If you intend to tow safely and efficiently, get a dual rear wheeled Diesel with a manual and lower geared axle...

If the rig is pulling double duty a SRW and higher axled auto is probably going to suit you just fine, but it's the towing intention you need to consider.

If you are heading East, you got flats, but potential high winds, North, you got some steeps, South...cheap diesel and great food!! Good luck!

 

Thanks for the input to date.

I researched the 5ers I am considering. 32' bunk houses. They are about 12K# GVWR. Pin weight of about 2200# fully loaded.

2014 Ram Megacab, , 2500, 4X4, SRW
with 6 people (750#)
Payload: 1359#
Tow capacity: 15,391#

So, if I understand this correctly, my prospective 5er would be too heavy and cause me to be about 900# overloaded!!

I can only tow 7000# GVWR with a pin weight of 1400#? This doesn't seen correct? What am I missing???

 

You must be looking at a 2500, the 3500 Laramie Mega cab 4X4 SRW aisin diesel has 4390 payload 12,400 GVWR 16,820 trailer tow.

 

Once you have towed with training wheels there is no going back. Cross wind stability is so much better with the dually. I will never go back to towing heavy with a SRW.

 

Yes, 2500. I edited my post. Seems ridculous that a 2500 can only tow a 7000# 5er. That puts you at only about a 25'-27'!!!

Again, am I missing something? Did I calculate correctly?

 

The 15%-20% pin weight and the heavy 5th wheel hitch eats up cargo capacity with the 2500 really fast.

A Bumper pull TT (actually a receiver hitch hookup - NOT bumper like they are commonly called) has a 10%-15% (average 12%) hitch weight. Using a WDH (weight distribution hitch) and hitch weights of about 1,200 lbs, leaves room for passengers. You could look at a bigger TT vs a 5ver. My 26' toy hauler loaded is 9,400# and has a 1,150 hitch weight. As long as I balance the load within the TT, I can load 1,800 more # to a total GVWR for the trailer of 11,200#. My 2500 is rated to pull 13,600 and that leave me quite a bit of extra weight.


A TT (travel trailer) has wheels more to the middle than a toy hauler which has axles farther back to carry the weight of the garage loaded with toys. Toy haulers have a greater tongue weight than that of a non toy hauling TT of the same size, so you could find a larger bunkhouse TT with a tongue weight more acceptable for towing with a 2500 and allow you your passengers.


A good WDH with sway control is recommended, to tow a TT behind a 2500. Only difference is the extra length NOT being over the bed and making the whole rig longer on the highway.

 

My 06 is rated at 13500 lbs, my 5th wheel is 36ft and has a hitch weight at right around 2200 lbs, read my sig, I do have airbags, good shocks, but it is a 2500 QC short box with a slider hitch, I tow this from the southern tip of Alaska to Arizona and back every year, for 7 years, no problem at all, just keep your speed down so you can stop, love my truck, cheers

 

I never understood that because the two extra tires are not carried by the truck. They are on the ground? I would be interested in their reason for the de-rate.

 

yup!

 

Your tow rating is your Gross Combined Weight Rating(GCWR) minus the vehicle curb weight. The GCWR takes into account not just the suspension but axle gears, brakes, engine/tranny, etc. A DRW and SRW 3500 have the same GCWR but the dually is heavier so 'technically' a SRW could haul a heavier trailer. HOWEVER, the dual tires on a DRW give it a higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(how much weight the truck can physically carry on its own wheels). Thus a DRW can handle a trailer with a much higher pin weight. In most circumstances a SRW will run out of GVWR before it hits its GCWR. There are always exceptions but this is generally the case.

 

I hate to say it, but I'd consider a new Ram 3500 SRW with the 6.4 gas engine. With the premium you pay for the diesel, and all of the new "goodies" such as urea injection (an added cost) it makes the diesel less appealing. If you are going to keep the truck a decade or more, and drive the heck out of it, then maybe the diesel is the way to go. For the additional premium price for the diesel you can buy A LOT of gasoline.

 

These trucks will tow a heckuva lot more than that! Its just a question of legal limits

I have never pulled more than the gvw with mine

Yeah right!!

 

yes, your math is flawed... these new trucks can tow usually more than 12k..

 

I tow a 36' HitchHiker 5ver, truck in my sig and trailer on a cat scale are right around 24k depending on fuel and how much fire wood I have jammed into the bed. Towed all over the east coast from Key West to the upper parts of Maine. Never a hiccup or and issue. Both units well maintained.

 

Well, I know this is devil talk around here, but I will be considering the gasser. 6.4L. It is $10K less and as mentioned in a post above, I can buy a lot og gas for $10K! Also, the emissions are scary costly.

Will be looking at a 2014 3500, 4X4, SRW, Mega Cab, 3.73 rear end. Will just need to match 5er to its weight limits. I've heard good things about the 6.4L; and that if I didn't go diesel that would be the engine to go with.

Now that a gasser will be considered, I can look at GMC and Ford as well.

Thoughts on Ford, GMC and gassers?

What forums can I research on HD gassers?
Thanks