Glad I saw this video, I pretty much got the same setup. Looking at buying a camper with about 5300 lbs dry weight, wasn’t really trying to get something much bigger. Thanks for video
I have the 2019 Big Horn with the 3.92 gears. I pull a 6200 lb travel trailer and other than the gas mileage I hardly notice it's back there. Love the power the Ram has over the other half ton trucks!
I have a 2019 Ford F-150 and I towed 22’ 7K trailer yesterday and it was the worst thing ever. Tranny hated it, the truck struggled and it rocked the truck like crazy. It was about 3500lbs total
Good video, I have a 2019 Ram Laramie with the same gears. I towed a 6,000 loaded utility trailer on the interstate or 2.5 hours straight and got 13.2 MPG. You and I have the same exact thought process as far as owning that truck and our needs. It’s the perfect truck for me. No issues at all out of mine though except two minor little recalls.
I have a 2019 Limited, but I consider main electrical grounds being loose, affecting steering, and control pedals falling off, to be more than minor. My family certainly didn't race out the door to drive it when I said "be careful, the power steering might be intermittent, and don't adjust the pedals, they might fall off". Our manufacturers are idiots. Fords are burning, Chevys and Rams have brake pedals falling off.
Exact video I was searching for. I have a 2020 Ram 1500 5.7L with 3.21 Axle Ratio. I’ve been looking at a camper that weights 5,800 lbs dry. This video makes me feel a lot more comfortable to pull the trigger now.
We just purchased a coachman spirit ultra lite, around 5,800 lbs dry. I have the Dodge Ram 1500, 5.7 Hemi with the 321 A/R so when we pick it up Friday I’m more confident now then I was even tho everyone from Dodge, neighbors and the camper dealer was telling me I was fine. Note: we are getting the load distribution hitch with sway bars so I hope that helps even more
Thanks a lot for making this video. The 3.21 vs 3.92 question was on mind too as I was shopping a truck to took a 6k max wt trailer. Your video really helped inform me.
Great video. Same reason I got my ram 1500 with 3.92 snd 6.4’ bed. My trailer is 32’ and 7500lbs dry and only tow couple times a year. Mine is a flagstaff super lite snd truck hsnfked it great the times I use it although I did add air bags
I feel ya on that bench seat brother! I have a 19 classic bighorn 4x2 and 3.21 ratio but man that bigger bed and bench seat make up for it!! I tow little to none so I’m fine with the capacity
I tow a 5000lb 24' TT with 2014 ford f150 5.0, 355 gears, I lock out 6th gear and depending on wind, it's the biggest factor, 13mpg all day long, 7000km round trip. Imperial mpg average 60mph
I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic 5.7, 3:92 that I was getting approx 9.5 mpg over approx 2000 mi of towing. I purchased Goodyear Endurance tires for the trailer and now average 10.5 over the last 3000 miles towing. I feel safer with the better tire and love getting an extra 26 miles per fill up.
My son just ordered a new eTorque with the 3.21 standard tow package and it’s rated for 8200 pounds. A few years later he’s looking at at a 6000 pound camper. Shouldn’t be an issue at all.
Great video. I have a 2018 Ram 1500 Hemi and we get about 9mpgs pulling a 5500 TT at 67-68 mph. I went on an 1800 mile trip from Chicago to BlackHIlls cursing a bit over 70mph our mpg was 7 :) The slower you go the more efficient the truck is.
Have a 1500 Hemi now and it does tow very well. 9 mpg at 70 mph with my cargo trailer. Want to get a Cummins but only paid 27k for the 1500. No fuel mileage is gonna make up the difference if I buy a new truck
I tow a 5200# dry Grand Design with a 5.7L Durango R/T. On last year's trip from southeast TX to Moab and Virgin UT we averaged 9.4 MPG while towing. I spent a lot of time in 4th gear going west into the higher altitudes, but was overall pleased with the combination of torque and mileage. Still wish I had more payload though.
My lil 2.7 Ecoboost powered F150 also seemed pull camper better and think I got like .50 mpg better with my camper using premium. My camper shows an empty weight of 4,600 lbs, so with tanks empty and the stuff we take with us I figure about 5,500 lbs.
I have a 2019 and it had a drone on decelerations. Though it was the exhaust. Ended up it was the noise canceling system. Bought a bypass harness to element the microphones in the headliner. Drone gone!
I have a 2016 and 2017 Ram Laramie 1500 5.7 both with 3.92 gears. Previously had 2013 F150 Lariat 3.5 Ecoboost don't remember the gears. In all three of the trucks I found that wind resistance affects my mileage more than weight does. Previous TT weighed about 2000 pounds less than the current one. I've gotten about the same mileage 9 to 10.5 with all three trucks with both Trailers. Using 87 octane in all three with no issues.
91 octane will not do a damn thing. 89 will because the manual calls for it but says 87 is fine. The pcm is programed to use up to 89. By putting in 91 the only thing you’ll notice is your wallet being lighter. Octane is the gasoline’s ability to resist combustion. Hence why putting in 87 in a sport vehicle that is programed for 91 will cause knock. Reversed it does nothing because the pcm is optimized for 87 only.
Thanks for the video. The Big Horn's are a nice truck. All makes have recall issues now a days, too many parts made from all over the world. I've been truck shopping and going back in forth with what ratio gears to get. I only tow once in awhile and that's usually an atv in a enclosed 14' trailer or a light aluminum trailer, no 6000 pound camper. I just looked up the 3.21 gears and they are rated at over 8,000 pounds, the 3.92 just over 10,000. I think I'll get the 3.21 for the better fuel economy.
I’ve been extremely pleased with the 3.21s. I have some other videos on unloaded mileage you may want to check out. Not bad mileage for a 400hp truck. It seems the 3.92s hurt mpg.
@@jimeckenrode1271 i have a 2012 1500 with 6 speed and 3.92s and its better on fuel while towing (tow/haul mode activated) than unladen. Can't tell the mpgs because the display only shows ODO, trip, ext temps, eco on, change oil, ice poss, its the single display.
Nice video! Was wondering how the 2019-2020 models would do pulling trailers. I have a 2008 RAM, 5.7 Hemi, with 3.92 gears and 5 Speed Tranny. I pull 4,000 lbs and just completed a loop to Colorado over the Continental Divid and back. No problems. 10-12 MPG on the trip. Love my RAM...but want a newer one with 8 speed.
I have a 2019 1500 laramie crew cab with the sport package and 6'4" bed and 3.21 gears. Im going to look at trailers today and im going for no more then 28' long and 5500#'s dry weight. I live in wisconsin but will be traveling to oregon where my wife is from. Biggest reason for not wanting to go too big or much heavier. Max tow rating i believe is 8060#'s. Will also be installing air bags on the rear end
I live in the Rocky's. And believe you have nothing to worry about with your setup. The tow rating for 3.21 Vs 3.92 has more to do with expected duty cycle on the transmission and frame then it does with power. The 8speed transmission will make up for the gearing difference which is fine if you're not towing Max capacity day in and out. If you were you want the transmission to stay in direct drive (6th) as much as possible to prevent extra wear and tear which is where changing the rearend gears comes in. Higher gears will also cause more frame twist when loaded. As far as the engine is concerned. Find out where peak torque is (probably around 4000rpm) and keep it as close as you can to that on the steep stuff (the transmission will probably do this for you just don't let it hunt). Peak torque is an engine's sweet spot. Where it produces the most power with the least amount of fuel. It's also usually where there designed to work as far as best balance and lubrication. So in short don't be afraid to let it wrap up a little.
So you’re saying on steep inclines ( live in Colorado also) with the 3.21, keep it manually in 6 gear, and have the engine in 6th gear? Or 6 gear would be the optimal gear for the majority of the tow?
Using the tow/haul mode will lock the transmission out of 8th gear. 6th gear is direct drive and 7th and 8th are both overdrive. I have a '19 Limited with 3.93 gears and 5.7 without e-Torq. It pulls like a freight train but I never get over 19 mpg on the highway. But towing tractors, and dump trailers and campers it doesn't downshift below 6th gear hardly ever. The owner's manual recommends 89 octane fuel and where I live I can get ethanol free fuel very easily. For running around town and daily driving I use 87, but if I'm going to tow or haul with it I'll fill it up with 89.
I have a 2018 RAM 1500 with 5.7 and 3.92 rear end. Truck is rated to tow 10200 lbs. I also have a 32 ft camper weighing around 8300 pounds. Went from Iowa to Red Lodge Montana with it and averaged about 8 mpg running 65 and 70 mph. There is a spot on interstate 90 between Mitchell S.D. and the Badlands that my mpg dropped to 6 mpg and that sucked. Guess I was fighting the wind. It's ok and does what I need it to do but sure wish I would have just went ahead and got a 2500!
