I bought a 36' 5th wheel - I'm new to this and have questions.

I've towed bumper pull trailers for 30+ years, some heavier than this 5th wheel I've just purchased. But, this is new to me. I own a Gen. 4 2500 CTD. I'm good on my weight limits, the hitch weight on the camper is 1975lbs. and my truck's payload is 2920lbs.

So, does this mean I have roughly 1000lbs. for passengers, fuel and whatever else in the truck?

Does the "Dry Weight" of a camper include the furniture and other furnishing installed by the manufacturer?

I also have a hitch question. I do not have a hitch in my truck. I ordered a B&W turnover. It will be here today per UPS tracking. The camper has a gooseneck converter that is included. The previous owner pulled it with this setup. Are these converters a good, solid, safe option? It is a Popup Industries RV3
5th-Wheel to Gooseneck Adapter.

I'm sure I will have more questions. Thanks in advance for the help!

Yes on hitch weight question although the weight of the hitch will also count against payload. As far as the adapter I don't like spending someone else's money but to my knowledge the goose box is the only adapter lippert approves. Here's some info from etrailer on it.
https://www.etrailer.com/question-189410.html

The dry weight is everything except water and gear.

Congrats on the 5er. It's another great hobby....expensive...but rewarding. Most of my kids have grown up camping and they're great memories we'll all have forever.

Sounds like you have a great setup and everything you need for a safe and enjoyable TT.
Do you know why the seller wanted out of it?
Health issues,lost interest or something else...


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Tradesman Power Wagon

McBroom said:

Sounds like you have a great setup and everything you need for a safe and enjoyable TT.
Do you know why the seller wanted out of it?
Health issues,lost interest or something else...

Click to expand...

They bought it new and used it for 9 years. They have reached an age where they no longer wanted it. I got (what I think is) a great deal and they kept the camper spotless inside.

TMyers said:

They bought it new and used it for 9 years. They have reached an age where they no longer wanted it. I got (what I think is) a great deal and they kept the camper spotless inside.

Click to expand...

That’s great. I asked this from a safety aspect related to a couple of your questions.
I’m sure your good to go with this setup.
I say hook it up and go see the country.
Enjoy and Happy Motoring.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Tradesman Power Wagon

0rion said:

Yes on hitch weight question although the weight of the hitch will also count against payload. As far as the adapter I don't like spending someone else's money but to my knowledge the goose box is the only adapter lippert approves. Here's some info from etrailer on it.
https://www.etrailer.com/question-189410.html

The dry weight is everything except water and gear.

Congrats on the 5er. It's another great hobby....expensive...but rewarding. Most of my kids have grown up camping and they're great memories we'll all have forever.

Click to expand...

Dry weight doesn’t include battery or propane.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TMyers said:

I own a Gen. 4 2500 CTD. I'm good on my weight limits, the hitch weight on the camper is 1975lbs. and my truck's payload is 2920lbs.

Click to expand...

That's pretty amazing payload for a Cummins 2500. Most are around 2200-2400# depending on options. Is it a 2WD?

Even with the 1000#, be ready for it to evaporate quickly. You'll add a bare minimum of 200# once you load up the trailer (1000# with 20% going on the pin so on the truck) + a hitch + people/stuff in the truck.

For comparison I have 3040# payload and a 1800# dry pin 5th wheel and am usually over my payload by a few hundred pounds (but still well under axle weights which is what really matters).

mtofell said:

That's pretty amazing payload for a Cummins 2500. Most are around 2200-2400# depending on options. Is it a 2WD?

Click to expand...

You caused my to look closer... You are correct. I was looking at the 2WD payload, my truck is 4WD. Per Ram, my payload is 2620lbs. for a 4x4 Tradesman. That leaves me 645lbs. Now, I have a WeatherGuard tool box, LineX liner and the new hitch.
We're going to have to go on a diet!

Double Post

TMyers said:

You caused my to look closer... You are correct. I was looking at the 2WD payload, my truck is 4WD. Per Ram, my payload is 2620lbs. for a 4x4 Tradesman. That leaves me 645lbs. Now, I have a WeatherGuard tool box, LineX liner and the new hitch.
We're going to have to go on a diet!

Click to expand...

Your payload is listed on the same placard (located in the driver's door jamb) as the tire pressure. The payload is cargo, people, animals, pin weight, etc. Vehicle options and fluids including fuel is not cargo. The vehicles's curb weight is how the truck was built plus all fluids and fuel.

TMyers said:

They bought it new and used it for 9 years. They have reached an age where they no longer wanted it. I got (what I think is) a great deal and they kept the camper spotless inside.

Click to expand...

It sounds like you have a lot of trailer experience, so double check all of the trailer maintenance/specs too...tires, wheel bearings, etc. During the 9 years previous owner had the trailer, what maintenance did they accomplish or custom mods did they perform (which may change trailer weight)?

