Hi all.....well I bought the truck and now want to get a 5th wheel. My 09 crew cab is bone stock and has to stay that way till waranty is gone(wife says). Ill only use it a few times a year but what about a 36 foot unit?? Not too long or short. Since I have a 2500, what is the max weight in bed and pulling??? If I follow the book will I be safe?? Never towed before and might rent one first before spending the cash on one.....

 

Follow the book and read a couple RV forums... You'll be fine.
Good Idea to rent 1 first...

 

You did not specify wither or not this is a long bed or short bed truck. This will matter with your choice of hitch, slider VS non-slider. The slider is required for a short bed truck.

Now on to the 5th wheel camper. You will be limited to a max weight of 12,800 LBS for the 5er, with a 2500 SRW truck. Total; combined weight is limited to 20,000 LBS. This will include all of your camping supplies that you and your DW will need and fuel and occupants in the truck.

As example this is my set-up for my 5er and 2500SRW truck.
Front Axle weight 4940 LBS, Rear Axle weight 5160 LBS, Trailer Axle 8140 LBS and Gross Combined Weight 18,240 LBS. I am pulling a 318SAB Cougar 5th Wheel.
Hope this helps?

Jim

 

If you want to stay within towing limits, you will struggle with most any 36'er on the weight in the bed with the kingpin. The 2500 does not give you a whole bunch of wiggle room to stay within limits. There are those that will tell you everything will be fine - - just put on air bags or whatever. That does not change the stated limits. Odds are you will never have a problem - - just make sure you don't. My 36'er gives me over 3200 pounds of pin weight - - you do the math. With a 3500 dually I am only 100 pounds under my limits when fully loaded ready to hit the road. I am further right at the limits of GCWR for my truck. So, be careful and consider thoughtfully what you are doing.

Bob

 

I have an ultra light 5th wheel at 28' long that tops out at 7k lbs, which my 2500 handles with ease... But like Fiverbob states, you should stay within the payload and GCWR limits... ~20,000lbs

 

"slider is required for a short bed"

Not true in all situations. Depends on the design of your rv. All 5'ers can hit the cab, regardless of hitch style. it's just how far can you cut it before that happens. I have a short bed and have never needed a slider.

 

Here is your info. Have a look. Feel free to ask questions. Thats what I did when I got started.

2009 DODGE RAM_2500 2500 SLT, QUAD CAB, 4WD, 8.0 Ft Bed, 6-Spd Automatic 68RFE Transmission, 6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine:

With 3.42 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio [i] You Can Tow 9800 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) [i] = 9000 lbs
Payload [i] = 1929 lbs
Curb Weight [i] = 7071 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4437 lbs/4437 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear [i] = 5200 lbs/6010 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) [i] = 17000 lbs

With 3.73 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio [i] You Can Tow 12800 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) [i] = 9000 lbs
Payload [i] = 1929 lbs
Curb Weight [i] = 7071 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4437 lbs/4437 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear [i] = 5200 lbs/6010 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) [i] = 20000 lbs


With 4.10 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio [i] You Can Tow 12800 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) [i] = 9000 lbs
Payload [i] = 1929 lbs
Curb Weight [i] = 7071 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4437 lbs/4437 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear [i] = 5200 lbs/6010 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) [i] = 20000 lbs



Dave

 

Listen to Dave - - 9000 pounds maximum truck rated limits. Payload 1929. However, that is with one driver, 1/2 full of fuel, no hitch, no extras on the truck - - stripped. Start subtracting for additional passengers, hitch, full fuel, some tools, that HUGE cooler behind the seat with your Whataburgers for lunch and suddenly you are down to about 1300 pounds maximum load. Most 36' fivers with give you a pin weight of 2300 to 3300 pounds. You are suddenly 1000 pounds over your load limit for the truck.

Bob

 

I thought that payload limit was low until I looked it up, why such a wide variance? mine is rated at 2510lbs, some as high as 3000lbs...


http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/200...cs/dr/mlup.pdf

Can't we just add a leaf to our rear axle and end up with a SRW 3500 rated truck?

 

I seem to remember the difference is related to the cab configuration. A regular cab has a higher payload than the crew cab.
Yes and no. I added airbags to mine because I was over the 9k GVWR by a couple of hundred pounds. Legally, I'm over the GVWR. Another thing to remember, the 3500 SRW doesn't really give you much more payload, it's only 900lbs and doesn't increase the combined total which remains at 20k. Often I've seen folks look at 12k trailers which usually work out number wise and they then want to make the jump to a 15k trailer because it has some feature they want. You go from right on the edge to being overloaded on both the truck's GVWR and the overall GCWR.

The truck will pull whatever you've got. These engines are incredible. The issue is stopping and dealing with extreme situations and too many people take the view of "It'll never happen to me! I'm a good driver." The problem is that there are plenty of jerks out there who do some really stupid stuff.

 

That's why I see people pulling those 40' 15k lbs fivers with the Volvo's and Kenworths... All this time I thought they were just showing off... maybe a 4500 or 5500 chassis cab set up with a 5th wheel hitch would do also..

 

Just to let you know, the new Dodge 3500 can tow more trailer than a 4500 or 5500 Dodge. The 3500 has more hp and torque than the 4500 or 5500.

The 3500 can do combined 25400lbs with the 4:10 gears. The 4500 and 5500 are limited to 26,000lbs combined weight. The 4500 and 5500 are somewhere around 1500lbs or more, heavier than the 3500 there buy taking away from it gross combined weight towing ability.

If you want to tow legally above 26,000lbs, let say a 40ft toyhauler at 19000lbs GVW or a older 38 to 40 fifth wheel at 23,000lbs gvw, you can either get a Ford F450 with the big gears rated at 34,000lbs combined, a Freightliner or convert a class 6 single screw tractor to a tower. Dodge refuses to re-rate the 4500 to compete with the F450. Thats Stupid and Dumb.

Once over 26,001lbs you may needd a CDL for towing in most states. Its OK to drive a 45,000lb Motor Home without one.

 

Cost is also a big factor. You can find a used Class 7 or 8 truck with less than a half million miles for $30-$35k. There a couple of inspections which can be done to a potential truck that will give you a good idea on the condition of the engine and other areas. Then visit an upfitter and get a bed installed to make it look pretty for about $10k. You'll have a truck that can pull any 5th wheel made and will last a lot longer than any 350/450 class truck. You'll have a lot more breaking power as well. Another thing which most people don't realize is that these bigger trucks also have a better turning radius than the crew cab long bed pickups.

 

I wouldn't suggest it though. One thing that the 4500/5500 provides is much larger brakes. Being able to move the load is only half of the equation, some would say it's not even half. Being able to stop is really important.

 

The limits you would do well to stay under are the Tire caps, and the Gross Rear Axel Weight limits. These are the ones the DOT is going tobe looking at in the USA. In Canada I have read where thay look at the manufacturers GVWR, but not in the states. Just make sure you register your truck for what you are carrying. You will be over with most 36 foot fifth wheels. About 32 feet is the limit a 2500 SRW will carry.