2016 Ram 2500HD diesel towing

[raytwntrvlr]

Originally Posted by mattp160

Hey all,
Recently upgraded my Ram 1500 to a 2016 Ram 2500 laramie limited diesel. love, love, love this truck. It pulls my 14 Vibe 826vfk with no problems.
Question is, we plan on upgrading to a fiver. My only concern is how big do I go. I know the 2016 Rams 2500s have a pretty low payload capacity.

Anyone out there towing a fiver with a new Ram 2500HD diesel?

Ours is a RAM 2500 and I was disappointed to see how little pin weight we could take on. Loads of extra weight from Cummins and 4wd. I was not informed when we bought and just looked at the 17K towing capabilities as the defining issue.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by SaskCampers

Not to start an argument but are you ever over the factory rating of that truck. I had a 2008 Ram 2500 Megacab 4x4 Hemi and it only had a 2310 lb payload capacity with a 8800lb GVWR. The diesel has a 9000 lb GVWR and a payload rating of anywhere between 1520 and 1580 if memory serves me correctly. You can add all the aftermarket stuff you want but what the sticker in the door says is still what you can legally carry / haul. That Cedar Creek has a pin weight over 2k empty according to the website. I loved my old Dodge but back then Dodge did not think very much of their trucks payload wise. I know I used to have a 350 Imp gallon water tank I carried in the box of mine so full that was 3500lb of water and the truck physically had no issue but by the book I was Wayyy over the limits of that truck.

Not to start an argument... but aftermarket stuff, although does not increase the legal payload, it can and often does increase the real-world payload safely. If one knows why payload is limited on his/her vehicle, sometimes an aftermarket part can improve the payload ability. At some point, you will reach a limitation that cannot be overcome... but there are usually gains to be made by add-ons.

People have been "modding" their vehicles since their creation.

This thought process of often attributed to the 3/4 vs 1-ton (SRW) comparisons.


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[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by SaskCampers

Not to start an argument but are you ever over the factory rating of that truck. I had a 2008 Ram 2500 Megacab 4x4 Hemi and it only had a 2310 lb payload capacity with a 8800lb GVWR. The diesel has a 9000 lb GVWR and a payload rating of anywhere between 1520 and 1580 if memory serves me correctly. You can add all the aftermarket stuff you want but what the sticker in the door says is still what you can legally carry / haul. That Cedar Creek has a pin weight over 2k empty according to the website. I loved my old Dodge but back then Dodge did not think very much of their trucks payload wise. I know I used to have a 350 Imp gallon water tank I carried in the box of mine so full that was 3500lb of water and the truck physically had no issue but by the book I was Wayyy over the limits of that truck.

Obviously you do not understand the diesel truck ratings for Ram nor what the door sticker states.

From about 2004.5 and up to and including the 2012 Ram diesel trucks the 3/4 ton and the 1 ton SRW trucks are identical except for one single helper spring in the rear spring pack. DOT does not care what the door placard states nor is that a legal requirement for DOT. What is required are the proper weight carrying tires and is the truck license for the load it is carrying.
I have cross the scales with my trailer and truck and I comply with the 3500 ratings, so I am happy.

[fanrgs]

Our 2015 Ram 2500 Tradesman crewcab diesel 4x4 with the factory tow package and underbed 5th/gooseneck rail system has a door sticker payload capacity of 2196 lbs. Our 5th wheel trailer sticker GVWR is 8620 lbs. The "dry" pin weight (the only hitch weight given by Forest River) is 1181 lbs., but 20% of 8620 is 1640 lbs. and our cam-lock 5th wheel hitch weighs another 250 lbs. for a total of about 1900 lbs.

If we travel at the GVWR of the trailer, we have only about 300 lbs. of payload for everything that we carry in the cab and bed of the truck. So, we never travel with full tanks to save weight, although we may have a full 6-gallon water heater, 5 gallons of fresh water, and 5 gallons in the black tank (total of <150 lbs.) for convenience while traveling.

By traveling without full holding tanks, we have been able to tow the trailer at the posted speed limit over 11,000+ ft. passes in the Colorado mountains without difficulty. We might even be able to tow with the tanks full, but why do it if we don't need to?

[fanrgs]

Originally Posted by Jim34RL

From about 2004.5 and up to and including the 2012 Ram diesel trucks the 3/4 ton and the 1 ton SRW trucks are identical except for one single helper spring in the rear spring pack.

However, my 2015 Ram 2500 diesel and all other new 2500's have coil springs in the rear.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by fanrgs

However, my 2015 Ram 2500 diesel and all other new 2500's have coil springs in the rear.

Yeah, my buddy has one of those. Makes it difficult to do the same 3/4 vs 1-ton comparison.

I have a 2016 F250. It is the exact same truck as a 2016 F350 except for the blocks under the rear spring pack. Of course 3/4 tons are 10,000 GVWR to keep them class 2 trucks and 1-tons are higher GVWR so they are class 3 trucks. Clearly the GVWR is a "paper" limitation... and not an actual capability limitation, regardless what the yellow-sticker-police think.

Until Dodge puts the same coil spring setup on their 3500 truck, it makes it more difficult to compare. I know my buddy's 2500 sits much higher in back than mine. Heck, I think all of the 3/4 tons sit jacked up in back... except Fords.


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[fanrgs]

You won't have to wait long to compare as the 2017 Ram 3500 trucks are apparently going to have a 5-link rear suspension with coil springs instead of leaf springs.

