Towing/payload for a 2024 6.7 diesel Big Horn

[stevenP]

Strolling the the local camp ground over the holiday, saw a 2500 CTD RAM, towing a 38 plus ft Montana fiver. The pin weight had to be near the 3k mark. I really dont know how you can tow something that huge with so little of a truck and it not tell you something is wrong.

 

[dhay13]

Just because I have a different experience from others doesn’t mean it’s wrong or didn’t happen. Move on.

Is it wrong if you are telling people to ignore all manufacturers data and publications and do whatever feels right to you?

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Deleted

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Is it wrong if you are telling people to ignore all manufacturers data and publications and do whatever feels right to you?

Well let’s see, oh yeah I never said that.

 

[nlambert182]

Well you sort of are. You're telling the OP that your experience has been different than everyone else's and that it towed just fine. That in itself is making an insinuation that the truck will be just fine handling much more weight than it was rated for.

Your experience doesn't determine whether something is right or wrong, so you're correct there. But the ratings do.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I’m done with your nonsensical comments. Go troll someone else.

 

[rzr6-4]

OP, don’t fear the “weight police” on forums. They just follow numbers, not the actual capabilities of the truck. Look for real life experiences.

To which dhay replied

Is it wrong if you are telling people to ignore all manufacturers data and publications and do whatever feels right to you?

Your rebuttal?

Well let’s see, oh yeah I never said that.

 

[nlambert182]

Funny how actual capabilities are listed in the numbers.... that we should ignore.

I can drive my truck in 1st gear at redline and it will do just fine (for a while)... until I can't anymore. The truck is capable of moving at redline. Doesn't mean that's how it was designed to operate.

 

[truck2014]

Funny how actual capabilities are listed in the numbers.... that we should ignore.

I can drive my truck in 1st gear at redline and it will do just fine (for a while)... until I can't anymore. The truck is capable of moving at redline. Doesn't mean that's how it was designed to operate.

So seeing that you are the resident expert . Tell me this , what's the difference between a 2500 , and 3500 ,obviously the 3500 has a greater payload ,but why. I will point out a couple things ,and you can go from there . Same truck , both a Bighorn SRW standard bed 6-4 , 6.7 Cummins , not HO , 68RFE transmission 3:42 gears . Lets make it apples to apples both have the 11.5 axle ,both have the same E rated tires , lets say 18" LT 275/70/18 rated @ 3640 @ 80 psi . The limiting factor unfortunately for the 2500 is simply the suspension on top of that axle, assuming both 11.5 axles have the same brakes ,would have to assume ,but again I'm asking ,you being the expert . IF that coil suspension could be beefed up to eliminate what appears to be some handling issues , is there something I am missing ,same truck ???? Obviously now with the Ram 2500 with coil suspension , to me they put a Cummins in a grocery getter . It's too bad a 2500 can't be ordered with a decent suspension to complement the Cummins .
Obvious problem it will tow anything a 3500,4500,5500 will ,just can't carry it . I understand the gas 2500 trucks ,and towing bumper pulls with light tongue weights .

Fortunately for the Ford ,and Chev owners of the 2500 ,still running leaf spring suspension ,they can get around adding a bit more payload ,I know you don't want to be hearing that , as they do have a placard with ratings also . I have seen this discussion go around ,and around for years about the 2500, 3500 , or 250, 350 .

 

[nlambert182]

I'm no expert, but I have been driving and operating these trucks for almost 2 decades and towing for longer than that.

You said it, so not real sure what else you want me to say. The suspension is the limiting factor if all else equal. Yes, the brakes on a 3500 SRW and 2500 are identical. The rear axle on a 2500 and a 3500 SO SRW/DRW are the same (11.5 AAM). The HO gets a 12" AAM rear axle, a beefier transmission and xfer case. Frames are the same.

Back in 2012, the 2500 still had a leaf sprung suspension and as such had a much higher payload. My 2012 had well over 1k lbs more payload than my 2018 but the trucks are virtually the same. The coil springs simply can't handle the weight the same as leafs. You cannot beef it up to have the same load handling characteristics of a leaf spring. The only way you can match the capability of a 3500 SRW is to swap in leafs from a 3500. At that point, you have the same capabilities of an equally equipped 3500 SRW.

Yes, I agree. I too wish Ram would've kept the leafs in the 2500s, but the coils work just fine if being used to tow a travel trailer. With a 5th wheel it becomes a bit more iffy and you have to really start watching the weight on bigger units.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I too wish Ram would've kept the leafs in the 2500s, but the coils work just fine if being used to tow a travel trailer. With a 5th wheel it becomes a bit more iffy and you have to really start watching the weight on bigger units.

HAHAHAHA

 

[nlambert182]

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

View attachment 572668

Not trolling. You’re just making a blanket statement that simply isn’t correct.

 

[nlambert182]

Then please, enlighten me as to how what I said isn't correct?

The 2500s are much more suited to tow travel trailers than 5th wheels. There is nothing about what I said that's inaccurate.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

That^^^. Just look at any rv forum. Better yet, drive through some rv parks.
A 2500 is more than capable enough to tow a fiver.
It’s just your opinion, nothing more, nothing less.
Wasting my time here.
Agree to disagree.
SMH

 

[nlambert182]

What that will show you is that many people tow outside of their specs. What they don't tell us is if/when they have problems because nobody likes to admit a mistake. Driving through a campground to see what folks are towing with tells you nothing other than some people are idiots. I've seen 1/2 ton trucks towing WELL above their ratings because the truck physically moves the trailer and some salesman told them it was ok.

It should be common sense, but I am beginning to understand how it isn't so common anymore. There is no opinion here, and I can back up any of it with data. Can you? It's just math.


I'll use a 2018 Ram 2500 CTD as an example, since that's what I have.

