I am new to the forum and I hope someone can help answer my question. I have a 1994 Ram 2500 Diesel Reg. Cab 4WD with towing package and auto transmission. It has 80,000 miles (yes, that's all) and is stock, except for a tranny rebuild at 65,000. I tow a 3 horse aluminum horse trailer w/ dressing area no problem via the 5th wheel hitch.

The question I have is what is the actual towing capacity via the bumper receiver of the truck? and what is the towing capacity via the 5th wheel hitch?

It's not in the owner's manual, and I searched the web with no luck. I'm looking to tow a 11,500 pound boat and trailer and would rather use the Dodge than my Excursion diesel (it's technically 500 pounds over the Ford weight).

I think it should tow it, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for any help/insight you can offer.

 

I have the 95 brochure so if this isn't accurate, it should be close. For your ram (2500 4x4 reg cab w/CTD & auto), it states the maximum trailer weight of 10K with the 3.54 rear and 11,900 with the 4.10's. Max gcwr is 16K (3.54) and 18K (4.10). In a footnote, it states that Chrysler requires vehicles with max trailer weight ratings of 10K or more be equipped with a fifth-wheel hitch so my guess is these numbers reflect a 5th wheel.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks, I really appreciate the info.

This basically confirmed my thoughts that the Ram could tow the weight, but not via a normal receiver. The truck is very light (comparatively speaking) and the 5th wheel hitch distributes the weight better.

 

I have a 94 2500 w/ 3.55 rear end, we just bought a Keystone Challenger fifth wheel trailer that has a dry weight of 10,400 & a GVWR of 14,100. I am so confused by all the ratings, that I have major concerns that I am overloaded. Of course the RV salesman said it would pull it! So far it seems to pull ok, very sluggish from the light, but once in motion does real well; and braking has not been a problem. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

sound slike you need to bomb that baby out to start drag racin from light to light.

jiMMy

 

Parrothead, don't worry about being overloaded. These trucks are virtually unchanged over the years as far as the chassis goes. It's not like they're going to fold up on you or anything. I've had mine at 22,000 between the truck and trailer more than a few times and it handles it just fine. It was a little sluggish getting going before the bombs, but I never felt out of control with the load. Heck, just this last snow storm I was cruising around to our plowing accounts with 1100 lbs of plow on the front, 1000 lbs of ballast in the rear, 7500 worth of truck and equipment, and 8000 lbs of skidloader and trailer (grand total of 17,600 lbs) and it felt great, no problems stopping or anything. The early year's weight ratings were very conservative, I don't know why