Hi all; I have an '02 Ram Van 1500 with 5.2L. Love it but not enough towing capacity. I'm looking at buying a 2000 Ram Van 3500 extended with 5.9L. I hear bad things about towing anything heavy with an extended Ram Van, due to the overhang of the extension creating an imbalance, making the rig unstable (too light at the front end). I plan to tow my 8.5ft X 20ft cargo trailer which regularly weighs 5400lbs loaded and once a year will weigh 6500lbs loaded on a long road trip. Some say the 1-ton springs are heavy enough that it isn't an issue, some say the distance behind the rear axle creates a weight lever. I understand the physics behind it, but would like to hear of personal experiences. Thanks! Tim

 

i have nothing to add regarding extended van. but as the manufacturer of cargo trailers i hope that you are the proud owner of a 10,000 GVWR trailer. and not a 7000 GVWR. based on your towing weights mentioned. please ensure you are properly loaded at all times for your safety and the longevity of what ever trailer brand you own. on a side note you may want to depending on your budget consider a trailer toad.( i am in no way affiliated with them at all) this will drastically improve towing safety over the road in all conditions.

 

Thanks for your input. The current trailer has 7000lb capacity axles (2X3500lb), which I would have thought would be sufficient for 6500 lbs including the trailer, but I have found a great deal on a nicer trailer with the 10000lb axles and am going to buy it. I checked out the trailer toad; very interesting. I was going to use a weight distributing hitch, but the trailer toad is worth considering. Thanks again. Tim.

 

Well, my Ram Van is the B2500 on the B3500 frame, but shortened to the B2500 length. The HD frame also has the 8-lug wheels too. The van seats 12-passengers. After 2000, the Ram van B2500 was standard with the towing package and the HD frame and suspension without the long length of the B3500 nor the 4ft over hang of imbalance. I've seen my share of B3500 maxi church vans towing a ridicules 24 ft trailer behind them.

Now, I have towed my Coachmen Trail Trailer with the B2500 5.2L/318cid Magnum engine with no issues under full load. Only the big grades on the mountain interstate keeps us in the far right lane with the semi rigs creeping upwards.

 

Hi Stev; thanks for the reply. I'm in Ontario and I think there must have been some differences with Canadian spec vehicles. I've seen some B2500's for sale (not many; nearly all seem to be 1500's or 3500's) and all the post-2000 B2500's I've seen have the 5-bolt wheels of the 1500. So, this is great info because I now know that I can look for B2500's in the U.S. and get the 3500 undercarriage. I will go for one with the 5.9L, though. My 5.2L, when towing a total of about 5,000lbs struggles on long, steep hills and I worry about what that's doing to the transmission, u-joints, etc. So far, I've found 5.9L engine to be hard to find, even in the extended B3500's.

You refer to the "4ft extension of imbalance": Have you heard that the extension causes imbalance?

 

i have read more of your posts and i wonder what is the gear ratio in your van? i have had many customers talk about towing capacity to find they are trying to pull loads with the wrong rear end. i will add one last note on that "extended" frame question. i deal with a lot of class a motor home customers (long extended frames). it is an issue of tongue weight. an air assist rear suspension add on can help level a vehicle without altering its unloaded driving characteristics. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AIR-60818, but tongue weight is a factor. and that goes back to my comment on proper load and weight distribution.

 

Actually, I don't know the differential's ratio in my van and it could very well be the wrong ratio. I meant to look it up when I was outside earlier, but it's Christmas tree pruning season and my mind was elsewhere. To be honest, I think the diff ratio might be a moot point anyway. The van tows my 20ft open landscaping trailer just fine when it's loaded with a 2400lb tractor (and that open trailer weighs 2500lbs unladen). The problem is my 20ft enclosed cargo trailer because of aerodynamics. I'll buy one with a wedge/"V" front next. Regardless, I think I want to change to a heavier duty van more for safety (bigger brakes, heavier duty suspension, etc.) as well as power, plus heavier duty transmission and all that. I feel as if I am being mechanically unsympathetic by towing with this van and would just feel more comfortable knowing that I would always be towing a least 2,000lbs less than the van's towing capacity. I always ensure the trailer is loaded properly with the load well balanced, but still there's obviously a bit of tongue weight. I can tell that the van's rear suspension is beginning to sag just a tiny bit from trailering. I could add helper springs, but I'd rather just get the right tool for the job. Thanks for the insight reference 'A' class motorhomes.

 

i agree with the v nose, and i cannot argue with having more than the minumum for the job capacity wise on the vehicle. my last little bit of personal likes...... i move trailers around all day and i have helper coils in my van. on the rare occasion i run empty the cargo van loves to bounce over the slightest crack in the side walk. on my rover i have the air assist. it costs a few more dollars but as i only tow occasionally with it i like to retain my original ride quality the rest of the time. when you add coil helpers or add a leafs it is there all the time trailer or not.

 

Remember several years back about the church vans that were rolling over at highway speeds? The great majority were the extend rear vans. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the back of those vans during a high speed emergency lane change would act like a pendulum and over swing out causing the roll overs to happen. They discovered many if not all times the weight had not been loaded correctly, too much weight in the very back instead of balanced out. Now add a trailer to that mix and if not careful it can be disastrous.

For trailer towing I would recommend a 98 or newer B2500 HD suspension on standard body length with the 360 engine.

 

"dragontrlr": Thanks for your input ref coil helpers vs. air assist. Much appreciated. "Mobile Auto Repair": Apologetically, I think I may have wasted your time because when I asked "have you heard that the extension causes imbalance?", I really should have added "when towing". I do remember all those accidents (well, "incidents", really, as they could have been avoided) with rollovers, etc. and I do remember they were all extended vans. I would love a B2500HD on standard body length and a 360, but they don't seem to exist! I'm sure some were built, but I can't find them. I'm just trying to find a definitive answer to "Could I tow 6500lbs safely, with a well-balanced trailer and a weight-distributing hitch, with a B3500 extended fitted with a 360?" (The extended vans seem to be much more readily available). So far, no-one can give me a definitive answer, and I'm not sure where to go next. Thanks for your response, though;l makes for good thinking.