Towing a trailer tips for Ram 1500 drivers

Ram 1500 trailer towing

Take it away!

So you want to start putting your Ram 1500 to some real use and see what its impressive towing capacity is all about. If you’ve got a trailer and you’re wanting to safely and effectively hook it up to your Ram 1500 for towing, we’ve got some basic guidelines that will help get you started, as well as resources for further detailed instructions and information. First, a basic overview of Ram 1500 trailer towing will include the following:

A good start to towing begins with an even load. The side-to-side weight distribution should be as close to equal as you can get, as this will help you a great deal when it comes to swaying issues. As for the front to back distribution, the general rule of thumb is that you want about 60% of the weight toward the front of the trailer and the other 40% in the back. Your exact trailer specifications may differ from that, in which case you should defer to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

After you’ve loaded your cargo and ensured that everything is tied down and secured properly, you’ll want to get hooked up to the truck, and that’s going to depend on what type of hitch you’ve got. For that, we’ll refer you to Ram’s site so you can watch one of the three videos that will tell you how to hook up a receiver, fifth wheel, or gooseneck hitch.

From there, it’s all about safe and careful driving. Make sure to always go slow, give generous following distance, swing wide on turns being careful to check the surrounding area, and slow down before going down a hill. Think steady and gradual throughout your journey.

If you have any questions about preparing, hooking up, or driving with your trailer attached to your Ram 1500, give us a call or stop in here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine and we’ll be happy to give you some pointers in person.