Towing Capacity Question

[LeonineThor]

I posted the below in the introduction thread, but it was also suggested I post here because this leads into a more technical question....

Hi from Colorado - Towing Capacity Question

Postby LeonineThor » Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:15 am
Good Morning ladies. I am so thankful to see a group of women that won't scoff at me! I am a working mom who moonlights as a want-to-be camper in the summer with my boys - 6 and 8, and my occasional husband (meaning he occasionally attends the camping trips.... )

I've had a pop-up for 7 years, we do 7-9 weekends and a 5 night trip each year. Towing is no problem for me, and I am finally a confident backer! I'm not the most mechanically inclined, but so far haven't had any real issues - I mean really, not that much on a pop-up with no slides.

Back to my occasional husband - he is finally getting the idea that this camping thing isn't just a fad I'm passing through, and he has expressed that he would like a bigger camper so he would enjoy coming with us. Soooo....we are starting the search for a small 5th wheel bunkhouse. OK, truth be told, I've completely fallen in love with the Keystone Cougar 1/2 tons... 280BHSWE to be exact - of course they didn't release those in Colorado, so I am going to have to road trip when I find one.

I spent the past 2 days being insulted by truck dealers and RV salesmen alike.....So I came online looking for some honest opinions from people that don't have a monetary interest in my decisions!

The RV I want is labeled as:
Shipping Weight 7742 lbs
Carrying Capacity 2468 lbs
Hitch/Payload 1410 lbs

The truck I am really jazzed about is the Dodge Ram 1500
Loaded Trailer Weight 10360 or 10150....based on 4x2 or 4x4
Payload 1610 or 1480 again based on 4x2 vs 4x4

And that is where the conversation with the salesmen get difficult and I need experienced answers - not salesman answers.
1. How likely am I to actually reach the carrying capacity? 43 gal water = 360ish pound, and 60 pounds of propane plus my stuff
2. Truck dealer says 4x4 (lowers payload dramatically), camper dealer says 4x2 (I worry about snow/mud in CO)

This is my everyday truck - I will also be toodeling around town to baseball games and the grocery store.

Thanks a ton! Hope it was ok to combine introduction and towing question.
Darcy

LeonineThor

Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:58 am

[BayouLady]

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/

Hopefully that will help because it varies a little on which 1500 you are referring to.

If you go to sites that have full hook ups, you will only be towing to the dump station whatever water you use.

As for the "stuff" judge it by what you brought with the popup and you can go a little over.

[WickedLady]

It is better to have too much truck than too less and torque has a lot to do with towing ability