Ram Truck Buying Guide New Mexico

If you need a Ram that can haul some smaller items or tow something like a boat, then you will want to go with the Ram 1500! Don't let the term light duty fool you; the Ram 1500 still packs quite a punch while maintaining an excellent efficacy. The Ram 1500 is perfect for hauling around boats, travel trailers, ATVs, or other vehicles. Of course, knowing the exact payload and towing capacity you need will be beneficial in knowing which Ram will be best for your needs. The first thing you will need to do is determine the weight ratings for both your vehicle and the trailer.

You need to do a few other calculations so you can determine which Ram you need to get. The first is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, the total maximum allowable weight of a fully loaded Ram, including passengers and payload. This also includes the total amount of curb weight, cargo weight, and passenger weight combined. You will also need to calculate the Gross Trailer Weight Rating, which is the total weight capacity of your trailer plus the maximum allowable cargo in it. These calculations will help you determine whether you need a light-duty Ram 1500 or a heavy-duty Ram 3500.

Another thing you need to calculate is the tongue weight, which is the weight that a loaded trailer will exert on your Ram's hitch. To give you an idea, it should be around 10% of the total load of the trailer when towing a conventional trailer and about 15% of the total load if you are lugging around a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer. Too little tongue weight is going to lead your trailer to sway, and too much tongue weight is going to affect your towing dynamics negatively, so it's vitally important that you adjust accordingly to get your payload correctly distributed. So if you have a lot to tow, you'll want to go with something a little beefier such as the Ram 2500!

Your Ram's payload capacity is the maximum amount of weight you can put in your truck's bed in addition to the empty bed weight. The payload plus the tongue weight must not exceed the payload capacity. In addition, your Ram's towing capacity will refer to the maximum weight that your Ram can tow after factoring in the weight of the truck and the cargo. We should also mention the Gross Combined Weight Rating, which is the maximum allowable weight of the towing vehicle and the loaded trailer, which will also include the passengers and the cargo, that the Ram is designed to tow safely and securely.

There are a few essential features that you need to keep in mind. First, your Ram's engine and transmission are the heart of your truck's towing and payload capacity. Getting a Ram engine with more horsepower and torque will increase your towing prowess for your vehicle. Next, find the right balance between towing power and engine efficiency with various axle ratios designed to meet your towing needs. Ram also has several hitch receiver types for around 2,000 more pounds of towing capacity. Class 5 receivers can handle about 23,000 pounds, but if you want to tow more weight, get a fifth wheel or a gooseneck trailer. Finally, we need to mention the 4x2 systems, which will send power to two of the four wheels, leading to higher towing and payload capacities, while a 4x4 system will send power to all four wheels, which will provide you with greater control and truck more weight. The possibilities are endless with Ram, so be sure to get all teh features that suit your needs.

If you need a big truck for all you're towing needs, then you need to get yourself a Ram! There are a few different Rams for you to choose from, starting with the light-duty Ram 1500 and going to the uber-powerful Ram 3500! Feel free to head down to Richland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and test drive as many new Rams as possible. You are guaranteed to find the exact Ram for all your needs, and once you do, we have a complete finance department that will work with you towards a deal that you will love! Even if you can't join us at the dealership right now, you can still check out our complete Ram inventory here on our website!