Now I am simply starting this topic because I am curious. At this point I plan on towing a TT that weights about 4k absolutely loaded. So I know I can tow that safely and easily. But I was just sitting here trying to figure out the max I might be able to tow, because eventually I am going to upgrade my TT.
TV - 2012 Ram 1500 Big Horn CC 3.92 gears.
Specs
Base weight - 5345 (just weighed truck last week and it weighed 5700ish)
GVWR - 6800
Payload 1455
GAWR - Front/Rear - both 3900
Max Trailer - 10000
GCWR - 15500
I am not a complete N00b, so I know the basics. Where I am getting stuck is trying to figure out IF I could actually tow close to say 9k, or would I be over the tongue weight or axle ratings.
For fun, let's have 2 separate answers.
1. How much COULD I tow?
2. What would ppl recommend in order to tow safely?
I realize these are subjective answers, but I am looking for facts, and also opinions.
I'm thinking I will likely go with something that has a Gross rating of like 7k, and no longer than 25 feet... but like I said, I just want to hear some thoughts.
I will play devil's advocate and answer both sides.
Load it till the axle snaps then back off 500 pounds. Truthfully the ratings are much like the sell by date on milk. There is gray area.
Tow as much as you feel comfortable with. It is your vehicle and you should know its capabilities.
Ok now for a real answer. Towing, payload, and tongue weight are not the same. I have heard that Ram 1500 trucks don't really like towing what they are rated for. I don't have one but have seen that posted by Ram owners. I would say if you keep your total trailer weight at or below 7500lb you should be very comfortable but it depends on the trailer and its balance. I had a trailer that was around 5K fully loaded but made my F150 sag terribly because all the weight was either on the axle or at the front. Poor older design in my opinion.
Ok weight police, you may ask for my badge and gun now. I know I am probably fired.
The determining factor will likely be your payload available. What was in the truck when you weighed it at 5700lbs. If your GVWR is 6800lbs you only have 1100lbs left for payload which will include people in the truck (other than 150lbs for driver), hitch and tongue weight.
If for example you put 400lbs more people and stuff in the truck and the hitch weighs 75lbs, you'd have 625lbs left for the tongue weight. Figure 13% of trailer weight to be average for tongue means a trailer with a max loaded weight of a little less than 5000lbs. The number may seem low for a truck with a tow rating of 10,000lbs but that number is rarely achievable by any of the 1/2 ton trucks due to payload limits.
What could you tow? Varies depending on personal comfort limits. I'm sure the truck will tow much more but are you comfortable over weight?
* This post was
edited 04/05/12 09:49am by camp-n-family *
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camp-n-family wrote: The determining factor will likely be your payload available. What was in the truck when you weighed it at 5700lbs. If your GVWR is 6800lbs you only have 1100lbs left for payload which will include people in the truck other than 150lbs for driver, hitch and tongue weight.
If for example you put 400lbs more people and stuff in the truck and the hitch weighs 75lbs, you'd have 625lbs left for the tongue weight. Figure 13% of trailer weight to be average for tongue means a trailer with a max loaded weight of a little less than 5000lbs. The number may seem low for a truck with a tow rating of 10,000lbs but that number is rarely achievable by any of the 1/2 ton trucks due to payload limits.
What could you tow? Varies depending on personal comfort limits. I'm sure the truck will tow much more but are you comfortable over weight?
Yikes. I didn't realize that. The good news is that I had my wife and both kids in the vehicle. So the vehicle would weigh about the same if we were towing. Unless I was carrying wood in the box or something. The only other things would be bikes and misc. So likely another 150 at most. The rest would be in the TT.
And to answer your question - No, I would not be comfortable. I bought this truck so I could have a comfortable towing experience.
Now that I am thinking about the 5700 weight I stated, it may have been on the way IN TO the dump, so I might be off by 100-200 pounds, as I was obviously loaded on the way in. Next time I go I will check exactly on the way out. lol
Quote: Yikes. I didn't realize that. The good news is that I had my wife and both kids in the vehicle. So the vehicle would weigh about the same if we were towing. Unless I was carrying wood in the box or something. The only other things would be bikes and misc. So likely another 150 at most. The rest would be in the TT.
And to answer your question - No, I would not be comfortable. I bought this truck so I could have a comfortable towing experience.
