Expert needed - Should I buy this 3500 Diesel Dually to pull a 24k 5th wheel?

All, < I posted this in the other site, but meant to post here. Don't kill me >

I really need your input. I am purchasing a DRV 5th wheel (link below). It is 43' 24,000 beast. I need to know if the truck below will haul it. I need to make a decision immediately. However, before I do something really stupid with that much money, I really wanted to ask the experts.

It is a

• 2014 RAM 3500 LONGHORN 4X4.
• 6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine
• 6-Spd Auto Aisin AS69RC HD Trans
• 4.10 Axle Ratio
• 8' bed
• Tow package
• Used with 40,000 miles for $45,100 (+taxes, tags, etc)

I've been told that if I am going to haul that heavy and long, this is the drive train and gear ratio that I want. You guys are the experts, and I would really appreciate your input.

THANK you,
Pete


RV Info - http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/index.html

Full Equipment Listing
Vehicle Description 2014 RAM 3500 LONGHORN 4X4
Lower Two Tone Paint
730 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
Electronic Stability Control
Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Premium Door Trim Panel
2nd Row In Floor Storage Bins
Front Height Adjust Shoulder Belts
Supplemental Side Air Bags
Advanced Multistage Front Air Bags
Supplemental Frt Seat Side Air Bags
Floor Covering Carpet
Luxury Front & Rear Floor Mats
Full Length Premium Floor Console
Driver/Passenger Assist Handles
Rear Underseat Compartment Storage
Leather Wrapped Shift Knob
Overhead Console w/Garage Dr Opener
Elec Shift-On-The-Fly Transfer Case
Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle
Conventional Differential Frt Axle
Tinted Glass Windows
Tinted Windshield Glass
Rear Power Sliding Window
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
1 04/11/17
Sun Visors w/Illum Vanity Mirrors
RR View Auto Dim Mirror w/Microphone
Power Chrome Trailer Tow Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
Air Cond ATC w/Dual Zone Control
Dash Liner Insulation
Floor Tunnel Insulation
Laramie Longhorn Instrument Cluster
120 MPH Primary Speedometer
Longhorn Interior Accents
Temperature & Compass Gauge
Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Dual Note Electric Horns
12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
Power Accessory Delay
Power Locks
Pwr Front Windows, 1-Touch,Up & Down
Premium Tail Lamp - Chrome
Vehicle Information Center
Glove Box Lamp
Front Door Accent Lighting
Rear Door Accent Lighting
LED Interior Lighting
Underhood Lamp
Traveler/Mini Trip Computer
Radio/Drv Seat/Mirrors/Pedals Memory
Rear Dome w/On/Off Switch Lamp
Bi-Function Projector H/Lamp-Chrome
2 04/11/17
Automatic Headlamps
Fog Lamps
Cargo and CHMSL Lamp
Security Alarm
Painted Front Bumper
Painted Rear Bumper
Body Color Headlamp Filler Panel
Front License Plate Bracket
MOPAR Bright Door Entry Guards
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Ram's Head Badge
Body Color/Chrome Door Handles
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Accent Fender Flares
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32 Gallon Fuel Tank
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Uconnect 8.4 NAV
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Rear Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers
3 04/11/17
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Full Size Spare Tire
Tire Carrier Winch
ParkSense Rear Park Assist System
ParkView(TM) Rear Back-up Camera
Power Adjustable Pedals w/Memory
Remote Start System
Pickup Box
Tire Pressure Information System
Tow Hooks
7 Pin Wiring Harness
Class V Receiver Hitch
Trailer Tow w/4-Pin Connector Wiring
Universal Garage Door Opener
Trailer Brake Control
Locking Tailgate
Body Color Fuel Filler Door
'Why Buy' Label
English/USA Language
Spray in Bedliner
Seat Parts Module
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Door Parts Module
Front End Parts Module
Tire & Wheel Parts Module
Build To U.S. Mkt. Specifications
U.S. Dealer Retail
Zone 35-Washington
4 04/11/17
Crew Cab
D2/6333 Vehicle Family
Price Class R - Longhorn
Four Wheel Drive (4WD)/(4X4)
2014 Vehicle Specifications
8 FT. Cargo Box
3500 Series
Vehicle Order Tracking
U.S. Specifications Label
New Jersey Ship to State Code
New Jersey Sold to State Code
Premium Leather Bucket Seats
Canyon Brown/Lt. Frost Beige
5th Wheel/Gooseneck Towing Prep Grp
180 Amp Alternator
Bucket Seats
High Back Seats
Ventilated Front Seats
Supp. Side Curtain Frt/Rr Air Bags
Heated Front Seats
Rear 60/40 Split Folding Seat
Folding Flat Load Floor Storage
All Automatic Transmissions
6-Spd Auto Aisin AS69RC HD Trans
6,000# Front Axle w/Hub Ext
4.10 Axle Ratio
300MM Rear Axle
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
5 04/11/17
6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine
Rear Window Defroster
All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors
Remote Proximity Keyless Entry
Keyless Go
Ram Active Air
115V Auxiliary Power Outlet
GPS Navigation
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Heated Second Row Seats
Pwr 10-Way Mem Drvr 6-Way Pass Seats
Delete Tire Press Monitoring
Ext. Mirrors w/Supplemental Signals
Exterior Mirrors Courtesy Lamps
Exterior Mirrors w/Memory
Chrome Exterior Mirrors
Clearance Lamps
Box & Rear Fender Clearance Lamps
Cummins Turbo Diesel Badge
Rear Wheel Spats
50 State Emissions
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Exterior Mirrors w/Heating Element
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Heated Steering Wheel
Current Generation Eng Controller
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Remote USB Port
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All VP4 Radios
LT235/80R17E BSW All Season Tires
Nexen Brand Tires
17" Steel Spare Wheel
17X6.0 Premium Aluminum Wheels
Dual Rear Wheels
All Aluminum Wheels
Center Hub
Selective Catalytic Reduction (UREA)
Tip Start
Vendor Painted Cargo Box
Integrated Voice Command w/Bluetooth
Alum Rear Axle Differential Cover
1-Yr. SiriusXM Radio Service
7 04/11/17
1-Yr. SiriusXM Traffic Service
For Details, Visit DriveUconnect.com
1-Yr. SiriusXM Travel Link Service
For More Info, Call 800-643-2112
1 Yr. Trial (Registration Required)
5.5 Additional Gallons of Diesel
Spring - Left Front
Spring - Left Rear
Spring - Right Front
Spring - Right Rear
GVW Rating - 14000#
FAM: D2 TRACKING: 31015T19 MY:2014
FAM: D2 TRACKING: 31105T25 MY:2014
FAM: D2 TRACKING: 31204T20 MY:2014
Customer Preferred Package 2TK
Customer Preferred Package 28K
Sales Tracking
Special Scheduling Condition VII
4X4 Tracking
D1-To-D Regress
Vendor Painted Cargo Box Tracking
Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant
Dual Rear Whl Fender Flare Tracking
Status D1 to D Less 100%
New Jersey Cost Surcharge
United States Region Group
NAFTA Region

