Am I pushing payload capacity too much?

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LazSlate

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Been down that road and nothing tows like a heavy truck like a F250 especially powerstroke (IMO I would never buy a Ram)
But if you have space and cash then you can have a vehicle for everything but otherwise there is a compromise.
The times you are not camping you have a great riding vehicle with space. When you tow there is some sacrafice.

You can add temp spring spacers (not the cheap ones) when you go camping they install quickly.
A load leveling hitch also does wonders.
 

Jettix2

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Fwiw, we have a 7500# dry camper, and with 5 people + luggage + propane and hitch weight, we don’t even consider pulling it with our Expedition Max, we tow it with my ‘18 Ram 2500 Cummins. Yep we are more cramped (crew cab only, wish I had the space my ‘15 a megacab had) but we are safely under all limits and even in a panic situation the odds are in our favor.

We’ve towed our Mastercraft ProStar 205 with the Expy and it does great, but with a 7000+ lb camper, you’re rapidly approaching 3/4 ton truck territory.

I’ve had all “big 3” diesel and gas pickups (6.0 3/4 ton Burb and Duramax GM, 6.4 diesel and 6.2 gas Super Duty, and 6.4 gas and now 6.7 Cummins Ram) and for me, the ‘18 Cummins does an awesome job, especially when tuned. It’s been the best of my 4 Ram trucks and I’d buy it again in a heartbeat.
 

RABAYL01

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For those of you towing these much loads, what are your average Transmission temps (cold/hot ambient)? I will most like start towing some soon and I am starting to get concerned with my rig's trans. I do have a trans cooler but I have not really towed that much yet.
 
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FryerTime

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Last camping trip I did raise the WDH "L" brackets on the trailer by one hole, but then taking the measurements on the front fender afterward it showed I overcompensated. I'll have to remove a washer on the hitch to lower the angle slightly. It is a pain being at the limit as sometimes I have 5 bikes and full water, sometimes I don't. There are items I'd like to add to the TT (flex armor roof, slideout awning etc) but I'm now counting pounds and don't want to knowingly be over that magic number. We do a lot of State Park dry camping and I have switched to a Lithium battery which shed some serious pounds on the tongue. I guess I need to set the WDH for my heaviest weight and run with it. Transferring about 200 lbs to the front axle (if I can) would drop my rear axle from 98 to 93%. My kids are 7, 11 and 14, so still growing, and of course the older 2 like to sit in the 3rd row, over the axle! If my wife is up to it I might at least look at a 3/4 ton, otherwise an expedited warranty might not be a bad idea. Yes truck prices are crazy, but so is trade in value. You read a lot about the 80% rule when towing, as well as not to exceed 90% as it allows no room for error and I'm at 97% (GVW). Does GM still make a 3/4 ton suburban?
 
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FryerTime

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For those of you towing these much loads, what are your average Transmission temps (cold/hot ambient)? I will most like start towing some soon and I am starting to get concerned with my rig's trans. I do have a trans cooler but I have not really towed that much yet.
I think the most I've seem mine at is 220-230. I do check it occasionally on trips, especially going up the hills. I appreciate that feature!
 

Squark

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For those of you towing these much loads, what are your average Transmission temps (cold/hot ambient)? I will most like start towing some soon and I am starting to get concerned with my rig's trans. I do have a trans cooler but I have not really towed that much yet.
The highest I've seen mine get is the upper 230s. That was up a steep winding mountain road where I was driving very slowly. I haven't paid close attention to the average temps when towing.

Last camping trip I did raise the WDH "L" brackets on the trailer by one hole, but then taking the measurements on the front fender afterward it showed I overcompensated. I'll have to remove a washer on the hitch to lower the angle slightly. It is a pain being at the limit as sometimes I have 5 bikes and full water, sometimes I don't. There are items I'd like to add to the TT (flex armor roof, slideout awning etc) but I'm now counting pounds and don't want to knowingly be over that magic number. We do a lot of State Park dry camping and I have switched to a Lithium battery which shed some serious pounds on the tongue. I guess I need to set the WDH for my heaviest weight and run with it. Transferring about 200 lbs to the front axle (if I can) would drop my rear axle from 98 to 93%. My kids are 7, 11 and 14, so still growing, and of course the older 2 like to sit in the 3rd row, over the axle! If my wife is up to it I might at least look at a 3/4 ton, otherwise an expedited warranty might not be a bad idea. Yes truck prices are crazy, but so is trade in value. You read a lot about the 80% rule when towing, as well as not to exceed 90% as it allows no room for error and I'm at 97% (GVW). Does GM still make a 3/4 ton suburban?
I didn't realize lithium batteries are that much lighter. I might switch my lead acid battery out. 2013 was the last year for the consumer Suburban 2500. Fleet customers could get newer ones. I think the latest generation is only for government customers. I'd jump at the opportunity if GM offered a 2500 again or if Ford came out with a new Excursion.
 

zebrex

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Add the weight of you passengers, luggage, dog and other cargo in the truck then add your tongue weight to it. Are you over your Payload capacity?
Very easy way to figure it out.
 

ColoradoJon

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For those of you towing these much loads, what are your average Transmission temps (cold/hot ambient)? I will most like start towing some soon and I am starting to get concerned with my rig's trans. I do have a trans cooler but I have not really towed that much yet.
I really started tracking mine this summer. I changed with forscan to have the actual temp above the temp gauges. I watch my boost and the temps to try and find some magic efficiency while shifting and keeping my temps low. I am seeing low 200's without towing. I see it stay around 225-240. This weekend was when I saw 240, we were close to 90 degrees outside and pulling up I70 out of Denver. I haven't had the limp mode come on for me at all yet. I think people see that at 245? It was only there for a few minutes at the peak of the incline and then cooled quickly after engine braking back down the other side. My speed was around 55-65 and that grade is 2-6% for 8-10 miles. It seems to like to be around 3K Rpms for max efficiency, just my perception really.
 

Pawpaw

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I'm in the same boat here. My FX4 has the max tow package with 3.73 gearing..larger radiator plus I'm running 10 ply BFG tires. Towing a 25RDS Cougar that's loaded into the 7500 lb range. I'm guessing around 1000 lbs hitch weight as it sits now. Run one propane tank and using only one battery. Payload on the FX4 is 1769 lbs so thats in line with most F150's. Expedition does great except in high sidewind conditions and I keep my speed down to the 60-62 mph range. Getting 9.5 mpg towing at 60 mph on our flat Louisiana hwys. Sold my F350 DRW that I drove daily for 4 1/2 yrs and this Expedition is so much nicer plus I get 22 mpg on long highway trips. Wife and I love the camper so no plans to get rid of either right now.
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