Is this travel trailer too much.

[Rebeldad88]

So I have a 21 rebel crew cab 5.7. Payload is 1580.

Camper is a jayco 261bh
Dry weight 5750
Hitch weight 710
Gvwr is 7500
30 footer

 

[Fatherof3]

Need a little more information . Anything else in the bed or inside the cab ? Any mods done ?

 

[Rebeldad88]

Passengers and cargo prolly 500lbs in the truck.

No mods. Just a weight distribution hitch

 

[silver billet]

You're definitely pushing the boundary. General rule for TT tongue weight is 13% of GVWR, which means about 975 lbs. Then add another 50 pounds for the WDH and 500 pounds of passengers and you're at max payload with a 30 foot sail.

Not my preference, but guys do it all the time. It really depends on your skill and comfort level, how well you can balance the trailer, how far and often you're going etc. Once a summer on rural roads, wouldn't worry about. Weekend warrior going out many times a summer or multiple long trips, well they make 2500's for this IMHO.

 

[Gren71]

That’s pretty much what I pull numbers wise..youll be aware of it and the heavy tongue will definitely sag the rear a bit more than you may want w/o any modifications. I pulled my TT twice with just a wdh and stock springs and even though it wasn’t bad, i wanted to make the truck handle the load better.

Tried two different versions of upgraded bump stops and wasn’t happy with them, especially once I started reading of folks cracking their frames from them..

Then i tried the airlift 1000 bags that go inside your springs. They worked great, but i was always a little nervous theyd eventually pop and it would happen while driving.

Finally ended up doing the upgrade I SHOULD have done from the start. Cargomaxx 351-893HD springs. The springs are crazy easy to install and make the truck handle the heavy tongue camper like a 2500 does. The unloaded ride is great, keeping the truck a daily driver to enjoy.

I do have a set of the XHD springs sitting in the garage, but haven’t installed them because the HD ones i have in have just been perfect. Another fella on the forum absolutely loves his 351-893xhd springs sitting.

2009 - 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Heavy Duty Rear Variable Rate Coil Springs

2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Rear Coil Springs by General Spring offers 2700 Pounds Capacity with 35% increase sold as a pair so order 1 kit per vehicle. TTC-1223V

www.generalspringkc.com

They say theyre for the last model of ram, but they fit both the ds and dt rams.

I took these two days ago during our first stop on a 6hr pull.

 

[Av1]

Finally ended up doing the upgrade I SHOULD have done from the start. Cargomaxx 351-893HD springs. The springs are crazy easy to install and make the truck handle the heavy tongue camper like a 2500 does. The unloaded ride is great, keeping the truck a daily driver to enjoy.


View attachment 199945

That is the right upgrade, for sure, to tow heavier with the 1500.

I do notice the upper part of your bed is pulled back pretty darn far from the cab while loaded. Have you measured how much compared to unloaded? I am curious how much the frame is flexing with that load. Just an observation and not a critique. My bed sits evenly to the cab with the lighter loads I typically tow with my 1500. I use a larger truck with my heavier loads.

 

[Rebeldad88]

We would be staying local. Backroads and a few state parks. We may venture to Florida that’s 300 miles.

I want a 2500 but I have to get approval and it would be early next year. My company gives us a vehicle allowance but we buy our own.

 

[Rebeldad88]

I old definitely get backs or springs.

The rebels have raised rise height right? I wonder if those springs would work?

 

[Fatherof3]

I old definitely get backs or springs.

The rebels have raised rise height right? I wonder if those springs would work?

Rebels are 1 inch higher than others yes .

 

[Gren71]

That is the right upgrade, for sure, to tow heavier with the 1500.

I do notice the upper part of your bed is pulled back pretty darn far from the cab while loaded. Have you measured how much compared to unloaded? I am curious how much the frame is flexing with that load. Just an observation and not a critique. My bed sits evenly to the cab with the lighter loads I typically tow with my 1500. I use a larger truck with my heavier loads.

The bed being pulled away from the cab is an optical illusion due to the soft bed cover and how it sits. I got caught by the optical illusion myself when I first put the cover on and did measurements to verify there is no frame flex at all.

The springs that I have raised the rear end a little over 3/4 of an inch from stock Ride height.

With full tongue weight, the truck sits perfectly level as measured from the ground to the wheel well.

With the weight distribution Hitch dialed in the rear is about 1/2-1/4” higher than the front. And the front only came up 1/4” with the weight of the tongue.

 

[Gren71]

I old definitely get backs or springs.

The rebels have raised rise height right? I wonder if those springs would work?

The 351-893Hd springs raised my stock height 3/4”.

The 351-893XHD would raise a stock rear about 1”. Which would be the stock height of a rebel. The chart below says the 351-893XHD will raise a stock rear by 2” but another member has them and his measurements gave him 1” over stock height.

 

[Gren71]

We would be staying local. Backroads and a few state parks. We may venture to Florida that’s 300 miles.

I want a 2500 but I have to get approval and it would be early next year. My company gives us a vehicle allowance but we buy our own.

My truck was in the shop for a few months and I had to rent a 2500. These springs make this truck pull just like the 2500 did which is nice.

 

[Rebeldad88]

Thanks guys. I don’t want to gain ride height. Thinking about ordering the 893hd.

 

[Rebeldad88]

So we changed trailers. We decided to go with the wolf pup. It’s a 24’ footer and 4800 dry weight.

I messed up and ordered the 350 893. The not variable rate. Still worth installing them for this trailer?

 

[Gren71]

So we changed trailers. We decided to go with the wolf pup. It’s a 24’ footer and 4800 dry weight.

I messed up and ordered the 350 893. The not variable rate. Still worth installing them for this trailer?

Im not sure if they are just stiffer all the way or if they will be the same spring rate as your OEM but just taller to allow for more squat. I’m not sure about the return policy, but I would take a look at it and make sure that if you put the springs on and decide you don’t like them you can return them after. If you can’t just order the ones that you want and when the wrong set come in, turn them right around and send them back.

You’re also more than welcome to wait for a couple of days. I’m putting on the XHD Springs either Monday or Tuesday. If I end up sticking with them, I will have a set of the 351–893 HD Springs just sitting in my garage that I would love to not leave sitting there. Id part with them for less than a new set.

I know you said you wanted to not gain any height. What is your current rear ride height? Measured from the ground to the center of the beginning of the fender well. Mine is 39 1/4 to 39 1/2 with the HD springs.

Also, my first camper was a wolf pup, and we absolutely loved it

Edit: I vaguely remember another member of the forum in the cargo Max thread getting the non-progressive rate springs and sending them back after feeling like they were just too stiff all the time. Maybe come through that thread and see if you can find some some info on that. I think I have it linked in my profile or you can just search for it.