weight plus maybe 150 lbs in the bed, I'm within 300 lbs of my max capacity. I carry 1/2 full fresh water, otherwise my t/w weight is 500#
The pin weight of the 5.0 can approach close to 900 lbs with the additional weight of the 5th well hitch, putting you over your Ram's capacity limit. So depending on who and what you carry, the Ram's limit is not horsepower but carrying capacity. Most 1/2 ton trucks have similar limits.

[Brian B-P]

For those not familiar with recent Ram trucks...
While air bags can be inserted into coil springs (as I did in our van), the Ram truck factory optional air suspension (available starting 2013 model year) has proper air springs instead of coils. As far as I know, it's the only factory-installed air suspension available in a light truck in North America, and it is now available in Ram's light-duty (1500) and heavier (2500, 3500) pickups.

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, the factory air suspension is nice, but supposedly in the way of the 5th wheel hitch install. Air bags within the coil springs is always an option, but neither of these options increase the carrying capacity limit of the Ram.

[Y is Me]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I have a 2014 Ram Hemi Sport Quad with 3:21 rear and 8 speed transmission, tow package. I avg 15 mpg towing my Escape 19, tongue weight 450#. The issue with the Ram is 2 fold, one you do not have a full sized spare, but a temp spare, unless you purchase one after market. The second issue is capacity, If you check your door jamb, your GCWR is around 1450 lbs. This is for occupants and cargo. Thus with 2 adults and 2 dogs plus my tongue weight plus maybe 150 lbs in the bed, I'm within 300 lbs of my max capacity. I carry 1/2 full fresh water, otherwise my t/w weight is 500#
The pin weight of the 5.0 can approach close to 900 lbs with the additional weight of the 5th well hitch, putting you over your Ram's capacity limit. So depending on who and what you carry, the Ram's limit is not horsepower but carrying capacity. Most 1/2 ton trucks have similar limits.

Thanks so much for posting this thread and all of this information, guys! I have a 2017 Quad Cab 1500 4x4 with the 5.7L Hemi, tow package, 8 speed and 3.92 rear axle. Dodge says the max towing is 10,150 pounds, but judging from what I read here and using the Travel Trailer Weight Estimator over at Changing Gears, I think I will eventually be going with a 21' instead of the 5.0 (one person full time, no critters). Hopefully, a weight distributing hitch will compensate enough that the 200 pounds over recommended weight within margin will be sufficient.

[steve dunham]

We were planning on buying a new 2017 Ram 1500
The salesman we usually deal with encourage us to wait because Ram was going to upgrade their trucks . The 2019 Ram is supposed to have a considerably higher payload capacity . If the 2019 has enough payload capacity to handle a larger trailer , we will consider purchasing one , if not Ford will move to the top of our list.
Considering that my 2014 Ram has a payload capacity of 1300 lbs
my choice in trailers is greatly limited

[Y is Me]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We were planning on buying a new 2017 Ram 1500
The salesman we usually deal with encourage us to wait because Ram was going to upgrade their trucks . The 2019 Ram is supposed to have a considerably higher payload capacity . If the 2019 has enough payload capacity to handle a larger trailer , we will consider purchasing one , if not Ford will move to the top of our list.
Considering that my 2014 Ram has a payload capacity of 1300 lbs
my choice in trailers is greatly limited

Go figure, things always get upgraded shortly after I buy them. The more I look at the layout of the 19 vs the 21, the more I think the 19 would suit, so the lesser payload won't kill me. It may cramp things in some ways, but it won't kill me.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Y is Me

Go figure, things always get upgraded shortly after I buy them. The more I look at the layout of the 19 vs the 21, the more I think the 19 would suit, so the lesser payload won't kill me. It may cramp things in some ways, but it won't kill me.

Your assessment of the two trailers is similar to many, the 19 is a great layout, while the 21 is more roomy for sure. Both are great trailers in their own right.

[cpaharley2008]

That is exactly why I went back to a 19 from my 21 vs going forward to a 5.0 TA.

Be interesting to see the 2019 Ram, the dealer tells me they are now using full sized spares with the towing package, maybe my complaints were finally heard?

[salmo7000]

Originally Posted by Y is Me

Go figure, things always get upgraded shortly after I buy them. The more I look at the layout of the 19 vs the 21, the more I think the 19 would suit, so the lesser payload won't kill me. It may cramp things in some ways, but it won't kill me.

