First time RAM owner

[Todd]

Thanks for allowing me to join. Just became a Ram owner on the 26th of Jan. Wow... So glad I chose the Ram Big Horn Lonestar Sport. I can't believe how much I really enjoy driving this truck. We purchased this as a tow truck for towing our travel trailer with a dry weight #5,210 and a GVWR of #7,000. Our truck has a 3.21 gear ratio. 5.7 hemi with I believe, a good setup for towing mostly in flat regions. GVWR #6,900. Payload #1,850. Max Tow #8,440 . GCWR #13,900. It's a great feeling of owning a great driving truck with some really great comfort. I told my wife... I don't think, I've ever drove such a truck, that I just didn't want to stop driving cause it rides so great and preforms so effortlessly. I'd been researching for a little over a year ago and I believe and feel that I hit a home run with my decision on the Ram!

 

[19llhpb]

Absolutely! Welcome

 

[lonestar_penta19]

I cant stop driving my Ram too. I know the feeling. You made a great choice with your truck on choosing Ram and welcome!

 

[Nate4x4]

Congrats and welcome to the RAM-ily! Thanks for joining us, we're totally happy to have you here!

 

[jeffmc306]

Thanks for allowing me to join. Just became a Ram owner on the 26th of Jan. Wow... So glad I chose the Ram Big Horn Lonestar Sport. I can't believe how much I really enjoy driving this truck. We purchased this as a tow truck for towing our travel trailer with a dry weight #5,210 and a GVWR of #7,000. Our truck has a 3.21 gear ratio. 5.7 hemi with I believe, a good setup for towing mostly in flat regions. GVWR #6,900. Payload #1,850. Max Tow #8,440 . GCWR #13,900. It's a great feeling of owning a great driving truck with some really great comfort. I told my wife... I don't think, I've ever drove such a truck, that I just didn't want to stop driving cause it rides so great and preforms so effortlessly. I'd been researching for a little over a year ago and I believe and feel that I hit a home run with my decision on the Ram!

Todd, welcome to the club! I too am a “new to Ram” owner as of Dec 31, 2018. We also picked the truck as a travel trailer tow vehicle. Do yourself a favor and check the white tire sticker on the driver’s side chassis frame for the payload number. See if that matches the #1850 number you mentioned.

My dealer told me our payload was #1840 but the sticker says #1220 - big difference and a problem for us. Our Airstream’s loaded tongue weight is close to #1000 so that leaves #220 for passengers + cargo. Haven’t told the wife yet that she’ll have to stay home. Jokes aside, this is a big problem. The truck was a dealer trade so we had no change to check it before delivery. I got a private message from another RAM owner on the Airtstream forum who pointed this out to me.

Went back to the dealer and he’s upset because the tools he’s got to build a truck show him #1840. The sticker is “gospel” and should be respected. Will the wheels fall off if you exceed that number? No but you might run into trouble with insurance or law if something were to happen.

 

[Todd]

Todd, welcome to the club! I too am a “new to Ram” owner as of Dec 31, 2018. We also picked the truck as a travel trailer tow vehicle. Do yourself a favor and check the white tire sticker on the driver’s side chassis frame for the payload number. See if that matches the #1850 number you mentioned.

My dealer told me our payload was #1840 but the sticker says #1220 - big difference and a problem for us. Our Airstream’s loaded tongue weight is close to #1000 so that leaves #220 for passengers + cargo. Haven’t told the wife yet that she’ll have to stay home. Jokes aside, this is a big problem. The truck was a dealer trade so we had no change to check it before delivery. I got a private message from another RAM owner on the Airtstream forum who pointed this out to me.

Went back to the dealer and he’s upset because the tools he’s got to build a truck show him #1840. The sticker is “gospel” and should be respected. Will the wheels fall off if you exceed that number? No but you might run into trouble with insurance or law if something were to happen.

View attachment 15935

Thanks a bunch for the input. My Tacoma had a payload capacity of #1300 tongue weight #550. When we chose the ram, we knew it would be more powerful than the 4.0 V6. Towing wasn't to awfully bad here in the Carolinas for just only me and the wife that pack light for lots of full hookup campgrounds with the Tacoma which had the max tow #6,500 package. We chose our Apex camper for the midsize Tacoma, and now that we have a half ton ram, it should be a safer towing experience with a powerful V8 and better tow rating truck than the Yota did after around 8,500 miles under my belt.
We're very much looking forward to a great season, once I de-winterize our ulta light Apex. By the way, What's your Airstream model# , dry weight and gvwr, length? Yes, I will definitely be checking my sticker once I get a chance. I'm out of town for now.

 

[jeffmc306]

Thanks a bunch for the input. My Tacoma had a payload capacity of #1300 tongue weight #550. When we chose the ram, we knew it would be more powerful than the 4.0 V6. Towing wasn't to awfully bad here in the Carolinas for just only me and the wife that pack light for lots of full hookup campgrounds with the Tacoma which had the max tow #6,500 package. We chose our Apex camper for the midsize Tacoma, and now that we have a half ton ram, it should be a safer towing experience with a powerful V8 and better tow rating truck than the Yota did after around 8,500 miles under my belt.
We're very much looking forward to a great season, once I de-winterize our ulta light Apex. By the way, What's your Airstream model# , dry weight and gvwr, length? Yes, I will definitely be checking my sticker once I get a chance. I'm out of town for now.

Todd, sounds like a nice setup with the Apex!

