Ram 2500 towing 14K

[ironman52]

I have a 14k trailer to haul my Tractor weighing about 9k I am considering a different rear bumper and was wondering if anyone has suggestions for a heavy duty bumper/ Brand???

Thanks, Joe

 

[Tulecreeper]

No way would I be hauling anywhere near that weight using a bumper hitch. You're looking at a Class V receiver with a 20k# ball and ball mount, and I don't think I've ever seen a ball with more than a 10k# rating. Look at my specs below. I have the set-up to pull that much, but I'd only do it 5th-wheel style.

 

[nlambert182]

Agree with Tulecreeper. You don't need a different bumper... you need a bigger truck.

 

[2003F350]

Yeah definitely don't put that on the bumper, put it on a receiver. They exist, you have to make sure the receiver is rated to carry the weight. B&W's Tow and Stow with a 2.5" shank is rated to 18k on the 2-5/16 ball. It's lower on the 2" shank (only 10k) so you'd want a receiver with the 2.5" hole.

Properly set up I wouldn't hesitate. But it sounds like you aren't properly set up.

 

[nlambert182]

Even if it were properly set up, unless it were a gooseneck I still wouldn't do it.

OP definitely needs a Class 5 receiver for that kind of tongue weight so I agree with you there. That's still a lot on a 2500 coil suspension. A WDH would be a must for me to even consider it.

 

[ironman52]

THis truck has the 2.5 receiver, I have the receiver insert for that weight. Am I missing something the trailer is a 14k tilt dual axle. the ram 2500 is rated to pull that much. The hitch is not just a ball mounted into the bumper.

 

[nlambert182]

You mentioned towing a 14k trailer and then asked for suggestions on an HD bumper. It could only lead to the conclusion that you were trying to tow that on the bumper.

Your tow rating is going to be based on a few things and can't just come from the generic manual. The tow chart is based upon a base model truck (ST, Tradesman, etc..).

Which configuration do you have? Crew cab short box, long box, 4x2, 4x4, trim level, etc...

Examples:
If you have a crew cab, short bed, 4x2 with the 6.4 and 4.10 gearing the max trailer weight rating for a base model truck is 15.9k lbs.
If you have the same in a 4x4, the max trailer weight rating is 15.6k.

If you have a higher trim than that, the number decreases accordingly.

Per Ram:




You can probably do it, but you're pushing it for sure. Even if your specific truck IS rated for a 14k max trailer rating, you still can't exceed GCWR or the payload of the truck. So the actual weight of the truck plus cargo plus the actual weight of the trailer and equipment can't exceed the GCWR.

I guess in closing, we don't really know what you're asking us for.

 

[rzr6-4]

14K lbs on your receiver, that's doable if you know how to get your weight distribution perfect but even then you would need to be careful about hitting the brakes hard or turning too fast. I might do a short trip (low double digit miles) with a 2500 but that's about it. A gooseneck is much better, will give you more room for error both in having your load positioned but also better balance during braking/cornering. Then I would be more comfortable with a long haul, but even then that's not a load you'd want to do with a 2500 every day.

Yes you may be rated for it, but when it comes to heavy bumper pull set ups you really need to know what your doing to be safe at that max rating.

 

[Ewoodard]

I think he means the trailer has a gvwr of 14k? If that’s the case then you will have no problems. The receiver hitch is mounted to the frame so the bumper won’t make a difference. I had Ranch Hand bumpers on my last truck and they were well built.

 

[OC455]

THis truck has the 2.5 receiver, I have the receiver insert for that weight. Am I missing something the trailer is a 14k tilt dual axle. the ram 2500 is rated to pull that much. The hitch is not just a ball mounted into the bumper.

I think the guys here are trying to give you good information here, but you have to give some better details or info to do that. If your trailer is rated a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 14000lbs., that really doesn't give all that much info. What is the empty weight of the trailer? Is it 3500lbs or 4000lbs? Then add the weight of the tractor, 9000lbs to get a more accurate idea of how much would be on the back of the truck. 4000lbs empty trailer plus 9000lbs tractor for a 13000lbs overall weight. Which is still a hefty amount for a 3/4 ton. Then the tongue weight comes into the picture as far as how much the tongue weight is going to be and if it puts you over your Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear axle. And using a Weight Distribution Hitch for that kind of weight would be needed.

 

[wrench78]

I have a 14k trailer to haul my Tractor weighing about 9k I am considering a different rear bumper and was wondering if anyone has suggestions for a heavy duty bumper/ Brand???

Thanks, Joe

OK, so are you looking for suggestions on rear bumpers, period. Or are you looking at rear bumpers for towing? Not sure why you tell us towing info if you're just looking for bumpers. If towing is a factor, it shouldn't be, because you should be using a frame mounted Class 5 tow hitch. Just not sure what info you're looking for.

 

[ironman52]

I guess I muddied the water pretty good Sorry
Trailer weighs about 3600, the tractor is under 9k Truck is a Laramie 6.4 box regular crewcab 4X4 I have a small dent in the oem rear bumper so I thought about replacing it with a heavy duty painted bumper.

