What do you tow with? Page 2 (From TapaTalk Forum)

Dano

We have the 09 FWS cameo and tow with our 05 crew srw Ram diesel with the 4×4 3500 chassis. It does have the Edge programmer to give the drive train more ease of pulling but also came with 35″ tires… Not the optimum set up, but does do the job well and stops pretty well too. I agree with most on the forums that a dually would suit this heavy trailer better . My future plans are to add Hellwig sway bars, and add closer to stock tires, which will in turn re-gear it back to a better pulling equation. As others have mentioned , the transmissions take a real beating with the auto trans. set-up.. I believe we are at about 300 lbs. pin weight and towing approx. 13,750 lbs. Hope this helps you in your thoughts.

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Posted: 8:00 AM – Dec 22, 2014

wanaBretired

You may want to revisit your weights on the rig and pin weight.
You will find you are some were between 16 and 17,000 lbs on the rig and around 3000 on the pin give or take 500 lbs depending on loading of the trailer.
Best thing for you is to get to a weight station to really know.
I was at a rally were some one had the equipment to weight rigs and tow vehicle, the people that had it done were shocked at what there actual weights were.
Thes 32FWS are a lot heavier than we think.
I believe a few people here with FWS have had there weighed . Maybe one of them can chime in to give you an idea of there weights.
I will be getting mine weighed this year just for my own information.
WanaB

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Posted: 10:17 AM – Dec 22, 2014

huntram

2011 32FWS have been pulling with a 2004.5 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD 4×4 shortbed since the 32FWS was new. It did it’s job, but when we got on tight steep mountain roads I did not feel comfortable and did make plans based on this.

In July we got in a bad accident and totalled the truck. Blessings were that nobody was injured at all!!! Got a very fair price on our truck, about 2K more than high blue book. BTW we were not pulling at the time.

We bought a brand new 2014 Ram 3500 dually longbed CTD 4×4 with Aisin transmission. (Dodge tranny was the weak spot of the 2004). This thing is a beast! The 2004.5 was only rated to pull about 13.5k so I was way over, The 2014 with Aisin with 4.10’s is rated at 30k so we have plenty of room to spare! 

Mileage is about the same as the old truck although with the DEF we are probably paying a little more. Oh, did I mention that this thing is a beast? 

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Posted: 10:59 AM – Dec 22, 2014

notruffinit

huntram wrote:Oh, did I mention that this thing is a beast? 

Pretty common sentiment on the Ram.  – John

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Posted: 6:54 PM – Dec 22, 2014

dutchanddi

We can attest to that!!! Hugs, Di

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Posted: 10:52 PM – Jan 05, 2015

zman

I can’t give any further advice other than what’s already been mentioned. I live and often travel in very mountainous terrain (6%-14% grades) and feel much more safer and confident with a 1-ton given my pin weight, especially when going down steep grades. My simple logic is you want a truck that can man handle whatever you’re towing and not the other way around, and you’re not stressed out by the time you reach your destination.

I have the same fiver and tow using a 2012 F350 SRW Long bed. I’m a Ford guy but have nothing against RAM.
My previous fiver was also an Outback and my previous truck was a 2006 F350 6.0 and it’s a serious night vs day comparison with the 6.7L. Aside from pin weight one other reason I opted for the 1-ton vs 3/4 is at least with Ford’s the 1-ton has much stiffer rear suspension…far less sag based on pin weight and the Cameo sits level with the truck. One day when I upgrade to a heavier fiver I’ll likely move to a dually. I don’t do a whole lot of long distance travel so the SRW suits me just fine.

Lastly, as mentioned several times already don’t under-estimate weight. Everyone will differ slightly on truck make/model but weight is nothing to toy around with unless you have a HDT. My Cameo when fully loaded is about 4000 lbs heavier than was my Outback. Carriage is a much heavier fiver and it’s amazing how much loaded pin and axle weight you can add very quickly, not to mention sometimes an enlightening surprise when you hit the scales. Don’t know about yours but I also replaced my wheels and upgraded to “G” rated tires.

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Posted: 1:43 PM – Jan 09, 2015

thawkshaw

Thanks to all for the input. Looks like the concensus is that I should have at least a 1 ton truck to pull it. But I just bought the 2500 when pulling my Outback and I love the truck. I will have to think about it and see how it pulls around Michigan next year.
I have G rated tires already and plan to put some bags in the rear springs, although it sits pretty level. It towed fine on the initial trip home from Lansing to Detroit. I have weighted it on the way home so I have the “empty” weights, just have to calculate the trailer weights and pin weight since I didn’t have time to unhook and weigh. I have the truck weights, front and rear and the rig weight total and trailer axles only. I will post all the results when I get it figured out. 

The trailer total weight is 13,060 lbs including the pin weight of 2480 lbs
Total GCVW is 20,340 lbs. According to the owners manual, the Max GCVW is 22000 for my truck.

B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX

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