Is Fifth Wheel Towing possible with '21 RAM 2500 w/ Diesel

[Richard Harter]

I am curious as to the actual 5er weight. Pin weight is normally ~20% of trailer weight. My calculations come out to a trailer weight of 6750# which seems really light for a 5er. However if the unloaded weight is 6750# it will probably be near, or above, 8000# loaded which would be a pin weight of near 1600#. Any comments?
Canyon

 

[MoParts]

...RidgeGrapplers weigh more but they also increase my capacity and are E rated. ...

Tires will not change your load rating. They may exceed the rating or not but they do not change it. The rating is what's on the door sticker.

 

[Joe1925]

It’s not the payload I would be concerned with in your case. If you have already installed the 35’s, you will be so nose high with a fifth wheel trailer, it would be unsafe to tow. I have a 2017 2500 Crew Cab diesel with factory 20” wheels, and I’m unable to get it to tow level and still keep my bedrail clearance okay. You may have to switch back to stock wheels to tow any fifth wheel rig. Good luck!

 

[Bearcatrp]

Since you didn't say you bought the 3/4 ton, do yourself a favor and buy a 1 ton. Benefits in my state is my 3/4 ton was 400 plus on tabs. My 1 ton is $120 per years. Check your state on laws as this is state specific. Had a 3/4 ton pulling a 35 foot 5th wheel. Did the job but was close to max weight. Plus it was a short bed that almost took out my back window. Go 1 ton with a long bed and you will be good.

 

[Duece21]

I am curious as to the actual 5er weight. Pin weight is normally ~20% of trailer weight. My calculations come out to a trailer weight of 6750# which seems really light for a 5er. However if the unloaded weight is 6750# it will probably be near, or above, 8000# loaded which would be a pin weight of near 1600#. Any comments?
Canyon

The two I am looking at are:

Grand Design Half-Ton Reflection 278BH
Dry Hitch - 1,321
Dry Weight - 8,345
GVWR - 10,195

Cherokee Artic Wolf 287BH
Dry Hitch - 1,325
Dry Weight - 8,368
GVWR - 11,525

 

[Duece21]

Tires will not change your load rating. They may exceed the rating or not but they do not change it. The rating is what's on the door sticker.

Yes sir....don't think I wrote that great. My current tires will handle more load than the standard Firestones so I dont need to worry about my tires not being suitable for the heavier fifth wheel. Yes, I am still restricted by my payload, unless I decide to exceed by a bit but stay well under the capacity of my rear axle.

 

[MoParts]

Yes sir....don't think I wrote that great. My current tires will handle more load than the standard Firestones so I dont need to worry about my tires not being suitable for the heavier fifth wheel. Yes, I am still restricted by my payload, unless I decide to exceed by a bit but stay well under the capacity of my rear axle.

Gotcha. Another factor that hasn't really been brought up is the reduced ultimate pulling capacity and braking capability with larger tires. It's fairly easy to calculate. 35's don't sound that big though. The 35s on my Ramcharger and the stockers on my Ram are pretty close in size.

 

[Bigdaddy]

Hi All, Hoping you guys and shed light on the current frustrating circumstance I find myself in in regards to the 2500 and payload.
Looking to upgrade our TT to a Fifth Wheel RV and the more research I do, the more I realize that my '21 RAM Laramie Diesel will not have to payload capacity to tow even these lower weight "Half-ton Towable" Fifth Wheels. The numbers on my truck show a payload of 2,190 lbs and a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. So I rolled a CAT scale today and now I have a 8,300 gross weight with adding 35's, Tool Box, Side Steps, car seats, full tank and myself (185 lbs). This leaves me with 1,700 lbs of payload.

The Fifth Wheels I am looking at are ~1,350 lb dry hitch weight. Doesn't leave much room for family (~210 lbs), Hitch (Anderson ~45 lbs) and the weight distributed to the pin once I add cargo to the trailer (1000lb cargo x 20% = 200 lbs).

I have looked at adding more weight behind the axels of the trailer to lighten my pin weight but that will be a moving target.

Do any of you have any suggestions on how to make this work with my current truck? Is payload as important as understanding your rear axel capacity? (Mine 6,040 lbs)

Any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated!!

I went through this when I had my 2017 2500 so I finally was able to get out of that and bought a 2018 3500 so now I have a 2022 3500 LB it was one of the best thing I did now a heavy weight have been lifted off my shoulder.

 

[Hemi adventure]

I have a 2021 Ram with the 6.4. Why? Because if I had of gotten the Cummins I would not have been able to "legally" pull my 150 series 5th wheel which is the (1/2 ton towable) -- I would have been over on pin weight. Someone mentioned get a lighter hitch but you already said you have the (Anderson ~45 lbs) so they don't get much lighter. A lot of people I have met in my camping adventures have a 3/4 ton what ever and swear that they can pull with no problem. I've even seen some with 40 ft. toyhaulers with a 2500 and brag about it pulling great. That may be the case because the diesel will jerk a knot in most any thing you pull but a 2500 w/diesel is just not a good idea for 5vers. Go for a 3500 at least! My sonnlaw has a Ford 250 diesel and we sat down and looked at the numbers for his truck and guess what he can't legally pull my 5th wheel, too much pin weight it would probably pull it with less engine strain and more torque for sure but still not legally. So he has been online putting together his new tow vehicle but whether it be Ram or Ford single axle or dually he is only looking at 1 tons. Good luck on your search.

