Towing 5th Wheel with Power Wagon

[Kev12]

Nice looking setup!

 

[trivium91]

The lowered ratings for towing and payload are why we skipped the 5th wheel idea and went with a travel trailer instead. Our Power Wagon tows this one like a dream...View attachment 129487

Looks like ALberta lol. Nice setup though.

 

[Rmcameron89]

The things you learn on this forum. So a power wagon is basically a glorified HD truck that can’t be used as a HD truck? Weird

 

[mohemipar]

Ram doesn’t at all advertise the Power Wagon as the truck to go crazy with heavy weight and 5th wheel but it is still an HD Ram. It is built with the same exact frame, suspension layout, axles, engine/trans and rolls off the same assembly line as any other HD Ram. They took an HD truck and gave it a more specific offroad mission. There's no way to not sacrifice payload while doing that. It is more capable offroad than a standard 2500 but will still tow/haul more weight than most people would probably need to and do it much more stably than a 1500.

But just because its part of the HD family, doesn’t mean you can do every single job with it. By that logic, why would someone need a dually, or a Cummins? Etc. It’s up the buyer to do their homework and know what job they need to do and get the truck that is spec’d to do that job. And don't rely on the sales guy to give you reliable information. Just assume they won't.

You want a truck that can't handle any weight, go take a look at the Raptor.

 

[trivium91]

I just realized the truck before that was hauling this fifth wheel is a 1996 dodge ram cummins 3/4 Ton (the 5th is in the family), the payload should be around 1650LBS...not much more than the PW. Does anyone know what the tires are rated for on the PW? I would only be overweight with passengers in the truck and thats what the airbags are for i guess. The other issue is the bed height so i would ahve to measure before i decided to pull this 5th.

 

[Bock]

My PW came with goodyear duratrac the weight rate is 121 (3197 lbs) per tire or 6396 per axle less the weight of the truck. The air bags will take care of the soft spring if you tow or carry a heavy load. Remember you have 4.10's with the 6.4L, heavy frame and large disk brakes so towing is not going to be your problem.

 

[trivium91]

My PW came with goodyear duratrac the weight rate is 121 (3197 lbs) per tire or 6396 per axle less the weight of the truck. The air bags will take care of the soft spring if you tow or carry a heavy load. Remember you have 4.10's with the 6.4L, heavy frame and large disk brakes so towing is not going to be your problem.

very stupid for dodge to do this, they should have included airbags from the factory or as an option as im sure they would have sold alot more of these trucks...than we would not have to worry about being overweight. Someone please explain to me whats the difference between having airbags on a PW or a regular 3/4" ton lol. There should be literally no difference. They sell them with the standard 3/4" ton why not in the PW. At least i have more payload than i did with my half ton before which had the air ride suspension. BTW the air ride susp is garbage and nothing but problems...

 

[Bock]

A typical air bag setup has the bags mounted to the top and bottom like the springs that are on your truck now, OEM air bags replace the spings. The PW has longer articulation capabilities, taller and softer springs. That is why you need to use the Daystar Airbag Cradle they aloud you to have a free bottom bag mount so your articulation is not compromise. Note I am not aware of any air bag manufacture that approves the Daystar and I am sure Ram dose not approve of them ether. When you are running normal I believe you use less then 10PSI and off road only couple of pounds of air.

 

[trivium91]

A typical air bag setup has the bags mounted to the top and bottom like the springs that are on your truck now, OEM air bags replace the spings. The PW has longer articulation capabilities, taller and softer springs. That is why you need to use the Daystar Airbag Cradle they aloud you to have a free bottom bag mount so your articulation is not compromise. Note I am not aware of any air bag manufacture that approves the Daystar and I am sure Ram dose not approve of them ether. When you are running normal I believe you use less then 10PSI and off road only couple of pounds of air.

will any airbag work with the daystar cradles to keep the articulation?

