New 2500 6.4 or ????

[ryand]

Originally Posted by earlbalentine

I'm hoping that a truck bed has room for a generator along side the 5th wheel hitch?
Does anybody carry a generator in the bed with the 5th wheel hitch?

Many do. Especially simple with the Honda/Yamaha Twins.

[jeepman71]

I carry two Yamaha generators. I usually put them in the back between the tailgate and the hitch.

[MacDR]

I don't carry generator but I do put a Coleman 30 quart cooler in front of my slider..I have the quad cab with the 6.4 box


Greetings from Wisconsin

[ryand]

Well....brought this bad boy home today. First thoughts are: this thing is tall!!!! Need a step ladder to get in.


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[ENE]

I notice that some of the new RAM trucks have a bed that is 5th wheel prep.
What does this do for you? The holes are already predrilled I guess?

[ENE]

It looks like I might be priced out of getting a 2015 Ram 2500 with the 6.7 Cummins Diesel Engine, it's like a $7k bump up in cost. I think I will have to settle for the gas 6.4 Hemi engine. I hope the gas engine will pull/stop my new 30ft 5th wheel 12k gvw?
Maybe I will have to switch to the Chevy 2500 drama engine, seems to be a little cheaper than the Ram? I'm totally confused now don't know what to do.

[MacDR]

I know you can get a fifth where package from Ram and it includes the 7point receptical mounted in the bed.


Greetings from Wisconsin

[ryand]

Tow numbers with the 4.10 and 6.4l are something like 15k and 3k payload. The hemi actually has a higher payload because of the less weight up front. This is an advantage in my book.

5th wheel prep has the "pucks" in the bed and a factory goose neck hitch plus trailer connector in bed already.


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[ENE]

My new trailer is going to be 10k gvw or 12k gvw depending on which one I buy.
I don't think I can get by with the RAM 1500 ecodiesel truck which would save me some money.

[ryand]

Typical 1/2 ton of the mopar variety won't likely cut it. You might squeak by with a 2wd quad cab....possibly but not likely.


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[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by ryand

Well....brought this bad boy home today. First thoughts are: this thing is tall!!!! Need a step ladder to get in.


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Ours came with Factory installed Side step bars... I am 6ft 4 and use them. We also keep a folding step under the seats in back in case the DW has to get anything out of the bed.

[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by earlbalentine

I notice that some of the new RAM trucks have a bed that is 5th wheel prep.
What does this do for you? The holes are already predrilled I guess?

Yes, and if you have a the sprayed in bed liner which is very nice, it has screw in's to protect the threads. Additionally there is a 7 pin plug on the driver side about a foot from the tailgate in the bed for hooking up

[KenHwy61]

Originally Posted by earlbalentine

My new trailer is going to be 10k gvw or 12k gvw depending on which one I buy.
I don't think I can get by with the RAM 1500 ecodiesel truck which would save me some money.

Do yourself a favor and get a 2500. I just watched a new Chevy 1500 with a 30 ft tt get pushed all over the road due to gusty winds. He was only able to go 45 mph in a 70 zone creating a second problem of going too slow on an interstate. The trailer was too much for the truck in those conditions. Tow ratings basically mean what the truck can handle without breaking. They don't really take into account much else. Today's 1/2 ton are very capable but they do not have the mass of a HD pick-up. This mass is especially important when a long, tall, heavy wind sail like a travel trailer.

[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by KenHwy61

Do yourself a favor and get a 2500. I just watched a new Chevy 1500 with a 30 ft tt get pushed all over the road due to gusty winds. He was only able to go 45 mph in a 70 zone creating a second problem of going too slow on an interstate. The trailer was too much for the truck in those conditions. Tow ratings basically mean what the truck can handle without breaking. They don't really take into account much else. Today's 1/2 ton are very capable but they do not have the mass of a HD pick-up. This mass is especially important when a long, tall, heavy wind sail like a travel trailer.

Don't let the Tail Wag the dog

[ryand]

Truck has just over 500 miles and as luck would have it we are heading out this weekend. Just finished my tow test and to say that I was shocked was an understatement.

Stats: last weigh in was 6900 lbs. since I have added a second battery and a few more thing so assume 7100# trailer. It's tounge heavy and based on last weigh I would guess 900.

