i wish i had another camping trip ahead of me this season but i don't think it's going to happen, otherwise i could give a better first-hand experience
i recently traded my 2015 1500 in for a new 2500, mostly because i appreciate overcompensating towability.
the 1500 was a CC SB 4x4, 5.7, 8sp, 3.21. this was certainly not the best options for a great tow rating. according to the charts the max tow is 8,000lbs with a payload of 1,530. i did, however, add a set of air lift 1000s to the springs to give me an extra 1,000lbs of payload. honestly i did this to combat any rear squat that would happen, and it worked like a charm
the camper's numbers are 635lb dry hitch weight and 7,635 CWR. i did test out the difference between near-empty and full psi on the helper springs and there was definitely some sag. although i never did any actual weighing i'm sure i carry way less than the 1,335 CCC. in the truck i would say about 500lbs of people and dogs, and another 100lbs of stuff thrown in the bed, so i was probably right at my max all around
it didn't have any problems on the trips i took. my longest with it was to maine, about 550 miles, and i didnt have any issues keeping up with the speed limits.
so now i have a 2500 sport CC SB 4x4, 6.4, 8sp, 3.73. on the charts it's 3380 payload and 14,410 towing. i've already made a trip to the junkyard with some metal in the bed and on a trailer and i think i weighed in at 1120lbs with a 1,000lb trailer. i know it's not much but the ride is definitely smoother with some weight in the back
it's funny because the last HD ram i had was a 2012 with the HO cummins and it technically had less payload and towing than my new 2500. with that one i was towing a 5th wheel and traveling down the road around 21,000 lbs. and although i will certainly miss the diesel i couldn't justify getting a new one. i think back in 2012 the standalone diesel option was like $6-7k and now it's like $12k. i also had enough vehicles where the ram was only for towing the camper, but now i use my truck as a DD, and i think the gas would just work out better for me now
i think even if the choice to get a diesel had been better money-wise i would probably still choose the gasser. the 2012 i had was the last year and the only HD truck left that didn't use DEF. i just don't think i want to have to deal with that today.