Every RV enthusiast knows the importance of a reliable tow vehicle when it’s time to hit the RV roads to adventure.
At RV Lifestyle Magazine, we specialize in outdoor recreation publications and websites, so we share our heavy duty hauler with our Power Boating Canada Magazine, Poker Runs America Magazine, and Center Console Life Magazine road test and boat test teams.
Our heavy-duty hauler is used mostly for the boating division, towing offshore performance boats up to 20,000 pounds to and from our in-water boating events, and back and forth to various shows across North America. Check out these exciting events at www.pokerruns.ca .
Recently, we decided to add a 2024 Ram 3500 Tradesman to our fleet, replacing a series of F350 turbo diesel duallies we have used for many years.
We selected the RAM based on the excellent towing experiences we had with our Official Tow Vehicles supplied in recent years by the Chrysler Canada (Stellantis) media fleet. These RAM 3500 turbo diesel dualies can produce torque of up to 1,075 lb‑ft providing an amazing towing capability of up to 37,090 lb (16,824 kg) when suitably equipped and hitched using the heaviest duty commercial towing components.
Your towing capacity depends upon the hitch components that you install. For travel trailers, a class 4 or 5 weight distributing hitch is required, with sway bars. For fifth wheel trailers, you need a hitch suited to the weight of the trailer. Our RAM 3500 Tradesman, equipped with the factory heavy-duty towing package and a Pull-Rite 24K fifth wheel hitch, is a robust, one-ton dualie capable of towing travel trailers and fifth wheels up to 24,000 pounds.
The RAM came equipped with a class 5 travel trailer towing hitch, trailer brake control, and heavy-duty suspension. We added a Pull-Rite 24,000 pound fifth wheel hitch, an Air-Lift LoadLifter 7500 XL Ultimate Air Spring Kit, and a comprehensive array of travel trailer hitch components from Curt Manufacturing, including a selection of draw bars, hitch balls, and equalizing hitch assemblies to suit the variety of RVs and boat trailers that we tow with this RAM truck.
Designed for 3/4- and 1-ton trucks, LoadLifter 7500 XL™ Ultimate gives you up to 7,500 lbs. of load-leveling capacity (never exceed manufacturer’s recommended Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), and is designed to support the largest loads on the road.
The Air Lift LoadLifter 7500 XL™ Ultimate eliminates squat, trailer sway, rough ride and bottoming out – the kit fits many 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickups and vans, and the design incorporates an internal jounce bumper that absorbs shock and can be safely ran with zero PSI – although Air Lift recommends that you maintain minimum air pressure for the ultimate ride comfort.
Here is a video that explains the many benefits of running an air suspension on your tow vehicle…
We have installed Air-Lift helper springs on all of our tow vehicles since the 1970s – the enhanced weight carrying capacity and the ability to adjust the rear suspension of the tow vehicle to suit the load, dramatically improves handling and reduces wear and tear on the tow vehicle as well as on the trailer.
While these components handle our wide range of towing requirements, there are several key accessories that we wanted to add to the truck, to make it more versatile for our needs.
When it comes to aftermarket truck parts, accessories, and upgrades, we often turn to our friends at Action Car & Truck Accessories. Over the years, the team at Action Truck in Mississauga, Ontario, has assisted us with the expert installation of a variety of components – their teams can be found across Canada, so you are always within reach of a location for repairs and installation, and their selection of car and truck upgrades is extensive.
Dressing Up and Upgrading Your Tow Vehicle
While the towing capability of your truck is a primary consideration, the vehicle is often used for general purpose tasks. While we chose the RAM 3500 for its towing prowess, this heavy-duty pickup offers a spacious 8-foot cargo bed that we wanted to secure with a tonneau cover, and we also wanted a locking tool box that would secure our towing components.
We opted for the following modifications and tools from our friends at Action Car & Truck Accessories:
- Stainless Steel Chrome Running boards for front and rear passenger doors
- Enthuse Tonneau Cover tri-fold
- Enthuse Floor Mats
- Bug Deflector
- Toolbox
Now, our heavy hauler is better equipped to handle all of our towing assignments.
The Enthuze Tonneau Tri-Fold Cover is an ideal addition to the Ram 3500 Tradesman. It transforms the truck bed into a secure storage area that shields your tools and gear from rain, snow, UV rays, and other elements. With its durable, weather-resistant design, this cover ensures that your cargo stays safe and protected in all conditions, making it a must-have for truck owners who need reliable storage on the go.
Additionally, the stainless steel chrome running boards, bug deflectors, floor mats, etc. provide simple quality-of-life improvements, making it ideal for long journeys on the road.
All these enhancements work together masterfully to transform the already powerful Tradesman into an exceptional trailering machine, combining stability, strength, and control. This truck has certainly become our go-to for all hauling needs, whether it’s local transport or cross-country journeys. Reliable and powerful, it handles every job with ease.
About Action Car and Truck Accessories
Founded in 1980 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Action Car and Truck Accessories has grown into Canada’s top automotive accessory retailer, specializing in high-quality upgrades for cars, trucks, vans, and fleet vehicles. With over 40 stores in Canada and a user-friendly online store, they’ve established themselves as Canada’s leading automotive accessory retailer.
This was just one example of how a truck can be optimized for towing large travel trailers and fifth wheels. Be sure to visit Action Car & Truck Accessories for top-quality vehicle parts and take your ride to the next level! Follow this link to shop the online store…
