[NoMad7700]

I did a quick search but did not find anything, so sorry if this has already been discussed.

From what I've read, it seems like the Rebel does not tow as well as the other RAM 1500 trims. Based on real world usage, what have you guys towed, and how has the towing been?

I just purchased a Rebel and will be looking into toyhaulers shortly. I'll be towing from a 3 hour drive up to a 12 hour drive one way.

I'm also wondering if a 5th wheeler would work on the shorter bed of this truck. I've heard they handle the sway much better than a bumper pull.

 

[Stackin]

I've heard of people on this forum towing upwards of 5000lb for a good range of time. I'm sure a few of them could chime in here. I think @TooByFoor didn't have too good of an experience though

 

[johnj]

If you're towing more than 5,000 lbs you really ought to have a weight distribution hitch of some sort. And a good wdh should also help with sway control.

Ram doesn't recommend 5th wheel trailering on the 1500s. Mostly because of bed load limits / GVWR, I think.

Yeah, @Twobyfoor has had good and bad. He says he pulled a 5400lb camper with the Rebel without problems. Then later he towed it with stuff loaded in it and had sway problems. My guess is that he probably needed to push a little more weight forward in the stuff he loaded into the camper, get just a little more weight on the front end.

http://www.ramrebelforum.com/forum/51329-post15.html
http://www.ramrebelforum.com/forum/ram-rebel-general-discussion/7457-towing-sucked.html

There's also a lot of info on towing in the other Rebel forum. A lot of guys having good experiences in this thread, for example.
What are you towing? | Ram Rebel Forum

 

[NoMad7700]

Thanks for the replies, and I'll check out the links! I am definitely getting a WDH for the trailer. The RAM website says I can tow up to 9950 lbs on this vehicle, but I find it a bit hard to believe.

 

[TooByFoor]

The load in the camper is not the issue for me. Same 5400lb camper, same WDH, same family, same load, same trips that didn't have these problems in my 1500 Sport Crew before the Rebel. Plus, most weight in the camper is eaten/drank before the trip home, which was no different either time.

I can't say it's a general Rebel problem, but can say it's a problem with my Rebel. And it seems to be more of a payload problem, as the extra weight (of the family) in the cab is what made things a whole lot worse. We weigh 540lbs as a family. Subtract 150lbs for the driver, add 650 for the tongue, I'm at ~1000 lbs payload. So, even though I'm close to the max I should be fine as I was in the other truck.

The air suspension has never complained, either. I set the WDH in Tire Jack mode, and it'll still raise it up when I take off. I even hook up in Exit/Entry, and then raise it up to Normal with no problems. And, I lowered it into Aero (which puts more work on the WDH), which didn't make a difference, either.

Regardless, I'm back at the dealer tomorrow to discuss this. I've complained to them a few times about how it handles unloaded (I get sway-ish type feelings a lot on the highway just driving to/from work, and it won't hold straight very well) and have been told something different each time: normal, get used to the electronic steering, bigger tires (which aren't bigger), etc.

We'll see... if it's "normal" again, I may be shopping for a new truck.

 

[Rebelfan]

I tow my 16.5 ft. Lund with no problems at all. Not nearly as heavy. Might be helpful info for anyone who reads this thread. I have a 22ft. Robalo boat that I have yet to tow. She sits in NC, and I'm in PA. Pull through lots of inclines and declines as you would guess. Kind of interested to see how she pulls the heavy boat. Comes to 6k lbs. I'll post once I do it. The better rear axle ratio on the rebel, and the 8 spd. tranny should mean good pulling...mine has anti sway control lever as well. My last 1500 did the job fine with the bigger boat, and it was 6 spd. tranny. That was loaded with 4 passengers and all tons of luggage. I'm anxious to see now that I've read Too's post.

 

[TooByFoor]

I got my truck back from the dealer on Friday, and posted this thread:

Alignment while running...

I do think this will finally fix my problems, because the whole truck just feels more secure now. I'm not gonna try it out with the camper until I get back from the road trip, though.

 

[TheGreatRam]

They say you can tow up to 9950 lbs and i believe those numbers. Someone managed to tow 8500-9000 lbs but they did use a weight distribution hitch.

 

[TooByFoor]

They say you can tow up to 9950 lbs and i believe those numbers. Someone managed to tow 8500-9000 lbs but they did use a weight distribution hitch.

I think the only way you can (safely and legally) tow 9950lbs is if you weight 150lbs or less, and have absolutely nothing else in the truck. And yes, using WDH.

 

[johnj]

This is how Ram currently shows it on their web site under towing recommendations.

 

[woolfman72]

Looking up my vin it shows this for me.

MAX PAYLOAD
1,380lbs
MAX TOWING
10,150lbs

 

[TooByFoor]

Lol, here's what mine says:

MAX PAYLOAD
0 lbs
MAX TOWING
9,600 lbs

Maybe the 0 payload is my problem!

 

[Terry Despard]

Thanks for the replies, and I'll check out the links! I am definitely getting a WDH for the trailer. The RAM website says I can tow up to 9950 lbs on this vehicle, but I find it a bit hard to believe.

Towed 8000 travel trailer with a golf cart in the bed (extension ramps fabricated) Ram Rebel 1500 4x2 for almost 2 years up all hills around the Blue Ridge from Florida to Western NY.
Pulled great no issues and average 8-10mpg. Just needed to fill up twice as much as usual.
Getting ready to put a 5th wheel hitch (Grand Design 150 Series) lite 5th wheels designed for 1500's.
Safe motoring.......

 

[Terry Despard]

Real World Towing.
Ram Rebel 1500 4x2 - towed travel trailer 6700Lbs dry weight, 9000GVWR with sway bar...etc. 500Lb golf cart in the bed (fabricated ramps for length), 2 persons in the truck. Extra items, weight in the Travel Trailer 300Lbs. A dozen trips to the mountains " steep grades
", beach, etc. No issues at all. Loved the setup.
I've recently switched to a 5th Wheel 8400Lbs dry weight, no golf cart.

These trucks will pull and stop with no issues. I'm confident with the the 9000-10000LB Ram posted tow limits for these trucks with the correct setup.

 

[myflatline]

The Rebel pulls the Kubota as good or better than the 3/4 ton did. I attribute most of that to the tranny tho..

 

[KennyLives]

I towed my 2014 Challenger using a U-Haul car hauler with no issues, my car is 4200lbs not including the weight of the trailer. The 3.91 gears and 8 speed transmission allows the Rebels to tow with ease.

 

[Randal Burns]

I'm definitely new to towing, thinking about picking up a travel trailer to take some summer trips, Connect C231RBKSE <--- Model of travel trailer

2019 RAM 1500 REBEL CREW CAB 4X4 5'7" BOX
8-Speed Automatic 8HP75 Transmission
Vehicle images shown may not reflect the selected model year. See dealer for details.

MAX PAYLOAD
1780.00LBS
MAX TOWING
11250.0LBS



Should I have any issues?

 

[Brhodes]

I tow a 5th wheel with my 16 rebel and it’s lifted with 37’s. My 5th weighs 7200 with a pin weight of 1100