Lowered my ambition a bit and looking at quarter tons to replace the Tacoma.

Ram Laramie 1500 with 5.7L HEMI should be in the neighborhood of 10K+ towing capacity, but this paperwork and the internet is saying 6,290.

Are they just mixing up engines? How does the 1/4 ton tow less than my Tacoma?

The engine is probably not the deciding factor. It is most likely other things like, for example, the size and gear ratio of the rear differential, presence or absence of an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler (for automatic), etc.

from the ram website:

https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-1500/capability.html

(12,750 lbs. towing capacity w/5.7 Hemi)

I have no idea, but...

My advice would be stay away from Stellantis/FCA.

If we were talking about late 1990's Dodge Rams, I'm all in. They were great trucks.

Of my friends that have bought Rams in the last ten years very few still own them. All of them have had issues and the support from dealer/corporate has quite frankly poor.

My 2017 Ford F150 with a 5.0 V8 (pre-stop/start) has been great so far. The F150's we've purchased at work since 2020 (especially the hybrids) have been a nightmare.

There is another thread going on here about new vehicles, but if I were in the truck market right now I would be looking at a Chevy Silverado with a 5.3.

quote:

Originally posted by KevH:
I have no idea, but...

My advice would be stay away from Stellantis/FCA.

If we were talking about late 1990's Dodge Rams, I'm all in. They were great trucks.

Of my friends that have bought Rams in the last ten years very few still own them. All of them have had issues and the support from dealer/corporate has quite frankly poor.

My 2017 Ford F150 with a 5.0 V8 (pre-stop/start) has been great so far. The F150's we've purchased at work since 2020 (especially the hybrids) have been a nightmare.

There is another thread going on here about new vehicles, but if I were in the truck market right now I would be looking at a Chevy Silverado with a 5.3.

Are GMC and Chevy still the same thing?

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:

quote:

Originally posted by KevH:
I have no idea, but...

My advice would be stay away from Stellantis/FCA.

If we were talking about late 1990's Dodge Rams, I'm all in. They were great trucks.

Of my friends that have bought Rams in the last ten years very few still own them. All of them have had issues and the support from dealer/corporate has quite frankly poor.

My 2017 Ford F150 with a 5.0 V8 (pre-stop/start) has been great so far. The F150's we've purchased at work since 2020 (especially the hybrids) have been a nightmare.

There is another thread going on here about new vehicles, but if I were in the truck market right now I would be looking at a Chevy Silverado with a 5.3.

Are GMC and Chevy still the same thing?

Yes, the GMC typically costs a little more and has a little nicer trim levels. Same vehicle underneath.

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
from the ram website:

https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-1500/capability.html

(12,750 lbs. towing capacity w/5.7 Hemi)

It actually says "up to 12,750 pounds". There's probably a towing package that gets you there that the truck OttoSig is looking at doesn't have. Looking at the options on the Ram website, a Class III hitch is standard, but a Class IV hitch is a $495 option. The standard gearing is 3.21, but there's an option for 3.92 gears for $195.

He's going to want at look at the truck's payload capability as well.

Let's just say the 1/2 ton truck he's looking at has 1,500 pounds of payload. Let's also say it has the right packages and can tow 12,750 pounds. Now, let's say he wants to tow a 10,000 pound travel trailer. The trailer's tongue weight, usually 10-15%, gets subtracted from the truck's payload: 1,500 - 1,000 = 500 pounds of payload left over. That's not going to be enough for the wife, three kids, and a full tank of gas.

That payload number is calculated by subtracting the truck's weight as delivered from the factory from the truck's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR. This number is mostly based on the truck's ability to handle, carry and stop when loaded to its GVWR. It's about the brakes, suspension, tires, axles, and frame.

Engine, transmission, and gearing come into play with Gross Combined Weight Rating or GCWR. This is the weight the truck can get moving, uphill and such. There's actually standard test for this that all the manufacturers have been using for 10 years or so. GCWR is the weight of the truck and the trailer. It assumes the trailer has enough brakes to stop itself. The truck's brakes alone are not expected to stop a 10,000 pound trailer.

