So you want to tow a camper!

[devildodge]

The first thing you need to do is decide which camp you fall in.

The best camp to be in is to own neither the truck or the camper. This allows you to research and keep feelings out of your decision. This allows you to easily sit back and learn the process.

The next camp is owning the truck or the camper and having no illusions about the truck or the camper you plan to purchase. This narrows your search some. But at least you can keep feelings at bay...you just may be surprised the journey you are taken on.

The worst camp to be in is already owning both...or one or the other...but set on a specific size or type. This camp is often feeling based and can lead to discouragement and rash decisions.

Full disclosure: This is specific to the capacities of the truck. It is based on the manufacturer's specifications (regardless of preferences, experience, or internet sorcery)

Save comments about going over ratings and insurance claims for the other million threads out there.

For all other comments, questions and information go here

So you want to tow a camper! Discussion thread.

This is the discussion thread for towing a camper. https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/so-you-want-to-tow-a-camper.26906/ I was asked to sticky a conversation i had as alot of info is lost in internet sorcery. Discuss freely here. Any questions or comments can be hashed out here. Have fun.

5thgenrams.com

This will be to show how to match a truck and travel trailer for the sake of agreeing there are capacities that are set forth.

Happy Campers start with the trip to the campground.

 

[devildodge]

The information that does not change is GVWR, GCWR, Front and rear GAWR

GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating
GAWR Gross Axle Weight Rating

The charts will have the information we need. BUT, one must understand the payload and towing number listed is not set in stone and most trucks will be substantially less. Only use the charts for the as mentioned ratings

The info can be found on your driver's door jamb of a truck if you own it. Only needing the chart for GCWR

If you are searching for a truck, you can enter your VIN on the RAM trucks site and get the payload info and using the charts can do this for any truck then.

Ram Towing | Find the Best Truck for Your Towing Needs

Find everything you need to know about Ram towing capacity, payload & more here. Discover the best Ram truck or van that fits your towing needs today.

www.ramtrucks.com

Go to the link scroll to the bottom and click the look up my vehicle link. Enter the VIN of the truck and it will give you payload and towing.

NOTE: the payload number is accurate...the towing number is deceiving. Using just the tool without a VIN is like the charts. The numbers are for a specific no option truck.

Get acquainted with these numbers. They do not change.

There are other numbers for other configurations and I will gladly point those out but for this thread and for the ease of explanation, we will use the most popular configuration.

Crew Cab 5'7 bed Hemi 4x4

We will discuss both 3.21 and 3.92

GVWR 7100lbs
GAWR front 3900lbs rear 4100lbs
GCWR 3.21 13900lbs 3.92 17000lbs

 

[devildodge]

You will need to understand some terms about the travel trailer also.

UVW, TW, GVWR will be the most important. You will also need to know tank capacities etc.

If you own the camper, some of this can be found on the camper

Otherwise you need to search the camper make to find it.

UVW Unladen Vehicle Weight. AKA Dry weight. This is the empty camper. Usually without propane, batteries etc. This is the lightest your camper will ever weigh. Tongue weight ia included in this number. The tongue weight listed is a percentage of this weight. And shows how the camper balance is at empty. A camper will have between 10 to 15 % TW.

TW. Tongue weight. AKA Hitch weight This is the amount of the camper that is transfered to the truck.

GVWR. The maximum weight the camper is to weigh.


As you see this example has 645 tongue weight and 5788 dry weight.
With that they are saying the camper has a just over 11% tongue weight.

As you load the camper you will get closer to a 13% ish and climbing near 800lbs TW. This is a common mistake of 1500 owners.

 

[devildodge]

GVWR - base weight = payload

GCWR - base weight = max towing

You can find your base weight again by using the door jamb stickers. For door jamb sticker samples go here

Please post your Tire and Loading sticker

Hi, Looking to order and wanted to know the REAL cargo ability. Looking for pictures of the cargo sticker, Please post Model, gearing and specific options that may alter max cargo weights. ie Limited, 5'7, 4Wd, 3.92 Thanks (see attachment)

5thgenrams.com

Base Weight = GVWR - Payload.

Max Towing - (passengers + cargo/accessories + hitch) = max trailer

Max trailer includes tongue weight. And tongue weight must not exceed GVWR including passengers, cargo and hitch.

