switching to a 1500 and use for towing?

[RamGuy84]

So I really like the 1500 over the HDs. I feel like Ram made a poor decision not giving the HDs the same cab as the 1500.

If I went with a 1500 it would be a limited, 6'4" box, 4x4, crew cab, 3.92 rear end, id install air bags in the rear and install a 4" lift in it.

I tow a 24' x 8.5' enclose trailer. empty it is 4000 pounds, loaded it averages 8k-10k probably. Being that long it was some decent tongue weight. I dont tow it everyday, but 3 times a week, sometimes a little more.

What are your thoughts on this?
Would you recommend the 4 corner air suspension over just rear aftermarket bags?

 

[jsalbre]

What’s the tongue weight of your trailer when loaded? It’ll probably be way over your payload capacity on a 1500, and may even exceed your RAWR.

 

[CurtJ]

So I really like the 1500 over the HDs. I feel like Ram made a poor decision not giving the HDs the same cab as the 1500.

If I went with a 1500 it would be a limited, 6'4" box, 4x4, crew cab, 3.92 rear end, id install air bags in the rear and install a 4" lift in it.

I tow a 24' x 8.5' enclose trailer. empty it is 4000 pounds, loaded it averages 8k-10k probably. Being that long it was some decent tongue weight. I dont tow it everyday, but 3 times a week, sometimes a little more.

What are your thoughts on this?
Would you recommend the 4 corner air suspension over just rear aftermarket bags?

Don’t get a 1500 to tow anything that size! My 2019 1500 I had couldn’t even tow an 8.5 x 16 with our Harley’s in it safely. That’s why I ended up with a 2500! You will overload that 1500 fast!!! Do yourself a favor and spend a little bit more and by 1 truck that will do what you need effortlessly.

 

[RamGuy84]

Yeah, you're right. It was just a thought.

 

[Wileykid]

One of your biggest problem is getting the Limited. The more junk (trim level), the less payload. I would bet you would run out of payload.

Any serious towing means the higher the trim, the bigger the truck. And 10K lbs you are in the 3/4 ton area for comfort.

 

[Phil T]

So I really like the 1500 over the HDs. I feel like Ram made a poor decision not giving the HDs the same cab as the 1500.

If I went with a 1500 it would be a limited, 6'4" box, 4x4, crew cab, 3.92 rear end, id install air bags in the rear and install a 4" lift in it.

I tow a 24' x 8.5' enclose trailer. empty it is 4000 pounds, loaded it averages 8k-10k probably. Being that long it was some decent tongue weight. I dont tow it everyday, but 3 times a week, sometimes a little more.

What are your thoughts on this?
Would you recommend the 4 corner air suspension over just rear aftermarket bags?

1500's are really not up to the task of towing much more than a small utility trailer. They are best at grocery trips, taking the kids to the soccer field and other around town errands. Put 4 people in the seats and a small ice chest in the bed and you have maxed out the poor truck.

 

[Burn'n Oil]

Yeah, you're right. It was just a thought.

That was fast!

And about your ref to the latest HD's cab not being similar to the 5th gen 1500s... I must have missed something in the context because the 19+ HD cabs are in fact very similar to the current half tons, especially in the LongHorn and Limited trim. Apologies if I misunderstood.

And while I respect the comments re a 1500's lack of capacity to tow (they're mostly correct), the girlie truck can be a formidable tow machine for the obstinate, pig-headed doers among us. My better half personally knows a crusty old fart that used a 09 Dodge 1500 (with a 545RFE 5-speed, no less), to tow a 8500 lb TT for better than 40K kms over eight yrs. A thousand lbs on the ball, GAWRs exceeded, GVWR exceeded and white knuckle excitement always just a corner away. Yep, very capable little trucks. But then again, it's never too late to grow up...

 

[Phil T]

That was fast!

And about your ref to the latest HD's cab not being similar to the 5th gen 1500s... I must have missed something in the context because the 19+ HD cabs are in fact very similar to the current half tons, especially in the LongHorn and Limited trim. Apologies if I misunderstood.

And while I respect the comments re a 1500's lack of capacity to tow (they're mostly correct), the girlie truck can be a formidable tow machine for the obstinate, pig-headed doers among us. My better half personally knows a crusty old fart that used a 09 Dodge 1500 (with a 545RFE 5-speed, no less), to tow a 8500 lb TT for better than 40K kms over eight yrs. A thousand lbs on the ball, GAWRs exceeded, GVWR exceeded and white knuckle excitement always just a corner away. Yep, very capable little trucks. But then again, it's never too late to grow up...

And their names were Lucy and Desi

 

[RamGuy84]

That was fast!

And about your ref to the latest HD's cab not being similar to the 5th gen 1500s... I must have missed something in the context because the 19+ HD cabs are in fact very similar to the current half tons, especially in the LongHorn and Limited trim. Apologies if I misunderstood.

And while I respect the comments re a 1500's lack of capacity to tow (they're mostly correct), the girlie truck can be a formidable tow machine for the obstinate, pig-headed doers among us. My better half personally knows a crusty old fart that used a 09 Dodge 1500 (with a 545RFE 5-speed, no less), to tow a 8500 lb TT for better than 40K kms over eight yrs. A thousand lbs on the ball, GAWRs exceeded, GVWR exceeded and white knuckle excitement always just a corner away. Yep, very capable little trucks. But then again, it's never too late to grow up...

Seats are different, telescopic steering, larger cab by I believe 4 inches, different switchgear on the steering wheel and a panoramic moonroof.

 

[Burn'n Oil]

And their names were Lucy and Desi

Oh, ya... the stuff they towed back then with land yachts would strike fear into the hearts of current HD operators.

 

[Burn'n Oil]

Seats are different, telescopic steering, larger cab by I believe 4 inches, different switchgear on the steering wheel and a panoramic moonroof.

Meh.... semantics. The seats in my LongHorn may not be the same as those fitted to the current half tons, but they treat me bodaciously. And that see-thru junk in the roof of a truck's cab... nuthin but trouble waiting fer a happening.

 

[RLange]

I had a 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie w/5.7L Hemi with 3.93 rear gear. I added Airlift rear air bags when it was new. I pulled a 35' Keystone Outback TT. The truck pulled this trailer very well. I traded in my Outback for a 30' 5th wheel, so I had to get a 2500