@@james2042 Yes at times it is. I did lie though it's only 7300 lbs not 8300lbs. You definitely know it's back there. I take it easy and keep it under 65 on interstate and try not to take off like a bat out of hell.
I'm from Iowa as well and towed a 7k lb, 35' tt out to Livingston, montana last year too. It's got plenty of power for it. But can be a pretty exhausting ride. Were downgrading to a 27' here soon. Love my truck though!
@@michaelmorris7620 we tow a 30 footer with our 2013 ram 1500 5.7. Have the 3.55 rear. Good wd hitch and sway bar, 60mph, no rush, we have no issues. It only weights 5700 dty.
I have a 2019 as well. I know how to manually change gears. Could you tell me how you are selecting which gear to use in order to see that nice gain? I’d love to squeeze any little bit I could when towing. Thanks!
@@jfpjfpjfp I just put it in 8th and let get where it could. Mine is a regular cab 8’ bed with 3:92 gears I think that’s what helped out My crew cab bighorn has 3:21 and doesn’t do as well
The droning noise is caused by your noise canceling system under the driver seat. It gets thrown out of wack in cold weather. I ordered a $25 bypass on Amazon, problem solved.
I just bought a new, leftover 2019 Ram classic, 3.21, 5.7 hemi, 4x4 and anti spin rear end. After watching this review I'm glad I stayed away from the new ram until the bugs get worked out. As for the Hemi, I use nothing but 89 octane. After enough use of 87 octane, people have experienced lifters ticking in the Hemi. My average mpg is 18.4, 22 on interstate. Works for me with 395 horsepower.
I don't really see how 87 octane gas can cause lifter noise. The hydraulic lifters are actuated by engine oil and the fuel octane doesn't matter to the oil. Perhaps folks aren't changing their oil on schedule, or using crappy oil? Even though I use synthetic oil I still never go more than 6,000 miles between changes. Proper routine maintenance is much cheaper than a mechanic.
@@rtundlt1 Perhaps. People are very good at giving their vehicles poor maintenance. As to the fuel, I fill up with the recommended 88 octane in my ram with the 5.7 Hemi. I feel as if the Hemi is suffocating with 87, but that's just me.
If you are towing out west with that 23 gallon tank, my advice is carry 2 or 3 full 5 gallon gas jugs.. I travel all over the U.S with a 5th wheel for my job, and trust me, there is a lot of areas where you're in the middle of nowhere and no gas stations for a hundred miles.
I live in Wyoming, and I can vouch for that. I used to pull my work home to the big wood of the northwest several times a year. For a while it was with short bed GM 8.1s. Definitely some range anxiety with a 26 gallon tank!
I pull a 6500 pound travel trailer with a gmc sierra 1500 5.3l 3.42 gears and got 10mpg to dallas and 9.5 to eureka springs. So your truck is likely getting what most 1/2 tons will get.
David Mcclellan I pull a 5000 empty and about 5700 lbs loaded 20 ft trailer with my 2015 Silverado 1500 4x4 double cab 5.3l 3.42 with a shell and worst it’s been (pen to paper) is 7.5 to 8.6 mpg. That’s driving 65 mph through out the west. I’d not want a bigger trailer for this tow vehicle for sure. I’m sure if I had 3.73 or 4.10 gears, I’d get better mpg towing (most the time I’m in 4th gear on the level turning about 2,900 rpm and dip into 3 gear and 4,500 rpm to try to maintain around 50 mph up the grades) but empty it’s a 19-21 mpg truck. Looking into a 3/4 ton 6.0 l gas 6 speed Chevy with the 4.10 gears 4x4 and hopefully it will get a little better mpg towing. My current truck tows pretty well but if we decide later to get some slightly larger then a new truck is a must do. Bill
Tow rating really doesn't mean anything. What really matters is your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. There should be a white sticker with black letters and a yello stripe at the top inside the driver door well. It will have all your weight ratings, and will say something like "Total payload onthis vehicle shall not exceed..." That is the total extra weight you can add to your truck. You have to take into account the weight of all of your passengers, cargo, luggage AND the tongue weight of the trailer. If you're towing a 6,000lb trailer chances are your tongue weight is over 650-700 pounds. On a RAM 1500, total payload is probably about 1400 pounds. That means that you would have to have all your passengers, luggage, etc not to exceed 700 pounds. Those are pretty tight margins.
My 2020 ranger needed a new valve body in the trams. No quality control. Though, towing 6800 (7500 rated) gets 10.5 at 65 flat ground. Same road same boat in 2011 Duramax 2500 is 14.5. big difference.
I had a 2017 Dodge 1500 with the 3:21 and pulled the gears out of it. Camper weight was around 6500 lbs and the truck was rated at 8900 lbs. Cost me $2k bucks to repair it. Never again will I own a 3:21 gear.
@@jessyhavron2548 -- Because the suspension system on that specific truck was not designed to handle the weight that a 3:92 would accommodate. It was built around a 3:21 suspension system. It's also not just one thing you can change on a truck to increase its towing capabilities. It is many things that have to be done to make correct changes and by the time you do all that you might as well just buy a truck that was built from the factory with all the correct components for towing. People get ripped off every day when buying a truck that can only handle towing say 5k lbs vs one that can tow 12k lbs. Prices of the trucks are relatively the same, but should it be? Of course not.
Y’all got to check out the rear sliding window frame inside the back seat ( they cracked) because the 2019’s leaks (check your backseat and carpet for wetness) and they are being replaced with the re-designed 2020 windows ! I have mine at the dealership 3 weeks now and they got 3 others in for the same problem !!!
I towed for many years. 2003 GM heavy half with 6 L. Had lots of power. Towed fifth wheel and boat. Have the Ram now but don’t tow as much. I have a permanent spot. If you ask me I would always always chose 392 gears. Pending how much ya tow and where you go. But it’s the windy days while towing that makes the truck work. Lots of hills can make the truck work also but wind can be the worse. I would rather pay extra gas for daily use cause when you tow it is sure nice to have the pulling power.
Have you done any towing with your 19 ram classic? I have the short bed v8 crew cab and while I thought the towing was closer to 7k range it’s supposedly only 4,600 max towing capacity. Just curious of your experience and what weight you towed.
@@robertrusso737 Last June 2023 I towed my 6x9 enclosed bike trailer 7000 kilometers. My vin is rated at towing 11.5k lbs. I'd never do the maximum. Recommended max is 75% max.
I've been through the disappointment of trying to tow with 3:43 gear in a half ton. I wonder if your "mileage gears" can give you the engine breaking down the mountains; won't be able to come down with breaks doing most of work in the mountains. It sounds like you're in pretty high rpm range for a relatively flat terrain. Fifth gear will mean high transmission temps due to higher rpm. Will only increase if you go "out west." Not to mention real mountain elevation robs power, so your engine will have to rev higher--higher transmission temps. Do you have a trans cooler and do you monitor trans temps? You'll find pushing a wind in Kansas and Colorado, while climbing elevation for several hours will tax your truck probably, with the travel trailer. Most manufacturers want the trans oil temp under 200F, preferably 170F. Doesn't sound like you can do that especially in hot summer temps, when we want to travel. Hope the 2 weeks of limping through the mountains this summer don't ruin the nice truck for the 90% of how you use the truck the rest of the year. Probably the wrong gear ratio for this job. It was for me.
My 2021 Bighorn without towing is averaging 13.4 city and 14.5 highway. When I tow my apex nano 194 at 4800lbs I average about 10mpg. I have 4K miles and have not seen any improvement. Going to ask the dealer what’s going on. I have tried 87/89/91/93 gas and no difference.
If you want to tow more than that short trailer, I would very much suggest the 3.92 gears. You get another three thousand pounds of towing capacity with those gears. Mileage will differ of course, but if you're wanting to hit the upper limits of what you can do with a half ton then I would suggest going with the 3.92.
You can pretty much tow your Max only with driver and copilot. More than that and you exceed payload capacity. Mine is 3.92 I pull 5k and al with passengers (6 of us) I go at the payload limit.(recommended limit)
I just bought a 2019 limited worth 3.21 and tow a trailer for work that's about 2200lbs daily up to 4,000 ish.. it says I need to break it in 500 miles and I'm 200 shy I can't wait!
You forgot to mention bed length. I can see you have the 6"4 bed which is ideal for towing....a 5"7 bed is not. Longer bed and wheelbase, better stability and handling with towing.
89 octane is the recommended minimum for the HEMI in the owner's manual. It is only ok to use 87 in a pinch. Using 87 will cause engine knocking not give you peak performance. It says to point blank in the manual. I average 19 to 21 mpg per tank with my truck unloaded going back and forth to work. It has the same engine and is geared the same as the truck in the video. Towing 5,000 - 6,000 pounds I average 13 mph for long trips that include hills, highway, and interstate. Over the years i have seen as much as a 3 mph difference between 87 and 89 octane in my trucks towing and not. Sometimes i see that just using different brand gas.