BossHogg said:

Your payload is listed on the same placard (located in the driver's door jamb) as the tire pressure. The payload is cargo, people, animals, pin weight, etc. Vehicle options and fluids including fuel is not cargo. The vehicles's curb weight is how the truck was built plus all fluids and fuel.

Click to expand...

^^This

What are going to find once you get all setup and loaded is that you are 800-1000# over your payload rating. This opens a kettle of worms that, if you aren't already aware, prepare for a lot of conflicting info and opinions. Here are the cliff notes:

Your 2500 truck's payload is maxed at 10,000# to remain in its class
If you add up the two axle max weights and tire ratings on your truck you'll find they total well above the 10,000# (if I remember right the FAWR is 5500, RAWR is 6500)
Your 2500 truck is almost exactly the same thing as a 3500 truck that has roughly 1500# higher payload rating. The only difference is some rear suspension that can be added to your 2500.
Many people believe axle and tire ratings are all that really matter and the GVWR (what payload is derived from) is just a clerical thing
Many other people believe (and are more than happy to tell you) that you are going to die in a crash and kill everyone within 10 miles due to running over your payload. If you're lucky enough not to die, you'll spend the rest of your life in a prison camp.

Of course, every campground in the USA has 2500 trucks pulling in well over their payload rating (hopefully under axle and tire ratings). My best advice is do a lot of reading so you understand how the game is played and make your decision.

Lastly, you seem to be relying on brochure weights for truck and trailer. These are pretty much meaningless. You NEED to get to the scales (probably truck first alone) so you can start to get an idea where you are at.

mtofell said:

...Lastly, you seem to be relying on brochure weights for truck and trailer. These are pretty much meaningless. You NEED to get to the scales (probably truck first alone) so you can start to get an idea where you are at.

Click to expand...

I had the same thoughts. The only scales that I have close to me is at the county landfill. I installed the hitch last night so everything should be in place for a true truck weight.

mtofell said:

Many people believe axle and tire ratings are all that really matter and the GVWR (what payload is derived from) is just a clerical thing

Click to expand...

Payload and tow weights come from standards applied to the vehicle. The standards are all inclusive and include, for example, metrics such as how much weight the parking paw can hold on an incline, ability of the powertrain to cool, bi-lateral stability, etc. for all driving conditions the vehicle could face from the arctic cold of the north to the hot humid climates in the south to the mountains. One rating is used so depending on the area you tow will dictate what you can get away with as far as being over capacity. This is why GVWR, curb weights, and payload numbers do not always work out mathematically, it doesn't consider the operating environment.

TMyers said:

I had the same thoughts. The only scales that I have close to me is at the county landfill. I installed the hitch last night so everything should be in place for a true truck weight.

Click to expand...

There is a cat scale 30 miles from you at exit 154 on I40. I drive farther than that to work. You will learn a lot for $11 or so.

For reference on how much difference there is in payload numbers on a 2500, my CTD laramie longhorn mega cab door jamb sticker says 1737 lbs. payload. On a scale with occupants and full fuel the front axle wt is 5280 and the rear is 3280, leaving only 1440 lbs payload before hitting 10k lbs GVW but 3220 lbs between 3280 lbs rear axle scale weight and max 6500 lb rear axle weight.

I have seen toy haulers with tongue weights that I know are near 3k lbs being towed with trucks just like mine, but I wouldn't do it. 2k, maybe, but 3k, no way.

I've been studying on my door jamb info. It shows 10K GVWR. 5500 on the front and 6000 on the rear. This is with the 17" steel wheels that my truck came with. I have 20" Limited wheels on my truck.

Would the axle GVWR be the same with the 20" aluminum wheels? They are stock Limited wheels with 10 ply tires at 80lbs.

I just thought of something else... My truck is a 13'. Meaning it has leaf springs vs. the coils on newer models.

TMyers said:

I've been studying on my door jamb info. It shows 10K GVWR. 5500 on the front and 6000 on the rear. This is with the 17" steel wheels that my truck came with. I have 20" Limited wheels on my truck.

Would the axle GVWR be the same with the 20" aluminum wheels? They are stock Limited wheels with 10 ply tires at 80lbs.

I just thought of something else... My truck is a 13'. Meaning it has leaf springs vs. the coils on newer models.

Click to expand...

Your RAWR may be limited by the stock tires/wheels (weakest link theory) so with the 20" wheels you may realistically have stronger equipment but nothing changes the door sticker. Also, around 13/14 is when a lot of things changed with regards to weights on these trucks. I believe a lot of the 2500 trucks only had a 9000# GVWR - that's good yours is 10,000#. I think your axle should have a stamp on it somewhere that can help you identify exactly what it is.

All this being said, you are definitely going to be over your payload - the only unknown is by how much. While I'm generally okay going right up to or even a bit over payload (GVWR) on my truck, axle/tire weights are nothing to mess around with IMO.