What is the tow rating listed at?

The chart I looked at, says it can tow 28k

but YOU need to verify that yourself.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2014_RAM.3500.Towing.Specs.pdf

See page 7, bottom half of the page

5th wheel trailer is 24,000, I'm sure unloaded, only 4 thousand to spare??
That is going to push that Cummins to the limits.

Just because it is rated at 28000 doesn't mean you should haul that much regularly. If you are going to tow that camper then yes you need the Cummins dually with 4:10 rears. The dually will help with stability and handling the tongue weight on the truck. Also be sure the brakes work well and you have a good brake control in your truck. I would also recommend an exhaust brake too. That's a lot of trailer behind that truck.


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I personally would get the dually for that . But I think either or can handle it with ease If a Cummins dually can't handle that I don't know what can . Robo touched on pretty much everything . Also maybe get ahold of Ray and see what he can do to help .


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I drove truck for awhile hauling heavy equipment over 100k gross, hauled milk over 100k gross, and hauled 53' box too. A lot comes into affect pulling big trailers.


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You need a 4500 or 5500 to safely pull that. Another option is a semi tractor. That's what I usually see pulling that heavy a trailer.

The truck you listed has a MaxTow of 28,760 lbs. I have no experience towing anything that heavy, so I cannot say if it will handle it comfortably.

Check all the numbers and if it fits that's the truck for it. Is the 24K the dry weight or GVWR of the prospective trailer? Having the truck's capabilities above the GVWR is ideal but not absolutely necessary if there is a really large difference between dry weight and GVWR. Basically, just because a trailer can hold it doesn't mean YOU will pack it that full.