Not sure what happens on milage computer once you change your tires to non factory spec. I used to get as high as 21 mpg on long trips. Once I changed my tires I never saw that again.
Better look at the actual transmission temp if you’re shifting as much as your video showed and towed in 5th. You will risk your transmission on a light truck with that much weight and axle you have that needs such RPM. It will overheat the oil and will fail on such a long trip as “out West.” Mileages discussions are for cars, not a truck used as a tool needed to tow weight. The actual weight on the scales is only part of the story. When pulling a travel trailer, the wind resistance adds much to the actual work. A bass boat is much easier. Good luck.
I've got a 2016 ram 5.7 express 6 inch lift tuned k&n filter on 35s exhaust 3.21s and towing 8600lbs it gets 7.8 to 10.9 normally 13.5 to 17 mpg unloaded no issues I'll probably upgrade way later down road like 2022 or 23 after all issues worked out on a 2500 mega cab or go-to the Titan XD since you can find them left on lots all day long fully loaded for like 45k
@@ryanhavellana9030 I'm using the cheap ass i3 and hemifever tunes they are not bad....if your after speed tho after I've raced a few people and played with em I'd say go-to Jay green he is way more vocal durring the process faster to help adjust things ECT and if you add parts over time he's more than happy to help add and change things for cheaper....I ended up adding headers and throttle body and threw a limp code and had to rewrite tune took a few days when some green guys said he did it over phone and in a day.
I noticed my mpg gauge is off by 3mpg. I did the math and unloaded it’s gets around 25-26 but the mpg gauge in the truck says I was getting 22-23. This is unloaded.
The droning is coming from the exhaust/muffler and with 4 people and the trailer that engine is staying in higher rpm band say 2500rpm or so. Part of towing with 1/2ton and modest weight. Also need to lock out higher gears in the hills. Find out what gear gives it 1:1 ratio and keep it there. And use tow haul. That tranny shifting so much isn't good for it
Droning is coming from a bug in the software. The 5.7 Hemi has a feature in the radio to mask the muffler noise at highway speeds using alternating audio waves. The bug made it not work and the drone was not drowned out. So re-programming the radio to work right fixes the drone. Many new trucks and cars have this feature now.
I’m going to buy a RV in the same weight class with a Z71 with 3.23 in a crew cab so I’m looking at mileage as well but I live in Florida Miami but north Florida is hilly so we will see what happens thanks again for the video
Your real world trailer weight is always going to be way more than you think. Do yourself a favor and load it up for camping (all your gear, water if you're taking it) take it to a scale, unhook it completely from your truck and see what it weighs. Just saying it may surprise you. My trailer has a yellow sticker "unloaded weight" of 4658. I loaded it up for camping (chairs, sleeping bags, etc, two propane tanks, no water) and put it on a scale, it weighed 5250 lbs. Just saying, you're always pulling more than you think. Thanks for the review.
Nice! How much of a difference is it towing the Ranger when compared to your Tracker? I have a 2000 Bass tracker 175 and want to upgrade to a fiberglass boat within the next few years. I have a 2010 F150 with the 5.4 and it pulls the tracker no problem. However I do average anywhere from 9-12 mph (just bought new tires though so it may go up mpg wise since it pulls even easier)
The 3.92 would make towing a lot easier, but you'd suffer $$$$ from the increased cost of fuel that you use. I think that as you pointed out, if the truck isn't going to be used for a lot of heavy towing, or hauling heavy loads on the bed, a 1500 with the 3.21 is just fine. It would even handle a 9000 lb RV trailer, although at that weight it might make sense to look at a 5th wheel setup and a longer bed.
How do you know which gear it's in? Which screen tells us the gear we are in? I'm pretty sure the standard fuel tanks size of the 2019 Ram is 26 gallons not 23. Thanks for caring about us Ram owners or potential Ram owners.
There is a choice in settings for you to show the gear position. It will appear beside the "D". The standard Ram fuel tank is 23 gallons. There is an option for 33. I believe the rebel can get a 26 gallon, but I don't think I've ever seen a non-rebel 1500 with anything other than a 23 or 33.
@@whateverfits1978 so, I go into settings on the main touchscreen and all I see is "Display", then what? It would be excellent to see which gear we are in. What will it say when we are in park? I keep the vehicle information screen displayed, which shows the basics like mpg, speed, mileage etc. Thanks again
@@whateverfits1978 I think I got it from the steering wheel controls of the center small screen directly in front of us. I only had a chance to move in my driveway and saw a 1 on the bottom right along the row of the PDRN1 Before I was trying to get it from the big 8.4 inch screen settings, couldn't get it that way. ,thank you for mentioning this on your drive. All the best
I pulled a 6500 pound camper with my 2014 1500 ram with a 321 gear had to have the rear end rebuilt because the pinion bearing went out my brother had the same truck pulling the same weight camper had the same problem had to get a new rear end for 3700 dollars dodge rear ends suck
I'm 61 and been buying Rams sense 1998 and I've had mostly 1500 but have gotten the 3500 in 2000 and 2500 in 2004 and I guess I'm lucky because I've never had any issues ... I'm driving a hydro blue 2020 1500 off road package now ... I trade every 3 to 4 years tho . I haven't put over 50k miles on any yet .
Different Gas pump nozzles have different shut off sensitivity, so your way of checking the gas mileage is inaccurate. Even though it’s for different reasons (environmental reasons and in case of accident) not recommended to top off your fuel tank at the gas station, it’s the only way to calculate your gas mileage accurately. Playing with the pump nozzle on and off until fuel level is actually visible in filler neck and stays settled. Then go immediately for your ride as you don’t want to have the car sitting and expanding fuel volume due to temperature changes. After your ride hit the gas station again and do the same thing. This way shut off sensitivity of different gas pump nozzles don’t matter. Now do your calculation math. I have the same truck and I calculated many times and found the car’s gas mileage computer to be very accurate.
Thus truck have probably 1400lb of payload limit . So 6000lb camper with 2 adult and 2 kids you close to max out your payload capacity. 10% 0f 6000lb is 600lb + 2 adult an 2 kids 500lb is already 1100lb so you have only 300lb to max out your payload. What is not that much...
Ever figure out what that “drone” is? I’ve had that on long road trips - typically when someone is is the back seat behind driver. …so annoying! Hasn’t happened in a while but annoying when it does and no way to really predict it
Can you lock out gears so in tow haul it never shifts past certain higher gears? I was figuring on ordering a truck I’ve certainly not seen one that has all the options I want and I was thinking of getting the 3:55 gear option over the 3:21 My friend owns a new 19 and he has the 3:92 gears it’s a great truck but gets 12-14 MPG however I’m sure it will to very well I’ve seen RAMs with the 3:92’s get relatively OK mileage towing on anther YT video once I think it was around 12,14 mpg at 55mph with a tandem enclosed trailer.
Yes, you can lock out the gears. Tow haul mode seems to do a pretty good job of keeping you in the power band though. I don’t believe 3.55s are available from the factory in the 1500. I think your only options are 3.21 or 3.92.
I have 3.92 on my 2019 Rebel, with the transmissions Today you can't tell there that low.The engine likes to pull All through the RPM Range. My V10 was flat Or just a dog. I just towed my boat From the West coast to the East coast, tandem trailer did great, got as much as 14.5 MPG I went from my 1999 2500 V10 bought new To the 1/2 ton. This new truck did better in every aspect, passing going up the grades on West coast and MPG. Almost 10,000 miles on The Rebel no issues beside the standard recalls. I will say sometimes when cold putting it In gear it will make a crack noise I'm Thinking electric parking Brake? Also this truck is rated over 12,000 lbs of towing also the Rebel as A tuned or stiffer suspension than the stock 1/2 tons so I did not noticed much difference from my 3/4 ton. Yes it's a bit softer I did test drive a long Horn it felt like a car or Really wishing washy or Really soft. It was much better deal than the Rebel but once I drove the Rebel there was no comparing the two. Happy so far From 3/4 to 1/2 ton. Also you are thinking about buying a diesel I would say you better be Towing 12,000 or more To make it worth the extra cost not to mention The average cost of fuel being 50 cents per gallon or more. And the big 3 diesels are war with each Other who can produce the most TQ & HP today Relating to less MPG My neighbor bought A F350 dually getting 15 mpg in the city However won't drop much towing heavy loads.
@@whateverfits1978 3.55 are only available with the V6 engine. That sucks, I'd love to have had them with the 5.7 Hemi. Would have made towing 6Klbs much easier, and still better MPG than the 3.92.
Did you ever get your drone issue resolved? I have a 2019 RAM Bighorn with the 5.7 and 3.92 that's been in the shop a few times as well, first it was an evap issue, then the upper glove box wouldn't stay shut, and just recently my gear selector wouldn't budge and pulled a "service shifter" code. I've had the drone noise you talked about since day one and have about 9000 miles now. The drone seems to get louder when I let off the accelerator with passengers.
