Fifth Wheels By Keystone For 1500

[nlambert182]

It seems to me like must of us end up already having a truck and then get the bug to buy a camper.mmsomwe wnat to know what we can tow with what we have.

So what information do we know? For the truck we have VIN specific information from the sticker. But even that dooesnt tell the whole story. What accessories have been added? How many people? How much other stuff. So what is your real available payload. But I can figure those things out.

But for the camper? We have a manufacturers brocure or web site which at best gives us "dry" numbers. Just an FYI, even the sticker on my TT doesn't mean a lot. It says 6807. But when I weighed it on the way homenfrom the dealership, it was 7034with two full propane tanks and two batteries. But how much will it weigh and what will the tongue weight be when I load it? Even though I had a very good idea from past trailers how much I load I wouldn't know what the tongue weight will be until I weigh it loaded.

So thats the problem. It's difficult to nearly impossible to know for sure what load the trailer will put on the truck and how well the truck will handle it until after you buy it. And if you guess wrong you have a problem. Been there and done that.

That's why we use rules of thumb...there isn't much else to go by. And it pays to be conservative to avoid costly mistakes...once again been there and done that. That's why I'm sticking to the 20% of GVWR rule of thumb when looking at fifthnwhels.

Spot on.

The reason that I am personally adamant about following the stickers and not fooling myself into believing that it will do it is because I've done it before. This is absolutely a one and done type of thing. Somewhere on this forum is a pic of my 2012 2500 towing a 43' triple axle fifth wheel toyhauler back from Bowling Green, KY because the salesman at the dealership told me it would do it.

I absolutely knew better, but figured it was a straight shot down I-65 and would give me a chance to see what the Cummins would do. I made it home and promptly called the dealership to come pick it back up. The truck was over on payload, RAWR, and tires. It looked like it had the Carolina lean. The engine and trans pulled it like it wasn't even there, but the suspension was not happy. To add to that... I have never in my life been so white knuckled. About 10 miles from home we hit a thunderstorm. I was down to 15 mph trying to keep the truck in the lane and get us home in one piece. How I didn't blow a tire, snap a leaf pack, or end up in a ditch is beyond me.

I did not kid myself that I could make my truck work. I got a smaller camper until I could get a bigger truck. Then I upgraded campers. Expensive lesson but worth learning. Some folks just refuse to acknowledge their mistake.

It's not whether or not you can do it once or twice. It's when that one time is too many and you can't reverse it. After that lesson, I've always been adamant to stick within the ratings and I have not had another white knuckle experience since and hauled rigs just as big or bigger.

 

[nlambert182]

Ahh there we go...

These 2 trailers both have a GVWR of 16,500 lbs and a length of 43'. Pin weight on the first one is lighter because there was a Polaris RZR 1000 in the back during this picture.

One behind my 2012 2500 and the other behind my 2016 Ram 3500. Big difference when you get a truck with the right payload.

 

[nlambert182]

Mine, before the tonneau cover, a small tool box, running boards, and all the stuff behind the seat. So probably about 3500# now.

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As promised, this is the sticker on my current 2018 2500. I've added a soft cover to it and it has a B&W turnover installed. Likely in the 1,600 lb range now.



@Randy Grant , you're up!

 

[ramffml]

As promised, this is the sticker on my current 2018 2500. I've added a soft cover to it and it has a B&W turnover installed. Likely in the 1,600 lb range now.

View attachment 537572

@Randy Grant , you're up!

He will not post it. We've argued this multiple time across several forums. Not only is he over payload, I also estimated at one point that he is well over his rear axle as well. In his defence he claims to drive 55 mph so, at least that's something done right.

However I'm shocked by your 1600 pounds, I have 1750 in my 1500!

 

[ramffml]

In the spirit of transparency, here is mine:

 

[Tulecreeper]

He will not post it. We've argued this multiple time across several forums. Not only is he over payload, I also estimated at one point that he is well over his rear axle as well. In his defence he claims to drive 55 mph so, at least that's something done right.

However I'm shocked by your 1600 pounds, I have 1750 in my 1500!

@nlambert182 added some option you don't have that weighs 120 pounds.