I just got this truck and am replacing some things only has 122k miles. I am taking it slowly. I bought a weigh safe hitch so i can know for sure where on the trailer the tractor needs to be so the tongue weight will be correct.
I have had the tractor for a year now and have not had to move it yet so not something I will have to do all the time.
Regards, Joe

 

[dhay13]

You would definitely want a WDH (weight distributing hitch). Not sure Weigh Safe makes one? so if yours isn't a WDH I would not be using it. Next, you will seriously be pushing the limits of that truck. Do you have 3.73s or 4.10's? Mine is a 2018 with 4.10's and is 'only' rated to tow 15,600lbs. I would never try to get anywhere near that though. I have towed about 9300lbs with no problem at all.
Keep in ind your GRAWR. On your truck I think it is 6000lbs but can't remember for sure. It will be listed on a sticker inside your drivers door jamb. You don't want to go over that. Once loaded go to a CAT scale and get weighed. Go ahead of time and get your truck weighed empty as it would be when you will be towing except without the trailer. Once you get these 2 weights you will know your tongue weight, rear axle weight (GRAWR) and can possibly move the load slightly forward or back to try to get it as close as you can to 10-15% tongue weight and staying under your GRAWR. Also, make sure your trailer brakes are working good.

 

[Riccochet]

You'll also need to watch your payload. You should be fine with a properly setup WDH, but I'd still take it to a CAT scale.

 

[2003F350]

I guess I muddied the water pretty good Sorry
Trailer weighs about 3600, the tractor is under 9k Truck is a Laramie 6.4 box regular crewcab 4X4 I have a small dent in the oem rear bumper so I thought about replacing it with a heavy duty painted bumper.

I just got this truck and am replacing some things only has 122k miles. I am taking it slowly. I bought a weigh safe hitch so i can know for sure where on the trailer the tractor needs to be so the tongue weight will be correct.
I have had the tractor for a year now and have not had to move it yet so not something I will have to do all the time.
Regards, Joe

Okay, as far as bumpers go, there's threads on here about who has what bumper and what the pros and cons are, they might be in the 4th gen but they're REALLY similar. It really should be a separate thread, and it was pretty easy to jump to the conclusion you were trying to put that much weight on the bumper of the truck, which in today's world there is NO reason to use the bumper to pull anything.

As for the towing, you're pushing the truck right to its limits. It'll probably do it but it's gonna squat pretty good to get the 10% tongue weight for stable towing, even a WDH is gonna struggle to put you where you need to be. I personally wouldn't hesitate but I'd definitely take it slow and easy and probably wouldn't go more than a half hour away. Further than that and it just gets to be uncomfortable.

Couple suggestions:
- get a hitch with the 2.5" shank. For under 10k lbs I personally have no issues staying with the 2" shank and running an adapter, I've been pulling our 8k GVW travel trailer like that for years now with zero issues (though I need a new hitch pin, mine is getting pretty rusty as I leave a hitch in year-round). But for over 10k I'd definitely get the 2.5" shank hitch, the 2" ones are typically only rated to 10k, the 2.5" ones are rated anywhere from 15-18k. The 3" ones for the big Fords are rated REALLY high, like 20-24k I think.
- Consider a WDH if you're going to be going long distances with this setup, either with built in sway control or stand alone friction sway control. My personal preference is the stand alone friction sway control, but that's me. It decouples the weight distribution and the sway control, such that I can get my weight right, then set my sway control independently. If I'm not going far often I won't even use the sway control, I'll leave it in the storage compartment.

 

[OC455]

Not sure Weigh Safe makes one?

They do. They make a good one that takes the guess work out of how to set up. But they're not cheap.

 

[tron67j]

I recommend staying with a OEM bumper. It is designed to absorb some of the impact if in an accident and not transfer all that energy directly to the frame. You can get a tougher bumper but it may create more problems if you ever do get in an accident because it isn't designed to give the same way.

 

[nlambert182]

My final take is that if you're already close (or over) what the truck is rated to carry, adding a heavier bumper is just going to further reduce capacity. If you're running close to the limit, I'd keep the OEM bumper.

 

[ironman52]

Thanks to all in the multitude of counselors their is accomplishment. I did get the weigh safe slug so I can make sure what my tongue weight is. I was concerned about the trailer being pulled down the road and bouncing on that weight indicator so i decided to load the tractor move forward and back until the tongue weight is correct, Mark on the trailer where that is and then unload the tractor and put my regular cat 5 hitch back on the truck so as to not chance damaging the weighsafe hitch. I don't want to take any chances as it was pretty pricey.

Just a clarification My hitch is a 2.5 and not mounted simply to the bumper. I was wanting to change the bumper for purely cosmetic reasons
Thanks to all

 

[tim9lives]

Yep,,,Muddled the water. The receiver hitch has nothing to do with the bumper on my truck. I can unbolt my bumper, throw it away... and still tow my trailer with the truck. The receiver is mounted directly to the frame. But hey, no harm. It's early still ( before noon ) and I sometimes screw up when I don't have enough caffeine.