Unraveling requirements for payload for a Ram 2500 diesel

[LaneyFM]

I was looking to make life easier and trade a 25R Arctic Fox travel trailer for a nice truck camper. I have a 2020 Ram 2500 diesel short bed. After looking into this, it seems the "payload" is small.. approx 2050lbs. Most decent truck campers weigh 2000 to 3500 lbs. I know the "payload" of my truck includes my stuff, dogs etc. so easily put me over the published payload. I have no idea how the dealers of the Truck Campers tell me ..no problem a 3000 dry weight camper is fine for my 2500 Ram. Although, I have seen many truck campers on non-dually trucks although dual wheel trucks are commonly recommended. I really don't want to take chances with my safety or life of my truck. I have kind of concluded that the only way to go would be a soft sided truck camper.. sans shower.

Anyone want to try to unravel conflicting information for me?

Thank you.

 

[rule18]

Lots of people will weigh in on this. The Camper salesman want you to buy, so he tells you it's no problem with a 2500. One point of fact is that the payload rating for a Cummins 2500 is less than the 6.4 2500, no surprise there.

 

[Joe w.]

Welcome

 

[Harley Harrold]

 

[Papa Red]

Welcome to the forum.

Red

 

[MADDOG]

Don't believe the RV dealers. You seem to know how to figure your payload and compare it with the GVWR so I'd say stick with that info.

 

[kevcarr59]

You say your "published" payload is approximately 2050#, where is this info published?? Is it on the door jamb sticker, because that is the DEFINITE payload for your truck. That said, your truck is probably a Limited or a Laramie that's all decked out. When I was shopping RAM's, I saw loaded Laramie's with Cummins that had a payload 200# more than my '16 F-150 XLT SPORT. Our 2020 Tradesman 6.4L Hemi 4X4 OFF ROAD has a payload of 3182#, a tow capacity of 14,300 something. You could find a 2500 Cummins but it would have to be really stripped, and you might get about 27-2800 payload. The big benefit of the Cummins is the tow capacity, which is 19K, so it's great for 5th wheel trailers.

With a slide-in camper you'd really need to go a 3500, that way you'd have a comfortable optioned truck, and still have payload for the camper. Different option "packages" will make a big difference in the payload numbers.

 

[JJLR]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Dean2]

Well, interestingly I weighed my 2021 2500 long box Laramie 6.4 Liter crew cab 4x4 yesterday. With the winch on the front about 400 pounds, a canopy on the back, approximately 400 pounds, 3/4 tank of gas, about 300 pounds and only me, it weighs 8,100 pounds. That is 1,300 pounds more than Ram says the curb weight is, so I have already used up that much of the original 3,200 pound payload on a 10,000 GVW truck. Means my remaining payload is 1,900 pounds so even with the canopy removed that isn't enough for a 3000 pound camper. Go weigh your truck on a scale for semis, deduct that weight from the GVW, you will know exactly what your remaining payload is. (The Diesel is 900 pounds heavier than my 6.4 so your payload will start out that much less already.)

 

[Fake-Account27]

I have a work truck Cummins and it has just under 2200 lbs of payload. I tow a 33 ft travel trailer and have 3 kids. I routinely travel with 2000 lbs of payload weight between kids, gear, and tongue.

There is a reason that Chevy gave up on keeping their new 2500 Duramax diesels at 10k GVWR, they are at 11,300 making them very capable trucks, on par with 3500 series trucks from a few years ago. Ram needs to do the same.