Travel Trailer towing question, I apologize if it has been asked to many times.

[Rubber Duck]

Etorque and 1680 payload? Is this a v6? Axle ratio?

Its a 5.7 V8 with a 3.21 axle ratio

 

[John Kloehr]

Yes, there are 3 different settings though I forget how to access, probably in uconnect somewhere. Something I setup once and never touch, whereas the gain can/should be adjusted according to road conditions. These 3 different settings affect how fast the gain is ramped up IIRC.

I have not looked into the factory trailer brake controller, my experience is mostly with the after-market Prodigy line of brake controllers.

The setting is probably boost, typically ranging from none to several levels. Boost applies additional trailer braking when the truck brakes are first touched. The heavier the trailer is, the more boost is needed. This is to introduce some initial slowing as the controller uses g force to further activate/modulate braking. Without boost, the truck would need more braking to activate the trailer brake, the trailer would then be pushing the tow vehicle.

One subtlety of this method of control to watch for is when applying brakes before exiting a highway, onto an exit ramp which slopes down hill. The trailer might start pushing a bit as the inertial control starts damping out the road slope. Fix is to just take one's foot off the brake for a moment and reapply; this starts the control over with the new downhill baseline.

 

[Rubber Duck]

As far as upgrades to handling and towing.

Hellwig rear sway bar

Billstein 5100 shocks

Cargomaxx 351-893 HD or XHD progressive rear springs

Timber Grove air bag suspension upgrade

E rated “10 ply” tires

A HIGH QUALITY wdh is worth the $$

Id avoid the hefty bump stop upgrades. I read they caused frame damage..true or not it scared me away from them. Do what you can afford.

I have a similar payload to yours, 1,760lbs.

Towing a 30ft Bullet 250BHS

I haven’t scaled wo weighed my tt in a while but i know for sure my tongue is HEAVY for the trailer…base its 715lbs before all my stuff…which is 13% of base weight. It sagged the heck out of the stock rear. Now loaded im willing to be my tongue is in the ballpark of 825lbs-850lbs. I have the cargomaxx springs in and they’re a life saver as far as im concerned.

With the whole family, dog, snacks, fire wood, ect, im within 100lbs-200lbs of my payload whenever I travel.

Leaving the campground
View attachment 202919

After a couple hours of driving where the suspension settles in and sits with about 1/2” of rake. Tows good.
View attachment 202920

Did the upgrade to the springs, make the ride quality worse when not towing?

 

[PatriotLonghorn]

I typically keep my trailer tow brake setting at 6.5-7, for a 5k R-pod. I changed out my diff fluid for Ravenol at 30k (43k currently) and haven't had any noises/shudder after towing. Hopefully you don't have any issues with it now that it's changed out.

 

[Gren71]

Did the upgrade to the springs, make the ride quality worse when not towing?

Its slightly stiffer, but it didn’t make it bad or rough. The truck is smooth as butter with daily driving. I regularly have a regular “open top” cup of coffee when i leave for work and can drink it while I drive w/o worrying about spilling it. I truly believe any ram with a tow package should have come with these progressive rate springs.

 

[Bt10]

Its slightly stiffer, but it didn’t make it bad or rough. The truck is smooth as butter with daily driving. I regularly have a regular “open top” cup of coffee when i leave for work and can drink it while I drive w/o worrying about spilling it. I truly believe any ram with a tow package should have come with these progressive rate springs.

I have Sumos and there’s no way I can drink ANYTHING, even with a sippy top.

 

[Rubber Duck]

I typically keep my trailer tow brake setting at 6.5-7, for a 5k R-pod. I changed out my diff fluid for Ravenol at 30k (43k currently) and haven't had any noises/shudder after towing. Hopefully you don't have any issues with it now that it's changed out.

How does Ravenol compare to AMSOIL diff fluid?

 

[Gren71]

I have Sumos and there’s no way I can drink ANYTHING, even with a sippy top.

