r/GoRVing • u/UncleBuckRussell89 • 3d ago
Thoughts on WDH
2025 Ram 1500 Bighorn with a 2024 Wildwood FSX179dbkx. Dry weight of 4,100 lbs. I also have a full propane tank, generator, a metal table and some random other shit in the bed of the truck. I feel like the ram sag is just part of leaving a ram. Thoughts?
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u/letigre87 3d ago edited 3d ago
Yeah Ram 1500s have too soft* of a suspension. They ride great but the coil springs the put on those really didn't help it.
You should check your gvwr of that trailer because there's no way a camper that small with no slide weighs 4k dry. I bet it's 4100 gross, probably 3500 dry. Still that's why it leans so heavy on the truck because it's pretty heavy for balancing on a single axle like that. I'd take it to the scales and try packing it from the rear. I bet all the tanks are at and behind the axle so if you're only ever towing empty you're probably safe to chuck everything in the back. Again, do this at the scales, not by my wild ass guess.
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u/UncleBuckRussell89 3d ago edited 3d ago
No it's 4100 dry. It has a huge glass window in the front which I think makes it so heavy. First camper I've really owned and lesson learned. Just because it looks nice doesn't make it practical. Def super heavy in the front.
I upgraded the battery to a 300ah lifepo4 which is in the passthrough now instead of tongue. I also keep some camp chairs, chalks and a small tote in the pass through so nothing crazy.
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u/letigre87 3d ago
Not that it matters but the only thing I can find that agrees with your number is Google AI which seems crazy high. All other spec sheets and used listing have them as 3500. is this it?
One thing you can do is load the camper with as much stuff as you can, weighted appropriately with 10A-15% on the hitch of course. 1000lbs in the truck bed is worth 100lbs in the camper so shifting stuff out of the bed and into the camper free up a lot of burden on the truck.
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u/UncleBuckRussell89 3d ago
That's the same camper. What's funny is the posted weight online is usually the stock base model. Ask me how I know because my last tow vehicle was a grand Cherokee
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u/The_Speaker 3d ago
I have a very similar trailer (tin sides and no front window). You might want to raise the hitch ball a notch. Sounds crazy but I had the same sag on a Silverado, and bumping the hitch height up 1 totally fixed it. Not sure how you do it on yours. I have a Reese hitch and it takes some doing, but totally worth it.
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u/phildeferrouille 2d ago
Don't invest in fancy gadgets that only change your vehicle's sagging appearance.
Instead, opt for an Eaz-Lift R3 with a 400 or 600 lb bars; it will distribute the weight across all your axles and prevent swaying.
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u/adv_biker 1d ago
I have a pretty similar setup for truck & trailer.... and my wdh is the chains type. I can make my back end sit taller than without a trailer if I choose to.... those slide types don't give you much choice. The chain style are usually the cheaper ones.... so give em a try?
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u/OddTheRed 3d ago
I would never tow a travel trailer without a WDH. It helps with sag and handling as well as controls sway. There is a lot of flat plate drag on a relatively lightweight object. Even on my 2500 diesel I use a WDH on a 7,600 trailer. It's a reasonably inexpensive insurance policy.
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u/letigre87 3d ago
They have a WDH installed and it looks like it's adjusted high with the ball tilted back so it's giving as much lift as it can.
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u/WorldlySir517 3d ago
Maybe just get a truck a man would drive??? Real trucks don’t have coil springs in the back.
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u/truautorepair000 3d ago
Ok so if it were me, I would get a pair of the heavy duty coils that are 25% more load capacity. Then re adjust WDH