Tow capacity 11208, what size camper can I tow?

[MrMagumba]

My Bighorn 1500 has an advertised payload of 1820. I spent a lot of time shopping for one with the biggest number on the door sticker. The highest I found was 1741 on the door sticker and bought it, so it didn't have a lot of heavy options on it. That said, I maxed out the truck with a Jay "Feather" camper that has a max weight of 5500. Nothing new here, but it pays to look at these real example CAT scale results. The first sheet shows with weight distribution. It took 200 lbs off the rear axle. The second sheet is without weight dist. and the third is just the truck with passengers. I try to put most stuff in the trailer, but still I was almost at the 7100 lb truck weight limit. This was a mock run for our long trip. The second photo shows our actual weight when we went on the trip. Added a few hundred pounds (mostly in the trailer) and actually exeded the 7100 limit by 40 lbs. early in the trip. Put more effort into getting stuff out of the truck and into the trailer, but if you are going to take a family of 4 on a trip, you probably can't have even a 6000 lb trailer. As stated, payload is the limit.

 

[Riccochet]

More likely, I’ll upgrade to a 2500 diesel and just get a fifth wheel.

Probably not a good idea either. 5th wheels tend to run 20-24% of the trailer as pin weight. A diesel 2500 has like 1900-2200 lbs of payload. Unless you opt for a stripped down tradesman, regular or extended cab 2wd config. In which case payload jumps a little bit to like 2400 lbs.

2500 gasser has 900 lbs more payload over the diesel due to the weight of the diesel engine. If you must have a diesel to tow a 5th wheel step it up to a 3500.

 

[NotSoFast]

The diesel 2500 has a lighter payload than the gasser (because the engine weighs more) but the diesel has such better engine and exhaust braking that the towing is easier. Also, the truck is not particularly prone to being tossed about by the trailer in a crosswind. That might not apply so much with a really long trailer or a fifth wheel. When dealing with big trailers, the 3500 suspension is beefier.

 

[Riccochet]

The diesel 2500 has a lighter payload than the gasser (because the engine weighs more) but the diesel has such better engine and exhaust braking that the towing is easier. Also, the truck is not particularly prone to being tossed about by the trailer in a crosswind. That might not apply so much with a really long trailer or a fifth wheel. When dealing with big trailers, the 3500 suspension is beefier.

Not sure what kind of 5th wheel you're going to tow with a diesel 2500 without exceeding payload by a large margin. Even a light weight 8000 lb 5th wheel is going to have 2000 lb pin weight, minimum. That's 100% of your payload before you even sit in the truck.

 

[Willie Mosher]

Okay, you have a1500 . you got a good set up, (3.92 axle) looks like new or newer truck, even one think needs big trailer , big a trailer a hard pull in any size truck.
THE secret is to get trailer you can pull anywhere,
So look for like a 18 to 20 foot
2 axle trailer fully loaded is 7000 lbs

I have tow camper trailer for about
20 years. My 1st was TT was 18 ft
Fully was 6000 lbs pull w 2003 an 2006 GMC 2500 6.0 gasoline,
I pull this trailer about 80,000 miles,
2nd trailer about 40.000 miles so far
It 19 ft fully loaded is 5000lbs,
Tow now w 2018 ram 2500 6.4 gasoline.

But 5.7 1/2 ton ez pull as well,

Again looks at like 20 Ft trailer

 

[crash68]

People are trying hard to turn this into a..

...thread

 

[CaptBob3]

I decided not to go over 6500 pounds loaded. More likely, I’ll upgrade to a 2500 diesel and just get a fifth wheel. Thanks for the suggestions.

You will be shocked at how low the payload is on a 2500 diesel compared to a Hemi. It is because the diesel engine weighs so much more. Thats why I went to a 3500.

