FINALLY bought our new tow rig!

Skyjim73 · 08-21-2016, 01:55 AM

At long last (we thought we'd jump just after buying our TM in spring 2015) we've taken delivery on the tow rig we hope will carry us all over North America for the next decade or so.

2016 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4x4, 6'4" bed, 3.0 Ecodiesel, 3.92 gears, antispin rear diff, nav, tow mirrors, rearview camera, Alpine speaker pkg and integrated trailer brake. Also, to my dismay, the only one we could find was optioned with a set of 20 inch semigloss black wheels.

To me, 20s don't make much sense on a 4x4 that will see even the mild off pavement conditions I'm likely to see. I think they beg for a bent rim with the low sidewall height of the factory tires. Would rather have the basic 17s that come in the base Outdoorsman package, with more sidewall height and the ability to air down a bit for rocky roads...

Only two days with the truck thus far - Snug Top shell and some Airlift 1000s for the back already ordered. Tremendously impressed with the smoothness and seamlessness of the ZF 8 speed behind the little diesel; anxious for the first towing trip with it in about a month.

**fairweatherfisherman** · 08-21-2016, 07:54 AM

Very nice.

klpauba · 08-21-2016, 08:14 AM

Congratulations, that's quite the rig! I figure once I retire I'll be needin' me one of those. I jumped on the web site and, boy, that has some nice features that would make traveling easier (besides the towing capability).

Padgett · 08-21-2016, 08:42 AM

That is a great tow rig particularly with a shell to smooth the airstream.

BTW am sure you could find someone with 18s, perhaps a Jeep grand Cherokee to swap. Agree about the sidewalls. I suspect the brake calipers are different for the 17s though.

[email protected] · 08-21-2016, 11:28 AM

And the right color for a sunny climate. Here in Texas I don't know why anyone would by a black car with our brutal summers. Maybe they want to fry eggs on the roof or something. My truck is silver just for repelling that summer heat. I guess those black car Texas folks all failed physics.
Me

Skyjim73 · 08-21-2016, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padgett

BTW am sure you could find someone with 18s, perhaps a Jeep grand Cherokee to swap. Agree about the sidewalls. I suspect the brake calipers are different for the 17s though.

Padgett, the calipers are the same - in fact the rotors and calipers look undersized to the point of silliness inside that enormous 20 inch rim. Factory 1500 rims are either 17x7 or 20x8, with a rare 17x8 on the offroad Rebel package only - I wish there were 18s I liked with the peace of mind advantage of an OEM rim, because if I were to go for a big brake upgrade, there's a fair chance 18s would be minimum diameter needed. That's the case for Baer and Wildwood's kits for earlier Ram 1500s... Not sure of the offset/bolt circle on the Grand Cherokees, but certainly worth some research...

For now, since the big outlays of a big brake kit are impossible for some time, I'll happily swap out for a set of factory 17' alloys, even giving up an inch of rim width, which would leave my younger, canyon-racer self disgusted! ;-)

LoveToCamp · 08-21-2016, 05:48 PM

Craigslist for the swap! Or, go to some of your local tire and rim dealers, and let them know you would be willing to swap, if someone came in and wanted what you have. Pay them to do the swap, so they make money on the deal, and all parties should be happy.

I would also want "standard" tires and rims, not the low-profile style. I have hit a few holes where I am glad I have a full-height tire to absorb the edge of the hole.

Padgett · 08-21-2016, 09:29 PM

My understanding is the Ram 1500 has 13.23" front brake disks. I have 12.9" disks that require special calipers for a 17" wheel.

Also looks like your wheel bolt circle is 5x5.5" (139.7 mm) which means the wheels are special for the Ram (mine are 5x5"/127.0mm).

Still should not be hard to find someone wanting to trade 17s for your 20s or just buy a set of 17s and keep your 20s for when you sell it on.

Skyjim73 · 08-21-2016, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klpauba

Congratulations, that's quite the rig! I figure once I retire I'll be needin' me one of those. I jumped on the web site and, boy, that has some nice features that would make traveling easier (besides the towing capability).

Compared to our 02 3/4 ton, it is positively decadent! Hopefully it is as good a tow vehicle match for the TM as it seems to be on paper.