Just got my truck back from the dealer this week. I told them about the drone and asked them to update the noise cancellation system. So far, no drone. Hopefully, that was the fix. Mine was also worse with passengers.
I have a 2019 dodge ram had the same drone sound it only happens when the eco light is on if I put it tow haul or Or select Max gear to eat which turns off the eco-mode it does not happen. Brought it back to the dealership and they flashed the transmission and it went away.
@@whateverfits1978 I don't know about this man. Dealer tries to rip me off every time. All after market parts I have changes on mine have been a lot cheaper and that's going with top notch stuff. But boy are these rams a sweet ride.
I've got a 2018 Ram 1500 almost exactly like yours. I've had zero quality issues on mine. No drone either. Wonder if that drone is a known issue for Ram?
I think my quality issues are related to the new body style. My father in law has a 2018 like mine and no issues outside a few recalls. Of course, there are lots of 2019s with no issues. It may just be my truck.
I had the drone issue in my 2019 bighorn as well. As it turns out, the noise cancelling system needed software update. This update is done through the amplifier system. The software cured my issue.
So do you remember what you got for mileage on your trip out west?And how fast were you going most of the time? I have pretty much the same setup except 2016 And I typically cruise between 65 and 70 and it's usually around 8½ Depending on the wind.I have a 26' camper that's about 6,000lb loaded. To anyone who hasn't towed much, it's plowing through the wind that affects mileage the most, not so much just the weight. The weight is mostly noticed in the hills.
Did you ever get the cab drone fixed? I had a 2019 bighorn 1500 with same issue. Ended up going through lemon law and getting compensated and had issue fixed. It was something to do with the ECM module. Had to be reprogrammed with new coding. My drone only happened when people were in cab but would stop if you opened windows. It was noise canceling issue. Didn't deter me from ram though...bought a new 2021 now
Hello there very nice Ram you have there! Very nice Travel Trailer also! I’m assuming you have a Hemi in that truck seeing as you mentioned it is the same engine you can get the 3:92 gears and I know the 3.6 is not available with them. That’s a bummer because as much as I like the Hemi, that Pentastar is also a great Engine that with those 3:92 gears would be fine with your camper and get better day to day mileage. I need to say unfortunately but a truck with the 3:21 gears and towing that size TT is not a good idea! You would have been better with 3:92’s. That will actually get better mileage everywhere but empty highway cruising! I bet you would get just over 10 mpg on the same loop and even great percentage in the mountains! I’ve had a Colorado Z71,4x4,V6 Ext Cab for three years and 72,000 totally trouble free miles with only scheduled maintenance trips to dealers for oil change, whiteout needing to add oil between, most of those miles were towing our 4,500 lbs Travel Trailer all over the Country from Bangor ME, to Key West FL and as far west as Corpus Christi TX, then also to the Michigan Upper Peninsula! On the trips on The mainly flatlands we averaged 15mpg! That towing to campsites, dropping trailer and exploring the areas! In the Mountains the average gets as low as 8 mpg to a high of 11 mpg, with no shortage of power at all! With gray handling and brakes! We plan to replace within the year and I’m gonna take a nice long look/test drive of many Mid/Full size gas/diesel trucks. I’m am leaning towards a Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4AWD, Hemi with Factory Tow Package and Off Road Package with 3:92 gears. That is the truck the won the TFL Gold Hitch award this new year! But I hope the new Chevy Silverado InLine Diesel is released in time! I’m also gonna look for a 2.7 Turbo Silverado at a dealership that hopefully will let me tow my trailer with it! I will say this, NO Toyota , or Ford on my list!
Acceleration is very good. I feel like it would walk away from my diesel. It is a lot smoother and feels easier to drive than my diesel also. The eight speed works really well.
Your trailer prob weighs 6500 pounds. Those numbers are always off plus they don’t add propane bottles or batteries. Some RVs don’t add appliances either. Aka stove, oven, ac unit.
Couple of questions because I am looking at purchasing a 2019 1500 4x4 to pull my camper. First, do you know what gear ratio you have? Also how is pulling that camper without tow mirrors??
The gears are listed in the thumbnail, 3.21s. The regular mirrors work great. Tow mirrors would be better, but not necessary. The smaller mirror gives you a lot of coverage to see around the camper.
Get the tow mirrors. My truck came without them and I purchased and installed then myself. The local dealer programmed them to work properly (about $135 for programming). I much prefer the larger mirrors but I tow several thousand miles a year.
My new ram 1500 came with the factory class 3 bumper hitch but didn't come with a reciver hitch so iam looking to find a hitch reciever that will be rated to pull at least 6 to 8 thousand pounds
What’s the deal with the drone sound you’re describing? Is this a common issue with these Rams? I’m looking at them now and that would be very annoying.
It is across the board. There is a tsb related to the drone. It's an amplifier update pertaining to the noise cancellation. Had it done to my bighorn and it resolved the issue
Is it best to always use the tow/haul mode whenever we tow something over about 3000 pounds? How do we use the downhill descent mode? I absolutely love the front bench seat and wish it were available in all the Ram trucks. Thanks
Did you have any issues with the truck swaying I have a 2019 and I tow different camper trailers all the time and I’m have a issue with the truck swaying with any camper I put behind it as small as 3500lb
I have the 2019 Ram Laramie with 15K miles tow a 30' TT with 3:92 axel. I have had zero issues with this truck bought it July of 18. Love it!
How much does your trailer weigh?
Glad I saw this video, I pretty much got the same setup. Looking at buying a camper with about 5300 lbs dry weight, wasn’t really trying to get something much bigger. Thanks for video
I have the 2019 Big Horn with the 3.92 gears. I pull a 6200 lb travel trailer and other than the gas mileage I hardly notice it's back there. Love the power the Ram has over the other half ton trucks!
I have a 2019 Ford F-150 and I towed 22’ 7K trailer yesterday and it was the worst thing ever. Tranny hated it, the truck struggled and it rocked the truck like crazy. It was about 3500lbs total
@@Chestnut0923 did you load the trailer the right way?
@@Chestnut0923 what's the axle ratio?
@@jacobsebastien3910 yes I did. It was more toward the front
@@brandedmcgowan9414 3.73
Good video, I have a 2019 Ram Laramie with the same gears. I towed a 6,000 loaded utility trailer on the interstate or 2.5 hours straight and got 13.2 MPG. You and I have the same exact thought process as far as owning that truck and our needs. It’s the perfect truck for me. No issues at all out of mine though except two minor little recalls.
I have a 2019 Limited, but I consider main electrical grounds being loose, affecting steering, and control pedals falling off, to be more than minor. My family certainly didn't race out the door to drive it when I said "be careful, the power steering might be intermittent, and don't adjust the pedals, they might fall off". Our manufacturers are idiots. Fords are burning, Chevys and Rams have brake pedals falling off.
Exact video I was searching for. I have a 2020 Ram 1500 5.7L with 3.21 Axle Ratio. I’ve been looking at a camper that weights 5,800 lbs dry.
This video makes me feel a lot more comfortable to pull the trigger now.
same here same truck. bought a hybrid trailer, gvwr 7400
We just purchased a coachman spirit ultra lite, around 5,800 lbs dry. I have the Dodge Ram 1500, 5.7 Hemi with the 321 A/R so when we pick it up Friday I’m more confident now then I was even tho everyone from Dodge, neighbors and the camper dealer was telling me I was fine. Note: we are getting the load distribution hitch with sway bars so I hope that helps even more
I'd love to have a truck like yours with a 23ft. Airstream on the hitch. It costs me nothing to daydream (lol). Safe travels.
Thanks a lot for making this video. The 3.21 vs 3.92 question was on mind too as I was shopping a truck to took a 6k max wt trailer. Your video really helped inform me.
Great video. Same reason I got my ram 1500 with 3.92 snd 6.4’ bed. My trailer is 32’ and 7500lbs dry and only tow couple times a year. Mine is a flagstaff super lite snd truck hsnfked it great the times I use it although I did add air bags
Cool, this video covered all my concerns! Great job!
I feel ya on that bench seat brother! I have a 19 classic bighorn 4x2 and 3.21 ratio but man that bigger bed and bench seat make up for it!! I tow little to none so I’m fine with the capacity
This is why I love the basic trucks. Less electronics equals less problems.
Thanks for ur video. Got a used 2017 Rebel and Ready to tour/tow. U answered my questions as well!
Watch your payload #'s
I have a 2012 1500 5.7 hemi with a 355 gear ratio.pulling a trailer I get 9.3 mpg, empty I get 19 mpg.love this hemi,with no major issues.
I tow a 5000lb 24' TT with 2014 ford f150 5.0, 355 gears, I lock out 6th gear and depending on wind, it's the biggest factor, 13mpg all day long, 7000km round trip. Imperial mpg average 60mph
That's interesting. Mine does exactly opposite. Pin to paper shows 1 mpg less than the computer says. Great video.
