Dodge Ram 1500 Classic w/3.6L Pentastar V6 w/Truck Camper Performance Question

[hexclimber]

I'm looking at purchasing a FWC slide-in truck and putting in on a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic with the V6. I anticipate our total payload will be somewhere north of 2000 lbs, and I am wondering if anyone has direct experience with this vehicle. Is the V6 adequate, or should I go with the 5.7L Hemi. Some of our travels would include steep grades at altitude.

We tend to keep our vehicles for 20 years, and I don't want any regrets. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jerry (in torrid Tucson, AZ)

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Go bigger motor.

Consider other trucks too.

Harder to do rear suspension upgrades on the RAM 1500 trucks with rear coil springs.

 

[hexclimber]

Go bigger motor.

Consider other trucks too.

Harder to do rear suspension upgrades on the RAM 1500 trucks with rear coil springs.

Thanks, Stan. 1) Do you have this engine/weight combo? 2) Salesperson is telling me I can add a "helper spring" to beef up the suspension. Best, Jerry

 

[Vic Harder]

If buying a new truck, it would make sense (to me) to get the right truck for the intended use, rather than installing "helper" springs. Smaller motors get better mileage with no load. Put the camper on it and go up steep hills at altitude and the MPG difference disappears.

Lots of threads here on payload (overload) and potential workarounds. If you want a small camper/truck, then go search those out. Since you are already going with the full size pickup, I would recommend at least a 2500HD or even better, a 3500.

Vic

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Thanks, Stan. 1) Do you have this engine/weight combo? 2) Salesperson is telling me I can add a "helper spring" to beef up the suspension. Best, Jerry

For the last many years, all Dodge RAM 1500 trucks have a Rear Coil Spring Suspension (there are no leaf springs). Some of the RAM 1500's have an Air Ride System (No leaf springs, No coil springs, Only air bags -- less than ideal for carrying a camper). 99% of the newer RAM 1500's on the market today have a 4 coil suspension (front & rear coil springs). Firestone used to offer and sell something called "Coil-Rite Air Bags". Tall & skinny air bags that were installed inside of the steel coil springs & inflatable. I don't see that they are available any longer on their website. Now it looks like an Air Bag Kit that replaced the coil springs. With this, your entire truck & camper are riding on 2 air bags in the rear (no bueno in my opinion). I like the trucks with a full leaf pack carrying the weight of the truck & camper. You can add rear leafs and add a set of air bags, in addition to having the rear leaf springs carrying most of the weight. Hope this helps.

 

[hexclimber]

Thanks again, Stan. I'm now looking at the F-150 with the Heavy Duty Suspension package. I think this will meet the need. What do you think?
Best,
Jerry

 

[Beach]

I carried a hawk on a first gen Tundra with the 4.0 six for 3 years. I now have it on a F250 with the 6.2 gas motor. Much better setup and no appreciable difference(less than 1 mpg) in fuel mileage. Smaller motors work harder. F150 with payload package will work if you keep gear to a minimum.

 

[GeezerMike]

OK. Some good things about the RAM with the 3.6 Pentastar. First, no FWC/ATC yet, but i bought it for that purpose. The reasons for a RAM with the 3.6 Pentastar is superior gas mileage, payload (1,700lbs), ride, good clearance(10.6”), good water fording(30”), and low Total Cost of Ownership over time. When I was shopping, I was comparing to the Tacoma, and the RAM with the 3.6 beat the Tacoma in every one of those categories - by a lot. (Yes I would like an Alaskan on a 1ton service bed, but not in the cards now.)
The big key to the 3.6 performance ride is that fantastic 8-speed transmission with multiple overdrives. The engine feels “eager”. Performance:
Empty summer 55mph roads over 30mpg over 6 hour trip - perfect conditions (all mpg hand calculated).
Camping equipment 65-70mph 4,000 miles camping MI through boon docking AZ desert, 24mpg average entire trip.
Towing enclosed trailer with combined load total of 7,058lbs (total GCW 12,160) 1300 miles 14.6mpg (those guys with the big engined trucks don’t get 14.6mpg empty). 1500 lbs payload lowered it 2 inches. I was so impressed - the trailer and load barely felt like it was there. That transmission is just wonderful. No hunting for a gear - never. Trans temp never rose. Granted, max elevation was only 2,200 feet.
-If you have the money for a truck with more payload, you will have a LOT more camper options with no thought about limits (beware - some HD truck setups do NOT have much payload, but they can tow a lot).
-If you are doing heavy duty off road travel that needs special suspension, other trucks probably have better options.
-If you travel anywhere in the world other than US and Canada, Toyota has most service. In Canada, Ford has the most service.