Note: Base weight is empty truck with a full tank of gas. (And any other fluids)

 

[devildodge]

The quickest way to explain the numbers is to imagine we own a truck with a payload of 1450lbs checked by looking at the tire and loading sticker on the door jamb. And it has 3.92 rear gear.

Now we learn a few formulas.

We need to know base weight. You can go weigh your truck...or look at your payload number.

Base weight is GVWR minus Payload.

So with our 1450lbs of payload we know

7100 minus 1450 equals 5650.

So our imaginary truck weighs 5650lbs. This is with full fluids...no passengers accessories or cargo.

With base weight we can now learn max towing. You must understand that this is everything you can haul carry or tow. This is not max trailer. This is why I said it is decieving.

GCWR minus Base weight equals max towing.

17000 minus 5650 equals 11,350

So max trailering is 11350. This is were the figures become dependant on the individual.

You will need to know your passenger weight any cargo or accessories you have.

You also need to understand tongue weight will be part of your payload. And that you may be more limited on total trailer weight because of it.

 

[devildodge]

11350. Max towing. Let us watch that number disappear

So we know the truck has 7100GVWR and 17000GCWR and a payload of 1450 giving a base weight of 5650.

The base weight includes fuel so you do not have to worry about that

So you have to have a driver. Of course this ranges greatly. But let's say 200lbs. (The SAE rating calls for an allowance of 300lbs driver/passenger...I weigh 300 myself so it doesn't help much with real world numbers)

A good WDH (which our sample camper requires) weighs about 100lbs. So our scenario has a minimum of 300lbs needed in the truck just to move it.

So that leaves 11050lbs for our trailer. A camper of that size will have about 14% tongue weight.

So...1547lbs of tongue weight. Our payload is only 1450. Now do we see how that is not what your trailer can weigh.

 

[devildodge]

So. Let's reverse the process.

5650 plus 200 driver and 100lb hitch.

Leaves 1150 for TW. At 13% TW the trailer would be 8850.

That is your max Trailer.

But there is more.

Most camping family's have a wife and kids. Then you got the stuff you put in the truck.

You get the hint that 8850 is going down even further.

I think this shows the fact that max towing is not max trailer. It also shows that each towing person will be different then the next.

Any specific questions. Ask in the discussion thread.

 

[devildodge]

Weigh My Truck - Home page

Onto the owners who have both the truck and camper. And the next step for the process.

A CAT scale will tell you exactly where you are with your set up.

The 3 weigh approach will give you all your weights and you can then judge them against your ratings.

Go to the site at the top and download their app. Find the closest one to you. Hook up your camper how you would for your trip.

Pull up to the scale. There are 3 pads. Steer axle, Drive axle, and trailer axle. Pull onto the scale. Front axle on the first pad. Rear axle on the second pad. Trailer axle(s) on the third.

This will give you the weight with your WDH attached. You can then either pull off and unhook the bars...or if you are alone there(no-one else waiting) JUST unhook on the scale and weigh again. This will show how much weight you took from your front axle.

Then pull off. Unhook the camper. Pull back on the scale and weigh just your truck. This will help you calculate tongue weight.

 

[devildodge]

2wd GVWR is 6900. FGAWR 3700 4100

3.6l V6 GCWR 3.21 11900
3.55 12900

 

[devildodge]

3.0l EcoDiesel

2wd GVWR 7200 FGAWR 3700 RGAWR 4100

4wd GVWR 7200 FGAWR 3900 RGAWR 4100

GCWR 3.21 13900

GCWR 3.92 15600

 

[devildodge]

DO NOT, concern yourself with passenger weight allowances.

There are no allowances in payload. These allowances...are payload.

Payload is the amount of weight your truck can have added to it until GVWR is reached.

Knowing your specific trucks front and rear axle weights are more important than any other number.

Staying under front and rear GAWR is absolutely necessary.

 

[devildodge]

2021/22 EcoDiesel HFE

GVWR 6990

GCWR 13900

 

[devildodge]

Over the years I have tried to make updates to the numbers. If I missed any let me know.

These numbers will all be changing now that the Hemi is gone. I think there are already some threads about that. I will update as the trucks roll out, if I remember.