Towing for the first time

[fernandob104]

I am towing a trailer with my 2021 Ram Laramie 5.7L hemi for the first time. Going up to shaver lake in CA. I am pulling a 24ft travel trailer weighing around 5000lbs. That is including load.

I plan on using tow haul mode up and down. Should I use my gears also when going up and down or does tow haul mode do all that for me? Thank you.

 

[asgadf/lkjnadsfg]

If you donwload the owners manual for your truck, you can use the search feature to scan it for "Towing". Then you can simply tap the "next" button to skip to every place they mention it. There's some good info in there, and if you're new to towing it would be a great place to start. I say "start" because there's a lot more to learn about towing than they can the you in the owners manual, but reading it should give you some basics, and provide you with more questions that you can then research to learn further.

Are you proficient at backing your trailer? When I first bought my boat I was on the way to the lake when a huge storm broke. The weather was way too bad to fish, so the lake was empty, and there wasn't a soul in the area. I took about an hour in the empty parking lot to practice backing my boat into all kinds of places. That kept me from ever being "that guy" who is blocking stuff up bc he doesn't know how to back up a trailer.

Learn, practice, and go have fun. I'm sure plenty of people will be along shortly with good advice, lots of guys on tow regularly.

 

[SD Rebel]

The Tow/Haul mode is pretty awesome actually. It of course will hold a gear longer before up-shifting and downshift sooner. You can also have some control to how it downshifts, the harder and longer you brake, the more quickly it downshifts. It also won't upshift until you press on the throttle again, even when coasting off the brakes, it will hold that gear until you touch the throttle again.

I would definitely recommend you watch some videos and practice backing up, maybe rent a trailer for a day and try it out in a parking lot before you tow something actually heavy. Here is a pretty good video, he not only covers the basic counter (hand on the bottom of the steering wheel) method, but also radius turn with a trailer in a simple easy way ....

 

[dajogejr]

I’m going to assume you mean first time towing with this truck, not your first time towing, is. That accurate?

Tow/Haul mode is outstanding. As mentioned, holding shift points and downshifting to utilize engine braking.

 

[fernandob104]

I’ve towed before but only freeway miles and soft hills. Never anything with this type of grade. From what I have seen online, tow haul mode should do it all for me. I have the built in trailer brake also

 

[dajogejr]

If you have 3.21 gears, it won’t struggle, but it’ll be noticeable, probably hunt gears a little, but smoothly…so don’t worry.
If you went 3.92…it’ll be an absolute breeze.
Tow Haul mode is your best bud for this…enjoy.

 

[LMorris]

I tow a fairly heavy trailer. I use tow haul mode and use the gear limiter to keep rpm's about 3000at highway speed; usually D6. I also limit speed to 65-68 mph. Those settings seem to work fairly well. Good luck.

 

[silver billet]

If you have 3.21 gears, it won’t struggle, but it’ll be noticeable, probably hunt gears a little, but smoothly…so don’t worry.
If you went 3.92…it’ll be an absolute breeze.
Tow Haul mode is your best bud for this…enjoy.

That's not correct, the 3.21 and 3.92 will perform almost identically for towing once they're out of first or second.

I am towing a trailer with my 2021 Ram Laramie 5.7L hemi for the first time. Going up to shaver lake in CA. I am pulling a 24ft travel trailer weighing around 5000lbs. That is including load.

I plan on using tow haul mode up and down. Should I use my gears also when going up and down or does tow haul mode do all that for me? Thank you.

Tow haul should be engaged the second you connect that trailer and left on until its disconnected, hills or not. The gear limiter is useful if you find the truck constantly shifting up/down if it can't pick the correct gear, or if if you're like me and prefer to hold higher rpms in certain spots/grades. It can also be useful when going down hills to help control speed.

I set mine to 6 every time I tow, the truck will sometimes shift to 7th on the freeway but that drops rpms down below 2000 and I get the sense that it's not very happy to be there even though it does it. Any sort of increase in speed, like a tiny blip in the road or taking your time passing a trucker requires a downshift to 6th. So I limit it to 6th and keep my speed to about 63 to 65 mph and the truck is very happy to tow on the straights like that and will go all day with a little bit of power left over before requiring a downshift.

 

[dajogejr]

That's not correct, the 3.21 and 3.92 will perform almost identically for towing once they're out of first or second.

No need to start this again.
You do you, I’ll do me, my trucks, my experiences.

 

[RVTRKN]

Leave it in T/H at all times, the transmission will chose the right gear wether you have 3:21 or 3:92. Now if your on a long down hill run, as an example traveling north on the 5 or 99 coming off the Grape Vine. You have a long stretch of a down hill run, I think around 10 miles or so, you can take it out of tow haul which will allow 8th gear and save you fuel. But never let it strain out of T/H when towing, it'll down shift when needed to protect itself. You can lock out, @ 6,7 & 8, and T/H will still have it shift at correct RPM's, just not allowing it above 5th. 3:92's gives you higher GCW due to less strain on gearing.

 

[silver billet]

No need to start this again.
You do you, I’ll do me, my trucks, my experiences.

