New from North Carolina

[rideandfly]

Hello,

Just joined today!

Looked at a new 2021 Ram 1500 with 3.0L today. Have not bought it yet, but have a few questions before buying. I have not joined a Ram forum, yet.

Most of my driving will be unloaded on the highway, but we also have a 4900 pound ready to camp weight fiberglass travel trailer with 480 to 490 pound tongue weight that we camp locally with in NC & SC. Every other year we like to make a trip out to WY, MT, or Utah. When towing a trailer I don't use cruise control and I stay in the truck lane going up & down mountains to reduce drive-train/brake temps. Our trailer is very stable towing and have not needed a weight distribution hitch using a 5.7L Tundra, but I installed rear differential airbags on the Tundra to reduce sag. Also installed an electronic sway control on the trailer that applies trailer brakes if there's a sway event.

This Ram 1500 Bighorn does not have the heavy duty tow package. It's a 2WD with 3.21 differential and factory installed class 3 bumper style hitch good for 600 pounds tongue weight and 6000 pound maximum trailer weight. The tow capacity for this Ram 1500 with engine/transmission/differential is 8380 pounds.

Curious about experience here towing trailers with transmission that does not have the heavy duty tow package transmission cooler. Like mentioned above, I take it slow with my rigs towing up and down mountains.

I found a bolt on Class 3 two inch receiver style hitch at Etrailer in the following link and curious if anyone here has bolted this 2" receiver on the existing OEM class 3 hitch?

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ram/1500/2021/C13419.html?VehicleID=20215001337

Also thinking about installed either an aftermarket or OEM brake controller. Wanted to see what other folks do here, too.

Thanks!!!

 

[skidda]

Hi,
My brother has a RAM 1500 2wd but it has the "hemi" gas engine. He hauls his 24ft travel trailer all over the place but he put in airbags in the rear suspension and helped tremendously. I've got a 2016 RAM 1500 4wd with the 3.0l engine and I haul all kinds of vehicles on my car trailer no problem. I'm sure the new 3.0l diesels are updated much better than mine. I would check to see if the trailer wiring exists because I know both my brother's and mine have the same wiring. For example he changed out his dash and put in one of those big ass radio's (looks like a tablet) and all the wiring was there so it was plug n play also his didn't have a brake controller but the wiring was there. I would check all specs between the one you want and one that has the trailer package. All the best.

 

[rideandfly]

Skidda,

The plug & play wiring is supposed to be installed under the dash.

The one I'm looking at does not have heavy duty tow package, but it does have a tow rating over 8300 pounds and only has a class 3 hitch good for up to 600lbs tongue weight and up to 6000 pounds trailer weight. My trailer only weighs 4900 pounds, so I will not need a class 4 hitch. The heavy duty tow package has a maximum trailer weight of over 12,000 pounds, different ratio rear differential, and also has a transmission oil cooler that the Ram I'm looking at does not have. I would prefer to have the heavy duty tow package, even though I will not tow over 5000 pound trailer.

Appreciate your reply!

 

[skidda]

Skidda,

The plug & play wiring is supposed to be installed under the dash.

The one I'm looking at does not have heavy duty tow package, but it does have a tow rating over 8300 pounds and only has a class 3 hitch good for up to 600lbs tongue weight and up to 6000 pounds trailer weight. My trailer only weighs 4900 pounds, so I will not need a class 4 hitch. The heavy duty tow package has a maximum trailer weight of over 12,000 pounds, different ratio rear differential, and also has a transmission oil cooler that the Ram I'm looking at does not have. I would prefer to have the heavy duty tow package, even though I will not tow over 5000 pound trailer.

Appreciate your reply!

 

[skidda]

What's the tounge weight of your 4900lb trailer? It can't be more than 600lbs. I don't see why you would change the class 3 for a class 4 when the class 3 will be fine.

 

[rideandfly]

What's the tounge weight of your 4900lb trailer? It can't be more than 600lbs. I don't see why you would change the class 3 for a class 4 when the class 3 will be fine.

I have not seen a Curt hitch like this before in the following link, the class 3, 600/6000 capacity rating is OK for what I tow. My trailer tongue weight is 480 pounds.

The class 3 hitch mounted on the Ram from the factory is a heavy duty hitch that allows someone to to bolt a ball through the bumper. It does not have a 2" receiver.

The etrailer hitch link is a 2" receiver type hitch that bolts to the existing RAM factory installed hitch under the bumper. This link has photos of how this hitch installs:

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ram/1500/2021/C13419.html?VehicleID=20215001337

 

[skidda]

This bolt on should be fine. I buy all my trailer stuff from etrailer. Great company to deal with.