Input on towing setup

[riccnick]

I should restate by saying it redistributes the weight forward with less weight on the rear axle.

Not to harp on you specifically my man (or woman), I'm just trying to keep things clear for those reading and learning. But while this statement is now more correct, it also does not mean you gain any more payload capacity. The one and only thing a WDH does specifically for your total payload capacity is: reduce it. (By the exact amount of the weight of the hitch and it's components) It does shift weight forward, but it does not reduce the weight or increase capacity at all.

Tow Setup with Air Suspension - what setting do you use when setting up a WD Hitch? Do you raise the truck all the way up to Off Road 1 or 2, or keep it at Normal, hoping to achieve that normal driving position with trailer. Could you then move it to Off Road 1 if you needed some more rise? What would that do?

Towing (and hauling) is only supposed to be done in Normal mode, where the air suspension functions as designed for loads while driving on the road.

This is FCA take on configuring the Ram for proper towing with air suspension. 1. Trailer hitch weight should not be greater than 10% of total trailer weight. 2. If you are going to use WD bars, following is recommend. A. Place truck in jack mode B. Measure height of front wheel well opening from ground to the bottom of the opening.C. Attach trailer until full load is on the truck measure again Subtract C from B, divide by three and add B to the result, difference should be no more than 1/3 of normal ride height. Adjust until within specification.Turn off jack mode, truck will auto level using the air ride system.

I do not know about using off road to tow...I would think not a good idea...but I have been wrong before

There are a few threads this is discussed. I pulled that from one of my posts there.

Lots of good discusion, here onthis subject.

I was just reading through the manual myself and it stated to place the vehicle in 'Normal' mode first, then place truck in Jack Mode.

And I agree this is a great conversation....

This is all correct and great

 

[riccnick]

I remember reading that when looking through the manual online. Which setting is Jack Mode? 4?

It's not an air suspension ride height selection, its a setting in the Uconnect menu that actually turns off the air suspension auto leveling so that the vehicle does not try to adjust while in the air and potentially cause an accident. To adjust a weight distribution hitch, as mentioned above, it's supposed to be in Normal ride height mode first, and then activated

 

[Gondul]

It's not an air suspension ride height selection, its a setting in the Uconnect menu that actually turns off the air suspension auto leveling so that the vehicle does not try to adjust while in the air and potentially cause an accident. To adjust a weight distribution hitch, as mentioned above, it's supposed to be in Normal ride height mode first, and then activated

And for those of us with the Off Road Group, that much taller...

Or will it go into Aero mode while towing?

 

[riccnick]

And for those of us with the Off Road Group, that much taller...

Or will it go into Aero mode while towing?

Yanno, I'm not sure if the truck goes into Aero when hitched up. I'm towing my Bronco with a plow on my car trailer this Friday, I'll find out! (My suspicion is that if Tow / Haul mode is turned on, the truck shouldn't go into Aero, but I have no grounding data for that, yet)

Edit: Through some light research, the old generation DS trucks disabled Aero mode in Tow / Haul. I'll confirm this Friday if that works for the 2019 DT's

But either way, a lot of guys out there would kill for that extra inch you're complaining about!

 

[Bhbdvm]

Not to harp on you specifically my man (or woman), I'm just trying to keep things clear for those reading and learning. But while this statement is now more correct, it also does not mean you gain any more payload capacity. The one and only thing a WDH does specifically for your total payload capacity is: reduce it. (By the exact amount of the weight of the hitch and it's components) It does shift weight forward, but does not reduce the weight or increase capacity it at all.



Towing (and hauling) is only supposed to be done in Normal mode, where the air suspension functions as designed for loads while driving on the road.




This is all correct and great

I should have just shut up and stuck with my initial intent of sharing my opinion of driving a heavy duty vs. Ram 1500.

 

[Cmerkert]

@riccnick Thanks for the Jack Mode info. That helps. That's what I get for getting so far ahead of myself while my truck is still in JB. But, this is how one learns and passes it on. . . Thanks!

 

[riccnick]

I should have just shut up and stuck with my initial intent of sharing my opinion of driving a heavy duty vs. Ram 1500.

