towing capabilities

[satxflhx]

I'm looking at buying a new 2016 Ram 3500 to pull a 16000 lbs (dry weight) 5th wheel (20K GVWR). I noticed most of the new trucks are coming with the 3.42 rear end and the 68RFE transmission will this be enough to pull that load? I'm leaning toward the 3.42 with AISIN instead. Recommendations?

 

[mtofell]

I was just looking (dreaming) at the Ram 3500 specs. For that kind of weight that Aisin transmission setup sure looks nice. I can't remember, does that come with a different gear ratio? Or, are they all the 3.42? The Cummins is a beast and if you're within the ratings I think it will be up to the job. I'm assuming you're looking at the DRW?

You might post the question on an RV board to get some real world experiences. I read RV.net a lot but be carful in the Tow Vehicles section... there's a lot of drama.

 

[Birddog]

I have CTD with a standard tranny with a 3.73 gear ratio. My crew cab long bed rig will pull 18.5K all day long and my payload is over 5300. If that's the heaviest you'll be pulling you can save money on the ASIN (about $3K).

 

[BossHogg]

I'm looking at buying a new 2016 Ram 3500 to pull a 16000 lbs (dry weight) 5th wheel (20K GVWR). I noticed most of the new trucks are coming with the 3.42 rear end and the 68RFE transmission will this be enough to pull that load? I'm leaning toward the 3.42 with AISIN instead. Recommendations?

This is a tough call because at 16K dry, you are nearing the threshold of the upper towing limits of 3.42 axle gears depending on the truck's configuration (4x4, crew cab). You can download a brochure from here showing the configurations vs. tow weights.
Ram Trucks - Brochures

In order to move away from the 3.42 axle ratio Chrysler forces you in to the Aisin transmission which adds $2,500 (more HP and torque too), then you can additionally select 3.73 or 4.10 axle ratios.

Sounds to me you are in the dually territory, add another $1200 to the price tag to get tow weights above 17K pounds. I would make an axle ratio selection based on towing needs. The 3.73/4.10 will get you north of 23K for towing and some breathing room over the 3.42s.

I was lucky, the fiver my wife liked was 13K dry so I could stay with 3.42 axles and single rear wheels. Sure would be interested in what you end up selecting.

PS: I ended up ordering my truck and I ordered it with the rear air leveling system. I highly recommend, it levels out nicely and smooths the ride, most noticeably over road dips.

 

[BossHogg]

You might post the question on an RV board to get some real world experiences. I read RV.net a lot but be carful in the Tow Vehicles section... there's a lot of drama.

Isn't that the truth

When I was researching my tow vehicle I found the RV forums the worst place to get good advise, I could find some one knowledgeable but he would get overrun by the know-it-alls. Most would echo what a salesperson told them and then you discovered they are pulling a 15K fiver with 3/4 ton truck because their salesperson told them it was fine. Few think about payloads.

I got my best advise from the Cummins forum (.com), you just have to wade past all the performance posts, lot of guys there are deleting their emissions and re-tuning their engines.

In the summer my wife and I spend considerable time in Michigan's Upper Peninsula which is quite the tourist trap in areas. You would be amazed at what folks use to pull a fiver. I always wondered how they came to the conclusion their Silverado 1500 was ample vehicle to pull their 36 foot fiver.

I'm going to start taking pictures of some of these tow combos, it will be right up there with the pictures of the people of Walmart

 

[drittal]

AISIN, 68RFE, or G56; the only way to get a cummins with an axle ratio other than 3.42 is by moving to DRW.

 

[avolnek]

My camper is 13K dry, 14K loaded. I drug a utility with a pair of kayaks and some random camping crap behind that yet so i was probably 16,000 pounds total.

My truck is a 2015 cummins crew cab long box with 3.42 gears.

The trips i made with this rig were through some nasty rolling hills, I mean I'm in Nebraska so our hills aren't terribly long or anything but several of the hills had truck passing lanes to give you some idea. Now on the flats I let the truck easily roll into overdrive but when we got into the hills i locked it into 5th. The only time the truck ever down shifted was going down hill to maintain speed.

I feel that 3.73 gears would make quite a difference and I'd even more so like the 4.10's while i am towing, however to see 20 mpg highway empty out of the 3.42 gears makes me content with the gear choice. I tow occasionally and i am empty more than i am loaded so the empty performance is more of a priority in my case.

I dont think you can go wrong with any choice you make. If i had the option or the finances to allow me to hand pick/order my truck I for sure would go with the aisin and 3.73 gears. As it was stated you end up with a higher HP/TQ rating as well as the better gears...