 

[nlambert182]

He will not post it. We've argued this multiple time across several forums. Not only is he over payload, I also estimated at one point that he is well over his rear axle as well. In his defence he claims to drive 55 mph so, at least that's something done right.

However I'm shocked by your 1600 pounds, I have 1750 in my 1500!

Blame it on the Cummins!

Plus it's a Laramie, Megacab, 4wd, etc... I didn't need a lot of payload on this truck. My 3500 had almost 5k of payload on it.

The red 2500 had a little over 2,700 lbs of payload on it (but it was a crew cab, SLT). My old Keystone Hideout 298BHDS and us inside the cab pretty much maxed it out. GVWR of that trailer was right at 11,600 lbs.

 

[ramffml]

@nlambert182 added some option you don't have that weighs 120 pounds.

The point is that he has a 2500 and I have a 1500 with more payload. Just goes to show you how poor the 2500/cummins can be for many people and it's better just to get the 3500/cummins instead if you want the diesel. The 2500 shines much better with the hemi option, though if you don't tow heavy TT's but tow often/long distance then the 2500 cummins can still work good.

 

[ramffml]

Blame it on the Cummins!

Plus it's a Laramie, Megacab, 4wd, etc... I didn't need a lot of payload on this truck. My 3500 had almost 5k of payload on it.

The red 2500 had a little over 2,700 lbs of payload on it (but it was a crew cab, SLT). My old Keystone Hideout 298BHDS and us inside the cab pretty much maxed it out. GVWR of that trailer was right at 11,600 lbs.

The cummins will do that! She's a heavy girl for sure. I have a 4x4 crewcab, it's a "loaded" big horn so I have a lot of really nice featurs but none of the heavy stuff (other than 4x4) like ram boxes, panoramic sunroof, etorque, skid plates etc.

 

[nlambert182]

The point is that he has a 2500 and I have a 1500 with more payload. Just goes to show you how poor the 2500/cummins can be for many people and it's better just to get the 3500/cummins instead if you want the diesel. The 2500 shines much better with the hemi option, though if you don't tow heavy TT's but tow often/long distance then the 2500 cummins can still work good.

Depends on how you intend to use it. The 3500 was serious overkill for me. For what I'll be towing and how I use my truck, this one hit a sweet spot.

If you intend to tow heavy though, the 2500 isn't really the way to go.

 

[Riccochet]

Depends on how you intend to use it. The 3500 was serious overkill for me. For what I'll be towing and how I use my truck, this one hit a sweet spot.

If you intend to tow heavy though, the 2500 isn't really the way to go.

I'd say the 2500 gasser is ok for towing heavy'ish. Up to like 10-11k. 12k is kind of pushing it. Something they all say a 1/2 ton can do, on paper, but in reality is white knuckle territory.

It really shines at being a stress reducer while pulling 1/2 ton loads. I can tow my 31' TT with a 1/2 ton, did it for years. Lot's of oh crap moments. But towing it with my 2500 is like cake. So much more control, less getting pushed around.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Depends on how you intend to use it. The 3500 was serious overkill for me. For what I'll be towing and how I use my truck, this one hit a sweet spot.

If you intend to tow heavy though, the 2500 isn't really the way to go.

I guess it depends on what your definition of "heavy" is, and how often you do that. I can tow 15,000#, but to me 12,000# is pretty heavy and I have towed that much on several occasions in the past year. The truck handled it just fine, but that is as much as I will row with this truck because I always leave a 20% safety margin. I could have gotten the Cummins and added 4500# to my towing cap, which I will never need so it would have been way overkill for me, but it also would have lowered my cargo cap by almost 900# and that I do want. For me, this truck also hits the sweet spot because I have the ability to tow more than I probably ever will, while still loading up the bed with a ton of stuff.

 

[nlambert182]

I guess it depends on what your definition of "heavy" is, and how often you do that. I can tow 15,000#, but to me 12,000# is pretty heavy and I have towed that much on several occasions in the past year. The truck handled it just fine, but that is as much as I will row with this truck because I always leave a 20% safety margin. I could have gotten the Cummins and added 4500# to my towing cap, which I will never need so it would have been way overkill for me, but it also would have lowered my cargo cap by almost 900# and that I do want. For me, this truck also hits the sweet spot because I have the ability to tow more than I probably ever will, while still loading up the bed with a ton of stuff.

