Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-05-2020, 11:23 AM   #1
2 Rivet Member
 
Kensington , Maryland
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 38
Ram Ecodiesel mated to late model Classic

Hello everyone.. I know a larger truck would be better, but will my '14 Ram Ecodiesel suffice hauling the Classic? Or would it be too much wear and tear on the transmission, drive train, and engine?

FYI I do have the GDE ECU upgrade.

Thanks for any insight you might offer.

Jim Ford
2017 26U
Jamesbford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2020, 12:23 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
1960 22' Safari
in the wilderness , The great Mojave Desert
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,077
What does the trailer weigh and how much does your vehicle tow?

That there is the critical info needed to answer the question.
__________________
I'd rather be boon docking in the desert.

WBCCI 3344 FCU
AIR# 13896
CA 4

Yes, we have courtesy parking for you. About an hour North of Los Angeles.
Goin camping is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2020, 02:17 PM   #3
Site Team
 
Hans627's Avatar

 
2009 25' FB International
2018 27' Globetrotter
Tavares , Florida
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,674
Another question to answer is what is the payload of your RAM 1500. They are notoriously low and you might find yourself exceeding the limits.
Hans627 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 06:33 AM   #4
3 Rivet Member
 
2019 30' Classic
2012 25' FB Eddie Bauer
Crested Butte , Colorado
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 196
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesbford View Post
Hello everyone.. I know a larger truck would be better, but will my '14 Ram Ecodiesel suffice hauling the Classic? Or would it be too much wear and tear on the transmission, drive train, and engine?

FYI I do have the GDE ECU upgrade.

Thanks for any insight you might offer.

Jim Ford
2017 26U
Jim,
I traded my 2012 Eddie Bauer 25 for a 2019 Classic 30. I had a 2013 Ford F-150 3.5 Eco-Boost with the Max Tow Pkg. Towing capacity in excess of 10,500# and enough headroom in the GV load capacity for the tongue weight. I added new shocks and a pair of Roadmaster overload springs to the F-150 eventually. I have a ProPride hitch.

The F-150 would easily pull the Classic and there were plenty of brakes for any normal stop. I certainly knew the bigger trailer was behind me. The 25' EB had pulled like a breeze in any conditions while the Classic 30 moved the F-150 around a bit when large vehicles were passed or passed us.

The deal-breaker for me was going down any significant grade. The dramatically heavier trailer (EB ~5500# dry vs. Classic ~8800# dry) pushed the truck all over the road on long downhill grades. It was pretty frightening. It was so bad that the truck's "Excessive Trailer Sway" warning light came on and the truck applied braking which made things even worse. I finally got things under control and we took the rest of the long (like >5% downhill grades) slow with the tractor trailers.

We ended up buying a RAM 3500 leftover. That was overkill as any 3/4 ton would have been fine. I addition to towing capacity (you have plenty) and load capacity (you have enough), you need to consider the weight ratio between your TV and trailer. When your trailer weighs 2x your TV, it will always win the battle of who moves who around.
__________________
2019 30' Classic RB pulled by 2018 Dodge RAM 3500 short bed
Froglips is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 07:34 AM   #5
2 Rivet Member

 
2020 27' Globetrotter
Greater Salt Lake City , Utah
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 81
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesbford View Post
Hello everyone.. I know a larger truck would be better, but will my '14 Ram Ecodiesel suffice hauling the Classic? Or would it be too much wear and tear on the transmission, drive train, and engine?

FYI I do have the GDE ECU upgrade.

Thanks for any insight you might offer.

Jim Ford
2017 26U

FWIW......... I also had a 2014 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel CrewCab 4WD with four-wheel air suspension until two months ago. Only had 61,000 miles on it and loved it. I didn’t have the GDE tune, but that is a great add-on.

We purchased a 2020 Globetrotter 27 FBT last August and used the truck to tow the GT on two trips last Fall to Idaho and Moab UT. We live where there are mountain passes and elevations range from valley floors of ~4,500 to highway mountain summits ~9,000 feet. The engine and 1/2 ton frame pulled the TT without a problem most of the time. Higher mountain passes (highway, not off-road) we’re just OK.

Two months ago we traded the 1500 in for a 2020 Ram 2500 CrewCab with the Cummins 6.7L diesel. Why, if the 1500 was OK most of the time?

Payload capacity concerns and safety. Key points that helped me choose the 3/4 ton for your consideration:

- payload capacity on 1500 was 984 lbs. TT tongue weight is nearly 1,100 lbs. with two 30 lb propane tanks and batteries and empty water/waste tanks. Weighed old truck and TT at CAT scales and front axle was 3,240 lbs. and rear “drive” axle was 4,560 lbs while TT was 6,100 lbs. And, this was with an Equalizer WDH. We were overweight with the TT alone and no passengers or gear in the truck. Four-wheel air suspension helped mask the problem. Aside from the potential legal consequences, that exceeded my level of comfort for safety of people and equipment for us and others on the road.

