Hi just joined from IL. Comparing TRX to Prospector XL

[Bitdrive]

Hi, I joined the other day to learn more about the TRX and the owner experience.

I had a MegaCab Dually in '12, a '15 Power Wagon and now a '20 Ford Raptor... I switch in an out of trucks ever 2 to 3 years. I've never really found the silver bullet.

The TRX answers just about everything I ever wanted but the towing scares me... The Raptor feels dangerous near it's 8100 lb towing limit, but videos I've seen of the TRX seem like it's just fine at limit (and likely under rated). On the flip side I've been eyeing a 2500 or 3500 Prospector XL which would great for towing and fewer fuel stops.

I've searched for "towing with TRX" but it looks mostly like, open flatbed and lightweight toy haulers (I have an enclosed '24 car trailer and usually tow a 3000-4000 lb car), I'd like to get a newer enclosed '28ft enclosed trailer and pull a car + gear. Has anyone used their TRX for hauling the setup I mentioned?

I test drove a TRX last week and its a blast, with the best sounding engine in any production truck I've ever been in. So I'll likely pull the trigger if I can tow my setup better than the Raptor.

Thanks, Mike

 

[The dude]

I haven’t towed that long of a trailer but I did tow a 20’ 7000lb travel trailer for 3000 miles and have nothing to complain about other than the fuel economy. Stable, smooth, no lack of power, all around a good experience. I used a weight distribution hitch which makes a huge difference in suspension squat by shifting weight back to the front axle.

 

[Tom488]

Along with the WDH, you'll probably want to add a set of TRX-specific air bags to handle the tongue weight you'll be putting on the truck. Timber Grove makes these:

21'-UP RAM 1500 TRX (STAINLESS) Rear ASAM (SQ7775000) — Timber Grove Enterprises, LLC

Kit is designed to allow the TRX to tow or carry loads without squatting and be easily removed for aggressive off-road use. Compression travel will be limited to that of a standard 1500 while installed. They don’t require removal for maintenance duties that require use of a lift. Firestone rolling

timbergroveenterprises.com

Good thread here on them:

Airbags for towing (air bags)

I finally got my TRX and installed a set of airbags from Timber Grove Enterprises (https://timbergroveenterprises.com/). Just FYI, I don't know these guys and paid full price, but here are my thoughts and some pictures of the installed airbags. I have yet to load my tractor onto the trailer...

www.ram-trx.com

 

[Bitdrive]

Along with the WDH, you'll probably want to add a set of TRX-specific air bags to handle the tongue weight you'll be putting on the truck. Timber Grove makes these:

21'-UP RAM 1500 TRX (STAINLESS) Rear ASAM (SQ7775000) — Timber Grove Enterprises, LLC

Kit is designed to allow the TRX to tow or carry loads without squatting and be easily removed for aggressive off-road use. Compression travel will be limited to that of a standard 1500 while installed. They don’t require removal for maintenance duties that require use of a lift. Firestone rolling

timbergroveenterprises.com

Good thread here on them:

Airbags for towing (air bags)

I finally got my TRX and installed a set of airbags from Timber Grove Enterprises (https://timbergroveenterprises.com/). Just FYI, I don't know these guys and paid full price, but here are my thoughts and some pictures of the installed airbags. I have yet to load my tractor onto the trailer...

www.ram-trx.com

Great links! Thanks, perfect solution. I think I'll be at 8100 or less but the sagging is unreal on the Raptor, worse than the TRX from the looks of it. I'm going to start looking for one with the Tow mirrors and brake controller (I'm shocked at how few are ordered without these).

Are the dealers still getting over sticker? I saw there were some pretty good rebates awhile back.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

TFL did the Ike Gauntlet with the TRX a few times. Not sure it answers all your questions, but might be worth a look.

 

[TRXGUYINMS]

If towing is a concern and it must be are you wouldn’t have mentioned it I would get a 2500 of your choice.
I had a 2020 F250 and I 2020 Raptor and never towed more than 800 lbs with the Raptor.

The TRX and the Raptor are not great a towing!

 

[Eighty]

Hi, I joined the other day to learn more about the TRX and the owner experience.

I had a MegaCab Dually in '12, a '15 Power Wagon and now a '20 Ford Raptor... I switch in an out of trucks ever 2 to 3 years. I've never really found the silver bullet.

The TRX answers just about everything I ever wanted but the towing scares me... The Raptor feels dangerous near it's 8100 lb towing limit, but videos I've seen of the TRX seem like it's just fine at limit (and likely under rated). On the flip side I've been eyeing a 2500 or 3500 Prospector XL which would great for towing and fewer fuel stops.

I've searched for "towing with TRX" but it looks mostly like, open flatbed and lightweight toy haulers (I have an enclosed '24 car trailer and usually tow a 3000-4000 lb car), I'd like to get a newer enclosed '28ft enclosed trailer and pull a car + gear. Has anyone used their TRX for hauling the setup I mentioned?

I test drove a TRX last week and its a blast, with the best sounding engine in any production truck I've ever been in. So I'll likely pull the trigger if I can tow my setup better than the Raptor.

Thanks, Mike

The TRX is not built for towing. While it may have an advertised towing capacity of 8100 lbs, that is NOT the actual safe load that you can tow. Your safe load will almost always be limited by available payload.

Let's say you're actually trying to tow 8100 lbs. A safe weight distribution on the trailer should put your tongue load at 12-15%, or 972-1215 lbs. That is the load that your truck is carrying - it is considered payload. If you add yourself and a token amount of gear in the truck (let's call it a total of 300 lbs), then your total ACTAL payload is 1272-1515 lbs.

My TRX is only rated for 1108 lbs of payload. No bueno.

Realistically, 7000 lbs is about the max that you should ever tow in the TRX. And that would be with a WDH, no passengers, and no cargo in the truck.

 

[@JC]

I always set up the trailer at 10% tongue weight when I was towing with the PowerWagon and never had a problem. Payload is pretty similar between the two as well. I never tow more than 4kish lbs though either so there's that. 😏

 

[DIN0ZR]

If you need to tow often and tow seriously, don't get a TRX or a Raptor. The TRX is marginally better at towing than the Raptor. But it still ain't great.

 

[WolverineHusky]

I kept my 2012 Ram 2500 Cummins solely for towing and payload reasons. May drive it once or twice a month but shows my mindset - TRX not ideal for towing or heavy loads.

 

[Bitdrive]

If you need to tow often and tow seriously, don't get a TRX or a Raptor. The TRX is marginally better at towing than the Raptor. But it still

ain't great.

This is why I'm stuck, I only tow about 3 to 5 times a year (of any significant distance). Otherwise its just around town usually hauling light weight materials once a month.

I kept my 2012 Ram 2500 Cummins solely for towing and payload reasons. May drive it once or twice a month but shows my mindset - TRX not ideal for towing or heavy loads.

This is definitely a great solution. In a perfect world, I'd probably get a Rubicon 392 and a Prospector. The TRX seems like the perfect blend of these two (other than long distance towing).

 

[The dude]

This is why I'm stuck, I only tow about 3 to 5 times a year (of any significant distance). Otherwise its just around town usually hauling light weight materials once a month.


This is definitely a great solution. In a perfect world, I'd probably get a Rubicon 392 and a Prospector. The TRX seems like the perfect blend of these two (other than long distance towing).

You can long distance tow if you want, it’s not bad. Tongue weight on my trailer was right about 1000lbs and the TRX handled it fine.