Towing question

[PurdellMGP]

Good day all!

Its been awhile since I have been here since selling my 05 PW...but back in the market and still have a spot in my heart for these trucks!

Last 2 trucks I have had was a 2013 RAM 2500 5.7, with 3/73's crew and now a 2015 2500 crew with 6/4 and 3.73's both Laramie packages.

Starting to look again and of course the looks of the PW are by far the best out there in my opinion. But the question/concern is towing.

My 05 handled my 28' travel trailer with ease...it weighted about 5500 empty.

My new trailer is 9200lbs empty. My current truck handles it fine, just drinks the gas! I run a set of timbrens on the rear and with the equalizer weight distribution hitch no problems. My truck is rated for 12Klbs.

The PW is rated for 10K, I know that is due to the soft springs. (Miss the ride of my old one because of those springs).
Now, a new 2500 non power wagon can tow 15K with 4.10's.

That being said, would I be ok with the PW with a set of airbags, or timbrens and a good hitch to distribute the weight?
I tow 3-4 times a year so I am not hauling the camper too often...and if I can sell it outright I will be downsizing in the near future as well.

Thanks for the feedback.

[NickTF]

I think your plan would work perfect.

[DocPaulo]

With bags it can tow... but won't be legal if you get pulled over or in an accident...

I have airbags and wont tow a long trailer without one... the back end is squirmy without airbags... hit a pothole at a little speed and it can porpoise a bit

[TankerZak]

It'd work but i wouldn't do it if you weren't serious about downsizing the trailer. I tow 8500lb loaded trailer and with airbags i really consider that about max. I for sure wouldnt go over 8900. But if your really down sizing I'm sure you could do it a few times and be fine. But airbags, and good setup are a must.

[PurdellMGP]

Thanks for the real world feedback! Nice to hear what others tow and how the trucks handle that kind of load.

Like I said my old set up was a lot lighter and worked fine, my new trailer was bought and we used it as a seasonal, now no longer doing that. Which means we tow it 3-6 times a year. Even with my current 2500 it’s big! plans are to advertise it in spring, it may be best to do the “adult” thing and wait lol.... don’t need to wreck that’s for sure.

[NickTF]

I posted from my phone earlier hence the lazy reply. My experience comes from towing my 7000-7500lb boat and trailer with 37" tires and timbrens to deal with the squat. My truck is a 2015. It handles the load on the flat Delmarva Peninsula with my greatest grade being the Vienna bridge with the greatest of ease. Results may vary in mountains and higher grades.

[TwinStick]

Just because you can, does not mean you should. Only you can decide how "well" the truck tows. PW's in general are not on par towing with a reg 2500 because of the soft flexy suspension. It can be made to tow a 100% better though. Air bags or reg 2500 springs are the ticket, as others have stated. If you plan to downsize your camper, my vote would go to the airbags. If you plan to tow near the max rating of the truck often, then new reg 2500 springs would get my vote.

I have ridden with a hand full of people while they were towing & they thought their setup was fine....even though it was NOT even close to fine. Constant upshifting/downshifting even on flat ground, severe porpoising resulting in bump stops being hit hard & often, squirming left & right while bottoming, tow chains dragging/sparking on the road because of the severe rear squat. Crazy right ? They though that was all part of towing !!!!!

I towed a 10,500 lb ToyHauler for 10 yrs. 4 yrs w/2004 2500 QC 4x4 w/4.10's & auto & the rest w/our PW. 04' sucked big time. Upshifted/downshifted all the time, even on flat ground. Installed a 24 row trans cooler & a 30,000 lb engine oil cooler just so it would not self destruct while we had it. Traded it on the 2008 PW w/G-56 6-speed manual. The manual trans made it tow 1000% better but it squatted it to the ground. I then installed a set of 1 ton, 4 leaf springs from Hellwig-----problem solved. Still rocking them to this day. I have since downsized our camper to an 18', 3500 lb single axle. Truck don't even know it is there when towing.

[PurdellMGP]

Thanks for the info TwinStick. I know, my 05 squatted big time when I used a deckover flatbed to haul 3 tons of pellets. With my old camper and my weight distribution hitch it was fine.

Just weighing my options now with my current travel trailer. I know weight wise the PW engine/trans will pull it fine, it’s the hitch weight I’d need to address, E rated tires and springs or bags. But as long as I can sell it it’s a mute point....if I can’t sell it well then that would be another hurdle to climb.

Might hold off, try to sell camper first, then no issues to be had

[TankerZak]

Thanks for the info TwinStick. I know, my 05 squatted big time when I used a deckover flatbed to haul 3 tons of pellets. With my old camper and my weight distribution hitch it was fine.

Just weighing my options now with my current travel trailer. I know weight wise the PW engine/trans will pull it fine, it’s the hitch weight I’d need to address, E rated tires and springs or bags. But as long as I can sell it it’s a mute point....if I can’t sell it well then that would be another hurdle to climb.

Might hold off, try to sell camper first, then no issues to be had

That's for sure the wise route.