We ordered a Airstream 27’ Globetrotter with dual AC and 2 solar panels. The tongue weight is 871, dry wt. 6258 and GVWR is 7600. RAM dealer recommended the 3.92 axle and 33 gal tank with the Hemi. I think part of the reason the payload is so low is the configuration with Off-Road package, panoramic sunroof and crew cab. All takes away from payload...

I’m sure you’re going to enjoy the Ram + Apex - happy camping!
-Jeff

Here’s some photos of the Globetrotter...

 

[Creep0321]

Todd, sounds like a nice setup with the Apex!

We ordered a Airstream 27’ Globetrotter with dual AC and 2 solar panels. The tongue weight is 871, dry wt. 6258 and GVWR is 7600. RAM dealer recommended the 3.92 axle and 33 gal tank with the Hemi. I think part of the reason the payload is so low is the configuration with Off-Road package, panoramic sunroof and crew cab. All takes away from payload...

I’m sure you’re going to enjoy the Ram + Apex - happy camping!
-Jeff

Here’s some photos of the Globetrotter...
View attachment 15989View attachment 15990View attachment 15991

Have you thought about removing the skid plates? And/of full size spare, should add a bit to your payload for towing that beautiful trailer.

 

[Todd]

Todd, sounds like a nice setup with the Apex!

We ordered a Airstream 27’ Globetrotter with dual AC and 2 solar panels. The tongue weight is 871, dry wt. 6258 and GVWR is 7600. RAM dealer recommended the 3.92 axle and 33 gal tank with the Hemi. I think part of the reason the payload is so low is the configuration with Off-Road package, panoramic sunroof and crew cab. All takes away from payload...

I’m sure you’re going to enjoy the Ram + Apex - happy camping!
-Jeff

Here’s some photos of the Globetrotter...
View attachment 15989View attachment 15990View attachment 15991

Thanks for your input! Same to you and your family Happy Camping!

 

[Todd]

Have you thought about removing the skid plates? And/of full size spare, should add a bit to your payload for towing that beautiful trailer.

Not even thought about that yet since I was towing relative easy with the Yota we was towing with. But thanks for the input though. With all the newness of the ram, I've been working on getting our season planned for camping. I'll definitely be considering those mods for our #'s to increase. Thanks for your input means a lot!

 

[Creep0321]

Not even thought about that yet since I was towing relative easy with the Yota we was towing with. But thanks for the input though. With all the newness of the ram, I've been working on getting our season planned for camping. I'll definitely be considering those mods for our #'s to increase. Thanks for your input means a lot!

Hope it works out for you with no issues!

 

[Todd]

Have you thought about removing the skid plates? And/of full size spare, should add a bit to your payload for towing that beautiful trailer.

Some inside photos of the Apex 250RLS

 

[Creep0321]

Looks nice! Sleeps how many? Where? I’m still new to TT.

 

[Todd]

Looks nice! Sleeps how many? Where? I’m still new to TT.

Sleeps 4 total 2 in front short queen bed and 2 adults in the ushaped dinnett

 

[Todd]

Coachmen has since discontinued this model which is a 2016. We made the decision to get a comfortable couples coach since it's mostly mostly just me and my wife only one 9yr old grandson around 3 to 4 time's of year.

 

[Creep0321]

I’ve got a wife, 3 yr old, 1 yr old, and one more in the future ha.

 

[Todd]

I’ve got a wife, 3 yr old, 1 yr old, and one more in the future ha.

I'm stairing at retirement in 7yrs I'll have my retirement with the City of Asheboro Water Dept, then I'll have my 30 yrs in. I told the wife we are going out west eventually, so a new truck needs to pull safer, and be paid off 10:4

 

[jeffmc306]

Some inside photos of the Apex 250RLS

Todd, that’s a beautiful trailer with lots of room. The slide out dinette really opens up the floor plan. Should be perfect for the two of you + grandson. What a neat experience for him! Have you decided on a weight distribution hitch yet? We had one bout of trailer sway with our previous 23’ trailer before up-sizing the bars to 1000#. That did the trick. Wife said she never wanted to go through that again (I agree).

 

[Todd]

Todd, that’s a beautiful trailer with lots of room. The slide out dinette really opens up the floor plan. Should be perfect for the two of you + grandson. What a neat experience for him! Have you decided on a weight distribution hitch yet? We had one bout of trailer sway with our previous 23’ trailer before up-sizing the bars to 1000#. That did the trick. Wife said she never wanted to go through that again (I agree).

I already have a Equalizer #10,000 weight distribution sway control system. I used it for my older set up with the midsize Tacoma.

 

[jeffmc306]

Have you thought about removing the skid plates? And/of full size spare, should add a bit to your payload for towing that beautiful trailer.

Funny thing you should ask about lightening the load... We had a 2016 VW Touareg Diesel which pulled our 23’ Airstream like a champ. Had 406 lb.ft of torque, 6 piston calipers and independent rear suspension. Payload was 1160 # so we decided to move up to the RAM.

I took the new trailer’s specs with when we sat down with the dealer. He assured me the new truck’s payload was 1840# - plenty to handle the 1000# tongue wt. and cargo. A few weeks after we picked up the truck I checked the sticker and found the real payload was 1220 (only 60# more than the Touareg!).

So... lightening the load would be a last resort since that’s the reason we got rid of the Touareg. By the way, we’re leasing the RAM and still in discussions with the dealer about a resolution. Had I known the actual payload was 1220 instead of the quoted 1840, I’d have gone with a 2500.