I have a much smaller 5th and put about 1500-2000# above the dry weight. The large range depends on how much water I am carrying. So, essentially, my pots, pans, bedding, propane and food weigh 1500#. For a trailer your size I'd have to think those numbers are just about double.

There's a regular poster over on RV.net with that exact truck towing a Mobile Suites and absolutely loves it. You might go check out the "tow vehicles" forum and you'll should be able to find him.

Edit - I just did a quick scan through the DRV website and the highest GVWR I could find is 24,000# so it looks like that is where you got that number. That is REALLY good news and means that truck looks to be a great fit. Most of the dry weights seem to be around 18K. That leaves a nice amount of space to load it up and it looks like you should have plenty of truck. Unless you are a traveling anvil salesmen you likely won't pack 5000# of stuff in the trailer so you'd be hard pressed to ever even reach that 24,000#. If the truck can haul 28K and carry the loaded pin weight you should be good to go.

Markcuda said:

5th wheel trailer is 24,000, I'm sure unloaded, only 4 thousand to spare??
That is going to push that Cummins to the limits.

Click to expand...

If you follow the link in the OP, 24k is the GVWR of the 5th wheel models, 3 axles 8k each.

However another twist is that the combined GCWR is over 28k lbs which means a Class C drivers license is not sufficient in many states.

TRCM said:

The chart I looked at, says it can tow 28k
https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2014_RAM.3500.Towing.Specs.pdf
See page 7, bottom half of the page

Click to expand...

Thank you for the response!
The DRV 5th wheel has a GVRW of 24,000. I think that it comes in at 20,000 dry. That give me 4,000 of leeway. Not as much as I'd like, but I can likely work with it.

Thank you all for your responses, I appreciate them! To summarize, it looks like the truck will do the job with that drive train. The rig is 24k GVRW, and I *think* it is 20k dry (though maybe it is 18, I'll check). Someone mentioned Engine Brakes, and the truck includes it. Someone suggested that I have a "good" trailer brake. I'll see what it has and upgrade if appropriate. Again, thanks all.

paustin said:

Thank you all for your responses, I appreciate them! To summarize, it looks like the truck will do the job with that drive train. The rig is 24k GVRW, and I *think* it is 20k dry (though maybe it is 18, I'll check). Someone mentioned Engine Brakes, and the truck includes it. Someone suggested that I have a "good" trailer brake. I'll see what it has and upgrade if appropriate. Again, thanks all.

Click to expand...

Yes I mentioned an exhaust brake. They do help a decent amount on top of the regular brakes. If the truck does not have an integrated brake control get one. Spend the money and get a good inertia control.


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Robocop_9 said:

YIf the truck does not have an integrated brake control get one. Spend the money and get a good inertia control.

Click to expand...

I will find out what they have, though since the spec sheet says "Trailer Brake Control", so I am assuming that it is stock. Would that be sufficient? Do you have a recommendation for a trailer that long/heavy?

paustin said:

I will find out what they have, though since the spec sheet says "Trailer Brake Control", so I am assuming that it is stock. Would that be sufficient? Do you have a recommendation for a trailer that long/heavy?

Click to expand...

If the truck has an integrated one then that will be fine. If not find one that is inertia controlled and rated for the number of trailer axles. If it has 3 axles then get a control for 3 or more. I forget the brand I had but there are several good ones out there


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If you get the truck and the trailer, please post up a few pics. I'd love to see what this whole setup looks like.

I'm thinking the pin weight of the DRV is going to make the RAM squat, won't know how much until you get them connected. You'll want to add air bags to your want list for the truck.

Also consider the fifth wheel hitch and make sure the one you select is rated for the weight of the DRV. Awesome trailer, congratulations OP.

Just something to think about since you are bumping the maximums on the RAM.
http://www.commercialtrucktrader.co...=FREIGHTLINER|2310628&category=Hauler|2005520

BossHogg said:

You'll want to add air bags to your want list for the truck.
consider the fifth wheel hitch
Awesome trailer, congratulations OP.

Click to expand...

• Airbags - on the list of wants. Need to price 'em, and see how the truck handles as-is
• 5th hitch - Anderson hitch is my plan. They have a $3mill insurance, not a single bad owner-review
• Thanks! I'll post pics

How much towing do you plant to do? If it is a lot you might be better off looking st a bigger truck, either 4500/500 or small semi tractor.