John Brown

I could use some information on towing capacity. I have a 2003 Ram 3500 quad cab with the long bed, 5.9 diesel engine, 3.73 rear. I purchased this truck with the intent to tow a fifth wheel RV but I am have a hard time determining the max weight RV I can tow. When I called the Dodge info line they told me I could only tow 10,000 lb, this seems very low but several source seem to agree with this number. The pervious owner told me he towed a 14,000 lb RV , the only problem ( and the reason he sold the truck) was that it shuttered a lot when starting from a stop and felt the transmission was crap.

If anyone could let me know if this truck really has such a low towing capacity and what is the limiting factor, the engine, transmission, suspension or what and is there anything I could do to safely increase the towing capacity

Thanks

jkitterman

For a fifth wheel, it is payload. Take your truck, weight it and subtract from 9000 lbs. That is your payload on paper from your GVWR. Multiply that by 5 and that gives you an idea of what the trailer can weigh. That is for a 20% pin weight for the trailer. Plenty of people tow bigger trailer, with and without mods.
2003 brochure lists about 13,000 max for 2x2 and 4x4

scottsjeeprolet

That truck will pull anything you put behind it without a problem.

drew03

when i bought my 03 they were giving my truck like 13,000 lb rating and I think the duallys were like around 15,000 lbs

Load Hauler 04

I pull trailers that weigh 20K plus, but I have a standered trans. and have been doing it for years. I would have the trans. checked out , and hook on to it and start out slow if you haven't pulled anything heavy. Usually most people don't get in trouble pulling the load, stopping the load is another story..

billie

From the 2003 sales brochure:
SRW/QC/4x4-Payload 2310; max trailer 13,150; GCWR 20,000
DRW/QC/4x4-Payload 4470; max trailer 15,800; GCWR 23,000

SRW/QC/4x2-Payload 2780; max trailer 13,450; GCWR 20,000
DRW/QC/4x2-Payload 4460; max trailer 16,300; GCWR 23,000

Don't know why the numbers aren't real linear but that's what's in the info.