It's not about you, it's about the OP and giving him correct information. Math is math, the trucks are equivalent once they're up and rolling. It's not an opinion, I'm not saying your truck is ugly or something (but really, billet silver color is best color )

 

[dajogejr]

It's not about you, it's about the OP and giving him correct information. Math is math, the trucks are equivalent once they're up and rolling. It's not an opinion, I'm not saying your truck is ugly or something (but really, billet silver color is best color )

No, it’s about how you tow. And how others may.
This is how you tow, quoted from your post:

“So I limit it to 6th and keep my speed to about 63 to 65 mph and the truck is very happy to tow on the straights like that and will go all day with a little bit of power left over before requiring a downshift.”

That’s not how I’ve towed.
Here’s my math. I’ve towed at 70, 75MPH plus. So my math is different than your math. I also don’t limit it to 6th.
It’s your opinion, based on how YOU tow.
When you can say you’ve done what I’ve done.. then you can make a point about being wrong or right.

Tow at the speed I have. Then, drive the same roads I have.
Then, account the math for the hills/valleys, roads, I’ve actually driven an tell me how that equates to your experience.

I find it funny, and amusing, you keep stating “math” yet fail to think about only the variables you produce.
That’s kinda like dating the prettiest girl in school…if she was the only one there.

 

[silver billet]

No, it’s about how you tow. And how others may.
This is how you tow, quoted from your post:

“So I limit it to 6th and keep my speed to about 63 to 65 mph and the truck is very happy to tow on the straights like that and will go all day with a little bit of power left over before requiring a downshift.”

That’s not how I’ve towed.
Here’s my math. I’ve towed at 70, 75MPH plus. So my math is different than your math. I also don’t limit it to 6th.
It’s your opinion, based on how YOU tow.
When you can say you’ve done what I’ve done.. then you can make a point about being wrong or right.

Tow at the speed I have. Then, drive the same roads I have.
Then, account the math for the hills/valleys, roads, I’ve actually driven an tell me how that equates to your experience.

I find it funny, and amusing, you keep stating “math” yet fail to think about only the variables you produce.
That’s kinda like dating the prettiest girl in school…if she was the only one there.

This is something completely different lol. Here is your post:

Post in thread 'Towing for the first time'

Sep 27, 2024

That's not correct, the 3.21 and 3.92 will perform almost identically for towing once they're out of first or second.

No need to start this again.
You do you, I’ll do me, my trucks, my experiences.

• dajogejr

• 

Notice how you quoted me about gear ratios, not driving preference with gear limiters.

I responded with this:

Post in thread 'Towing for the first time'

Sep 27, 2024

No need to start this again.
You do you, I’ll do me, my trucks, my experiences.

It's not about you, it's about the OP and giving him correct information. Math is math, the trucks are equivalent once they're up and rolling. It's not an opinion, I'm not saying your truck is ugly or something (but really, billet silver color is best color )

• silver billet

The point I was making (and the reference to the math being math), was about gear ratios. Both trucks WILL perform identically once they're rolling in the city, merging onto freeways, passing semis up a grade. This is a mathematical certainty.

As for your quote above about towing at difference speeds and using gear limiters, you do you, that's definitely a preference and I was just stating mine.

 

[dajogejr]

So you’re again wrong.
Got it.
Thanks for playing.

 

[RVTRKN]

We need to respond to the OP, and answer questions he’s asking, not having a pissing contest about ratio’s. We need to read more about the OP’s experience, details on his truck & other questions he might have. But if I was new and read this pissing contest, I would find another forum.

 

[Gren71]

@fernandob104

Enjoy your trip and post some pics of the TT hooked up!

The hemi in tow haul mode will handle all the grades fine. IF for some reason it doesn’t just drive like a “big rig”. Get to the far right lane and put your hazards on and do what you can without blowing the engine.

When i used to pull my 30ft 6k lbs TT with my jeep gladiator there was one steep grade in mid PA i had to do the above for. Everything else it did fine doing the speed limit with the 6 cylinder. Ive since pulled the same TT with my 5.7 hemi and it was smooth as could be. Revved up of course, but handled the grade no problem.

A WDH is a must for your camper and id consider airlift assist bags, they help a lot with the feel of the camper and other weight in the bed.

 

[spyder]

I've hauled my Challenger and Barracuda on a trailer through mountains and didn't bother with the Tow/Haul setting. Got better fuel mileage just putting it in drive and going. Just take it easy, don't go fast, brake early, and get a feel for it. You should be just fine.

 

[silver billet]

We need to respond to the OP, and answer questions he’s asking, not having a pissing contest about ratio’s. We need to read more about the OP’s experience, details on his truck & other questions he might have. But if I was new and read this pissing contest, I would find another forum.

You're neither the OP nor a mod. There is nothing wrong with pointing out errors in posts, and if that turns you off by all means find a new forum. And if you read carefully you'll see the content here, even the arguments, are all relevant to his questions.

 

[SD Rebel]

Kinda nice watching instead of being in the middle of it for a change

 

[dajogejr]

Kinda nice watching instead of being in the middle of it for a change

I enjoy watching people talk about math when they don’t include variables.
It shows how little real world experience they actually have and their inability to use critical thinking…

OP is going to be fine. Spyder nailed it. Take your time, brake early…

I’d only add, before you take off for the whole trip, test the trailer brake manually. It should allow for trailer brake settings memory. Test it driving down your street and on a faster surface road before hitting the highway.
If the trailer starts to sway, hitting the manual trailer brake a tad can help straighten it out as well.

When you get the setting right, it feels like you don’t have much weight back there at all.