[Skinnyman]

Test drove 2014 cc 8 spd 3.90 axle and 5-7 box with tractor and equipment trailer I use on 3/4 ton truck. Actual tow weight 7200 lbs. I had enough tongue weight not to have trailer sway on 3/4 ton truck. Hooked up to Ram without moving tractor on the trailer. Was not using weight distribution hitch on either vechicle. I have a lot of towing experience. Salesman attributed it to air ride being on. Any thoughts? I think its something simple not the fact it is a 1/2 ton truck.

 

[DustinT]

I tend to agree, this is something simple. There's lots of folks pulling 6-8k and I'm not hearing reports about swaying.

 

[Hermes1]

Trailer sway can be caused by several factors. An anti-sway hitch is always a good idea.

 

[heymrdj]

Case of too much weight for too light of a truck. A 2500 is a good deal heavier than a 1500. You should have weight distribution and antisway for that load on a 1500.

 

[SuperIke]

Case of too much weight for too light of a truck. A 2500 is a good deal heavier than a 1500. You should have weight distribution and antisway for that load on a 1500.

Agreed.

The reason for the sway given by the salesman is laughable though. Why on earth would the air suspension cause sway? If anything, the air suspension actually helps to stabilize rather than cause problems. However, even if air suspension self-levels the truck, when towing over 5000lbs with a 1500 pickup, Ram recommends using a weight-distribution hitch.

Although it may not tow as lightly as you would do with a 3/4 ton, the 1/2 ton can pull 7000 lbs without problems. The question is more about frequency. If you're going to tow this almost on a daily basis, you should stick with a 3/4 ton.

 

[RedDodge]

I've done a lot of towing with my 1500's with a box trailer and car inside, approx 7100lbs. And I'll tell you without the weight distribution bars it's not happy. Without the bars with either the trailer full or empty it sways a lot. Put the bars on and it's like glass, you barely notice the trailer. Around town no bars are fine but as soon as you hit the highway you have to have them in my opinion.

My buddy has a 2500 series Chevy and tows without the bars because he says "it doesn't need it", well I followed him on our last trip and it was scary! The trailer was all over the road at 60-65...

It's cheap insurance and security to just use them in my opinion.

 

[Skinnyman]

I was thinking the same thing. I moving out of my 3/4 ton diesel and the trailer does very well without the wdh. I test drove the the Ram 2500 with 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 axle. Just thought I would enjoy the 1500 more since my towing frequency is maybe 20% of the trucks use. The 1500 with 3.90 gears was very strong. I guess its either 1500 and wdh or 2500. I started out looking for the Ram 2500 gas for F250 6.2 gas.

 

[RedDodge]

Not sure how the 2500 rides but my 1500 rides better than most anything. It's comfortable, gets good gas mileage, tows unbelievable and I just love it (I,m on my 4th now). I tow about 6 times a year plus all the other great reasons to own a truck and these Rams rule!!