Will It Tow?
2023 Ram 1500 Classic (5.7L HEMI V8) with the 2026 Winnebago Thrive 18FBS at its full GVWR of 6,000 lb, two adults and a dog aboard and a weight-distribution hitch.
Closest: payload, at 100% of its limit. Pack light and weigh it when you can.
- Tow rating: 3,240 lb to spare (6,000 lb camper, rating 9,240 to 10,680 lb)
- Payload: 0 lb to spare (1,430 to 1,610 lb used, payload 1,610 to 1,800 lb)
- Truck and trailer together: Not sure yet (, GCWR not listed)
To settle it for your own truck: measure your tongue weight.
Check it with your own numbers- Weight-distribution hitch (needed): Your camper is over 5,000 lb. Most truck makers require weight distribution here, and many receivers are rated far lower without it. It spreads the tongue weight to your front axle and the camper's axles, so the truck sits level and steers right.
- Sway control (strongly recommended): It stops the camper swinging side to side in crosswinds, when semis pass and on rough roads. Many weight-distribution hitches have it built in.
- Spring bars rated about 800 to 1,200 lb (size): Match the bars to your loaded tongue weight (720 to 900 lb, from an estimate of 12 to 15% of the camper's weight) plus anything heavy behind the truck's rear axle. Bars that are too stiff ride rough. Too light won't level the rig.
- Brake controller (needed): Your camper has electric brakes, and the controller in your cab runs them. Many newer trucks have one built in.
- Measure your tongue weight (tip): We're estimating 720 to 900 lb. A tongue weight scale or a hitch with a built-in gauge gives you the real number. Enter it in step 2.
Hitches make towing steadier, but none of them raise your tow rating or payload. The hitch itself counts against payload.
Ratings come from manufacturer towing guides and spec sheets. These are planning estimates, not a safety guarantee. Your truck and camper stickers, your owner's manual and a scale always win.