Towing with a late model Dodge 1500?

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by bganso

Doug,

My AS came with an Eaz-Lift WDH. In approx. 7,000 miles of towing, only once did a get a significant amount of sway (in the mountains, on a corner, and being passed by a big rig right as I completed a lane change). If caused me to be a little more careful, as up to that time I had never had any concern with stability. It wasn't an issue, just a wake-up.

Bruce

Bruce,

Your rig looks great. Do you know what rearend gear you have, and are you satisfied with the towing power of the Ram?

[Airtandem]

I have the 2011 Ram 1500 Quad cab, Andersen hitch and a 2010 FC FB 25 ft. So far this combination is working great. I am a flat lander, so don't know much about mountains. normal mpg is 10+ towing @60 mph.;

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by bganso

Doug,

My AS came with an Eaz-Lift WDH. In approx. 7,000 miles of towing, only once did a get a significant amount of sway (in the mountains, on a corner, and being passed by a big rig right as I completed a lane change). If caused me to be a little more careful, as up to that time I had never had any concern with stability. It wasn't an issue, just a wake-up.

Bruce

Bganso, may I make a suggestion, FWIW? I can't quite blow up your pic enough to see clearly, but I believe that if you give you hitch head about two notches more of rearward tilt, and leave your chains where they are, you will feel a big improvement.

Verify with scale readings as well. Just a suggestion.

[SteveH]

Bganzo,

A question if you don't mind, when you setup your weight distribution hitch, did you adjust the bars till the front fender measured height from the ground was the same as before hooking up to the trailer?

[Jwestman]

A newbie question? Moving the head back toward the trailer does what to the weight distribution on the tow vehicle? I assume moving it forward toward the vehicle would then do the opposite...right? Confused in GR. (smile)

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Jwestman

A newbie question? Moving the head back toward the trailer does what to the weight distribution on the tow vehicle? I assume moving it forward toward the vehicle would then do the opposite...right? Confused in GR. (smile)

TILTING the head back will increase the tention on the WD bars and transfer more weight to the front of the tow vehicle.

[dznf0g]

Exactly, It just looks like it is sagging in the rear and a little high maybe in the front. If, after doing this, the truck looks level(ish) and the AS is nose high, you may have to lower the hitch head one bolt hole relative to the hitch shank. Again, A little hard to zoom on the hitch in the pic.

Scales are the final judge though.

[Jwestman]

Got it. thanks.

[SteveH]

Having a hard time here believing so few people are towing with the Ram 1500 when so many are towing with the same size Ford and Toyota.

[Mifair]

I tow our 2011 27FB with a 2010 Ram 1500 crew cab. Hensley hitch. Towed about 15k so far and love it. Mostly flat land but have travelled the Adirondacks and the Appalachians. I love the rear coil springs which offers a much smoother ride for the AS. I went with the stock diff gearing 3.7? Since it is easier on the mileage when we are not towing which is most of the time. The hemi is a great motor. The secret Ingredient is hitch and proper setup. I had my rig setup by canam in London. At first I was worried that I' did not have enough truck and now I am convinced that for me the coil springs make the 1500 a better truck for smoother towing of the AS.

A couple pics of my setup.

[bganso]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Bruce,

Your rig looks great. Do you know what rearend gear you have, and are you satisfied with the towing power of the Ram?

I have 3.92 gearing. The towing power is adequate and I frequently pull fairly steep grades in the Sierras. On I-80 I have no problem passing big rigs or diesel powered TVs with large 5th wheels. Sometimes I'm in either 2nd or 3rd gear at 4,000 rpm for a few miles to maintain constant speed (55-65 mph). I'm careful not to run the engine any faster for extended periods...there's some comfort in the 100k powertrain warranty, but I still don't want to blow it up. I think the new 8-speed tranny would really be nice.

[bganso]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Bganso, may I make a suggestion, FWIW? I can't quite blow up your pic enough to see clearly, but I believe that if you give you hitch head about two notches more of rearward tilt, and leave your chains where they are, you will feel a big improvement.

Verify with scale readings as well. Just a suggestion.

Thanks for the recommendation. The dealer set it up, but I've thought about making some adjustments as you've recommended. I'll try to post some pics of the hitch head.

[dkottum]

On the road with Ram Express . . .

doug k

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by dkottum

On the road with Ram Express . . .

doug k

Really a nice looking rig, Doug. Is that a handle bar I see above the cab with brake and clutch levers?

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Mifair

I tow our 2011 27FB with a 2010 Ram 1500 crew cab. Hensley hitch. Towed about 15k so far and love it. Mostly flat land but have travelled the Adirondacks and the Appalachians. I love the rear coil springs which offers a much smoother ride for the AS. I went with the stock diff gearing 3.7? Since it is easier on the mileage when we are not towing which is most of the time. The hemi is a great motor. The secret Ingredient is hitch and proper setup. I had my rig setup by canam in London. At first I was worried that I' did not have enough truck and now I am convinced that for me the coil springs make the 1500 a better truck for smoother towing of the AS. A couple pics of my setup.

Very nice looking rig also, Mifair, but what's the weird white looking stuff all over the ground in the first picture?

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Really a nice looking rig, Doug. Is that a handle bar I see above the cab with brake and clutch levers?

Bikes . . .

[crispyboy]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Having a hard time here believing so few people are towing with the Ram 1500 when so many are towing with the same size Ford and Toyota.

My opinion is that some people think Dodge is the red-headed step child of the automotive world. To me they are just fine and I really like my current truck. I came very close to buying the 1500 but ended up with the 2500 because I happened upon a really good deal. I also think all the brands are pretty much the same mechanically (pretty darn good these days) so this issue would come down to looks and price. I like the looks of the Dodge and think the others have a lot to be desired in that department. (just an opinion don't flame me!)
The only problem I have with the 1500 as well as other half ton brands is the low payload/axle weight. I like to have a cap on the back for stowing gear, folding bicycles and tools. This weight adds up.

[SteveH]

There are some reasons why I would only consider a Ram 1/2 ton truck, and the major one is if I trade to one, I want a shorter truck than my current 3/4 ton GMC Crewcab, but want to maintain the 6 1/2' bed, but will not accept the rear suicide doors of the Ford and GM trucks.

There are others, but I don't want this thread to turn into a brand bashing exercise. I truely want input from Ram truck owners.

In '04 I believe it was, I bought a single cab 1500 Dodge at that time, drove it for three years and 90K miles with light towing, and never put a wrench on it.

[dznf0g]

The all new GM offerings will be revealed next week at the Detroit Auto Show, 12/13 at 9:30 AM streaming on Facebook. There will also be dedicated web pages later in the day. I have no clue if the suicide doors will still be there on the Ext. cab or not. I'll see it for the first time along with the public. It has been as secretive as the Corvette.

[SteveH]

Don't know if it's true or not, but read on another forum where Ram is supposed to come out with two different new Diesel engines for their trucks in '13, and one goes in the 1500 (a V6 with 400+ ft/lbs torque).

Now that would be sweet!