Why Your RAM 1500 DT Tub Is Flexing When You Tow

We've seen more and more posts like this in RAM 1500 owners groups:

“...anyone noticed of the gap between cab and tub getting bigger

when the van’s hooked up?"

If that sounds familiar…that growing gap between the tub and cab is one of the earliest and most common signs that your RAM 1500 DT chassis is flexing - and possibly cracking.

Let’s break down what’s actually happening, why your RAM 1500 chassis is reacting like this, and why you should get it inspected before it turns into a full-blown chassis failure.

If your RAM 1500 DT starts flexing under load, it could be an early sign of chassis damage brewing underneath.

Why The Ram 1500 Tub Moves When Towing

Your RAM 1500 DT is a comfortable tow rig - but the chassis aren't bulletproof.

When you hook up a caravan or boat, all that ball weight is transferred directly to the rear section of the chassis, behind the axle. Add a canopy, drawers, or a boat loader, and the stress increases even more.

When the chassis starts flexing under that load, the cab stays put (mounted to the front half), while the tub moves with the rear section. That movement causes:

• The gap at the top to widen

• The tub to shift slightly up or down

• Visible bounce when hitting bumps

• The impression of the tub “walking” or flexing while driving

This is exactly what owners in the Facebook post describe - and it’s a known early warning sign of RAM 1500 chassis problems.

A Changing Cab-Tub Gap Can Mean Chassis Cracking

We’re speaking from experience here, our own RAM 1500 DT developed chassis cracks at just 27,000km. No canopy, just towing the caravan on a couple of 2 week long trips. We knew something was happening when the gap between the cab and tub started to flex more and more.

Since then, we’ve seen plenty of customer RAMs come through the BAW workshop with similar - and in some cases, much worse - chassis damage, including:

• Large cracks splitting open in the common weak point behind the coil towers

• Hairline cracks in several locations around the rear of the chassis

• Failures around coil towers themselves

This is what we’re trying to prevent - a major crack in the RAM 1500 DT chassis behind the coil towers, one of the most common failure points.

These aren’t isolated cases. They’re patterns — and that tub gap widening is almost always the first sign something’s going wrong underneath. Owners usually report the same handful of symptoms:

• “The cab–to–tub gap keeps changing.”

• “I can see the tub flexing in the mirror.”

• “Something feels off when the van is on.”

If you’re Googling things like ram 1500 chassis cracking, ram 1500 tub gap, ram 1500 cracked chassis, or ram 1500 chassis problems, this is exactly the issue people are talking about.

This is your heads-up to get the chassis inspected before it turns into a massive problem.

Why You Should Get Your RAM 1500 Checked ASAP

A widening cab–tub gap and a flexing tub often means:

• Chassis flex is already happening

• Cracks may have started in the rear rails

• Mounting points may be shifting

• The chassis is doing more work than it was designed to

At BAW Automotive, we’ve inspected plenty of RAMs that showed minor symptoms like this… and found hairline cracks hiding underneath.

RAM 1500 DT bracing kit we worked on with Superior Engineering. Designed to reinforce key stress points before cracks happen.

How To Fix It: RAM 1500 Chassis Bracing

Prevention is better than repairs - and in this case, way cheaper.

That’s why we worked closely with Superior Engineering to develop a RAM 1500 DT chassis bracing kit that strengthens the rear section, distributes load properly, and helps prevent flex that causes:

• Chassis cracking

• Cab–tub misalignment

• Flexing under tow

• Long-term structural damage

If you’re towing, running a canopy, or noticing any movement at all between the cab and tub, a RAM chassis strengthening kit is the smartest upgrade you can do.

Installed and ready for towing - this RAM 1500 DT Laramie now runs our full chassis bracing kit.

If You Can See It Flexing, Likely The Damage Has Already Started

An increasing cab–tub gap is not “normal”.

An excessive amount of tub movement is not “part of towing”.

Those are real warning signs that your RAM 1500 DT chassis is under stress.

If you’ve noticed it, don’t ignore it. Bring it in.

We’ll check the chassis on the hoist and make sure you’re not driving around with a crack waiting to get worse.

And if you want the long-term fix - we can fit our RAM 1500 chassis bracing kit and give your tuck the backbone it actually needs.