Fifth wheel for 2018 ram 2500 diesel - Page 3

DouglasReid · 08-01-2019, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimber45

open your door and check your payload sticker. that's a good start. No such thing as a 4 season camper, extended season or 3 season at best.

He needs to do more than that. He needs to look in the Diesel Supplement to his Owners Manual to determine the towing capacity of his truck. It is not the same for diesels as gassers.

Jakieboy · 08-01-2019, 07:20 PM

We tow a Cardinal 3250 Fifth-wheel with a Silverado 2500 Diesel, and could not be happier. With a short-bed RAM you will need an extender hitch. We use the PullRite Sure Glide and have no problems.

Parrothead Mike · 08-01-2019, 07:27 PM

I tow a 2015 Cedar Creek Silverback 29RE with my 2018 6.6 Chevy Duramax short box with a B&W Patriot hitch. I haven't beefed up the suspension. It does a great job pulling my 5th wheel. Hardly feels like I'm pulling anything. I've also pulled with full fresh water. I pulled the same 5th wheel with a 2002 Duramax for 3 years before the newer truck. I've pulled through the eastern mountains back & forth from Michigan to Florida. No problems.

cadman99 · 08-01-2019, 07:34 PM

2001 diesel Ram (really like the 5.9 and avoidind DEF) with trailer and towing package, towing forest river 2006 30ft ultra lite. Truck sticker - front 4400lbs - rear 6800lbs. Empty front weighs just under 3500 rear just over 2500. Towing capacity 11,000lbs - more with lower rear end gears.

Trailer hitched add 1800lbs pin weight and the front gets about 150lbs lighter. Sliding hitch mounted just above rear axle. Total trailer weight 8800lbs. Truck drops about 2" in rear when hitched. Also have a 20 gallon fuel tank in the front of bed.

This setup tows fine and I think the torsion style axles eliminate sway much better than springs. Forest River installed 2 3500lb axles on this trailer and rated it's maximum capacity at 9200lbs. I had 6800 on the axles and 8800 total loaded. No way you could load to 9200lbs without surpassing the axle rating.

Parrothead Mike · 08-01-2019, 07:38 PM

Additionally:

I used to have a slider hitch with my '02 Duramax, but never used the slider feature and most of the time with that truck I pulled a 28' Cardinal. Decided not to get a slider hitch when purchasing the newer truck. The Silverback has sculptured front corners which may help when turns are tight, but the Cardinal didn't have those and I never came close to the '02 truck cab.

ARICE · 08-01-2019, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upflying

Better watch the pin weight, my truck has a cargo rating of 2400lbs.
A byproduct of the rear coil suspension.
Upgrade to a leaf spring 3500 Ram if you want a 5th wheel.

Ram 3500 only if you want to have your colon beat out of you while driving. I own both a 2018 Ram 3500 and a 2017 Titan XD both Cummins powered. Obviously the I6 is the better engine but.....
I've pulled my Forest River Hemisphere GLX Fifth Wheel with both and I'll take the Nissan XD over the Ram for comfort and fuel economy any day of the week and I live, work, and travel in mine 8 months out of the year.
If the fifth wheel the OP is looking at is 12k or under I would stick with what he has.

CaptnJohn · 08-01-2019, 07:49 PM

I like these threads. I'm sure most are certain any 3/4 can pull anything my dually does.

ARICE · 08-01-2019, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

I like these threads. I'm sure most are certain any 3/4 can pull anything my dually does.

Depends on the year model of your dually. A 2000 dually from the big 3 is not factory rated to tow what a 2018 3/4 ton can. Even with dual rear wheels.
More to this than meets than the eye

Two extra wheels doesn't always mean more tow capacity blanketly.

Carguy1965 · 08-01-2019, 07:55 PM

We moved up to a Montana 3121RL 5th wheel a few months back, Previous camper was a 2018 Windjammer 2715VS identical to the OPs old trailer.( Its for Sale by the way !) Ram towed it like it wasnt back there..

Montana is 12,000 empty and I never tow with anything in the tanks as we only stay at full hook up sites, just not into the boon dock stuff no offense. I added the AirLift 5000 bags just to smooth things out a bit which they do. Tires are up to the task and while you know you are pulling more weight and it burns more fuel the truck pulls the 5ver no problem. Ride is really good with the bags as well. Got a Patriot Slider but I can go almost 90 degrees without any clearance issues, just like knowing the slide is there if ever. I plan on doing the disc brake upgrade as soon as the wife says I can just because of all the wackos that seem to love pulling in front of trucks pulling 5th wheels. But to the Original OPs question if you stay 35 feet or so and 12K or less you will be just fine with the 2500. The bags are rated at 5000lbs and I dont care what anyone says they do make a difference even if not on the door sticker. I only need about 40lbs in them for my truck to sit perfectly level and its almost level with no air in them,,

Happy Hauling !

drittal · 08-01-2019, 08:07 PM

The Ram 2500 uses a coil spring rear suspension, whereas the 3500 use leaf. That’s the difference and where pushing the weights is more than “same truck with 2500 rated lower for tax purposes”.