 

[CaptBob3]

The most overlooked thing is Maximum Cargo Capacity or payload. It does not matter what the "towing capacity" is, you need to stay under max cargo weight. It is on the tire pressure label on the drivers door jamb. This is camper hitch or pin weight, fuel, passengers, dogs, tools, and what ever else you put in the truck. I find most people pulling campers are under trucked. I pull an 11000 pound gross weight fifth wheel with a 2022 Ram 3500 Cummins. My max payload is 3980, the loaded camper pin weight is 1880 pounds (CAT Scale weight). Add fuel, passengers, dogs and all the other stuff in the truck - probably another 1000/1200 pound, I still have close to 1000 pounds to go before reaching capacity. Hope this helps!

BTW - the 3500 was less than $1000.00 more than a 2500, except I went with the High Output engine and Aisin trans. Here's my Cat Scale numbers with fifth wheel and without. The truck was loaded with full fuel, 2 passengers, 2 dogs, firewood, 2 3300 watt generators, 2 1/2 gallon can of gas, many tools, spare oil, 2 1/2 gallons water for the dogs, and the other typical crap. Camper (2023 Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 295RL 32'9") is fully loaded including approximately 30 gallons water, 20 gallons in black tank, and 40 gallons in grey tanks. Pin weight calculates out to 1880 pounds (advertised is 1434), camper weight calculates to 10680 pounds (gross is 11000 pounds).

 

[Creditcardguy]

BTW - the 3500 was less than $1000.00 more than a 2500, except I went with the High Output engine and Aisin trans. Here's my Cat Scale numbers with fifth wheel and without. The truck was loaded with full fuel, 2 passengers, 2 dogs, firewood, 2 3300 watt generators, 2 1/2 gallon can of gas, many tools, spare oil, 2 1/2 gallons water for the dogs, and the other typical crap. Camper (2023 Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 295RL 32'9") is fully loaded including approximately 30 gallons water, 20 gallons in black tank, and 40 gallons in grey tanks. Pin weight calculates out to 1880 pounds (advertised is 1434), camper weight calculates to 10680 pounds (gross is 11000 pounds).

That’s funny I’m looking at the same fifth wheel and a 2020 F250 diesel. How do you like the camper?

 

[Riccochet]

Dang that's a light 5th wheel. Makes you wonder where they skimped to get the weight down. And interesting that it only has 15% pin weight. The majority of 5th wheels are in the 20-25% range.

 

[StNick]

When you calculate your weight, don't forget to add fluids (propane in the tanks, water (fresh, gray water and if you have it, black water). Most experienced trailer pullers don't like to go over 80% of the weight rating. If you do go with this setup, be very aware of your tongue weight. TW generally should be 10% to 15% of the total trailer weight. Tongue weight is how much weight is put onto the hitch ball. You can buy a trailer hitch ball that has a scale built in. Too much tongue weight can be helped (and you may consider one anyway) is a load-leveling hitch (or sometimes called an equalizer hitch). Too little tongue weight can lead to trailer sway. Too much tongue weight will make the front end steering very light and vague (don't ask how I know). If I can be of help, send me an email. Also, and this is probably obvious (although the saying goes that when something is idiot proof, along comes a better idiot) don't forget to get at least a Class 4 frame hitch (although a Class 5 can be had). I saw a setup once in a rest area where the driver put about a 24 foot trailer onto the bumper hitch

 

[CaptBob3]

That’s funny I’m looking at the same fifth wheel and a 2020 F250 diesel. How do you like the camper?

Absolutely love this camper! If you are buying a 6 3/4' bed it has the turning point hitch so you dont need a sliding hitch. I bought an 8' bed so I keep the hitch locked

 

[Randy Grant]

How Your Truck Got Its Maximum Tow Rating

Today's heavy-duty pickups are rated to tow a crazy amount of weight. Here's how engineers make sure they can do it safely, without anything breaking.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[Tulecreeper]

Can you post
the one for the 2500 please. Thank you!

Here you are - keep in mind, this is for the 2023 models:

 

[Schotzy]

Thank you! I have a 2022

 

[Tulecreeper]

Thank you! I have a 2022

I'm quite sure it's still pretty close, everything else being equal - cab, bed, engine, etc. I did find the two attached, but they are for the "DJ" models, whatever that means.