I have an 8000 lb travel trailer that I previously towed with a Ford F150. I just bought a 2015 RAM 1500 (VIN 1C6RR7LT7S696467) Outdoorsman that was factory upgraded to a Big Horn. It has the 3.92 rear end, tow hooks, extra heavy duty shocks etc. Im using the same weight distribution hitch but the RAM seems to sit really low in the rear. Have I exceeded the tongue weight of the truck, is this normal? It seems to handle fine but I am a little concerned. Is there anything that can allow this to be "upgraded"

 

You will get answers all over the place. Some will say to put timbrens on the rear or to use air bags, etc, etc. My experience is that the 4th gen rams are payload "challenged".

My 2009 SLT had a paylod pf 1609 lbs (2WD CC short bed). My 2017 CC 4WD Big Horn has a payload of 1399. I think your outdoorsman/Big Horn is less than my 1399.

So if your trailer weights 8000 lbs fully loaded, then the tongue weight is usually around 12% of that, or around 960 lbs. Add the shank and WDH of ~60-70 lbs and your are about 1020. So you have about 379 lbs left (1399-1020). Now add yourself and passengers plus gear in the bed and you are right about the limit or over. Best thing to do is to tighten the WDH bars until you get more of the tongue weight on the front tires and you should be all right.

 

Timbrens work for me, I had them in my 2012 Outdoorsman and now in my 2017 Laramie LongHorn. The reasons, there's two. After towing with Timbrens for 5 years, no issues, no problems, will not fail, the truck was perfectly level, and was very stable towing with a 5th wheel, it's idiot proof you don't have to do anything. takes approx. 1/2 hour to install yourself. The other is, airing up or down of the air bags, i don't have to check pressures. And if you ever had an air bag fail, it will happen at the worst time, I know.

Good luck on your choice, both will work very well and your truck will be very sable either way.They both do an excellent job. For any questions on towing I go to E.Trailer. do a search on any towing problem and they can help you. There is lots of info already on the site to help out us Ram truck guys and gals.

CHeers
kayakman

 

I had the air bags in my 2009 CC 2WD and didn't like the bounciness and had a prior bad experience with one going flat on me during a trip. I don't trust them.

No experience with timbrens, but I didn't want the side effects when not towing. This is based on the reviews I've read through the years.

The WDH was the answer for me. It moves about 20% of the tongue weight back to the trailer axle(s), so you get some payload back. The WDH also moves some weight to the steer axle so you don't exceed the rear axle limits.

 

I tow an 8.000# boat and trailer 4,000 miles a year. I keep the bed empty while towing and have air bags. Never had one go flat and it tows just fine with an electric over hydraulic braking system on the trailer. I use to tow without air bags and the ride was spongy but doable. Now the air bags stabilize the rear especially in turns. I would not worry if an air bag went flat as the truck would still tow the load. I would let the air out of the other side and tow a little slower until I replaced it. Air bags are cheap and easy to install for the most part.

 

I tow TTs for a living with a 14 1500 Ecodiesel, 333k on it. The rear coils ride nice but are a lil soft when you get to an a 8k TT. Strongest bars etc for your particular WDH will work best. ie 1,000 pounds plus rated. After that Axle to frame bags, in coil bags, Timbren bump stops, stronger Rhino variable rate springs will all work to improve how it handles that load each with a lil different pros & cons.

My favorite for the best ride and control is an axle to frame bag such as TLC or Timbergrove. Take it to a CAT scale and work with the hitch & load to see what restores the most weight to the front axle. Focus on weight distribution for the safest setup. The axles are rated for 3,900 each and you will likely still be a lil over on the drive axle. I get the best results both weight transfer and ride & control by setting the hitch first and then adding enough air to get a slight rake to the truck with the TT measuring level. For me with the big TLC bags that only takes about 15 psi for a typical 8k TT.