[CWSWine]

Just to clarify a 3500 can be classed as either as a class 2 (1/2 ton and 3/4 tons) or class 3 (1 ton trucks) depending on the GVWR given to that truck. A 1 ton 3500 with GVWR of 10,000 lbs is a class 2 truck and with a higher GVWR it becomes a class 3 truck.

Truck Classification

The argument that they under rated the 2500 to keep it in a lower class truck just doesn't hold water since a 3500 can be rated as a class 2 also.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

Just to clarify a 3500 can be classed as either as a class 2 (1/2 ton and 3/4 tons) or class 3 (1 ton trucks) depending on the GVWR given to that truck. A 1 ton 3500 with GVWR of 10,000 lbs is a class 2 truck and with a higher GVWR it becomes a class 3 truck.

Truck Classification

The argument that they under rated the 2500 to keep it in a lower class truck just doesn't hold water since a 3500 can be rated as a class 2 also.

Correct.

Sorry. I forgot you could get the "10,000 GVWR" 'feature' on the 1-tons.

My argument though, was that in some cases (F250 vs F350 for example), the 10,000 GVWR that is applied to the F250 is the same thing as the F350 getting that same 10,000 GVWR label. The trucks are the same. (Although I didn't say it.)

The F350 with 10,000 GVWR isn't any less capable than an F350 with the full GVWR. The case is the same for the F250... except you don't have a choice of a rating higher than 10,000 GVWR.

It is all paper numbers. The trucks are the same.

Other manufacturers may have differences between their 3/4 and 1-ton (SRW) trucks. I don't know. Over the years, Ford has had differences between them... but recent years, they are the same. Same frame, front/rear ends/differentials, axles, wheels, tires, springs, etc., etc., etc. Just different on paper, blocks and badge.


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[Steve29rlx]

I have a 3500, but your truck should be more than capable of towing 32 ft Wildcatcat 295rlx with three slides. Weights about 9500lbs and has a pin weight of about 1500lbs. I have several buddies that have way too much trailer for their 2500, but they drag them up and down the road. I am talking about 40 and 43 ft trailers. They all say they wish they had smaller 5th wheels, but due to where they can camp, not how they go down the road.
My Wildcat will slip into just about any spot and is plenty roomy.

[Elmo54]

Yes some people are pulling/carrying way to much weigh for the rv size. But if you go by just paper a whole bunch of us would have to be driving 450/4500 or bigger just to pull the same trailers down the road that we are now pulling with 3/4 and 1 tons. I would like to see stats showing how many accidents are directly related to over loaded pull vehicles. Without that information I can see no reasonable way to say that most of us are unsafe or need a larger truck.

[325BH]

The rule I go by is not exceeding max tire ratings.


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[NMWildcat]

I just love these weight discussions! If we all applied every weight police rule we would be towing 20' trailers with semi tractors. But then I'm sure the tire police would ding us for the trailer tires being insufficient. 😁

[CWSWine]

I just love these weight discussions! If we all applied what every Air Baggers rules we would be towing 57 foot Space Craft 5ers 35,000 UVW with 250 will 50,000 lbs air bags. LOL

[fanrgs]

Originally Posted by 325BH

The F350 with 10,000 GVWR isn't any less capable than an F350 with the full GVWR. The case is the same for the F250... except you don't have a choice of a rating higher than 10,000 GVWR. It is all paper numbers. The trucks are the same.

That may be, but this thread is entitled "2016 Ram 2500HD diesel towing." It is not about Ford 250/350 towing capacities.

[mattp160]

Thanks for all the input. I'll be taking the truck to another scale just to verify the weight. 8000 with my and my wife inside seems a bit high to me. when I run a vin decoder, by front and rear curb weight total is 6891. a full load of diesel would be around 220 pounds, So that's 7111lbs. Still 888 pounds off. My wife and I combined are about 320 pounds, that puts us at 7431lbs. I'd expect my weight to be around 7500lbs on an accurate scale. That would put me around a 2500lb payload.
10000-7500=2500

I've found plenty of fifth wheels with a dry "hitch" weight of around 1400-1600 pounds. I don't think I would go any higher then 1600 pounds.

[mattp160]

I'm even toying with the idea of trading in my 2500 for a 3500 if I can find a dealer willing to basically do a swap. haha

[checkmate99]

Originally Posted by mattp160

Hey all,
Recently upgraded my Ram 1500 to a 2016 Ram 2500 laramie limited diesel. love, love, love this truck. It pulls my 14 Vibe 826vfk with no problems.
Question is, we plan on upgrading to a fiver. My only concern is how big do I go. I know the 2016 Rams 2500s have a pretty low payload capacity.

Anyone out there towing a fiver with a new Ram 2500HD diesel?

It's a diesel....it'll pull anything!

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by checkmate99

It's a diesel....it'll pull anything!

Yesterday we went to Camping World in Shreveport. They had a demo hooked up with electric and running. VERY pretty. I said it's beautiful, but I can't pull it.... He said what kinda truck you got? I said diesel 3/4 Dodge. He said it'll pull it. I said no. Too much tongue weight. He said 1500#...I looked and it grossed 15k. Then I said it's prolly got 3000lbs of pin weight. Bla bla.

Everyone at the CW was SUPER nice and helpful. Kudos to them.


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[mattp160]

it blows my mind how many people don't understand what payload is. They think that just because it's a diesel it will tow it. Well it probably will tow it just fine but all that weight in the truck is what scares me..