My dad runs a 2014 crew cab long box aisin tranny with the 3.73 but only nets about 16 highway empty... some of that mileage difference of course is going to be the extra contact patch of the tires but IMO more so the gears...

long story short, dont fret the details too much...

 

[drittal]

What does the aisin get you in the SRW???

 

[avolnek]

strength and durability... personally i could care less about payload and towing figures... its all a made up number by engineering...

I looked at a 2012 ram 3500 single wheel that had a gvwr of 10,200 pounds... my 2015 2500 is rated for 10,000... 200 pounds less...

 

[drittal]

Cummins have been using the 68RFE for years. Seems like the AISIN in a SRW is a $2995 option that will realistically just gets you slightly less fuel mileage if it doesn't come with increased towing capability.

 

[drittal]

strength and durability... personally i could care less about payload and towing figures... its all a made up number by engineering...

I looked at a 2012 ram 3500 single wheel that had a gvwr of 10,200 pounds... my 2015 2500 is rated for 10,000... 200 pounds less...

Ram strengthened the frame since 2012.

 

[satxflhx]

I'm looking at buying a new 2016 Ram 3500 to pull a 16000 lbs (dry weight) 5th wheel (20K GVWR). I noticed most of the new trucks are coming with the 3.42 rear end and the 68RFE transmission will this be enough to pull that load? I'm leaning toward the 3.42 with AISIN instead. Recommendations?

Thank you to everyone for their input. I guess I left out an important bit of info. All the trucks I've been looking at are DRW and they are coming with the 3.42.

I'm searching for 2016 RAM 3500 DRW, Crew Cab, long bed, with the Cummins. I still don't see 3.73 gears. Most dealers all have the truck I want but they all have the 3.42 gears, most with 68RFE, rarely with the AISIN.

 

[cc rider]

I thought u can only get the aisin in a dually

 

[Jerry1984]

Available in srw but all with 3.42s. 3500s only if I recall correctly

 

[cc rider]

One thing I would suggest is get as much truck as you can afford, especially if u plan on keeping it a long time. Even if you have to order. What are you going to be hauling. Is that a toy hauler or regular 5er. I know on mine you throw 2 bikes in there and it can approach another ton of weight. I would go with a lower gear ratio than the 3.42. For that weight. I'm assuming your pin weight is over 3k? Whatever u do don't go to rv forums. They'll just tell u get an mdt

Thank you to everyone for their input. I guess I left out an important bit of info. All the trucks I've been looking at are DRW and they are coming with the 3.42.

I'm searching for 2016 RAM 3500 DRW, Crew Cab, long bed, with the Cummins. I still don't see 3.73 gears. Most dealers all have the truck I want but they all have the 3.42 gears, most with 68RFE, rarely with the AISIN.

 

[satxflhx]

I'll be pulling a toy hauler (Cyclone 4114 - 16K dry/20K loaded). Special ordering the truck is 10-15K more than finding a deal on the lot. Finding a 3.73 on a lot is hard. Window stickers all note the 3.73 is the standard equip but under the options they have all switched to the 3.42.

I'm still looking though.

 

[drittal]

If you are in the PacNW or nearby, Dave Smith or Dennis Dillion.

 

[cc rider]

You're about 100 pounds shy of 4k for pin weight so that's for duallys no ifs ands or buts. I have a heartland also . I hear good things about the cyclones. Go over to the heartland forum and you'll get a lot of good info. don't forget the dry weight doesn't include options such as generators etc. I had to order my tuck to get 4.10. Well worth the $50

I'll be pulling a toy hauler (Cyclone 4114 - 16K dry/20K loaded). Special ordering the truck is 10-15K more than finding a deal on the lot. Finding a 3.73 on a lot is hard. Window stickers all note the 3.73 is the standard equip but under the options they have all switched to the 3.42.

I'm still looking though.

 

[reek]

If you are in the PacNW or nearby, Dave Smith or Dennis Dillion.

I went to Dennis Dillon because of poor choices in my area and even worse pricing. I wanted a 4.10 rear end on my 6.4 hemi 2500. Everything around here is 3.73. Unless I order a truck and ad a "max tow" package.

Dennis Dillon has a ridiculous number of trucks on their lot, I'd call em up and see what they have.

 

[satxflhx]

Thanks for info reek, but I'm in south Texas so that merry be a little far off. I'll look him up on line though and see what he has. Maybe use his pricing as a bargaining chip down here.