I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic 5.7, 3:92 that I was getting approx 9.5 mpg over approx 2000 mi of towing. I purchased Goodyear Endurance tires for the trailer and now average 10.5 over the last 3000 miles towing. I feel safer with the better tire and love getting an extra 26 miles per fill up.
Same here on Good Year Endurance.
My son just ordered a new eTorque with the 3.21 standard tow package and it’s rated for 8200 pounds. A few years later he’s looking at at a 6000 pound camper. Shouldn’t be an issue at all.
Great video. I have a 2018 Ram 1500 Hemi and we get about 9mpgs pulling a 5500 TT at 67-68 mph. I went on an 1800 mile trip from Chicago to BlackHIlls cursing a bit over 70mph our mpg was 7 :) The slower you go the more efficient the truck is.
hey man do you by any chance remember how many times you filled up was it 1800 one way? amd how much was gas at that time
@@garydye6882 Too many, every 180 miles..that problem is gone now ..got a 2017 Ram 2500 6.7 cumminsThank God
Have a 1500 Hemi now and it does tow very well. 9 mpg at 70 mph with my cargo trailer.
Want to get a Cummins but only paid 27k for the 1500. No fuel mileage is gonna make up the difference if I buy a new truck
I tow a 5200# dry Grand Design with a 5.7L Durango R/T. On last year's trip from southeast TX to Moab and Virgin UT we averaged 9.4 MPG while towing. I spent a lot of time in 4th gear going west into the higher altitudes, but was overall pleased with the combination of torque and mileage. Still wish I had more payload though.
My 1500 Hemi gets 11-12mpg. It has 3.92 gears and 5sp. I have noticed an improvement burning premium fuel. 2010 TRX4. Love this old truck.
My lil 2.7 Ecoboost powered F150 also seemed pull camper better and think I got like .50 mpg better with my camper using premium. My camper shows an empty weight of 4,600 lbs, so with tanks empty and the stuff we take with us I figure about 5,500 lbs.
I have a 2019 and it had a drone on decelerations. Though it was the exhaust. Ended up it was the noise canceling system. Bought a bypass harness to element the microphones in the headliner. Drone gone!
I have a 2016 and 2017 Ram Laramie 1500 5.7 both with 3.92 gears. Previously had 2013 F150 Lariat 3.5 Ecoboost don't remember the gears. In all three of the trucks I found that wind resistance affects my mileage more than weight does. Previous TT weighed about 2000 pounds less than the current one. I've gotten about the same mileage 9 to 10.5 with all three trucks with both Trailers. Using 87 octane in all three with no issues.
Try using the recommend 89 octane fuel, it may help. I used to use 87 and now using 91 or higher octane while towing and fuel mileage increased.
You know... I've heard quite a few people try this. I think I'll try it in my Titan while fuel prices are low. Worth a try.
91 octane will not do a damn thing. 89 will because the manual calls for it but says 87 is fine. The pcm is programed to use up to 89. By putting in 91 the only thing you’ll notice is your wallet being lighter. Octane is the gasoline’s ability to resist combustion. Hence why putting in 87 in a sport vehicle that is programed for 91 will cause knock. Reversed it does nothing because the pcm is optimized for 87 only.
I wouldn’t do that kind of fuel. Nasty go 100%
Thanks for the video. The Big Horn's are a nice truck. All makes have recall issues now a days, too many parts made from all over the world. I've been truck shopping and going back in forth with what ratio gears to get. I only tow once in awhile and that's usually an atv in a enclosed 14' trailer or a light aluminum trailer, no 6000 pound camper. I just looked up the 3.21 gears and they are rated at over 8,000 pounds, the 3.92 just over 10,000. I think I'll get the 3.21 for the better fuel economy.
I’ve been extremely pleased with the 3.21s. I have some other videos on unloaded mileage you may want to check out. Not bad mileage for a 400hp truck. It seems the 3.92s hurt mpg.
I have a 2013 Ram with Hemi and 392 gears and the best mpg I have seen is 20.5 mpg. I am happy with that.
@@jimeckenrode1271 i have a 2012 1500 with 6 speed and 3.92s and its better on fuel while towing (tow/haul mode activated) than unladen. Can't tell the mpgs because the display only shows ODO, trip, ext temps, eco on, change oil, ice poss, its the single display.
Nice video! Was wondering how the 2019-2020 models would do pulling trailers. I have a 2008 RAM, 5.7 Hemi, with 3.92 gears and 5 Speed Tranny. I pull 4,000 lbs and just completed a loop to Colorado over the Continental Divid and back. No problems. 10-12 MPG on the trip. Love my RAM...but want a newer one with 8 speed.
I have a 2019 1500 laramie crew cab with the sport package and 6'4" bed and 3.21 gears. Im going to look at trailers today and im going for no more then 28' long and 5500#'s dry weight. I live in wisconsin but will be traveling to oregon where my wife is from. Biggest reason for not wanting to go too big or much heavier. Max tow rating i believe is 8060#'s. Will also be installing air bags on the rear end
What did you end up with and how's it tow
I live in the Rocky's. And believe you have nothing to worry about with your setup. The tow rating for 3.21 Vs 3.92 has more to do with expected duty cycle on the transmission and frame then it does with power. The 8speed transmission will make up for the gearing difference which is fine if you're not towing Max capacity day in and out. If you were you want the transmission to stay in direct drive (6th) as much as possible to prevent extra wear and tear which is where changing the rearend gears comes in. Higher gears will also cause more frame twist when loaded. As far as the engine is concerned. Find out where peak torque is (probably around 4000rpm) and keep it as close as you can to that on the steep stuff (the transmission will probably do this for you just don't let it hunt). Peak torque is an engine's sweet spot. Where it produces the most power with the least amount of fuel. It's also usually where there designed to work as far as best balance and lubrication. So in short don't be afraid to let it wrap up a little.
So you’re saying on steep inclines ( live in Colorado also) with the 3.21, keep it manually in 6 gear, and have the engine in 6th gear? Or 6 gear would be the optimal gear for the majority of the tow?
Using the tow/haul mode will lock the transmission out of 8th gear. 6th gear is direct drive and 7th and 8th are both overdrive. I have a '19 Limited with 3.93 gears and 5.7 without e-Torq. It pulls like a freight train but I never get over 19 mpg on the highway. But towing tractors, and dump trailers and campers it doesn't downshift below 6th gear hardly ever. The owner's manual recommends 89 octane fuel and where I live I can get ethanol free fuel very easily. For running around town and daily driving I use 87, but if I'm going to tow or haul with it I'll fill it up with 89.
I have a 2018 RAM 1500 with 5.7 and 3.92 rear end. Truck is rated to tow 10200 lbs. I also have a 32 ft camper weighing around 8300 pounds. Went from Iowa to Red Lodge Montana with it and averaged about 8 mpg running 65 and 70 mph. There is a spot on interstate 90 between Mitchell S.D. and the Badlands that my mpg dropped to 6 mpg and that sucked. Guess I was fighting the wind. It's ok and does what I need it to do but sure wish I would have just went ahead and got a 2500!
A 32ft camper on a 1/2ton, that's one hell of a tow
@@james2042 Yes at times it is. I did lie though it's only 7300 lbs not 8300lbs. You definitely know it's back there. I take it easy and keep it under 65 on interstate and try not to take off like a bat out of hell.
I'm from Iowa as well and towed a 7k lb, 35' tt out to Livingston, montana last year too. It's got plenty of power for it. But can be a pretty exhausting ride. Were downgrading to a 27' here soon. Love my truck though!
@@michaelmorris7620 we tow a 30 footer with our 2013 ram 1500 5.7. Have the 3.55 rear. Good wd hitch and sway bar, 60mph, no rush, we have no issues. It only weights 5700 dty.
I have a 19 classic and when I pulled my camper 1300 miles. First tank was 6 mpg then I used manual shift and got 10 mpg and still pulled great
I have a 2019 as well. I know how to manually change gears. Could you tell me how you are selecting which gear to use in order to see that nice gain? I’d love to squeeze any little bit I could when towing. Thanks!
@@jfpjfpjfp I just put it in 8th and let get where it could. Mine is a regular cab 8’ bed with 3:92 gears I think that’s what helped out My crew cab bighorn has 3:21 and doesn’t do as well
The droning noise is caused by your noise canceling system under the driver seat. It gets thrown out of wack in cold weather. I ordered a $25 bypass on Amazon, problem solved.
I just bought a new, leftover 2019 Ram classic, 3.21, 5.7 hemi, 4x4 and anti spin rear end. After watching this review I'm glad I stayed away from the new ram until the bugs get worked out. As for the Hemi, I use nothing but 89 octane. After enough use of 87 octane, people have experienced lifters ticking in the Hemi. My average mpg is 18.4, 22 on interstate. Works for me with 395 horsepower.
