Towing capacity

[Firefighter6567]

My 2018 Ram, 6.4 hemi, 4.10 axle, srw, can tow 15,620#. Looking to buy a 5th wheel gvwr 15,000#. I understand truck is capable but is this just too much weight to pull with this truck, or what is a maximum safe weight? Thank you

 

[Firetruck41]

What is the pin weight and what is your payload capacity? I think I wouldn't feel very comfortable at the towing capacity limit like that, but I'm sure there are others that feel differently. There's a good chance you could be over payload as well, with pin weight, passengers and cargo.

 

[MADDOG]

You need to know some data about your truck and then use that data to see what it will actually handle safely.

Data about the truck:

1. Curb weight - empty truck, no fuel, passengers, etc...
2. Loaded weight - Truck with fuel, passengers, gear, truck boxes, tools, hitches, etc...
3. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - The truck's loaded maximum weight. This is the loaded weight plus the tongue weight (TT) or pin weight (fifth wheel) of your trailer. (GVWR)
4. Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR)

The curb weight, GVWR and GCVWR numbers are available in the Ram Builder Guide.

Data on the trailer:

1. Trailer Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW)
2. Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
-- The difference in 1 & 2 should be the cargo capacity of the trailer --
3. Tongue weight or pin weight of the trailer

Now you are going to use those numbers to calculate the load your truck will experience and whether you are over or under the GCVWR.

There are some good calculators online to use. Just plug in your numbers and see what it says.

Or, PM me here with your email address and I'll send you a spreadsheet you can use.

 

[dhay13]

Ballpark your payload should be around 2900lbs. It will be on the yellow sticker in your drivers door jamb. I think mine is 2950ish. Can't help with the rest but it sounds like you might be pushing it a little.

 

[BossHogg]

Looking to buy a 5th wheel gvwr 15,000#. I understand truck is capable but is this just too much weight to pull with this truck, or what is a maximum safe weight? Thank you

When you are thinking fifth-wheel, you should also be thinking 1-ton truck. While there are exceptions, there are not many. A 15,000-pound fifth-wheel RV will consume 3,000 pounds of the tow vehicle's payload. The rule of thumb is 20% of the fifth-wheel's weight will be placed on the tow vehicle. A 3/4 ton will pull it with ease but it won't carry the weight.

 

[Bldrinker]

When you are thinking fifth-wheel, you should also be thinking 1-ton truck. While there are exceptions, there are not many. A 15,000-pound fifth-wheel RV will consume 3,000 pounds of the tow vehicle's payload. The rule of thumb is 20% of the fifth-wheel's weight will be placed on the tow vehicle. A 3/4 ton will pull it with ease but it won't carry the weight.

Can you explain the differences between 1 ton and 3/4 ton trucks besides the rear spring rates?

 

[Firefighter6567]

When you are thinking fifth-wheel, you should also be thinking 1-ton truck. While there are exceptions, there are not many. A 15,000-pound fifth-wheel RV will consume 3,000 pounds of the tow vehicle's payload. The rule of thumb is 20% of the fifth-wheel's weight will be placed on the tow vehicle. A 3/4 ton will pull it with ease but it won't carry the weight.

My apologies. It is a 3500. Meant to add that to original

 

[BossHogg]

Can you explain the differences between 1 ton and 3/4 ton trucks besides the rear spring rates?

No, I never worked for Chrysler so I don't have first-hand knowledge.

 

[crash68]

Can you explain the differences between 1 ton and 3/4 ton trucks besides the rear spring rates?

On the Ram HD trucks, the 2500 uses a 4 link rear suspension with coils just like the 1500s. The 3500s use a traditional leaf springs.
On the legal side of things a 2500 is limited (on paper) to a GVWR of 10K lbs. This is for weight classification purposes as some states will automatically classify any truck rated over 10K as a commercial vehicle, licensing and insurance cost increase accordingly.
<off the record>A 2500 will tow just about anything it's 3500 counterpart will, you just have to "overlook" the 10K limitation(as the Payload Police say"OMG NO") but watch your GAWRs

 

[OCBray]

According to the Ram towing guide I thought the 6.4 Hemi had a payload of 3300lbs. About a thousand more than it’s diesel version. With a 15000lb fifth wheel and 4:10s it should be in its towing range.

 

[Firetruck41]

According to the Ram towing guide I thought the 6.4 Hemi had a payload of 3300lbs. About a thousand more than it’s diesel version. With a 15000lb fifth wheel and 4:10s it should be in its towing range.

Depends on the actual pin weight, but if it is 20% (rule of thumb), that's 3k, add driver and a passenger and you are likely over payload.

 

[Bldrinker]

No, I never worked for Chrysler so I don't have first-hand knowledge.