 

[chri5k]

Must be a special at the donut shop. Three pages and no payload police.

 

[Tom Halligan]

Doubt going to a goose neck will shed enough weight to justify the cost since Anderson hitch is very light. I just had the same issue towing my 5er with. Ram 2500 club 4x4 Cummins and 6.4’ bed. Gross Cargo weight for truck was at 1900, trailer rated at 14k GVWR. Normally load 5er to 12k, trailer specs recommend bed weight of 10-15% of trailer weight. For safety reasons I traded it in and purchased a 2022Ram 3500 club 4x4, 8’ bed with a cargo capacity of 4,000. FYI I also use an Anderson hitch, didn’t go to a goose neck since many trailer companies will void the warrantee due to potential frame twisting claims.

 

[Irishthreeper]

IF you want a 2500 and IF you want to pull a 5W then get the Hemi. The Cummins will out pull the Hemi but the numbers are what they are. End of story.

 

[Duece21]

Appreciate everyone's feedback!! I bought this 2500 to pull our 32' Imagine 2800BH as my 1500 wasn't getting it done. Didn't think I would already be looking to upgrade this truck when looking to upgrade our camper....you live and learn I guess. Again, appreciate all the thoughts on this issue!!

 

[runamuck]

my son bought a new 2500 laramie with diesel before the prices went nuts but he added the frame mounted airbags pretty soon after because he said it felt a little mushy towing his 8400# 5wh. I think his payload is around 2100#

 

[Bigdaddy]

Doubt going to a goose neck will shed enough weight to justify the cost since Anderson hitch is very light. I just had the same issue towing my 5er with. Ram 2500 club 4x4 Cummins and 6.4’ bed. Gross Cargo weight for truck was at 1900, trailer rated at 14k GVWR. Normally load 5er to 12k, trailer specs recommend bed weight of 10-15% of trailer weight. For safety reasons I traded it in and purchased a 2022Ram 3500 club 4x4, 8’ bed with a cargo capacity of 4,000. FYI I also use an Anderson hitch, didn’t go to a goose neck since many trailer companies will void the warrantee due to potential frame twisting claims.

I haven't tow with mine new 2022 Laramie 3500 CCLB yet but in a month I'm suppose to take my 5th wheel to the dealer to get some decal and to repack my wheel to get ready for a cross country trip but this is what it look like hook up. I'm using a Pullrite Superlite #2600 the same one when I had my 2018 3500 SB.

 

[Duece21]

Alright guys....this may be wishful thinking (or really reading) but want to out this out there as it seems to good to be true.

I have read from a few different places that the Payload capacity that is on the truck per RAM (mine is 2,190lbs stock) will include a full tank of diesel and the driver (at 150 lbs). These folks are saying I can pull that out of my actual weighed numbers as its baked in.

So if my truck weighed in at 8,300lbs and my GVWR is 10,000lbs = 1,700 payload left + Full tank at 224lbs and 150lbs for driver (Avg. number that is used). Does this really mean I have 2,074 of free payload?

I think I have been looking at this way too long!!

 

[6.7CumminsDrvr]

The two I am looking at are:

Grand Design Half-Ton Reflection 278BH
Dry Hitch - 1,321
Dry Weight - 8,345
GVWR - 10,195

Cherokee Artic Wolf 287BH
Dry Hitch - 1,325
Dry Weight - 8,368
GVWR - 11,525

Here’s the 278BH attached via AUH to my ‘21 with the 6.4

Haven’t got a chance to drag it across the scales to verify pin weight.

FWIW, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull this 5ver with a 2500 diesel…….

 

[IvoryHemi]

Alright guys....this may be wishful thinking (or really reading) but want to out this out there as it seems to good to be true.

I have read from a few different places that the Payload capacity that is on the truck per RAM (mine is 2,190lbs stock) will include a full tank of diesel and the driver (at 150 lbs). These folks are saying I can pull that out of my actual weighed numbers as its baked in.

So if my truck weighed in at 8,300lbs and my GVWR is 10,000lbs = 1,700 payload left + Full tank at 224lbs and 150lbs for driver (Avg. number that is used). Does this really mean I have 2,074 of free payload?

Your 2,190 lbs includes a full tank, no driver weight is factored in.

Lots of people confuse the 150 lb driver weight in J2807 towing specs with payload.

If your truck weighs 8,300 lbs with a full tank and you in it, then you have 1,700 lbs of remaining payload for cargo, passengers, pin weight, etc

 

[Duece21]

Here’s the 278BH attached via AUH to my ‘21 with the 6.4

Haven’t got a chance to drag it across the scales to verify pin weight.

FWIW, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull this 5ver with a 2500 diesel…….

Thanks - Doesnt look like you have much rear end sag. Did you put install airbags? How do you like the AUH?

 

[Duece21]

Thanks - I knew that would be too good to be true

Your 2,190 lbs includes a full tank, no driver weight is factored in.

Lots of people confuse the 150 lb driver weight in J2807 towing specs with payload.

If your truck weighs 8,300 lbs with a full tank and you in it, then you have 1,700 lbs of remaining payload for cargo, passengers, pin weight, etc