First off....the whole Xtra large receiver threw me for a loop until I found the sleeve under the seat. A very quick lesson was also learned regarding the diff. Of ram 1/2 ton springs and 3/4 ton. This thing barely gave up 1.5 inches without hooking the bars up! Solid as a rock. My old ram would have had the receiver in the dirt without the w/d bars hooked. Did a 7 mile tow test on the highway acceleration under medium throttle we were up to 60 by the time it was time to merge. With tow haul on, cruising at 62 mph is just a tick over 2k Rpms and in 5th gear. Quiet. Shockingly quiet. Same route with the 1500 it was working hard and you heard it. We were in 4th gear the majority of the time over 3k Rpms just to maintain 65. The other take away is the stopping power. All in all it is night and day over my old truck. The whole rig seems more settled and stable. I will need to adjust the WD bars as they are putting much less force back into the truck and the trailer is just a tad nose high but otherwise we are going to give it a go. My 1/2 ton got the job done for 4 years and never let us down but we were overloaded. I can put 1k of gear in the bed and fill it full of people and hit the road. It's a good feeling knowing we are just a little safer now.

Not really having a good judge of mpg yet, but would assume it will be a bit better than the 1500 and if I can see 9-10mpg wile towing I'm happy.

Oh and trailer tow mirrors are awesome.


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[avolnek]

Originally Posted by ryand

Truck has just over 500 miles and as luck would have it we are heading out this weekend. Just finished my tow test and to say that I was shocked was an understatement.

Stats: last weigh in was 6900 lbs. since I have added a second battery and a few more thing so assume 7100# trailer. It's tounge heavy and based on last weigh I would guess 900.

First off....the whole Xtra large receiver threw me for a loop until I found the sleeve under the seat. A very quick lesson was also learned regarding the diff. Of ram 1/2 ton springs and 3/4 ton. This thing barely gave up 1.5 inches without hooking the bars up! Solid as a rock. My old ram would have had the receiver in the dirt without the w/d bars hooked. Did a 7 mile tow test on the highway acceleration under medium throttle we were up to 60 by the time it was time to merge. With tow haul on, cruising at 62 mph is just a tick over 2k Rpms and in 5th gear. Quiet. Shockingly quiet. Same route with the 1500 it was working hard and you heard it. We were in 4th gear the majority of the time over 3k Rpms just to maintain 65. The other take away is the stopping power. All in all it is night and day over my old truck. The whole rig seems more settled and stable. I will need to adjust the WD bars as they are putting much less force back into the truck and the trailer is just a tad nose high but otherwise we are going to give it a go. My 1/2 ton got the job done for 4 years and never let us down but we were overloaded. I can put 1k of gear in the bed and fill it full of people and hit the road. It's a good feeling knowing we are just a little safer now.

Not really having a good judge of mpg yet, but would assume it will be a bit better than the 1500 and if I can see 9-10mpg wile towing I'm happy.

Oh and trailer tow mirrors are awesome.


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For that weight of trailer you are really going to enjoy that truck! You will/should also see that 9-10 mpg towing you are hoping.

My 6.4 hemi was getting 9 running in 4th and 5th gear for the most part on the highway. I was pulling an 8,000 37' bumper pull at that point and had no troubles.

I then stepped up the the fifth wheel at 12,000 pounds and the hemi really began to drink the fuel... still had plenty of power to pull it but a bit thirsty...

[ryand]

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[MacDR]

Congrats...you will enjoy the Truck.. Let's us know how the tow mileage goes after your break in.. With the Cummins and 6 speed Aison transmission I do about 13 at 65 mph.. But as they say you Can buy a lot of fuel for the price of a Cummins


Greetings from Wisconsin

[CWSWine]

When I had my Chevy 1500 TT I towed what I thought was great but traded my 1500 for a Chevy 2500hd Diesel and had the experience as you did. Decided to trade for 5er and sold my WD hitch to friend before trading it in. I wasn't looking forward to the 80 mile drive to bring it to the dealer after getting pushed all over road with 1500 With OUT the WD hitch. To my surprise the 2500HD with OUT WD hitch towed great and even big trucks didn't push me around on a two lane road. Huge difference between towing with 1500 and 2500 and I'm sure a big part of it is a 1500 weights around 4500 lbs and the 2500hd diesel weights close to 8000 lbs.

[SuicideSaints]

There is no going wrong with a 2500 for that size trailer. Night and day difference and I am glad you see it now. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to feel the difference between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton! I am still partial to the 6.7 but that is a beautiful truck!