My Rams

[Ejmartin]

I have a 20 year history with Rams and currently researching an order for a Laramie 2500. I have a Palomino Puma TT that weighs in at just under 10,000 lbs. I have been towing it locally with a 2017 Ram Big Horn 1500, 4x4, 5.7Hemi. The Big Horn has done well enough but lacks the interior appointments and suspension for the longer hauls we are planning...so we're upgrading!

I have been driving one version or another Ram 1500 since 1999. My first one, 1999 Quad Cab, 2 X 4, was totaled by my wife (we don't talk about it). Next was a 2002 1500 Quad Cab 2x4 that I drove until 2007 when I traded it for a 2007 "Thunder Road" edition 2x4 and my first 5.7 Hemi...loved it. I drove that one 10 Years until buying the current Big Horn. Now we're moving up to a 2500. We looked at other models offered by other manufacturers but immediately circled back to the Ram...the others just don't stack up.
Our primary residence is in north Georgia and we have a hunting camp in central Tennessee so there are frequent road trips (about 5.5 hrs) between the properties. I'm also approaching retirement so we'll have more opportunities for travel and are definitely heading out-of-state.

 

[Jeffmc306]

Ejmartin, you’re on the right track! We bought a 2019 RAM 1500 to tow our 27’ Airstream but found the payload was too little (1220 lbs). The trailer weighs a max of 7600 lbs. but actual tongue weight is around 1100 lbs. The RAM 1500 towed the trailer fine but we were right on the max of the rear axle‘s 4100 lbs. after a trip to the CAT scales.

We now have a 2019 RAM 2500 6.4 Hemi with 2940 lbs. payload. The difference in towing between the two trucks is significant - much more capable and less stressful experience. The 2500 is over 1000 lbs heavier but I’m getting the same if not better fuel economy. If you decide to go with a Cummins, you may want to get the 3500 to get back the 900 lbs payload you’ll lose to the diesel.

Good luck with your hunt for a new RAM And congratulations on your pending retirement! *I’ve got 49 work days left myself.

 

[Burn'n Oil]

10K lbs? Wow! You gonna love the 2500! We did the so called half-ton towable routine with a 8500 lb TT hooked to an early 4th gen 1500. Did that for seven yrs and 40K kms. Mountains, prairies, snow storms and a scream'n Hemi. It did just fine or so I kept telling myself. That same TT is now hooked to a 3500. I ain't never going back!

 

[Ejmartin]

Ejmartin, you’re on the right track! We bought a 2019 RAM 1500 to tow our 27’ Airstream but found the payload was too little (1220 lbs). The trailer weighs a max of 7600 lbs. but actual tongue weight is around 1100 lbs. The RAM 1500 towed the trailer fine but we were right on the max of the rear axle‘s 4100 lbs. after a trip to the CAT scales.

We now have a 2019 RAM 2500 6.4 Hemi with 2940 lbs. payload. The difference in towing between the two trucks is significant - much more capable and less stressful experience. The 2500 is over 1000 lbs heavier but I’m getting the same if not better fuel economy. If you decide to go with a Cummins, you may want to get the 3500 to get back the 900 lbs payload you’ll lose to the diesel.

Good luck with your hunt for a new RAM And congratulations on your pending retirement! *I’ve got 49 work days left myself.

Thanks for the feedback...it's comforting to hear testimonials like that. I'm fairly well set on the 6.4 Hemi. I've spoken with a good number of folks that have experience or expertise on the subject and for my purposes they have agreed the 6.4 is the best fit and supports all intended use of the truck...in addition to saving a wad of cabbage!

As for towing...I can't wait to ease some of that white-knuckle stress. The 5.7 Hemi has all the power I ever needed...but the suspension/light design of the 1500 was never intended to haul the big campers...even a VW Beetle can push us around. When looking at the specs of the truck (particularly the GCWR), I have it maxed out! I can't blame all of it on the truck because the various tow systems/sway controls are also a big factor. I've used a Husky LL system with a sway control for about 8 years and can't claim its been all that wonderful. As I mentioned in a previous post we are looking for more and longer tows out-of-state so in addition to the new tow vehicle I have just made the move to the Hensley Arrow and it's awaiting installation once I get back from camp. it's a HUGE price for those rigs but after a ton of research I decided to pull the trigger. I'll definitely post my experience with it once I get it mounted up and road tested.
Thanks again for sharing your experiences and by-the-way...GREAT pics!
E. J.

 

[Ejmartin]

10K lbs? Wow! You gonna love the 2500! We did the so called half-ton towable routine with a 8500 lb TT hooked to an early 4th gen 1500. Did that for seven yrs and 40K kms. Mountains, prairies, snow storms and a scream'n Hemi. It did just fine or so I kept telling myself. That same TT is now hooked to a 3500. I ain't never going back!

Thanks for the response!
No doubt you've experienced the same things I have while towing a large camper. Ram has done a brilliant job with the 1500 and it has done all I ever asked of it...but I know I'm over-the-line when hitched to the Puma. We've had campers ranging from pop-ups to a 7,500lb Prowler we used for years before buying the Puma in Aug '18. After a couple trips I realized the Big Horn wasn't going to last. Moving to a 2500 has been a goal for a long-long time and I'm having a ball with this process.
Thanks again for sharing!
E. J.