I don't really see how 87 octane gas can cause lifter noise. The hydraulic lifters are actuated by engine oil and the fuel octane doesn't matter to the oil. Perhaps folks aren't changing their oil on schedule, or using crappy oil? Even though I use synthetic oil I still never go more than 6,000 miles between changes. Proper routine maintenance is much cheaper than a mechanic.
@@rtundlt1 Perhaps. People are very good at giving their vehicles poor maintenance. As to the fuel, I fill up with the recommended 88 octane in my ram with the 5.7 Hemi. I feel as if the Hemi is suffocating with 87, but that's just me.
If you are towing out west with that 23 gallon tank, my advice is carry 2 or 3 full 5 gallon gas jugs.. I travel all over the U.S with a 5th wheel for my job, and trust me, there is a lot of areas where you're in the middle of nowhere and no gas stations for a hundred miles.
I plan on heading to New Mexico in a few months with this setup. It is a little bit of a concern. Thanks for the heads up!
I live in Wyoming, and I can vouch for that. I used to pull my work home to the big wood of the northwest several times a year. For a while it was with short bed GM 8.1s. Definitely some range anxiety with a 26 gallon tank!
I pull a 6500 pound travel trailer with a gmc sierra 1500 5.3l 3.42 gears and got 10mpg to dallas and 9.5 to eureka springs. So your truck is likely getting what most 1/2 tons will get.
David Mcclellan
I pull a 5000 empty and about 5700 lbs loaded 20 ft trailer with my 2015 Silverado 1500 4x4 double cab 5.3l 3.42 with a shell and worst it’s been (pen to paper) is 7.5 to 8.6 mpg. That’s driving 65 mph through out the west. I’d not want a bigger trailer for this tow vehicle for sure.
I’m sure if I had 3.73 or 4.10 gears, I’d get better mpg towing (most the time I’m in 4th gear on the level turning about 2,900 rpm and dip into 3 gear and 4,500 rpm to try to maintain around 50 mph up the grades) but empty it’s a 19-21 mpg truck.
Looking into a 3/4 ton 6.0 l gas 6 speed Chevy with the 4.10 gears 4x4 and hopefully it will get a little better mpg towing. My current truck tows pretty well but if we decide later to get some slightly larger then a new truck is a must do.
Bill
Interesting as you mentioned tow-haul mode.
I found that when turned off tow haul mode, it does shift to 8th gear on similar condition.
Not that shifting into to 8th off tow haul is a good thing for your transmission or mileage
I have a 2014 Ram. I continue to this day get recalls.
Had a ‘99 Cavalier and it was still getting recalls
Tow rating really doesn't mean anything. What really matters is your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. There should be a white sticker with black letters and a yello stripe at the top inside the driver door well. It will have all your weight ratings, and will say something like "Total payload onthis vehicle shall not exceed..." That is the total extra weight you can add to your truck. You have to take into account the weight of all of your passengers, cargo, luggage AND the tongue weight of the trailer. If you're towing a 6,000lb trailer chances are your tongue weight is over 650-700 pounds. On a RAM 1500, total payload is probably about 1400 pounds. That means that you would have to have all your passengers, luggage, etc not to exceed 700 pounds. Those are pretty tight margins.
My 2020 ranger needed a new valve body in the trams. No quality control. Though, towing 6800 (7500 rated) gets 10.5 at 65 flat ground. Same road same boat in 2011 Duramax 2500 is 14.5. big difference.
I had a 2017 Dodge 1500 with the 3:21 and pulled the gears out of it. Camper weight was around 6500 lbs and the truck was rated at 8900 lbs. Cost me $2k bucks to repair it. Never again will I own a 3:21 gear.
Why didn't you have 392 gears put in?
@@jessyhavron2548 -- Because the suspension system on that specific truck was not designed to handle the weight that a 3:92 would accommodate. It was built around a 3:21 suspension system. It's also not just one thing you can change on a truck to increase its towing capabilities. It is many things that have to be done to make correct changes and by the time you do all that you might as well just buy a truck that was built from the factory with all the correct components for towing. People get ripped off every day when buying a truck that can only handle towing say 5k lbs vs one that can tow 12k lbs. Prices of the trucks are relatively the same, but should it be? Of course not.
Don't fret the small stuff ... dodge sounds like a decent product and price .
Y’all got to check out the rear sliding window frame inside the back seat ( they cracked) because the 2019’s leaks (check your backseat and carpet for wetness) and they are being replaced with the re-designed 2020 windows ! I have mine at the dealership 3 weeks now and they got 3 others in for the same problem !!!
had mine replaced. Took them 2 different trips to the dealer because they wanted to rule out the "stop light" wasnt leaking.....
I towed for many years. 2003 GM heavy half with 6 L. Had lots of power. Towed fifth wheel and boat. Have the Ram now but don’t tow as much. I have a permanent spot. If you ask me I would always always chose 392 gears. Pending how much ya tow and where you go. But it’s the windy days while towing that makes the truck work. Lots of hills can make the truck work also but wind can be the worse. I would rather pay extra gas for daily use cause when you tow it is sure nice to have the pulling power.
Interesting info. I have a 2019 Ram classic 1500. 392 rear. Haven't done much towing with it yet.
Have you done any towing with your 19 ram classic? I have the short bed v8 crew cab and while I thought the towing was closer to 7k range it’s supposedly only 4,600 max towing capacity. Just curious of your experience and what weight you towed.
@@robertrusso737
Last June 2023 I towed my 6x9 enclosed bike trailer 7000 kilometers. My vin is rated at towing 11.5k lbs. I'd never do the maximum. Recommended max is 75% max.
Good video!! Keep them coming
I've been through the disappointment of trying to tow with 3:43 gear in a half ton. I wonder if your "mileage gears" can give you the engine breaking down the mountains; won't be able to come down with breaks doing most of work in the mountains. It sounds like you're in pretty high rpm range for a relatively flat terrain. Fifth gear will mean high transmission temps due to higher rpm. Will only increase if you go "out west." Not to mention real mountain elevation robs power, so your engine will have to rev higher--higher transmission temps. Do you have a trans cooler and do you monitor trans temps? You'll find pushing a wind in Kansas and Colorado, while climbing elevation for several hours will tax your truck probably, with the travel trailer. Most manufacturers want the trans oil temp under 200F, preferably 170F. Doesn't sound like you can do that especially in hot summer temps, when we want to travel. Hope the 2 weeks of limping through the mountains this summer don't ruin the nice truck for the 90% of how you use the truck the rest of the year. Probably the wrong gear ratio for this job. It was for me.
I agreed 100%. Check out my more recent videos to see how I solved the problem...
Thank you for the great review
My 2021 Bighorn without towing is averaging 13.4 city and 14.5 highway. When I tow my apex nano 194 at 4800lbs I average about 10mpg. I have 4K miles and have not seen any improvement. Going to ask the dealer what’s going on. I have tried 87/89/91/93 gas and no difference.
Great info,looking to get a trailer,and this helps out.
Good honest review....good job!
If you want to tow more than that short trailer, I would very much suggest the 3.92 gears. You get another three thousand pounds of towing capacity with those gears. Mileage will differ of course, but if you're wanting to hit the upper limits of what you can do with a half ton then I would suggest going with the 3.92.
You can pretty much tow your Max only with driver and copilot. More than that and you exceed payload capacity. Mine is 3.92 I pull 5k and al with passengers (6 of us) I go at the payload limit.(recommended limit)
I just bought a 2019 limited worth 3.21 and tow a trailer for work that's about 2200lbs daily up to 4,000 ish.. it says I need to break it in 500 miles and I'm 200 shy I can't wait!
I've seen a lot of people get a lower number on the computer than at the pump on these trucks. Ours does it too, usually within 1 mpg.
You forgot to mention bed length. I can see you have the 6"4 bed which is ideal for towing....a 5"7 bed is not. Longer bed and wheelbase, better stability and handling with towing.
That is not the 6’4 bed…
89 octane is the recommended minimum for the HEMI in the owner's manual. It is only ok to use 87 in a pinch. Using 87 will cause engine knocking not give you peak performance. It says to point blank in the manual. I average 19 to 21 mpg per tank with my truck unloaded going back and forth to work. It has the same engine and is geared the same as the truck in the video. Towing 5,000 - 6,000 pounds I average 13 mph for long trips that include hills, highway, and interstate. Over the years i have seen as much as a 3 mph difference between 87 and 89 octane in my trucks towing and not. Sometimes i see that just using different brand gas.
Not sure what happens on milage computer once you change your tires to non factory spec. I used to get as high as 21 mpg on long trips. Once I changed my tires I never saw that again.
