Towing with 2016 Ram 1500

[bparksVT]

Hey guys, newbie here. I know y'all get asked these questions all the time so I apologize. I have searched and read a few posts regarding towing a travel trailer with a 2016 Ram. First off, I know towing with a 2500 would be easier, but what can I realistically comfortably tow with this truck using a weight distribution hitch.

2016 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Big Horn
Axle ratio: 3.92
GVWR: 6900
Payload: truck sticker says 1350, RAM towing guide says 1520. Not sure the reason for the difference
Max towing capacity: 10,160

For example, here's a travel trailer I am looking at:
Total length: 34'
GVWR: 7600
Hitch weight: 680

Would this travel trailer be too much for this truck? I want to stick to the 80% rule for max towing capacity, which this trailer would be under that. My worry is the payload of the truck. Figuring 12% of the trailer weight, plus the weight of the hitch, plus two adults, two small children, and some gear might get pretty close to the payload of the truck. Just looking for opinions. Also, is there anything else I'm missing? Would a 34' camper be terribly uncomfortable to pull with this truck? Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[Ray-IN]

IMO the best online towing calculator is that hot link. It removes all the chest-beating bravado of "this truck can tow anything" and personal opinions, and sticks to actual weights, which you must enter. Then it does the calculations, including the optional 20% safety factor.
NEVER use the UVW of an RV unless that is how you will be camping and towing. ALWAYS use the RV GVWR, as that calculator states.

 

[steveblonde]

Hey guys, newbie here. I know y'all get asked these questions all the time so I apologize. I have searched and read a few posts regarding towing a travel trailer with a 2016 Ram. First off, I know towing with a 2500 would be easier, but what can I realistically comfortably tow with this truck using a weight distribution hitch.

2016 RAM 1500 Crew Cab Big Horn
Axle ratio: 3.92
GVWR: 6900
Payload: truck sticker says 1350, RAM towing guide says 1520. Not sure the reason for the difference
Max towing capacity: 10,160

For example, here's a travel trailer I am looking at:
Total length: 34'
GVWR: 7600
Hitch weight: 680

Would this travel trailer be too much for this truck? I want to stick to the 80% rule for max towing capacity, which this trailer would be under that. My worry is the payload of the truck. Figuring 12% of the trailer weight, plus the weight of the hitch, plus two adults, two small children, and some gear might get pretty close to the payload of the truck. Just looking for opinions. Also, is there anything else I'm missing? Would a 34' camper be terribly uncomfortable to pull with this truck? Thanks in advance for the input.

Good for you for asking before you take the leap. The 1520 is before they loaded certain options on your truck. All 1500 trucks start out basically the same add a sunroof take away from payload, add power seats or running boards take away from payload - you get the picture. So that 1350 is for truck thats everything in it in the box on the bumper etc. Add 3 kids at 100ea take 300lbs off the 1350 add a hitch take of 75 lbs and a box cover take off 45 lbs etc etc.
That 34ft trailer has a gvwr of 7600lbs at 12.5% of GVWR because you dont pull and empty trailer, you have food booze clothes pots pans etcetc will be much closer to 950lbs.
Your obviously a smart person you get the math
Cheers

 

[Babe2201]

Good for you for asking before you take the leap. The 1520 is before they loaded certain options on your truck. All 1500 trucks start out basically the same add a sunroof take away from payload, add power seats or running boards take away from payload - you get the picture. So that 1350 is for truck thats everything in it in the box on the bumper etc. Add 3 kids at 100ea take 300lbs off the 1350 add a hitch take of 75 lbs and a box cover take off 45 lbs etc etc.
That 34ft trailer has a gvwr of 7600lbs at 12.5% of GVWR because you dont pull and empty trailer, you have food booze clothes pots pans etcetc will be much closer to 950lbs.
Your obviously a smart person you get the math
Cheers

Isn't the 7600 GVWR the maximum amount of weight it can take when loaded?

 

[uchu]

Isn't the 7600 GVWR the maximum amount of weight it can take when loaded?

GVWR is the maximum allowed weight of the vehicle, load and all.

 

[bparksVT]

Isn't the 7600 GVWR the maximum amount of weight it can take when loaded?

Yes. The dry weight is 5980. I know not to pay attention to that when I’m considering what I can pull

 

[bparksVT]

Good for you for asking before you take the leap. The 1520 is before they loaded certain options on your truck. All 1500 trucks start out basically the same add a sunroof take away from payload, add power seats or running boards take away from payload - you get the picture. So that 1350 is for truck thats everything in it in the box on the bumper etc. Add 3 kids at 100ea take 300lbs off the 1350 add a hitch take of 75 lbs and a box cover take off 45 lbs etc etc.
That 34ft trailer has a gvwr of 7600lbs at 12.5% of GVWR because you dont pull and empty trailer, you have food booze clothes pots pans etcetc will be much closer to 950lbs.
Your obviously a smart person you get the math
Cheers

Thanks! I wondered why they were different. My GVWR is 7600. I think you might’ve confused if with the dry weight. Probably just used to people trying to use the dry weight to tow more than they should lol

 

[steveblonde]

Thanks! I wondered why they were different. My GVWR is 7600. I think you might’ve confused if with the dry weight. Probably just used to people trying to use the dry weight to tow more than they should lol

GVWR means gross vehicle weight rating in your post you said the trailer has a gvwr of 7600lbs you will never pull an empty trailer so you use the trailer gvwr to calculate the weight of the trailer on the hitch
7600 x 12.5% = 950lbs of weight on the hitch plus the hitch 75lbs is 1025lbs plus wife kids dog wood bikes etc etc will be over the 1350 and to tow comfortably i always use 80% of the capacity as a guide line 80% of 1350 = 1080lbs any thing over that is uncool you should be looking at 26ft not 34ft

 

[donn]

Weights are not all of the equasion. Length also plays a BIG role in things. Think of that trailer as a giant sail. Every breeze you encounter whether from nature or a semi passing you could turn into a white nuckle experience as the trailer dances all over the road. You would be far better off starting your search for a TT around 25 feet or less.