The HIGHEST payload available for that year with the above is a Tradesman, reg cab, long box, 4x2. Payload is 3,160 lbs.

The average family typically has a crew cab and more often than not a 4x4. Typically between a BigHorn and Laramie trim level (you can check that out for yourself in campgrounds or poll the rv forums). Those payloads are between 1,600 and 2,300 lbs before anything is added to the truck (like a 5th wheel hitch) and before people sit in it. You can get to 2,600 lbs if you have a 2wd.


A fifth wheel generally has between 18-22% of the pin weight sitting on the truck.
Here are some examples of fifth wheel pin weights (all calculated by the GVWR of the trailers @ 20%):

11k lbs - 2,200 lbs
12k lbs - 2,400 lbs
13k lbs - 2,600 lbs
14k lbs - 2,800 lbs
15k lbs - 3,000 lbs


A travel trailer generally has between 12-15% of the weight on the tongue. (all calculated by the GVWR of the trailers at 15%):
Here are some examples of travel trailers:

7k lbs - 1,050 lbs
8k lbs - 1,200 lbs
9k lbs - 1,350 lbs
10k lbs - 1,500 lbs
11k lbs - 1,650 lbs

Based on these numbers, which trailers fall within the ratings of the truck? Most travel trailers do. Very few fifth wheels do. Now... tell me, where is my opinion in any of this?

 

[truck2014]

What that will show you is that many people tow outside of their specs. What they don't tell us is if/when they have problems because nobody likes to admit a mistake. Driving through a campground to see what folks are towing with tells you nothing other than some people are idiots. I've seen 1/2 ton trucks towing WELL above their ratings because the truck physically moves the trailer and some salesman told them it was ok.

It should be common sense, but I am beginning to understand how it isn't so common anymore. There is no opinion here, and I can back up any of it with data. Can you? It's just math.


I'll use a 2018 Ram 2500 CTD as an example, since that's what I have.

The HIGHEST payload available for that year with the above is a Tradesman, reg cab, long box, 4x2. Payload is 3,160 lbs.

The average family typically has a crew cab and more often than not a 4x4. Typically between a BigHorn and Laramie trim level (you can check that out for yourself in campgrounds or poll the rv forums). Those payloads are between 1,600 and 2,300 lbs before anything is added to the truck (like a 5th wheel hitch) and before people sit in it. You can get to 2,600 lbs if you have a 2wd.


A fifth wheel generally has between 18-22% of the pin weight sitting on the truck.
Here are some examples of fifth wheel pin weights (all calculated by the GVWR of the trailers @ 20%):

11k lbs - 2,200 lbs
12k lbs - 2,400 lbs
13k lbs - 2,600 lbs
14k lbs - 2,800 lbs
15k lbs - 3,000 lbs


A travel trailer generally has between 12-15% of the weight on the tongue. (all calculated by the GVWR of the trailers at 15%):
Here are some examples of travel trailers:

7k lbs - 1,050 lbs
8k lbs - 1,200 lbs
9k lbs - 1,350 lbs
10k lbs - 1,500 lbs
11k lbs - 1,650 lbs

Based on these numbers, which trailers fall within the ratings of the truck? Most travel trailers do. Very few fifth wheels do. Now... tell me, where is my opinion in any of this?

Something I haven't kept up on , and that is how they made these Ram 2500's so limiting in capacity , they build a 2500 with a 1000 lbs of torque or close to that, that can tow the titanic ,but you can't haul a canoe in one , yes thats not quite true ,but I have always said , IF you think you may go to a decent sized fifth wheel just buy the 3500 ,and be done . Maybe I mentioned it , I have never owned a 3/4 ton truck since 1998 . 1 tons since then . Working on 28 years towing fifth wheels . Over 50 years towing something with a truck .

I'm with you now ,as far as these 2500 Rams are concerned ,as said did not keep up with how limiting the weight ratings are them . They really don't even make a good grocery getter in the fact there's nothing worse then driving these trucks ,and never getting them warmed good ,and working them to some extent .

There was a day to make the argument ,whoops I bought a big fifth wheel ,and I got a 2500 can I tow it , well yes . It was pretty much the suspension ,which could be made to do the same as it's big brother the 3500 , no it didn't change the placard , but it did change it's capability . If not mistaken there were ways to get that changed also thru registration , don't remember all the details .

 

[truck2014]

That^^^. Just look at any rv forum. Better yet, drive through some rv parks.
A 2500 is more than capable enough to tow a fiver.
It’s just your opinion, nothing more, nothing less.
Wasting my time here.
Agree to disagree.
SMH

There was a day you could make the argument about the capability of the Ram 2500 , those days are over , they simply don't have the carrying capacity they once did . Sure they will tow it just fine .

I'm sure there are fifth wheels that fall into the category that the 2500 will handle , but the capability is sure limited . 3500 would make a lot more sense with a much better , and more capable suspension .And thats where it's at my friend , and no matter how much you want to argue that ,it still won't change the facts .

 

[truck2014]

There was a day you could make the argument about the capability of the Ram 2500 , those days are over , they simply don't have the carrying capacity they once did . Sure they will tow it just fine .

I'm sure there are fifth wheels that fall into the category that the 2500 will handle , but the capability is sure limited . 3500 would make a lot more sense with a much better , and more capable suspension .And thats where it's at my friend , and no matter how much you want to argue that ,it still won't change the facts .

And seeing from your emoji, that’s about all you can do , facts are facts . It’s good to see you bow out so to speak , as said you can argue until the cows come home , and still can’t change the facts , can it .

Let me add , I’ve seen you say opinions, again not opinions, facts , sure that mighty 2500 6.7 if that’s what you have will tow it all day , just won’t haul safely if you are over your ratings .

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Weight police. SMH
Done here.