Better look at the actual transmission temp if you’re shifting as much as your video showed and towed in 5th. You will risk your transmission on a light truck with that much weight and axle you have that needs such RPM. It will overheat the oil and will fail on such a long trip as “out West.” Mileages discussions are for cars, not a truck used as a tool needed to tow weight. The actual weight on the scales is only part of the story. When pulling a travel trailer, the wind resistance adds much to the actual work. A bass boat is much easier. Good luck.
I've got a 2016 ram 5.7 express 6 inch lift tuned k&n filter on 35s exhaust 3.21s and towing 8600lbs it gets 7.8 to 10.9 normally 13.5 to 17 mpg unloaded no issues I'll probably upgrade way later down road like 2022 or 23 after all issues worked out on a 2500 mega cab or go-to the Titan XD since you can find them left on lots all day long fully loaded for like 45k
Jesse Shapiro what tune and with which programmer? I have the exact same setup but with 3.92 gears, been looking to get a tune for a while now
@@ryanhavellana9030 I'm using the cheap ass i3 and hemifever tunes they are not bad....if your after speed tho after I've raced a few people and played with em I'd say go-to Jay green he is way more vocal durring the process faster to help adjust things ECT and if you add parts over time he's more than happy to help add and change things for cheaper....I ended up adding headers and throttle body and threw a limp code and had to rewrite tune took a few days when some green guys said he did it over phone and in a day.
I noticed my mpg gauge is off by 3mpg. I did the math and unloaded it’s gets around 25-26 but the mpg gauge in the truck says I was getting 22-23. This is unloaded.
Great video. I have a 2012 Ram 2500 diesel 6.7 and tow a travel trailer very similar to the one in this video. Needles to say, it is way over kill.
The droning is coming from the exhaust/muffler and with 4 people and the trailer that engine is staying in higher rpm band say 2500rpm or so. Part of towing with 1/2ton and modest weight. Also need to lock out higher gears in the hills. Find out what gear gives it 1:1 ratio and keep it there. And use tow haul. That tranny shifting so much isn't good for it
The droning only happens around 1450 rpms. I’ve never had it happen while towing.
6th is 1:1 as a fyi
Droning is coming from a bug in the software. The 5.7 Hemi has a feature in the radio to mask the muffler noise at highway speeds using alternating audio waves. The bug made it not work and the drone was not drowned out. So re-programming the radio to work right fixes the drone. Many new trucks and cars have this feature now.
I’m going to buy a RV in the same weight class with a Z71 with 3.23 in a crew cab so I’m looking at mileage as well but I live in Florida Miami but north Florida is hilly so we will see what happens thanks again for the video
Glad to see that you started wearing that seat belt
There was some concern for my safety😉
Your real world trailer weight is always going to be way more than you think. Do yourself a favor and load it up for camping (all your gear, water if you're taking it) take it to a scale, unhook it completely from your truck and see what it weighs. Just saying it may surprise you. My trailer has a yellow sticker "unloaded weight" of 4658. I loaded it up for camping (chairs, sleeping bags, etc, two propane tanks, no water) and put it on a scale, it weighed 5250 lbs. Just saying, you're always pulling more than you think. Thanks for the review.
Nice! How much of a difference is it towing the Ranger when compared to your Tracker? I have a 2000 Bass tracker 175 and want to upgrade to a fiberglass boat within the next few years. I have a 2010 F150 with the 5.4 and it pulls the tracker no problem. However I do average anywhere from 9-12 mph (just bought new tires though so it may go up mpg wise since it pulls even easier)
The 3.92 would make towing a lot easier, but you'd suffer $$$$ from the increased cost of fuel that you use. I think that as you pointed out, if the truck isn't going to be used for a lot of heavy towing, or hauling heavy loads on the bed, a 1500 with the 3.21 is just fine. It would even handle a 9000 lb RV trailer, although at that weight it might make sense to look at a 5th wheel setup and a longer bed.
How do you know which gear it's in? Which screen tells us the gear we are in? I'm pretty sure the standard fuel tanks size of the 2019 Ram is 26 gallons not 23. Thanks for caring about us Ram owners or potential Ram owners.
There is a choice in settings for you to show the gear position. It will appear beside the "D". The standard Ram fuel tank is 23 gallons. There is an option for 33. I believe the rebel can get a 26 gallon, but I don't think I've ever seen a non-rebel 1500 with anything other than a 23 or 33.
@@whateverfits1978 Thanks for your reply. I'll check settings very soon. 👍
@@whateverfits1978 so, I go into settings on the main touchscreen and all I see is "Display", then what? It would be excellent to see which gear we are in. What will it say when we are in park? I keep the vehicle information screen displayed, which shows the basics like mpg, speed, mileage etc. Thanks again
@@whateverfits1978 I think I got it from the steering wheel controls of the center small screen directly in front of us. I only had a chance to move in my driveway and saw a 1 on the bottom right along the row of the PDRN1 Before I was trying to get it from the big 8.4 inch screen settings, couldn't get it that way. ,thank you for mentioning this on your drive. All the best
My 2019 Bighorn Hemi 4x4 has a 26 gallon fuel tank ! I just looked at my window sticker ! I believe the 23 gallon tank is standard on the 6 cylinder !
I pulled a 6500 pound camper with my 2014 1500 ram with a 321 gear had to have the rear end rebuilt because the pinion bearing went out my brother had the same truck pulling the same weight camper had the same problem had to get a new rear end for 3700 dollars dodge rear ends suck
outside temp and humidity has a huge effect on mileage. Fuel brands also make a big difference. Driving style can also make or brake you.
Break.
I'm 61 and been buying Rams sense 1998 and I've had mostly 1500 but have gotten the 3500 in 2000 and 2500 in 2004 and I guess I'm lucky because I've never had any issues ... I'm driving a hydro blue 2020 1500 off road package now ... I trade every 3 to 4 years tho . I haven't put over 50k miles on any yet .
Very good video and info. Have done any additions to your suspension? It look very level.
Thanks! The truck is completely stock.
Different Gas pump nozzles have different shut off sensitivity, so your way of checking the gas mileage is inaccurate. Even though it’s for different reasons (environmental reasons and in case of accident) not recommended to top off your fuel tank at the gas station, it’s the only way to calculate your gas mileage accurately. Playing with the pump nozzle on and off until fuel level is actually visible in filler neck and stays settled. Then go immediately for your ride as you don’t want to have the car sitting and expanding fuel volume due to temperature changes. After your ride hit the gas station again and do the same thing. This way shut off sensitivity of different gas pump nozzles don’t matter. Now do your calculation math. I have the same truck and I calculated many times and found the car’s gas mileage computer to be very accurate.
Get over the seatbelt folks. He's an adult. His choice. Not yours . And
😀😀Thank you! I survived the making of that video.
You cannot calculate gas mileage only burning two gallons of fuel. Filling it up you could be off by a half a gallon which is 25%
What were your temps all of them
Just to let you know it tied for first with Toyota Tundra in Consumer Reports for reliability.
Wow, that kind of surprises me....
Thus truck have probably 1400lb of payload limit .
So 6000lb camper with 2 adult and 2 kids you close to max out your payload capacity.
10% 0f 6000lb is 600lb + 2 adult an 2 kids 500lb is already 1100lb so you have only 300lb to max out your payload.
What is not that much...
Mine is 28ft. And is about 5k. 25L/100km 2017 ram 1500 hemi 3.92 gears crew cab Max payload while towing.
I have the same truck and looking at campers. Thanks for the good information. What is the camper model? Salem Hemisphere, 20BHLL?
2014 Salem Hemisphere 232IS
Ever figure out what that “drone” is? I’ve had that on long road trips - typically when someone is is the back seat behind driver.
…so annoying!
Hasn’t happened in a while but annoying when it does and no way to really predict it
Never figured it out....
Can you lock out gears so in tow haul it never shifts past certain higher gears? I was figuring on ordering a truck I’ve certainly not seen one that has all the options I want and I was thinking of getting the 3:55 gear option over the 3:21 My friend owns a new 19 and he has the 3:92 gears it’s a great truck but gets 12-14 MPG however I’m sure it will to very well I’ve seen RAMs with the 3:92’s get relatively OK mileage towing on anther YT video once I think it was around 12,14 mpg at 55mph with a tandem enclosed trailer.
Yes, you can lock out the gears. Tow haul mode seems to do a pretty good job of keeping you in the power band though. I don’t believe 3.55s are available from the factory in the 1500. I think your only options are 3.21 or 3.92.
I have 3.92 on my 2019 Rebel, with the transmissions
Today you can't tell
there that low.The engine likes to pull
All through the RPM
Range. My V10 was flat
Or just a dog.
I just towed my boat
From the West coast to the East coast, tandem trailer did great, got as much as 14.5 MPG
I went from my 1999 2500 V10 bought new
To the 1/2 ton.
This new truck did better in every aspect, passing going up the grades on
West coast and MPG.