 

[bparksVT]

GVWR means gross vehicle weight rating in your post you said the trailer has a gvwr of 7600lbs you will never pull an empty trailer so you use the trailer gvwr to calculate the weight of the trailer on the hitch
7600 x 12.5% = 950lbs of weight on the hitch plus the hitch 75lbs is 1025lbs plus wife kids dog wood bikes etc etc will be over the 1350 and to tow comfortably i always use 80% of the capacity as a guide line 80% of 1350 = 1080lbs any thing over that is uncool you should be looking at 26ft not 34ft

Thanks for the advice! I’m pretty sure the GVWR of a travel trailer means the total amount the trailer can haul, right?https://www.google.com/amp/s/camperreport.com/what-is-gvwr-for-travel-trailers/?amp

 

[bparksVT]

Weights are not all of the equasion. Length also plays a BIG role in things. Think of that trailer as a giant sail. Every breeze you encounter whether from nature or a semi passing you could turn into a white nuckle experience as the trailer dances all over the road. You would be far better off starting your search for a TT around 25 feet or less.

Thanks for responding! That’s my main worry. I feel like as far as pulling goes I’d be okay, but I’d worry about the stability.

 

[steveblonde]

Thanks for the advice! I’m pretty sure the GVWR of a travel trailer means the total amount the trailer can haul, right?https://www.google.com/amp/s/camperreport.com/what-is-gvwr-for-travel-trailers/?amp

It means thats how much legally is the maximum weight the trailer can be loaded with food water etc etc including the weight of the trailer itself ie trailer weights 5800lbs dry without propabe batteries water etc and has a cargo cap of 1200lbs the gvwr is 7000lbs

 

[darsben]

as steveblonde said the trailer has a cargo capacity of 1200 lbs.
You put propane in the tanks if 2 tanks 40 lbs. Some water in the tank adds weight, even the awning is probably an addon after the factory put on by the dealer, food, clothing, toys, etc 1200 pounds is not very much.
So now your trailer is at 9000 lbs.
AS PREVIOUSLY SAID your cargo capacity is what is on the sticker 1320 not some website.
At the least you will have 900 lbs of the trailer weight on your truck. This leaves just 420 LBS of cargo capacityleft on the truck. This means your weight, spouse weight, children and anything else you put in or on the truck. Full tank of fuel even counts. YOU WILL BE OVER, now will your truck immediately fall apart, probably not. Will you be happy with the combination? NO

 

[IBTripping]

as steveblonde said the trailer has a cargo capacity of 1200 lbs.
You put propane in the tanks if 2 tanks 40 lbs. Some water in the tank adds weight, even the awning is probably an addon after the factory put on by the dealer, food, clothing, toys, etc 1200 pounds is not very much.
So now your trailer is at 9000 lbs.
AS PREVIOUSLY SAID your cargo capacity is what is on the sticker 1320 not some website.
At the least you will have 900 lbs of the trailer weight on your truck. This leaves just 420 LBS of cargo capacityleft on the truck. This means your weight, spouse weight, children and anything else you put in or on the truck. Full tank of fuel even counts. YOU WILL BE OVER, now will your truck immediately fall apart, probably not. Will you be happy with the combination? NO

I think you got part of your math wrong. The GVWR of the trailer is 7,600 lbs. not 9,000 lbs. Still, even at 7600, that's not going to be comfortable towing. I'd suggest a 28 foot or less trailer with a GVWR of 6500. There are a number of travel trailers that meet that weight.

 

[bparksVT]

as steveblonde said the trailer has a cargo capacity of 1200 lbs.
You put propane in the tanks if 2 tanks 40 lbs. Some water in the tank adds weight, even the awning is probably an addon after the factory put on by the dealer, food, clothing, toys, etc 1200 pounds is not very much.
So now your trailer is at 9000 lbs.
AS PREVIOUSLY SAID your cargo capacity is what is on the sticker 1320 not some website.
At the least you will have 900 lbs of the trailer weight on your truck. This leaves just 420 LBS of cargo capacityleft on the truck. This means your weight, spouse weight, children and anything else you put in or on the truck. Full tank of fuel even counts. YOU WILL BE OVER, now will your truck immediately fall apart, probably not. Will you be happy with the combination? NO

IBTripping is right. The GVWR is 7600, not my dry weight. I’m already assuming all that trailer cargo by using GVWR and not dry weight.

 

[Babe2201]

Yes. The dry weight is 5980. I know not to pay attention to that when I’m considering what I can pull

As long as you keep the trailer so it is not over the GVWR you should have not trouble with the weight as far as towing it. The length might be an issue. I pull a TT that is just under 32' with about the same dry weight and GVWR without major issues.