Now that I am thinking about the 5700 weight I stated, it may have been on the way IN TO the dump, so I might be off by 100-200 pounds, as I was obviously loaded on the way in. Next time I go I will check exactly on the way out. lol
Best bet is to weigh the truck loaded as you would to travel. Keep it to a minimum (some toys and snacks). Put as much as you can in the trailer, including firewood etc to maximize the payload left in the truck. Figure around 75lbs for the hitch and the remaining payload can be tongue weight as long as it doesn't exceed the hitch receiver rating, and axle ratings etc.
vesh1717 wrote: Now I am simply starting this topic because I am curious. At this point I plan on towing a TT that weights about 4k absolutely loaded. So I know I can tow that safely and easily. But I was just sitting here trying to figure out the max I might be able to tow, because eventually I am going to upgrade my TT.
TV - 2012 Ram 1500 Big Horn CC 3.92 gears.
Specs
Base weight - 5345 (just weighed truck last week and it weighed 5700ish)
GVWR - 6800
Payload 1455
GAWR - Front/Rear - both 3900
Max Trailer - 10000
GCWR - 15500
I am not a complete N00b, so I know the basics. Where I am getting stuck is trying to figure out IF I could actually tow close to say 9k, or would I be over the tongue weight or axle ratings.
For fun, let's have 2 separate answers.
1. How much COULD I tow?
2. What would ppl recommend in order to tow safely?
I realize these are subjective answers, but I am looking for facts, and also opinions.
I'm thinking I will likely go with something that has a Gross rating of like 7k, and no longer than 25 feet... but like I said, I just want to hear some thoughts.
Depends on your philosophies on risk management decisions (AKA gambling) vs ratings
AKA specifications or limits
There is a thread with the title 'arrogant' that is on the side of not believing
in the OEM's published ratings/specifications/etc.
If just looking for the 'sure you can', then you will get tons of them
and don't need to read further. Just note that there is only one
person responsible for the setup and that is the driver.
The details below are mainly for others who would be asking a similar
question and since you say you don't really need to ask and know enough...
This is for them and to help you make the decision(s)
Keep in mind that there is a difference between 'can' and 'should'
If you do believe in the OEM's ratings/specifications, then this diagram may help
you make the risk management decision on where you wish to be on the ratings
You will need to go out and weigh the setup axle by axle both empty and loaded
If you do not have one or the other or either, then use their max ratings as
the basis to do the simple math
Just think of the generic formula GCWR >= TV + TT + cargo/people/etc/etc
as a teeter-totter where the >= is the fulcrum
Using your info that formula looks like this
15,000 GCWR >= 5,700 TV + 10,000 TT
So you would be over the OEM's GCWR rating by about 700 lbs. The wheels
won't instantly fall off but any time approaching the limits will
have higher stresses that will wear out things sooner
Also, as the limits/ratings/etc are approached, the over all performance
is reduced. Take braking an empty TV vs braking a TV at it's GVWR
Of course the TV at GVWR will take more distance to brake and will
have more stresses than the exact same TV in the exact same ambient
conditions, but empty.
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1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
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Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
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When I checked 'newest threads' and saw your posting's title, I hoped before I clicked on it that you might not be in the Thunder Bay, USA but Thunder Bay, Canada?....because clearly your thread's title reveals that you have a 'sense of humour' and you must be of British descent (I am a former Brit')!!! LOL.
lol.. I AM indeed from Thunder Bay ON, Canada. I am of Irish and Italian decent, but not british!
You'll be limited by your payload, and not the tow rating (or even 80% of that), like is the case with most half ton trucks.
Until you get the real numbers, nobody can really guess. You'd need to take the truck to the scales with all people and gear inside. Bikes and misc can add up VERY quickly, and firewood is VERY heavy.
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When I checked 'newest threads' and saw your posting's title, I hoped before I clicked on it that you might not be in the Thunder Bay, USA but Thunder Bay, Canada?....because clearly your thread's title reveals that you have a 'sense of humour' and you must be of British descent (I am a former Brit')!!! LOL.
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Taco6spd wrote: You'll be limited by your payload, and not the tow rating (or even 80% of that), like is the case with most half ton trucks.
Until you get the real numbers, nobody can really guess. You'd need to take the truck to the scales with all people and gear inside. Bikes and misc can add up VERY quickly, and firewood is VERY heavy.
Like I said, next time I go to the dump I will get exact numbers. I've been rethinking (yet again), and the 5700 probably is correct. Base weight 5345 + 315 (wife and I), plus kids (50), plus car seats (they are prob 50 combined, as they are heavy). All that equals about 5750, but is probably 5700 as the scale can't be wrong!!
Anyway, 5700-5800 will be my TV weight when towing. UNLESS, I am carrying firewood. I realize it is heavy. With my current TT I will not have any issues of course, even with firewood.
All the other misc stuff will go in the TT, so based off these facts, we can likely narrow down the max TT weight.
EDIT: I forgot that payload accounts for 150 lb driver. So obviously the car seats and other stuff I had in the vehicle weights more than I above calculated.
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