Hey guys. My wife and I have found a great local company that rents 2015 travel trailers so instead of buying we will most likely rent for our travel/camping adventures.

 

Although I've towed plenty before, I've never towed a travel trailer and with that, not entirely sure of neccesary things I should bring. 

 

For you more salty travel trailer guys, what are things you can't leave without when towing? Any sort of check list or things you've found helpful in the beginning of your towing days to stay organized and bring what was needed?

 

I try to be as prepared as possible, especially with the family involved, so I look forward to all of your insight!

Starting in '01.5 Dodge fazed out some add on's, like underhood insulation, fender liners, rear cup holders, etc.....  If the assembly line had them then the truck was equipped but if they ran out then no mas.

Thanks guys! I may just pull mine out then. One of them is kinda messed up anyway and I think they trap dirt and salt more than they protect.

@notlimah what size are the tires?

 

A level kit on these trucks can actually decrease the tire clearance depending on the wheel offset. With my OEM wheels and 19.5" wheels I am the closest to tire contact at the firewall which has been reduced by the 1" level. I'd go back to stock but I can clear chains and like the added oil pan clearance from the 1" level. 

 

I had a 2" level installed the day I bought it and swapped to a 1" level about 5 years ago. The 1" level is SO much better, IMHO. It still gives me the oil pan clearance, the look of a level truck, and it rides better!! I was not expecting a ride change but it's night and day from the 2" to a 1", so much that I would hate to see what a 3" on stock control arms feels like. 

 

I can also use less air in my airbags, about 1/3 as much, when loaded at the same weight. 

 

My dad still runs his 2" and a 3,500lb truck camper. He doesn't believe me that he would be much happier with it removed or dropped to a 1". He needs all 100 psi in his airbags to stay level where he could probably do it with 60-70 psi on a 1"

 

So there are some things to think about. 

 

I'm not sure what the offset is for these wheels since they came with the truck.

 

Tires are 315/75R16

 

Do you think I could fit those under a 1in kit? I would do that ASAP if they'll fit!

Where are you the closest to rubbing?

 

If you drop to a 1" you will push the axle forward a little. 

I'll rub at full turn on the inner side of the tire on the wheel well. No hard parts rub.

Turn to where it rubs and get out. Look and see if the tire going forward a little would make it better or worse. 

So I took a couple pics tonight that show where it currently will rub. 

 

Passenger side

 

Drivers side 

 

Ill try and grab pics at full turn so show what it actually looks like.

Looks like you need a little different wheel / tire setup. 

Based on what I see you would gain clearance by lowering the front. 

@TFaoro Yea smaller tires in the future for sure.

 

@AH64ID Where did you get your 1in spacers?

Told @Taz about his 2" spacers and 35" tires and to ditch them. Change to 285 at least. It's really making a mess out of towing for him. Headlights in the sky at night, squats with even my small 7k trailer. I'll have to dig up the photo off my phone later I left my phone in my truck. There is a reason why Dodge trucks come with a nose down rake. What's bad is his truck is a 1 ton and horrible stance towing. 

 

 

Edited August 22, 20168 yr by Mopar1973Man

Yea I hear ya Mike! I wouldn't of picked this setup myself, but it came with the truck and I don't feel like getting rid of perfectly good tires. Right now just trying to get things as close to stock as possible, until I'm actually due for tires and then I'll be back to stock.

Top Gun Customz makes the 1" spacer I am using. 

 

The 3500 SRW of Taz's year (03-09 actually) uses the same base spring pack as a 2500 with overloads, but the overloads don't contact their perches until approx 6K RAW so they often are unused. 

 

The 2" is too much if you load up the bed/hitch often but I haven't had the same issues with 1"... amazing what an inch can do :-)

Thanks, I'll check those out.

 

I'm tempted to just get them and put them on and try it out, and either it rubs or it doesn't. Other then an alignment, what all is required to swap out the spacer?

Just for info value. The truck above had my BigTex towing behind it with less than 7k worth of load. The rear axle was sitting on the helper springs. I've only got 35 PSI in the trailer tires. Again that is a one ton Dodge single rear.

Edited August 22, 20168 yr by Mopar1973Man

I did the 1" spacer to begin with. Ride didn't changes. I then changed to the 2" spacer and ride didn't change again. Maybe it helps on the 3rd gens to be lower?? 

I'm going to keep my 2" and put bags on the rear to stay level. I usually don't have enough in the rear to squat the truck too much. 

Unless the control arms are considerably longer on the 2nd gen I cannot imagine why there wouldn't be change. The ride change is from the angle of the control arms being steeper with a  lift and stock arms. 

 

3 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Just for info value. The truck above had my BigTex towing behind it with less than 7k worth of load. The rear axle was sitting on the helper springs. I've only got 35 PSI in the trailer tires. Again that is a one ton Dodge single rear.

 

Sounds like his springs are worn out! 

 

 

1 minute ago, AH64ID said:

Sounds like his springs are worn out!

 

I said the same thing to as a possible cause of the tail squatting. Now you have to remember he's got that heavy flat bed on the bad it much heavier than the stock bed too. I had him scale the truck last spring and it was like 8,9xx or 9,0xx pound truck roughly empty.

6 minutes ago, AH64ID said:

Unless the control arms are considerably longer on the 2nd gen I cannot imagine why there wouldn't be change. The ride change is from the angle of the control arms being steeper with a  lift and stock arms. 

Different spring rates on the 2nd gens making them stiffer no matter what?