I tried the sumos made for the ram and sent them back the day aftet the install. Those things could loosen a kidney stone with daily driving. Funny enough they were magic on my gladiator and are still good on my camper

 

[Bt10]

I tried the sumos made for the ram and sent them back the day aftet the install. Those things could loosen a kidney stone with daily driving. Funny enough they were magic on my gladiator and are still good on my camper

Same, was good on my gmc. I’ve posted in another thread but could be posted again here, that I emailed sumo and they said feel free to cut a taper/cone/other shape to soften the initial hit. I confess I haven’t gotten a rountuit yet. On the list..

 

[rotwiler]

21 Ram 4x4 QC 3:92 5.7 non e-tq bighorn lv 2, tow group, trailer steering, trailer tpms. Billstein 5100s leveled in front, hellwig sway bar, energy front poly sway bushingd and sumo springs(ride is great when not towing, can't even tell they are on the truck). This is how it sits with around, 7,000 pound trailer, with Weight distribution hitch off at time. Long trip with weight distribution and winds, no sway, some bounce, can easily forget pulling trailer unless hills. Never tried towing without distribution hitch attached except short distance like a few miles, seems fine. I have more spacing on my trailer axles, might be what helps a lot too with the ez tow axles.

 

[Rubber Duck]

Its slightly stiffer, but it didn’t make it bad or rough. The truck is smooth as butter with daily driving. I regularly have a regular “open top” cup of coffee when i leave for work and can drink it while I drive w/o worrying about spilling it. I truly believe any ram with a tow package should have come with these progressive rate springs.

Did you end up getting the variable weight springs that they have, or did you stick with those.

 

[rotwiler]

I tried the sumos made for the ram and sent them back the day aftet the install. Those things could loosen a kidney stone with daily driving. Funny enough they were magic on my gladiator and are still good on my camper

Which Sumo springs did you get. I got the Blue ones, they dont touch the axle until loaded, truck feels great. There is a spacer also you dont need to install, shouldn't be touching the axle when unloaded. I love the setup I have now with the Bilstein 5100s and Blue sumo springs.

 

[Gren71]

Did you end up getting the variable weight springs that they have, or did you stick with those.

I have the 351-893xhd variable rate springs in and love them

 

[Gren71]

Which Sumo springs did you get. I got the Blue ones, they dont touch the axle until loaded, truck feels great. There is a spacer also you dont need to install, shouldn't be touching the axle when unloaded. I love the setup I have now with the Bilstein 5100s and Blue sumo springs.

I had the same blue sumos. They didn’t touch while driving unless you hit a bump and then it felt like my tailbone was going to shatter because of how stiff they were. I still have the set of blue sumos that used to be in my Jeep in the truck just in case… But with the new cargo max springs even with the trailer attached, it’s nowhere close to engaging the bump stops.

 

[Rubber Duck]

I have the 351-893xhd variable rate springs in and love them

I am getting ready to purchase the Bilstein's and was wondering which spring to use, since the Bilstein's say up to a 2 inch lift. I have no lift, so it would be whatever the spring does to my truck.

 

[Gren71]

I am getting ready to purchase the Bilstein's and was wondering which spring to use, since the Bilstein's say up to a 2 inch lift. I have no lift, so it would be whatever the spring does to my truck.

The billstein front struts reuse the oem front springs. The lift is determined by what clip you put it on. I originally had it set to OEM height and ended up going to the third clip for 1in of front lift.

 

[Rubber Duck]

The billstein front struts reuse the oem front springs. The lift is determined by what clip you put it on. I originally had it set to OEM height and ended up going to the third clip for 1in of front lift.

I should have clarified, I am getting the rear shocks.

 

[Gren71]

I should have clarified, I am getting the rear shocks.

Got ya. I have the oem length rear 5100s and haven’t had any issues. But i dont do anything aside from drive on the highway and towing my trailer

 

[Rubber Duck]

Got ya. I have the oem length rear 5100s and haven’t had any issues. But i dont do anything aside from drive on the highway and towing my trailer

That is all we plan on doing.