It’s not about whether the powertrain can handle the weight...

Gloftis55 · 08-01-2019, 08:34 PM

We have a 2017 Ram 2500 megacab 4x4 diesel and we pull a 2014 Hemisphere Lite 356QBQ. We have had absolutely no problems or issues. The camper is 42ft w/4 slides, dry weight is roughly 12,000lb, loaded I'd guess around 14,000 - 15,000lbs. Our Ram has the rear air suspension system(factory) and we love it. Before this truck we had a 2015 2500 megacab RAM 4 x 4 diesel without the air suspension, had no issues with that truck either. Really smooth ride , plenty of power. We use the Anderson Ultimate Hitch (aluminum). Highly recommend the 6.7 Ram Trucks - It's hard to beat a Cummins. BTW ours is not a dually.

whjco · 08-01-2019, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thom125

I've heard stories about front of 5er hitting rear of cab because of short bed truck....

Recently we were at an RV dealer kicking tires and noticed that many of the fronts of 5vers had a warning notice to limit the turn radius due to clearance problems with crew cab, short bed pickups.

NMWildcat · 08-01-2019, 09:49 PM

Doesn't have anything to do crew cabs or cabs in general. It is the length of the bed and the location of the axle. 6.5' beds are now called 'standard' or 'regular' beds as there is a shorter bed available for some models.
We prefer 6.5' beds. No problems turning 90° with a Sidewinder type pinbox

Quote:

Originally Posted by whjco

Recently we were at an RV dealer kicking tires and noticed that many of the fronts of 5vers had a warning notice to limit the turn radius due to clearance problems with crew cab, short bed pickups.

WeLoveCampin · 08-01-2019, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thom125

I've heard stories about front of 5er hitting rear of cab because of short bed truck....

Length 36.67 ft. (440 in.)Width 8 ft. (96 in.)Height 13 ft. (156 in.)
Truck Bed Length (mm)8
WeightDry Weight 11,440 lbs.
Payload Capacity 4,674 lbs.
GVWR 16,173 lbs.

Hitch Weight 2,173 lbs.

fanrgs · 08-01-2019, 10:43 PM

See my signature below for details, but yes we have towed our Rockwood 5th wheel over 32,000 miles with our Ram 2500 CTD short bed crew cab.

tmsrlamb · 08-01-2019, 11:46 PM

We have a 2017 Ram 2500 HD diesel and pull a Cedar Creek 38CK2 it’s no problem, although we don’t go over 65 mph on the freeway. Hope this helps.

Scheinin · 08-02-2019, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARICE

Ram 3500 only if you want to have your colon beat out of you while driving. I own both a 2018 Ram 3500 and a 2017 Titan XD both Cummins powered. Obviously the I6 is the better engine but.....
I've pulled my Forest River Hemisphere GLX Fifth Wheel with both and I'll take the Nissan XD over the Ram for comfort and fuel economy any day of the week and I live, work, and travel in mine 8 months out of the year.
If the fifth wheel the OP is looking at is 12k or under I would stick with what he has.

I have a 2015 RAM 3500 dually pulling an 8 ton 5th wheel, and I find the RAM very comfortable.

Hawksclaw · 08-02-2019, 08:24 AM

I pull a 2014 Rockwood 8289ws with a 2012 Ram Laramie 2500 4x4 with 6.7 Cummins. No issues at all like it’s not even back behind me. I pulled it over an 8,000 ft pass into Jackson Wy and it was snowing exhaust brake kept it at 60 all the way down. I did tap the brakes a couple of times when s sharp curve was coming up. It wasn’t even breathing hard at the top of the pass love my Cummins.

rdownward · 08-02-2019, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlparris

We're pulling a Rockwood 2715VS Ultra-V with our 2018 Ram 2500 Longhorn (6.7L Cummins, A/T, Crew, 4x4 shortbed), and are wanting to move up to a fifth wheel for more room and storage and 4-seasons camping.

Anyone having satisfactory results with a Forest River 5-er and this tow vehicle?

Thanks!

Tom

2016 Crusader 297 RSK with Extreme Weather package works well so long as the weather isn't too extreme! We pull ours with a 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn 4x4 crew cab short bed with 6.7 diesel. We also have the Anderson hitch (LOVE IT and recommend it) and with this setup have never come close to hitting the cab in tight turns. We are extremely satisfied with this combination overall. But, if you are going to be in your RV in more extreme weather conditions both summer and winter, you will probably need to go to one of the more top of the line 5ers for the best extreme weather experience.

Dandebkee · 08-02-2019, 01:08 PM

We pull a Cardinal Explorer 322ds with a 2016 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummings short bed with Anderson hitch . Pulls and stops with ease.

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