Will my truck safely tow that trailer? We get this question nearly every day. This time on “Will It Tow That?” segment, it’s a Ram 1500 V8 HEMI that needs to move a 30-foot double-decker race car “stacker” trailer. This one is fairly obvious, but it’s a great illustration for safe towing.
Can a Ram 1500 safely pull a trailer that is 8.5 feet wide, 13.4 feet high, 30 feet long, and could be loaded up to a GVWR of 21,000 lbs? The quick answer is – no.
The driver needs to understand the size and weight of the trailer, how the trailer is loaded (tongue load), and the weight ratings of the tow vehicle. This particular trailer is meant to be towed by Class A motor homes, medium duty trucks, or semi trucks. The main concern with towing such a trailer does not just have to do with its weight. It’s the odd shape that is a serious concern on the highway. This stacker trailer can haul two cars (one on top of the other). It has a high center of gravity, lots of aerodynamic resistance, and it’s wider than a half-ton pickup with standard side mirrors can handle.
A good rule of thumb for heavy towing suggests that a safe tow vehicle should be heavy by itself (the heavier – the better), have a long wheel-base, and have the capacity to accommodate the fully loaded trailer.
A 2017 Ram 1500 HEMI V8 crew cab 4×4 with the 3.92 rear axle ration is rated at a maximum 10,140 lbs with a Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 15,950 lbs. An unloaded double-decker trailer may already exceed these manufacturer ratings.
It’s a good thing that the owner of this Ram 1500 also has a Class A turbo-diesel motor home to tow this trailer.
Here is a Ram 1500 V8 HEMI towing a better-sized trailer on the World’s Toughest Towing Test – Ike Gauntlet™.