So why make a blanket statement about what 1 ton can handle and what a 3/4ton can’t handle?

 

[dhay13]

According to the Ram towing guide I thought the 6.4 Hemi had a payload of 3300lbs. About a thousand more than it’s diesel version. With a 15000lb fifth wheel and 4:10s it should be in its towing range.

It depends on the model. I know my 2018 2500 CC 6.4 has a payload of 2973lbs. A regular cab 4x2 will have a much higher payload so it really depends on the model and package. And yes, the 6.4 will have a much higher payload than the diesel by about 800 or so lbs.

My truck is rated to tow about 15,650lbs with 2973lb payload. If you have 2500lb pin weight then you will be cutting it close. Not saying it won't do it but from a legal standpoint you will be close. If you are going to tow that much weight far and/or often you might want to step up to a 3500 diesel. A 2500 diesel will definitely be over payload with pin weight.

 

[BossHogg]

So why make a blanket statement about what 1 ton can handle and what a 3/4ton can’t handle?

You're one of them, cruising around looking for an argument. It wasn't a "blanket" statement, it was about the OP's trailer and RAM truck payload numbers.

I said nothing that isn't true and is repeated in this thread and on placards located on the driver's door jamb. Payloads and tow weights are set by the manufacturers based on J2807 SAE specifications.

You want to argue about that, call RAM or GM or Ford and argue with their engineers.

 

[mtofell]

My 5th wheel is 11,500# totally loaded with the same truck (except I have 3.73 gears) and I wouldn't want to go any heavier. Definitely a struggle in the hills with the crappy gear spacing of the 6spd tranny. You'd be able to pull a lot better with the new 8spd but I'm guessing you aren't in a hurry to go buy a new truck.

Payload will be an issue - even with a 3500 and SRW if the 5th is truly at the trailer GVWR of 15,000#. You'll start to run up against your RAWR of around 7000#. 3000# pin of the 5th + hitch + base weight of the truck's rear and you'll well north of 6,000. Start adding people in the truck and a few things in the bed and you could easily be over the limits that matter. I am totally get the whole 2500 v 3500 GVWR thing and believe axle and tire weights are what matter.

You'd really need to know the loaded pin weight of the trailer to know for sure if this setup is even possible. A 15,000# GVWR trailer may only be 11,000# dry or it could be 13,500# dry. Pin weight could also be 19-20% or it could be 24-25%. Big differences and it just depends on the 5th wheel.

 

[Mark Porter]

Without getting too complicated, I would stay 20% under your towing capacity as passengers and the fifth wheel hitch all go into the payload total and anything stored in the trailer like clothing, food, gear etc.. all go into the towing capacity.

 

[Kukailimoku]

My 2018 Ram, 6.4 hemi, 4.10 axle, srw, can tow 15,620#. Looking to buy a 5th wheel gvwr 15,000#. I understand truck is capable but is this just too much weight to pull with this truck, or what is a maximum safe weight? Thank you

Two ways to look at this:

1. The manufacturer jiggers the numbers dowward to make it safe for accidental overloads by idiot consumers. So you're okay.

2. On the other hand, rule of thumb is that the power element should have more weight than the cargo element. For stopping, and whatnot. so no, you'd be in trouble towing something that heavy routinely.

On the other-other hand, truck tractors never even weigh as much as those trailers they be towing, so i guess that means you'll be okay, too.

 

[Kukailimoku]

...and anything stored in the trailer .... all go into the towing capacity.

Like horse(s)! 1,500 pounds each, AND they move! Imaging a 3/4 ton load (or a ton-and-a-half) load that can shift its CG three feet in any direction in the blink of an eye.

 

[Burla]

When towing with gas not diesel watch your engine temp, especially oil, and if need be idle when you stop if it is over 225f. Largest worry would be the heads warping. Secondly, if you have the rfe you should at least go through the valve body, find the 68rfe thread and read it. But, that truck can handle 15,000 and then some. As always, just go slow, not even 55 on the freeway, just do 50, and consider weather conditions before leaving. I drove a big cummins truck for a decade and had a manual cummins ram, it can handle it.

 

[Burla]

I am assuming that is the rfe, if not disregard. But this is what you are up against when towing heavy, and the valve body really needs a plate, spring, piston, and ring upgrade at a minimum, tune for higher line pressure and metal thread upgrade. Then at least you are pumping blood into the heart of the trans, and if you are towing this heavy you need blood. I recomend considering redline c+ as well, keep temps down and breaks down less with heat. By brother went through 3 transmisions before he bought a new cummins with a manual. Don't just through 15,000k pounds on stock transmision, you are asking for trouble.