- new truck has 2,184 payload capacity. No issues whatsoever. Same CAT scale numbers on new truck are 4,600 lbs front axle, 4,840 lbs on rear “drive” axle and same TT weight. And, that was without the Equalizer WDH ........ new truck has 2.5” hitch receiver size and I don’t like the using the adapter sleeve so I use a standard Gen-Y ball mount with 2 5/16 ball. I will get the WDH at some point.

- the new truck is 20 inches longer and the 3/4 ton chassis does have a more comfortable ride pulling the TT. Just came back from a trip to Grand Junction CO and it was a breeze. No trailer sway without WDH and the Cummins is probably overkill for 6,100 lbs. Traveling at elevation passing semi-trailers in the interstate was very easy.

There are other less critical points for choosing the 3/4 ton TV but these were the key factors for me.

Waiting for GDE to make a tune for the Cummins now.

Good luck........
ExploreUT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 07:45 AM   #6
4 Rivet Member
 
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Temple , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 286
Blog Entries: 1
The 1500 is a great truck but safely towing is all about payload and tow capacity, That is why I upgraded to a 2500 last fall.
__________________
2014 Flying Cloud 25FB
2018 Ram 2500; Cummins
Blue Ox WDH
RamRider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 09:15 AM   #7
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Hi

You *can* tow an AS with a bicycle.

Since we don't know *which* Classic is under consideration (there's more than one ...) or much else about what you plan to do, the is no accurate way to fully answer the question.

If you tow twice a year for < 100 miles each time, you can get away with a lot. If that tow is all on level ground and at low speed, even more so. If you are towing 10 hours a day for more than 50 days a year.... in the mountains .... not so much.

I would not want to haul my Classic / my gear / my routes with a small truck. The truck might be able to do it, but I would be worn out pretty fast. Getting tired and making a (bad) mistake can be a much bigger deal than replacing your shocks a bit early.

Could I customize a small truck to turn it into a big truck? Sure, but it's probably cheaper to trade for the big truck ....

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 10:30 AM   #8
4 Rivet Member
 
greenflag's Avatar
 
2016 30' International
Quartz Hill , California
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 356
I towed my 25 AI with a 1500 GMC for two years. In that time I blew out both rear shocks, replaced the U joints, and the trans tailpiece. Not to mention I was frequently over payload.
Get a 2500 truck of the brand you prefer. Gas or diesel is up to you. I settled on diesel and have not been sorry.
Sure you could pull it. But you also need to stop it.
greenflag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2020, 01:02 PM   #9
Rivet Master
 
2017 30' Classic
Anna Maria , Florida
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,642
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesbford View Post
Hello everyone.. I know a larger truck would be better, but will my '14 Ram Ecodiesel suffice hauling the Classic? Or would it be too much wear and tear on the transmission, drive train, and engine?

FYI I do have the GDE ECU upgrade.

Thanks for any insight you might offer.

Jim Ford
2017 26U
We did the same thing 3 years ago. Traded a 28' International for a 2017 Classic. Our tow vehicle was a F-150 and it handled the classic as far as pulling was concerned but the trailer was bullying the F-150 and that made for some white knuckle rides especially out west on through the Rockies.
Lived with it for one season and traded up to a F-250 Powerstroke.
Problem solved.
franklyfrank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2020, 02:35 PM   #10
2 Rivet Member
 
2018 30' Classic
Mountain View , California
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 56
Ditto to frankly frank’s experience. The 3/4 ton beast makes for a world of difference.
JFRINALDI is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2020, 05:37 PM   #11
2 Rivet Member
 
Kensington , Maryland
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 38
Fellas, thanks for your insight. While my Ecodiesel might do the job, the reality is the truck is too small for continuous safety. Thanks again!
Jamesbford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2020, 05:52 PM   #12
Rivet Master
 
2018 25' International
Slidell , Louisiana
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,725
good call. Anything over 27 is too much for the 1500 Eco-deisel.
BayouBiker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2014 RAM 1500 EcoDIESEL has arrived! Lance M Tow Vehicles 173 10-23-2018 07:35 PM
RAM 1500 EcoDiesel TV and Argosy 26 Report BentMetal All Argosy Trailers 21 04-09-2015 10:51 PM
Dodge Ram 1500 Ecodiesel dlarsen Towing, Tow Vehicles & Hitches 3 07-10-2014 08:24 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.