Looking at an '09 (SLT, 3.92 gears, 5.7L Hemi) and at the dealer today a salesman said he spotted some information stating that the 20" wheels (included in the Regional packages) and some other models actually lower the tow capacity of the truck by 1100 lbs. This is the first I've heard of that and I didn't see anything about this in the Dodge Ram 1500 brochure for '09. Can anyone confirm this info?

I searched online and saw this info on Motortrend as well. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ion_specs.html (look about halfway down the page under the towing chart)

 

I have heard this before too. From what i took from it yes the 20s lower the capacity of the truck and even though it does, people the last few years still bought the 20s as an option.

Thats how dodge figured out that most people didnt really tow or haul with their 1500s... cause if they did they wouldnt take the 20s. So because of that figuring, dodge gave the ram the rear link instead of the leaf springs.... because people who really need to haul or tow end up with a 2500 anyway...

so i dont know why the 20s lower the towing.. i just remember hearing that they do.. maybe because it has more rotating mass... i dunno

 

its just the size of the wheel. It takes more power to get a vehicle with bigger rims going than it does one that has smaller ones.
Thats why you dont see very many 2500-3500 with anything larger than a 17' rim.

 

I don't care much for the look of the 20's anyway and I DO plan on towing a camper with the 1500 so I'll go with the 17's !!!

 

not to mention ist kinda hard to find a load range e tire for a 20 in rim

 

I loved the 17 on my 02 quadcab, but got the 20s on my 09. It was impossible to get anything but 20s unless it was a ST or the offroad package.

 

Here in UTAH that's about all you see are 2500-3500, 250-350 trucks with 20's on. Even their boat trailers and 5th wheel trailers. Don't ask it must be a money thing.

 

I beg to differ. I have load range e on my 20's Terra Grapler's. Toyo, Nitto, BFG all have e rated tires for 20's

 

for mid range tires its hard to find them.
I dunno about the wheels out there in utah, but its just nor reccomended to tow heavy loads on a 20 in rim.

 

Not to mention, not everybody wants, or needs to run a an aggressive treaded tire.