Almost 10,000 miles on
The Rebel no issues beside the standard recalls. I will say sometimes when cold putting it In gear it will make a crack noise I'm
Thinking electric parking
Brake? Also this truck is rated over 12,000 lbs of towing also the Rebel as
A tuned or stiffer suspension than the stock 1/2 tons so I did not noticed much difference from my 3/4 ton. Yes it's a bit softer
I did test drive a long Horn it felt like a car or
Really wishing washy or Really soft. It was much better deal than the Rebel but once I drove the Rebel there was no comparing the two. Happy so far
From 3/4 to 1/2 ton.
Also you are thinking about buying a diesel
I would say you better be
Towing 12,000 or more
To make it worth the extra cost not to mention
The average cost of fuel being 50 cents per gallon or more. And the big 3 diesels are war with each
Other who can produce the most TQ & HP today
Relating to less MPG
My neighbor bought
A F350 dually getting
15 mpg in the city
However won't drop much towing heavy loads.
@@whateverfits1978 3.55 are only available with the V6 engine. That sucks, I'd love to have had them with the 5.7 Hemi. Would have made towing 6Klbs much easier, and still better MPG than the 3.92.
Did you ever get your drone issue resolved? I have a 2019 RAM Bighorn with the 5.7 and 3.92 that's been in the shop a few times as well, first it was an evap issue, then the upper glove box wouldn't stay shut, and just recently my gear selector wouldn't budge and pulled a "service shifter" code. I've had the drone noise you talked about since day one and have about 9000 miles now. The drone seems to get louder when I let off the accelerator with passengers.
Just got my truck back from the dealer this week. I told them about the drone and asked them to update the noise cancellation system. So far, no drone. Hopefully, that was the fix. Mine was also worse with passengers.
I have a 2019 dodge ram had the same drone sound it only happens when the eco light is on if I put it tow haul or Or select Max gear to eat which turns off the eco-mode it does not happen.
Brought it back to the dealership and they flashed the transmission and it went away.
At 2:45 that’s why you wait a year so ram can figure what’s wrong and you don’t have to take it in and wait for them to fix it
Hint: you can always switch to a higher capacity fuel tank
True, it's just more economical to buy it that way than to add it later.
@@whateverfits1978 I don't know about this man. Dealer tries to rip me off every time. All after market parts I have changes on mine have been a lot cheaper and that's going with top notch stuff. But boy are these rams a sweet ride.
I know I’m a little late replying, but I looked up getting a larger tank and it’s VERY EXPENSIVE after the fact !!!
Same thing with changing the 321 gears to 392 💰💰💰💰💰 !!!
Hope they fixed the QC problems now.
I've got a 2018 Ram 1500 almost exactly like yours. I've had zero quality issues on mine. No drone either. Wonder if that drone is a known issue for Ram?
I think my quality issues are related to the new body style. My father in law has a 2018 like mine and no issues outside a few recalls. Of course, there are lots of 2019s with no issues. It may just be my truck.
@@whateverfits1978 hope things get shaken out and you have smooth sailing in the future. Thanks for the excellent video.
I had the drone issue in my 2019 bighorn as well. As it turns out, the noise cancelling system needed software update. This update is done through the amplifier system. The software cured my issue.
So do you remember what you got for mileage on your trip out west?And how fast were you going most of the time? I have pretty much the same setup except 2016 And I typically cruise between 65 and 70 and it's usually around 8½ Depending on the wind.I have a 26' camper that's about 6,000lb loaded. To anyone who hasn't towed much, it's plowing through the wind that affects mileage the most, not so much just the weight. The weight is mostly noticed in the hills.
I actually sold the truck before our trip. So I never towed a long trip with it.
@@whateverfits1978 what’s your reasoning for selling
@@anthonyvu749 Needed to tow a large fifth wheel.
What is your truck payload number on sticker?
Did you ever get the cab drone fixed? I had a 2019 bighorn 1500 with same issue. Ended up going through lemon law and getting compensated and had issue fixed. It was something to do with the ECM module. Had to be reprogrammed with new coding. My drone only happened when people were in cab but would stop if you opened windows. It was noise canceling issue. Didn't deter me from ram though...bought a new 2021 now
Never got it fixed before I traded the truck in. I noticed mine more when people were in the cab as well.
Hello there very nice Ram you have there! Very nice Travel Trailer also! I’m assuming you have a Hemi in that truck seeing as you mentioned it is the same engine you can get the 3:92 gears and I know the 3.6 is not available with them. That’s a bummer because as much as I like the Hemi, that Pentastar is also a great Engine that with those 3:92 gears would be fine with your camper and get better day to day mileage. I need to say unfortunately but a truck with the 3:21 gears and towing that size TT is not a good idea! You would have been better with 3:92’s. That will actually get better mileage everywhere but empty highway cruising! I bet you would get just over 10 mpg on the same loop and even great percentage in the mountains! I’ve had a Colorado Z71,4x4,V6 Ext Cab for three years and 72,000 totally trouble free miles with only scheduled maintenance trips to dealers for oil change, whiteout needing to add oil between, most of those miles were towing our 4,500 lbs Travel Trailer all over the Country from Bangor ME, to Key West FL and as far west as Corpus Christi TX, then also to the Michigan Upper Peninsula! On the trips on The mainly flatlands we averaged 15mpg! That towing to campsites, dropping trailer and exploring the areas! In the Mountains the average gets as low as 8 mpg to a high of 11 mpg, with no shortage of power at all! With gray handling and brakes! We plan to replace within the year and I’m gonna take a nice long look/test drive of many Mid/Full size gas/diesel trucks. I’m am leaning towards a Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4AWD, Hemi with Factory Tow Package and Off Road Package with 3:92 gears. That is the truck the won the TFL Gold Hitch award this new year! But I hope the new Chevy Silverado InLine Diesel is released in time! I’m also gonna look for a 2.7 Turbo Silverado at a dealership that hopefully will let me tow my trailer with it! I will say this, NO Toyota , or Ford on my list!
How is the pickup and go on it compared to a 2500 diesel? Does it have a respectable acceleration? Not drag race flooring it. Just from a red light.
Acceleration is very good. I feel like it would walk away from my diesel. It is a lot smoother and feels easier to drive than my diesel also. The eight speed works really well.
Does this truck have the 3.21 gears?
Your trailer prob weighs 6500 pounds. Those numbers are always off plus they don’t add propane bottles or batteries. Some RVs don’t add appliances either. Aka stove, oven, ac unit.
Couple of questions because I am looking at purchasing a 2019 1500 4x4 to pull my camper. First, do you know what gear ratio you have? Also how is pulling that camper without tow mirrors??
The gears are listed in the thumbnail, 3.21s. The regular mirrors work great. Tow mirrors would be better, but not necessary. The smaller mirror gives you a lot of coverage to see around the camper.
Get the tow mirrors. My truck came without them and I purchased and installed then myself. The local dealer programmed them to work properly (about $135 for programming). I much prefer the larger mirrors but I tow several thousand miles a year.
Great info . Just curious what type of hitch receiver did you install or is it a factory hitch reciever and if so what is It rated at
My new ram 1500 came with the factory class 3 bumper hitch but didn't come with a reciver hitch so iam looking to find a hitch reciever that will be rated to pull at least 6 to 8 thousand pounds
Factory hitch. I don't have the truck anymore, but I think it was class IV
What’s the deal with the drone sound you’re describing? Is this a common issue with these Rams? I’m looking at them now and that would be very annoying.
I don't think it's across the board. I can't pinpoint what causes mine. I seem to hear it when I have a full cab of passengers and am around 1450rpms.
Did it to me once. It's a low drone annoying as hell. I figured it to be the noise cancellation device they have that malfunctioned?
It is across the board. There is a tsb related to the drone. It's an amplifier update pertaining to the noise cancellation. Had it done to my bighorn and it resolved the issue
Is it best to always use the tow/haul mode whenever we tow something over about 3000 pounds? How do we use the downhill descent mode? I absolutely love the front bench seat and wish it were available in all the Ram trucks. Thanks
I always use tow/ haul when towing anything. some people use it all the time for the higher shift points. my truck wasn't equipped with descent.
@@whateverfits1978 ok, thank you so much
Don't forget that seat belt mod you did also. : )
Lol. Good catch.
Matches his coat exactly! 👍🏻
Good review 👍
Cheers
What was the trans temp?
I don't remember exactly on this video, but when towing this it never got to a point where I was concerned that out might be too hot.
What size and weight is that trailer?.. Great that we know the mileage, but we need to know the weight. Thanks!
Weight was listed in the first few minutes of the video.
@@whateverfits1978lol..... hello!
Did you have any issues with the truck swaying I have a 2019 and I tow different camper trailers all the time and I’m have a issue with the truck swaying with any camper I put behind it as small as 3500lb
A little. I usually used a WD hitch so that helped, but yes a trailer seemed to throw the truck around a little.