Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Nice to see someone on the same page , as far as this 2500 ,3500 debate goes , I’ve read many , and the one thing I learned was you will never win with the weight police on these forums . I’ve always had a 1 ton since I went to a fifth wheel , but I understood back in the day the minimal difference between the two , and was in agreement.
I was using round numbers. My TH weighs close to 7400 the way we load it. No toy, just kayaks. It has a GVW of 9600. Actual tongue weight is 900-970 depending on water in tank. I have weighed it with my tongue scale. It holds 92 gals of fresh water but I only carry about 20.
A LONG time ago.
It has factory air suspension and upgraded running boards. Which I guess is the extra 60 lbs. When I was shopping for the truck there were some higher trims with 1800 lbs of payload.
From another reply as recently as 2017 they were still running a leaf spring suspension, wonder when they finally switched . But anyway I still get a little laugh about the doom , and gloom towing with a 2500 , supposedly carnage will be scattered everywhere.
No... they stopped leaf springs on 2500s in 2014.
There is nothing on the door sticker that refers to towing capacity.
Well said. These guys that try to squeeze every last pound out of their cargo and tow caps are dangerous. And the ones that think their optioned out 1500 can tow 10k on a daily basis, or that adding air bags will raise their towing or cargo capacity need some schooling. A rule-of-thumb, always leave a 20% margin for error and you will be fine. I've towed everything under the sun in every type of trailer they make. With my current truck I can tow 15k+. I won't tow more than 12k...ever.No... they stopped leaf springs on 2500s in 2014.
Funny that you mention the laugh..... and then weight police. You know... it could very well be that some of those folks have experience with both set ups and know what their limits are in real word use, versus what someone on a forum thinks they should be.
I've towed an almost 17k fifth wheel from KY to AL with that 2012 2500. Did it do it? Sure did. Would I ever do it again? Absolutely not. I was over on RAWR, about 2k over on payload, over the tire rating, etc... It was a hairy experience and had I know then what I know now I would have unhitched it on the spot. I absolutely try to save the next person from the internet warriors who think it's perfectly fine because someone on a forum said their uncle's cousin's brother's step-sister did it once in a snowstorm going up the side of a mountain and all was well.
The ratings are there for a reason. There's some margin built in for sure and maybe a one time emergency would use up that margin. That's what it is there for. It isn't to test the limits every time you hook up. Folks need to do the research using fact based data and not the opinion on a forum (mine nor anyone else's). Then, if it looks like it isn't enough truck, do like the OP. Suck it up and get what you need. You have to pay to play.
Awesome, what a fantastic solution. Now go have lots of fun!Problem solved. See signature.
Thank you for the education. Fortunately, it wasn't nearly as painful as it could have been.
Whatever year it’s not important, I’m not arguing the OP’s situation , if that 2500 indeed has that low of payload . I’ve never had a fifth wheel that was over 15,500 , and never towed any of them with anything less than a 350 Ford or my present 3500 Ram .No... they stopped leaf springs on 2500s in 2014.
Funny that you mention the laugh..... and then weight police. You know... it could very well be that some of those folks have experience with both set ups and know what their limits are in real word use, versus what someone on a forum thinks they should be.
I've towed an almost 17k fifth wheel from KY to AL with that 2012 2500. Did it do it? Sure did. Would I ever do it again? Absolutely not. I was over on RAWR, about 2k over on payload, over the tire rating, etc... It was a hairy experience and had I know then what I know now I would have unhitched it on the spot. I absolutely try to save the next person from the internet warriors who think it's perfectly fine because someone on a forum said their uncle's cousin's brother's step-sister did it once in a snowstorm going up the side of a mountain and all was well.
The ratings are there for a reason. There's some margin built in for sure and maybe a one time emergency would use up that margin. That's what it is there for. It isn't to test the limits every time you hook up. Folks need to do the research using fact based data and not the opinion on a forum (mine nor anyone else's). Then, if it looks like it isn't enough truck, do like the OP. Suck it up and get what you need. You have to pay to play.
You need to get a new schtick. The weight police name calling is old but expected when there isn't any data to support a position and additional unrelated statements of non-facts are introduced to further the spiral away from the thread question. People who wish to inform those seeking knowledge understand they may be subjected to ad hominem attacks. Civility is sometimes replaced by narcissism and we have to suffer those individuals.
I got a PM from the OP stating he knew exactly what I meant when he read it , before I think you boys had him a bit confused .
And I got a PM from you calling me out for admitting that I once made a mistake. Ever heard the old saying Wisdom comes from knowledge... knowledge from experience.. and experience from mistakes.
Working for Fish & Wildlife half my life, and maintaining a CDL for most of that time, I've seen some really stupid stuff. One of the most memorable was when I worked on a Wildlife Habitat Crew and they had allocated us a lot of money at the beginning for vehicles and equipment. When I first showed up, one of the things I noticed was that someone had installed Class IV receivers on our 2 brand new Dodge Ram 3500's (this was in 1998). One of the things we had to tow was a large John Deere tractor - usually with attached disk - on a really large flatbed trailer. I'm going to make a guess that the entire load weighed 14k - 16k pounds, with a tongue weight probably probably pushing 2000 pounds. I stated from the beginning that the receiver wasn't rated to handle that much and that I refused to pull it. That kind if p!zzed off the supervisor, but he didn't force the issue.
There have been a few I've asked when they were leaving and which way they were going so I'd be no where near them when they did. Have seen my fair share of bent frames on F250 and GM/Ram 2500's due to numb nuts pulling a 44' 16,000 lb 5th wheel. See it every time I go camping. Trucks double or more over payload. But it got dem air bags!
Well said , although my wording got criticized for saying pretty much the same thing . As I said to the OP which he fully understood , “ You can tow it ,but you can’t haul it “. Moving it , towing it , pulling it whatever , is not equal as you say to being able to carry it . Thanks