How much you trying to tow? Then what conditions & how far? I think that plus experience factor in.

Sorry, but I don’t even consider a Chrysler product, don’t care what tow ratings say. Used would be even more of a no-go.

I have a 2011 RAM 1500 Bighorn 5.7 with a class IV hitch. HD trans. cooler, HD rear shocks, HD engine cooling.

Rated to 10,000 towing.

It has been pretty much trouble free for me except for normal maintenance. I'm looking for a newer one now to replace it as the mileage is getting up there (100k+).

You couldn't give me a Chev/GMC for free.

I think my boss' Ram 1500 is a 2019 & has been trouble free for him. Tows his boat no problem.
Very smooth on the road too.

I giggle a little every time I read a question about Dodge trucks, and you know that it will be on the first page that someone will have to tell you they wouldn’t even consider a Ram.

If you are looking at the NBS 2019 and up Ram 1500s just be aware that there was an issue under recall that had a leaky seal on the window that lets in a bit of moisture. Not likely an issue buying at a dealer and not an issue buying new but if you buy used private sale I'd check on it. Otherwise, I love mine and the family is mad when we don't take it on trips even short-range.

Ram inventories are the highest in the industry, so you should be able to find a dealer willing to deal, and they have a 10% below MSRP deal on some models since they have a plethora of inventory nationally.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/#app-sni

Since about 2003 Dodge (Ram) 1500 trucks have been built with hydroformed boxed steel frames rated at 36,000 PSI.

To be compatible with crash testing, Dodge had to put 14 holes in the frame to meet government standards.

The other truck manufacturers currently do not have frames made of these specifications.

I don't think you'll have any problems with the structural integrity of the truck you are looking for.

Toyota's official statement was that the frame is flexible and is to be considered part of the suspension.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
Lowered my ambition a bit and looking at quarter tons to replace the Tacoma.

Ram Laramie 1500 with 5.7L HEMI should be in the neighborhood of 10K+ towing capacity, but this paperwork and the internet is saying 6,290.

Are they just mixing up engines? How does the 1/4 ton tow less than my Tacoma?

Im guess you are confusing gross vehicle weight rating with combined vehicle weight rating.

Truck weighs 5100lbs plus payload gets you 6290. Add a trailer full of mulch and you reach the max weight of 10k(?)

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Since about 2003 Dodge (Ram) 1500 trucks have been built with hydroformed boxed steel frames rated at 36,000 PSI.

To be compatible with crash testing, Dodge had to put 14 holes in the frame to meet government standards.

The other truck manufacturers currently do not have frames made of these specifications.

I don't think you'll have any problems with the structural integrity of the truck you are looking for.

Toyota's official statement was that the frame is flexible and is to be considered part of the suspension.

You are correct. Ford uses 70,000psi steel for 95% of their box frame.

The psi of the steel is only half the story. The other half is how thick the steel is. The frame on my 2015 Ford uses 1/4” 36,000psi steel. I can’t find it now, but I’m sure the steel in the 2017 and newer frames is thinner. They saved weight by using thinner but stronger steel and made the frame stiffer by using box sections instead C channels.

This article: Link, goes through many of the towing configurations for the RAM 1500. The 6,290 is the lowest tow rating with the V6. To get 12,750, you need a 2wd Quad Cab with the 5.7 hybrid motor and the max tow package which includes 3.92 gearing and a Class IV hitch. Any other configurations will fall in between those numbers.

Gearing gearing gearing. Find one with 3.92. Lower trim will have substantially more payload cause all the fancy stuff comes out of the payload rating.

You’ll be happy with Ram and the 5.7.

Great engine and transmission.

Bullet proofed.

Best interior of any truck.

As has been said, gear ratio, suspension, hitch packages and vehicle weight will all affect max towing numbers.

You’re fine.

Thank you all for the input. I really appreciate it.