34 foot camper

[Waterfowlhunter91]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 gears. I’m looking at a 34 foot travel trailer that weighs 6288 lbs dry and 7655 lbs fully loaded with a 655 lbs tongue weight. Do you guys think I’ll have any trouble pulling it or should I try and find a shorter camper?

 

[Darksteel165]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 gears. I’m looking at a 34 foot travel trailer that weighs 6288 lbs dry and 7655 lbs fully loaded with a 655 lbs tongue weight. Do you guys think I’ll have any trouble pulling it or should I try and find a shorter camper?

You need to get your truck weighed to determine your payload or what your hitch weight can be.
Unless you have a fat Limited like me you are most likely good as far as weight is concerned assuming those are the correct specs per the trailers manufacturers spec.

 

[Waterfowlhunter91]

My truck is on the bottom of the list. Im more worried about the length of the trailer

 

[Darksteel165]

My truck is on the bottom of the list. Im more worried about the length of the trailer

This list means nothing, you can't go by it for your weight.

The GVWR will be correct on that chart, the 7,100 lbs.
But your payload is not 1800...

Take a picture of the sticker in your door jamb, but also get it weighed. to confirm.

 

[silver billet]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 gears. I’m looking at a 34 foot travel trailer that weighs 6288 lbs dry and 7655 lbs fully loaded with a 655 lbs tongue weight. Do you guys think I’ll have any trouble pulling it or should I try and find a shorter camper?

You'll more than likely run into sway issues, that's a long and heavy trailer for any half ton. Your tongue weight will be closer to 800-1000 pounds when loaded up using the 10 to 15 percent rule of your trailer GVWR.

 

[Waterfowlhunter91]

This list means nothing, you can't go by it for your weight.

The GVWR will be correct on that chart, the 7,100 lbs.
But your payload is not 1800...

Take a picture of the sticker in your door jamb, but also get it weighed. to confirm.

 

[Darksteel165]

Much higher then I or I bet anyone expected.
A low optioned Bighorn.

In theory should tow that trailer fine weight wise, I don't think you got 1k in options

I would heed the warning of Silver Billiet above. You can add some sway bars which should help with towing too since you don't have air suspension on your truck which should help it be more planted.

 

[Seadoorxpguy]

I tow a cougar 32rli which is just about 35ft without a issue, i have about 10k miles on my setup. I will say until I got my Hensley hitch its wasn't that fun to tow around.

 

[SnowBlaZR2]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 gears. I’m looking at a 34 foot travel trailer that weighs 6288 lbs dry and 7655 lbs fully loaded with a 655 lbs tongue weight. Do you guys think I’ll have any trouble pulling it or should I try and find a shorter camper?

My camper weighed close to that, at 26 ft. I added E rated tires, Hellwig rear sway bar, Timber Grove bags, and a ProPride hitch.

We're now in a diesel F-350 for a reason. I'd find something smaller.

 

[Jaystull]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 gears. I’m looking at a 34 foot travel trailer that weighs 6288 lbs dry and 7655 lbs fully loaded with a 655 lbs tongue weight. Do you guys think I’ll have any trouble pulling it or should I try and find a shorter camper?

I have a 21 same gears and pull a 34’ 7k not an issue actually tows it very comfortably. Obviously WDH is a must and I upgraded to 10ply this year so I can’t wait to see the difference. I had a 2015 with the 321 gears and it’s a big difference with the 392 gears. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how well your ram toes. I also have 1680 payload which is where most if not all 1/2 tons fall short. But me the wife 3 year old and firewood blah blah camping stuff it performs well. I’m not just some just go with it tie it kinda guy I researched and looked to find the perfect setup and I’m glad I did. Your tongue will be more than the advertised sticker honestly add 200 pounds to whatever they tell you. My tongue is 600 something and I bet if I weighed it it’s more in the 800 range also my camper is dual slides opposing sides so my trailer puts a nice center weight right over the tires so my experience can be a bit different. Be sure to understand your camper layout cause I seen a 30’ camper with3 slides front kitchen have a 1k tongue weight on sticker be aware before you buy.

 

[LITTLEREBEL]

Timbergrove bags and weight distribution hitch will help tremendously.

 

[CalvinC]

Honestly its not the weight that gets you, but the sail.

An RV is like pulling a parachute down the highway, and the taller and longer it is the more difficult your sway & stability problems will be.

This isn't a setup I'd recommend for a newbie, but shouldn't be an issue with some common sense, a WDH, maybe some E range tires, sway bar and rear shocks. Not sure I'd travel cross country with it, but down to the lake is probably fine.

 

[SnowBlaZR2]

Not sure I'd travel cross country with it, but down to the lake is probably fine.

