Will It Tow?
2025 Ram 1500 RHO (3.0L Hurricane I6 High Output (RHO)) with the 2027 Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 21LBK at its full GVWR of 8,000 lb, two adults and a dog aboard and a weight-distribution hitch.
Over on payload.
- Tow rating: 380 lb to spare (8,000 lb camper, rating 8,380 lb)
- Payload: Over by 150 lb (1,670 to 1,910 lb used, payload up to 1,520 lb)
- Truck and trailer together: Not sure yet (, GCWR not listed)
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 1,000 to 1,500 lb (size): Match the bars to your loaded tongue weight (960 to 1,200 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 960 to 1,200 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.