 

[Bock]

I am not sure, I bought the Firestone bags, but have not mount them yet I was looking for a no drill application and read the Firestone would work and are well made bags, but I am going to need to drill a hole for the bottom mounting plate to mount on the bumper stop on the axle. I have read good reviews about the Timber Grove bags and like the way there bottom plate mounts. I might look in to seeing if I can just buy there bottom mounting plates. The main thing you need to look for is the bags bottom plate is attach to the bag and not held by the bottom mounting plate to keep air in it. Because off road the bags needs to be free, I know you can find some YouTube's on this.

 

[loveracing1988]

very stupid for dodge to do this, they should have included airbags from the factory or as an option as im sure they would have sold alot more of these trucks...than we would not have to worry about being overweight. Someone please explain to me whats the difference between having airbags on a PW or a regular 3/4" ton lol. There should be literally no difference. They sell them with the standard 3/4" ton why not in the PW. At least i have more payload than i did with my half ton before which had the air ride suspension. BTW the air ride susp is garbage and nothing but problems...

So you say you want ram to offer air bags but say the ram air suspension is garbage? There's a lot of irony in that.

 

[trivium91]

So you say you want ram to offer air bags but say the ram air suspension is garbage? There's a lot of irony in that.

Allow me to clarify...i want ram to offer the airbags or some sort of assist that boost's payload when engaged not full on air suspension. I had a 2014 limited 1500 with air ride and had nothing but issues when winter rolled around.

 

[Aelwulf]

Another item to consider regarding 5th wheel/gooseneck towing and PWs is the off-road stuff on/around the rear axle. Assuming Ram is to be believed, that's why I was told that Ram won't do a 5th wheel prep package on a Power Wagon as the off-road components could interfere/be interfered with. It's one of the third effect reasons we didn't go with the PW over the Laramie with Off-Road/Snow Chief (very third effect since main reason was basic ratings). Someone might be able to finagle their own installs or something if they find a trailer that'd work or willing to ignore the ratings I guess. Just tossin' it out there.

 

[Stampederfan]

has anyone tried to pull a 5th with their power wagon?

Saw a guy in Fairmont Hot Springs RV resort (South Eastern BC) this past August from Idaho that was pulling a 31’ or so fifth wheel with one of the older Power Wagons with a 5.7 (somewhere between 2011 and 2013 I think). Was going to ask him how it pulled but never got around to it. I think those older PWs with the 5.7 have 4.56s though.

Looked like a pretty heavy load to me - had never seen a PW pulling anything that big.

 

[Megazor]

Another item to consider regarding 5th wheel/gooseneck towing and PWs is the off-road stuff on/around the rear axle. Assuming Ram is to be believed, that's why I was told that Ram won't do a 5th wheel prep package on a Power Wagon as the off-road components could interfere/be interfered with. It's one of the third effect reasons we didn't go with the PW over the Laramie with Off-Road/Snow Chief (very third effect since main reason was basic ratings). Someone might be able to finagle their own installs or something if they find a trailer that'd work or willing to ignore the ratings I guess. Just tossin' it out there.

I've never noticed any significant differences in the rear of my 2500 and my neighbor's power wagon. Only major difference I'm aware of is he has a locker and I (sadly) don't.

 

[Robert Treat]

Good morning. Late to this thread. 2018 powerwagon 6.4. pulling a 2017 5th wheel winni. Pulls great. Stability is my concern. Looking for airlift ideas to help with stability while maintaining full rear articulation.

 

[olyelr]

Good morning. Late to this thread. 2018 powerwagon 6.4. pulling a 2017 5th wheel winni. Pulls great. Stability is my concern. Looking for airlift ideas to help with stability while maintaining full rear articulation.

Here is a link to a writeup i did for mine. Airlift bags and daystar cradles. Works awesome.

http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=4732

 

[olyelr]

Power Wagon with a 5.7???
I ain’t never...


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L. USMC (ret)

Power wagons cane back to the scene way back in 2005 with 5.7 and 4.56 gears. Was that combo until 2014.

 

[McBroom]

Power wagons cane back to the scene way back in 2005 with 5.7 and 4.56 gears. Was that combo until 2014.

I had forgotten about those early models. When they redebuted.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 2500 4x4 C/C Off Road.

 

[trivium91]

Hi Guys, so i decided to get a fifth wheel finally, just wondering if right hide will be an issue? think im getting timbrehns to help with the weight in the back.