I'd never tell anyone to shut up around here, and I was just picking on the one phrase in the middle of a paragraph that I wanted to clear up for people. Don't let little old me discourage you (or anyone else) from posting! I am NOT the judge and jury of posts around here, I'm just a keyboard warrior who likes to pick apart the little details, to (hopefully) aid in clarity with complex stuff like this, that's all.

 

[devildodge]

I should have just shut up and stuck with my initial intent of sharing my opinion of driving a heavy duty vs. Ram 1500.

We like all thoughts and opinions. Info on subjects sometimes benefits from typos or errors or misplaced thoughts.

Pretty much this whole thread started out with some solid info and then another thought was brought in and opened up new discussion.

Very good conversation.

 

[riccnick]

@riccnick Thanks for the Jack Mode info. That helps. That's what I get for getting so far ahead of myself while my truck is still in JB. But, this is how one learns and passes it on. . . Thanks!

If you search "2019 Ram Manual" in google, this site comes up and the first link (I believe) is to the thread where the .pdf copy of the owners manual is posted. You can read up on your truck and be an expert before it even shows up!

 

[Cmerkert]

If you search "2019 Ram Manual" in google, this site comes up and the first link (I believe) is to the thread where the .pdf copy of the owners manual is posted. You can read up on your truck and be an expert before it even shows up!

Been there, done that Lol. I already downloaded it at home and at work. That's where I remembered seeing Jack setting, but forgot to ask what it was.

 

[devildodge]

Speaking of typos @Cmerkert you have a 2.92 axle ratio on order...that should get great gas mileage.

 

[riccnick]

Speaking of typos @Cmerkert you have a 2.92 axle ratio on order...that should get great gas mileage.

Speaking of typos @Cmerkert you have a 2.92 axle ratio on order...that should get great gas mileage.

You can say that again

 

[devildodge]

You can say that again

Fixed it lol...good times

 

[riccnick]

Fixed it lol...good times

Damnit, now I look like the crazy one!

 

[Cmerkert]

You can say that again

Yep! 2 hampsters and a piece of cheese. I call it the Prius mod.
Just fixed it. Thanks! The other funny thing is Google wants me to call it a "Deplorable" Bed Step. haha

 

[RichT]

Not the airbags being discussed, but this video on WDH vs Airbags was very informative to me and is worth a view. It gets specific on weight transfer with the WDH alone though which is pertinent.

 

[JJRamTX]

Yanno, I'm not sure if the truck goes into Aero when hitched up. I'm towing my Bronco with a plow on my car trailer this Friday, I'll find out! (My suspicion is that if Tow / Haul mode is turned on, the truck shouldn't go into Aero, but I have no grounding data for that, yet)

Edit: Through some light research, the old generation DS trucks disabled Aero mode in Tow / Haul. I'll confirm this Friday if that works for the 2019 DT's

But either way, a lot of guys out there would kill for that extra inch you're complaining about!

I just towed my Boat (just shy of 7000lbs w/trailer) 900 miles back to Colorado and I stayed in Aero mode for the whole trip. It definitely tows so much better than my 2nd or 3rd gen Rams did. With the e-Torque, Air Ride suspension, and the electric motor steering, the only reason I remember I had the trailer behind me was the different reaction of the suspension to bumps and dips in the road. I like the ability to adjust the suspension so I am not as likely to drag the skag of the boat on a inclined road occurance. I drop the truck to Entry/Exit when entering a gas station entrance or any other hazardous dip in the road. Welding and repainting a skag is expensive! Had that happen more than once in my 24 years of owning boats

 

[riccnick]

II just towed my Boat (just shy of 7000lbs w/trailer) 900 miles back to Colorado and I stayed in Aero mode for the whole trip.

That's with Tow / Haul mode on?

I do know from some around town towing that the truck will not raise up to either of the offroad modes when it senses the load on the back.

 

[Cmerkert]

That's with Tow / Haul mode on?

I do know from some around town towing that the truck will not raise up to either of the offroad modes when it senses the load on the back.

Was just going to ask the same. You can change into all 4 modes when towing? Change on the fly??

 

[riccnick]

Was just going to ask the same. You can change into all 4 modes when towing? Change on the fly??

I'll try and get a video this Friday, I've towed only a couple times before with this truck and I'm having trouble remembering the exact functionality of everything when mixed with towing.