I went through a similar evolution. I started thinking a 5.0TA was exactly what I wanted and set about finding and buying a tow vehicle with sufficient capacity to handle it. Through this process I ultimately decided not to go in that direction. I bought a Chevy Colorado with the duramax and love everything about it, especially the upwards of 30+ mpg it gets not towing. It has a payload capacity of 1,380, however, which is not enough for me to feel comfortable towing a 5.0TA. So I'm about 95% on ordering a 19-footer and very happy with the decision. There are a number of benefits, most especially not having to alter the bed of the truck for the hitch, having the bed available for a topper and/or gear, and enough payload for every option I may want to put on the trailer. I'm also happy with the prospect of towing a trailer that weighs in the low 4,000's loaded rather than 5,000 lbs or more. Had I decided the 5.0TA was the only trailer that would suffice, I would have bought a Ford F-150. With the smaller Chevy and 19-footer, however, I'm into the whole deal for less $$, I have a super comfy and efficient daily driver with the Colorado, and feel the tradeoffs are more than worth it.

[padamas]

Lotbb1,
To answer the original question, I have a 2012 Ram 1500 4X4 with the 5.7 V8 to haul our 2017 5.0 TA. The truck's towing capacity is 9950 lb and its payload is 1317 lb. ETI says the 5.0 has a hitch weight of 600 lb, so everything is within spec as long as I don't try carrying a lot of extra baggage in the truck. We took our first trip in January from BC to California and had no problem at all.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by padamas

Lotbb1,
To answer the original question, I have a 2012 Ram 1500 4X4 with the 5.7 V8 to haul our 2017 5.0 TA. The truck's towing capacity is 9950 lb and its payload is 1317 lb. ETI says the 5.0 has a hitch weight of 600 lb, so everything is within spec as long as I don't try carrying a lot of extra baggage in the truck. We took our first trip in January from BC to California and had no problem at all.

Being almost 70 years old , I only know how to calculate things the old fashioned way .
I ran the numbers , I had a friend of mine who is an automotive engineer for GM run the numbers and I found a website on the internet and ran the numbers and none came out with the results I wanted .My payload is only 17 lbs less than yours but I can't believe that's enough to have the desired affect.
Oh well it is what it is

[cpaharley2008]

I wold think anyone with any doubt towards capacity would at least weight their trailer to verify actual weight, it is the actual weight you need to be concerned with, not what maybe written or heard someplace and not unloaded but loaded for use.

[Y is Me]

Originally Posted by padamas

Lotbb1,
To answer the original question, I have a 2012 Ram 1500 4X4 with the 5.7 V8 to haul our 2017 5.0 TA. The truck's towing capacity is 9950 lb and its payload is 1317 lb. ETI says the 5.0 has a hitch weight of 600 lb, so everything is within spec as long as I don't try carrying a lot of extra baggage in the truck. We took our first trip in January from BC to California and had no problem at all.

Apparently, the Ram 1500 is quite capable of towing the TA despite all of the number crunching that implies otherwise, since you're the second person I've seen on this forum who uses the Ram 1500 Hemi to tow a TA. I haven't spoken with Sisababe, but I took a look at her blog and haven't read of any problems.

Do you mind if I ask how your Ram handles towing the TA (on the flat and on grades) and what sort of mileage you get?

[Y is Me]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I wold think anyone with any doubt towards capacity would at least weight their trailer to verify actual weight, it is the actual weight you need to be concerned with, not what maybe written or heard someplace and not unloaded but loaded for use.

To quote from Excalibur: Merlin: "Looking at the cake is like looking at the future, until you've tasted it what do you really know? And then, of course, it's too late. *pauses as Arthur bites into the cake* Too late."

To use that analogy, my point in crunching numbers and talking with people who actually use the same or very similar setup to what I have is so that I can have a much better idea of what that cake is going to taste like before I bite into it and buy an Escape. I want to make sure I get what will suit me the best before I buy and avoid the "Too late" reaction. As far as loaded weight, I plan on buying a scale to weigh everything and keep an accurate load plan of what and where so I can make certain I don't go over what the trailer's axles and my Ram can handle. Thankfully, the local garbage transfer station allows people to bring in their rig and weigh it for a nominal fee, so I should be good to go to verify everything once I'm loaded up.