 

[GeezerMike]

Newer base RAMs 3.6 Pentastars have up to 2,300lb payload. What’s that like 1,000lbs more than a Tacoma!?

 

[GeezerMike]

Another reason I bought the RAM 3.6 over the Tacoma is the cabin room. The RAM can hold 6 people, and I can sleep on the back seat camping - bit diagonal, but it works nice.

 

[GeezerMike]

Really, back to the original question, 2000 lbs is a lot. That means extra people or stuff. The engine is not the problem; its payload. The old 3/4 tons and 1tons came with straight sixes - plenty powerful enough (with their gearing). My 3.6 Pentastar is WAY more powerful than my 1970 K5 350. Unless you are towing big loads or going 80mph with the camper, the 3.6 will do everything you want happily. Payload is the key. More payload means more camper options, more people, more stuff, even a boat/trailer. Less grief thinking about it. Future options.

 

[GeezerMike]

Just remember also … an expedition trailer can carry WAY more payload than any truck. Always an option vs a truck camper.

 

[GeezerMike]

One of my favorite discussions I saw was “Your next Last Camper!” The funny part was how everyone did so much research to find the “perfect” setup, and no one still had that setup.
You don't know what you need until you try and find out what you value. Your values will change.
Use what you have. Have fun. It takes lots of S’mores induced deep intellectual philosophical camper discussions to determine the “perfect last camper”. It’s a process. Can’t be rushed. You have options. Leave more stuff at home.

 

[smlobx]

IMHO I would have to agree with Stan that the Ram 1500 with the 3.6 Pentastar is not up to the task. The reason I’m saying that is that I have a 2020 Jeep Gladiator which has the 3.6 and the rear suspension from the RAM. I’m building this for a more off-road oriented long range overlanding vehicle but I am keeping a close eye on the weight of my additions. My goal is to keep it at or below 1000 pounds. The truck just doesn’t have the power or capacity to haul 2000 pounds or more regardless of what the door sticker says.

 

[michelle_east_county]

Full-size half-ton pickups with a regular cab and whatever maximum payload (or if Ford, Camper Package, needed to not void warranty) can be around one ton of payload but must count the weight of you, your spouse, the dog, fuel, and things you pack, plus the "wet weight" of the camper. That'd require a camper much lighter than most. Get an extended or quad cab and the weight of either eats into cargo capacity even though different springs are used to compensate. If Ram, you're still getting rear coil springs if you go up to a 3/4-ton; only the 1-ton has rear leaf springs. Pros and cons to either, and shock valving should be different with each, as leaf springs are somewhat self-damping as they have greater resistance upon compression. Expect to play with different shocks more on anything with rear coils, though they can be sorted out. Ram factory air suspensions particularly help if you plan to take camper on and off, but do look complicated. If leaving camper on, it may be best to get firmer coils to compensate for camper, if needed, even on a 3/4.

Don't overload it. You might be OK but if there ever is an accident, there's always chance insurance or law enforcement might discover it and refuse a claim for the former and charge you with something for the latter.

The engine choice is the least of your problems, but loaded there might not be much difference in MPG with the 5.7. Do get adequately low (numerically high) axle (differential) ratio with either. And, limited slip differential is always a help unless you just stick to dry paved or good gravel roads. If unloaded and without it, you'd be amazed how easily traction is lost.

 

[Jon R]

Note that the camper weight rating is potentially lower than the payload rating. On my 2021 GMC 3500hd, the payload rating is 4,054 and the camper weight rating is 3,303 lbs. This is with the front camper springs option, which raises the front axle rating 400 lbs.