noizy21
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2020
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- Reaction score
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I have a few cargo/race trailers and a 30' Jayco TT that I've owned for some time now and have been pulled with my 2017 RAM 2500 6.4 gasser. Honestly , the 2500 handles the trailers great. No sway or anything even in a heavy wind or next to other larger vehicles. The only issue I ever had with the truck is power pulling in the hills/mountains and against a strong head wind. But other then that, the truck is great.
Since we are traveling more with the camper, I decided to go with 6.7 diesel and thought since I may get a bigger trailer in future, I might as well go with a 3500 SRW with a HO 6.7. (it also has factory air leveling)
This last week was my first tow with the new 3500 from Illinois to Florida with the TT. The truck obviously had no issues with power. It was awesome!! Never owning a diesel before, I almost started laughing at how easy it pulled through the mountains. However, it was all over the road and just felt like the back of the truck was rolling and I was "see-sawing" the steering wheel around corners and when vehicles would be next to me. (if that makes sense). It's fine going down a strait highway at whatever speed but as soon as another vehicle pulls along side or a sami comes up behind me and disturbs the air, I just have to white knuckle it and hold it in my lane. Also, I'm not sure if this will make sense but it's almost as if the steering is too easy in the truck and there is no firm feed back in the wheel. I'm assuming this because of the adaptive steering? This was nothing like I ever exsperienced with my 2500. My wife would even tow the camper with my 2500 but after a few miles on the highway with the new truck, she said no way and traded me back.
Since I still have my 2500 , as soon as I got home, I hooked it back up and went for a drive and guess what, it was as stable as ever and had no sway or control issues at all!
So.....reading other post, I know what some are going to say...... "make sure the wieght distribution is right" which is very good advise. Since this is text, I only say this not to sound like a smart ass but to explain that I'm not "new" at towring. I've been towing race tailers and campers since I've been 16. However, I'm definitly am not going to sit here and say I know everything or I wouldn't be posting here. I need some help and opinions from you guys that know these newer trucks better then I do. I'm just saying I know the concept of weight ditribution and such. I forgot to mention, I do have and use a nice WDH for the trailer and have checked all the measurements for the new with the air bags in "towring" mode and all is good. I'm a big fan of WDHes.
I got to looking at my two trucks and noticed that my 2500 has a rear sway bar and my 3500 does not. Could this be the simple solution? How come the 3500 doesn't have a rear sway bar and my 2500 does? In your opinion is this something I should add and if so, any recommendations?
Anyway, any help or advice for the 3500 is very much appreceiated. I know there has to be a fix and I would have to kinda blame the truck since the 2500 still handles it with no issues at all. I'm just was so surprised in the difference in the trucks and totally expected the 3500 to tow as good as... if not better then my 2500.
Thanks!
Nick
Since we are traveling more with the camper, I decided to go with 6.7 diesel and thought since I may get a bigger trailer in future, I might as well go with a 3500 SRW with a HO 6.7. (it also has factory air leveling)
This last week was my first tow with the new 3500 from Illinois to Florida with the TT. The truck obviously had no issues with power. It was awesome!! Never owning a diesel before, I almost started laughing at how easy it pulled through the mountains. However, it was all over the road and just felt like the back of the truck was rolling and I was "see-sawing" the steering wheel around corners and when vehicles would be next to me. (if that makes sense). It's fine going down a strait highway at whatever speed but as soon as another vehicle pulls along side or a sami comes up behind me and disturbs the air, I just have to white knuckle it and hold it in my lane. Also, I'm not sure if this will make sense but it's almost as if the steering is too easy in the truck and there is no firm feed back in the wheel. I'm assuming this because of the adaptive steering? This was nothing like I ever exsperienced with my 2500. My wife would even tow the camper with my 2500 but after a few miles on the highway with the new truck, she said no way and traded me back.
Since I still have my 2500 , as soon as I got home, I hooked it back up and went for a drive and guess what, it was as stable as ever and had no sway or control issues at all!
So.....reading other post, I know what some are going to say...... "make sure the wieght distribution is right" which is very good advise. Since this is text, I only say this not to sound like a smart ass but to explain that I'm not "new" at towring. I've been towing race tailers and campers since I've been 16. However, I'm definitly am not going to sit here and say I know everything or I wouldn't be posting here. I need some help and opinions from you guys that know these newer trucks better then I do. I'm just saying I know the concept of weight ditribution and such. I forgot to mention, I do have and use a nice WDH for the trailer and have checked all the measurements for the new with the air bags in "towring" mode and all is good. I'm a big fan of WDHes.
I got to looking at my two trucks and noticed that my 2500 has a rear sway bar and my 3500 does not. Could this be the simple solution? How come the 3500 doesn't have a rear sway bar and my 2500 does? In your opinion is this something I should add and if so, any recommendations?
Anyway, any help or advice for the 3500 is very much appreceiated. I know there has to be a fix and I would have to kinda blame the truck since the 2500 still handles it with no issues at all. I'm just was so surprised in the difference in the trucks and totally expected the 3500 to tow as good as... if not better then my 2500.
Thanks!
Nick