Yep. Heavy for what I am used to is 14k+ with a 3500. My lighter campers were in the 11-12k range and I could tow those with the 2500 in the past.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Yep. Heavy for what I am used to is 14k+ with a 3500. My lighter campers were in the 11-12k range and I could tow those with the 2500 in the past.

An 11k - 12k GVWR travel trailer is a really heavy trailer these days. I mean, in the 30' - 35' range.

 

[nlambert182]

I don't buy the ultralite models. They're not built quite as well. I still look for the traditional wood floor, fiberglass/AZDEL walls, walkable roof, etc... I'm picky when it comes to campers. That's why it's taking forever to find one this time.

 

[ramffml]

I don't buy the ultralite models. They're not built quite as well. I still look for the traditional wood floor, fiberglass/AZDEL walls, walkable roof, etc... I'm picky when it comes to campers. That's why it's taking forever to find one this time.

Some day I will build my own. Not a 5w but a TT of some sort. Start off with a cargo trailer and just build it 100% to my preferences.

 

[Tulecreeper]

I don't buy the ultralite models. They're not built quite as well. I still look for the traditional wood floor, fiberglass/AZDEL walls, walkable roof, etc... I'm picky when it comes to campers. That's why it's taking forever to find one this time.

While I agree with that in principle, some of the heavier TT's in their line (those in the same length arena) are called "Lite" or "Ultra Lite". The Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 274RKS has a GVWR 0f 9000 pounds, and the Forest River Flagstaff Super Lite 26BWS has a GVWR of 8700+ pounds. That's pretty heavy for a 30-foot trailer.

 

[ICHILLU]

Hello,

I was reading regarding a fifth wheel trailer that’s rated for 1/2 ton trucks by Keystone, Curious if anyone has purchased a trailer from them or similar and what experience you have had with it. Towing and handling of it, compared to a bumper pull trailer. Thank you for the info.

Do not listen to the "Nay Sayers"... I have been trailering a 27 Ft Keystone Laredo 5th Wheel Trailer with the last two "properly prepared" Ram 1500 pickup trucks - sliding 1500K Reese hitch in a 6.4 ft box equipped 1500 Laramie with air suspension, towing package, 3.92 / 8 speed trans - no issues and trailer is within the 1/2 ton towing capacity. Way better experience than the tow behind travel trailer - have done both.

 

[ICHILLU]

Just because you've physically towed a fiver with a 1/2 ton doesn't mean it's smart nor that you're within capacity. When you're posting max payload ratings, post all of the caveats that the manufacturers list with it. They're unicorn specs that almost no one can meet.

You have a limited.... post a pic of your payload on your door sticker. I'd bet it's in the 1,100 lb range at best.

Unless you have a stripped down base model, single cab, 2wd truck you'll never achieve max payload. We all know on Ram specifically that payload is gone very quickly once you get above a Tradesman model.

Here's what Ram says specifically on the 2023 models. BTW... they don't mention 2,300 lbs of max payload on ANY of their 1/2 tons. Max lited on their tow chart is 1,930 and that's a 2wd, quad cab, 6'4" box with a 3.6L.



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You need to learn how to read your chart... 1500 - 5.7 3.92 / 8 spd = 10,500 lb... my trailer has been towed for the past 6 years by my 1500 with no issues, getting 13 mpg at 55 to 60 mph... gone over 18,000 miles with this truck and setup since 2017.

 

[ICHILLU]

Try to go build a Ram 1500 with any type of fifthwheel/gooseneck system. You can't, because it is not a factory option. Call anyone at Ram, or go to any Ram dealership and ask. The 1500s give you the option for a Class IV receiver. That's it.

You can go to the Ram website right now and try to build one. It isn't there. It certainly would not be a factory option on the heaviest 1500 with the lowest available payload. I'm not wrong.

Take a pic of your payload sticker and toss it on here. Rebels have always been known to have one of the lowest payload ratings. No way you have more than 1,100 lbs of payload. Make sure you include the VIN as well, so that we can double check you.

**Edited to add - a Jayco 27BHS is a travel trailer. We're talking fifth wheels.

Must be a Ford Lover...