This is an underrated statement. I often see people who say "mine tows it just fine." There's a large gap between towing something to the campground two miles down the road twice a year and towing in the mountains or on interstates with semi trucks passing at 80 in 40 mph winds.

My Ram did great 100% of the time with our previous trailer. It did great 95% of the time with our current trailer. My opinion is that folks need to focus more on that other 5% than they do.

 

[Willwork4truck]

Flat/level with no head or crosswind is ok. The truck has the power but is lacking in weight.
"Tail wagging the dog" and long, steep downhill grades are not conducive to stress-free trips.

I used to be more opinionated about peeps towing trailers that big, but got flamed too much by the "my truck can pull it" crowd.

So, since the tundra was able to "tow" the space shuttle I guess people can do whatever they want.

I sometimes watch the YouTube videos where the trailer whipsaws and flips both units. Sad.

Spend a few grand on a high end wd hitch that handles sway (not the basic ones) and watch your speed. Adjust trailer brakes every trip.
Get rid of P series tires. Add a stout sway bar. Watch your weights especially rear. Adjust headlights if driving at night (for the not level condition).

Lots of things you need to do when under-trucked, all my opinion (towed almost 20 years but used a SRW 1 ton).

 

[bigdodge]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500 with the 3.92 gears. I’m looking at a 34 foot travel trailer that weighs 6288 lbs dry and 7655 lbs fully loaded with a 655 lbs tongue weight. Do you guys think I’ll have any trouble pulling it or should I try and find a shorter camper?

weigh your truck loaded with everything you will take on a trip to include people.

report back with weight

 

[Willwork4truck]

My camper weighed close to that, at 26 ft. I added E rated tires, Hellwig rear sway bar, Timber Grove bags, and a ProPride hitch.

We're now in a diesel F-350 for a reason. I'd find something smaller.

So to help the OP out with some factual modification cost numbers, appx how much did it cost you for all those towing goodies?
(Me thinks adding whatever that cost onto the price of a 1500 would take you into 2500 gasser territory but thats just my guess.)

 

[Willwork4truck]

Last input on this, here’s a Reddit poster from a year ago…
Some interesting comments. Note he pulls very big but mostly short trips. His one long trip he didnt like…
”I have the same truck with tow package and it pulls up to 10,000 lbs. 5.3L engine. Are you sure it’s only 7,200 lbs? What is your axel ratio? Anyways, I pull a Coleman 337bh with it. 39ft from hitch to bumper. The TT weighs 8.5K empty. I don’t go on long trips with it. I live in it full time and mostly move from park to park.

I originally moved it from San Antonio all the way to Titusville,FL. It sucks pulling something so huge. I had plenty of power to pull it but I could feel the TT swaying in the back if I went over 60 mph. My TY is too big for my truck but it will pull it. Also, I have an upgraded RAS suspension system that is a life saver. The RAS or upgraded air bags is a must if your trailers tongue weight exceeds 500lbs. You will also need sway bars on the TT if your planning on getting something that is long like 24 ft +. If your truck can only tow 7,200(which doesn’t sound right to me) and if your planning on going over mountain passes I’d keep at or under 6K. It’s flat over here in Florida.”

Can your truck pull it? Sure It has the power.
Can you stop it safely? Maybe.
Can you make an emergency lane change without loosing it? Hmmm
What did Clint Eastwood say? “Feel lucky …?

 

[SnowBlaZR2]

So to help the OP out with some factual modification cost numbers, appx how much did it cost you for all those towing goodies?
(Me thinks adding whatever that cost onto the price of a 1500 would take you into 2500 gasser territory but thats just my guess.)

2022 Ram 1500 Laramie: $57,332
Cooper tires: $1470.97 (incl. 5% mil discount)
Hellwig rear sway bar: $271.92
Timber Grove air bags: $420
ProPride hitch: $3,650
Total: $63,144.89

I think a similarly built 22 2500 gasser would've been right around that $63k with Mark Dodge back then.

 

[Willwork4truck]

2022 Ram 1500 Laramie: $57,332
Cooper tires: $1470.97 (incl. 5% mil discount)
Hellwig rear sway bar: $271.92
Timber Grove air bags: $420
ProPride hitch: $3,650
Total: $63,144.89

I think a similarly built 22 2500 gasser would've been right around that $63k with Mark Dodge back then.

Kinda though as much… however, based on years on the Ford forums, (and they tend to have higher payloads), peeps can and will justify most anything.

 

[Belvedere]

Just something else to consider, which may or may not be a problem, since you mentioned maybe going smaller. If you're planning to go to regular campgrounds, your options may be limited with that long of a trailer.

We drag around a 21' trailer, and often take it to state parks. Most of our favorite sites won't hold much more than a 24' or 26' with our crew cab.