Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-08-2014, 11:47 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 32
Towing With Ram 1500

Hi all! First time posting here. My wife and I have been discussing the possibilities of purchasing a fifth wheel to use when traveling next year. I've done quite a bit of reading here on the forums and I'm trying to digest as much info as possible. I'm pretty much a "newb" when it comes to fifth wheel towing and camping.

The current truck I have now is a 2013 Ram 1500 CC 4x4 5.7L HEMI w/8 speed transmission & short bed (5'7"). The axle ratio is 3.55 and is rated to tow 8600 lbs. The payload capacity is rated at 1166 lbs per the sticker on the inside of the driver's door.

We've been to two dealers so far and I wasn't overly impressed with their explanation of what my truck is capable of handling. I told them up front that I wanted to see the fifth wheels that my truck could handle and I would feel safe driving long distances with. Each salesperson showed me a few different models, one being the Rockwood 8289WS. The gentleman informed me that I would have to put air bags into my truck to help support the weight because of the coil suspension on the Ram trucks and I'd have to buy the special hitch because of the short bed of the pick up. Can my truck really handle this beast? I am EXTREMELY skeptical.

What do you guys think I should be looking at, as far as ideal weight goes, with the truck I'll be using to tow? I know I could always step up to a 2500, but I just bought the truck last summer and had no intentions of using it for towing. I absolutely love the ZF TorqueFlite 8 speed transmission, which is not offered with the 6.4L HEMI on the 2500's.

Any help, suggestions, pointers, etc is GREATLY appreciated! Like I mentioned earlier, we're in the infancy stages of researching fifth wheels and would like to hear opinions and thoughts from the experienced members here on the forum.

Thanks again!
The Crow 1994 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 02:14 AM   #2
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
i don't know what those dealers are thinking but they don't know much and should be avoided.
have you even looked at the specs for the 8289WS?

first, your truck has a really POOR payload amount.
second, the 8289WS's bogus "dry" hitch weight of 1337lbs., is already more than your 1166 number, which is rated with only a 150lb. driver in the truck. and that's with nothing in the 5th wheel.
second, your truck's poor towing rear end ratio of 3.55 is another problem.

this is why most 1/2 ton trucks can't tow most 5th wheels. not enough payload for the heavy hitch weights.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 02:32 AM   #3
Engineer of Crazy Train
 
ChooChooMan74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tiverton, RI
Posts: 1,585
I was looking into so calles "half ton towable" fifth wheels to possibly tow with a Ram 1500 3.0l diesel and gave up quickly when most pin weights are well over the Ram's payload. There may be a few tiny ones out there made by other companies, which may work for you. None had the bunks that I wanted.

As for a hitch, I like the Reese sidewinder hitch better than a slider, but that is just my opinion.

Good luck and be safe.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using the FRF mobile app.
__________________
TV - 2015 Ram Truck EcoDiesel
TV - 2006 Jeep Liberty Turbo Diesel (Retired to Daily Driver)
TT - 2015 Rockwood Roo 183 (SOLD due to 2 years off work)
Locomotive Engineer
Nights Camping --- 2015 - 19 Camped | Winterized -- 2014 -18
Come read my Camping Blogs
ChooChooMan74 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 05:21 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Oaklevel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,678
Welcome to the Forum.

As has been mentioned most 1/2 tons are not the best choice for fifth wheels. I had an 03 Dodge Hemi several years ago that I pulled a small 5th wheel short distances. It was probably over the trucks payload cap (because of the pin weight & cargo). The truck seemed to pull it fine on flat ground, & I did it for a while but figured out quickly that I was probably doing more harm than good to the truck.

And yes dealer are usually misinformed (trying to be nice) & rarely can tell you what a vehicle can actually tow. I have not found one yet that truly has a clue.

Good Luck on your search.

__________________

2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
Oaklevel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 05:29 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
davel1971's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Seaford, De
Posts: 2,377
before calculating payload from the king pin weight, you already need to add 250 lbs for the 5th wheel hitch that is part of your payload. That means there isn't a 5th wheel on the market for your truck.
__________________
David & Lynn
2014 Coachmen Chaparral Signature 327 RLKS
2016 Ford F350 Lariat CC Dually
davel1971 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 06:52 AM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
acadianbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,365
Payload capacity is your main concern. With 1,100 pounds to work with, I think you can pretty much forget about any kind of a 5th wheel.
__________________
https://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp297/acadianbob/IMG_2757.jpg
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
acadianbob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 07:16 AM   #7
Camper Less Camping
 
Cajun Po-Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NW
Posts: 3,642
Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan View Post
i don't know what those dealers are thinking but they don't know much and should be avoided.
have you even looked at the specs for the 8289WS?

first, your truck has a really POOR payload amount.
second, the 8289WS's bogus "dry" hitch weight of 1337lbs., is already more than your 1166 number, which is rated with only a 150lb. driver in the truck. and that's with nothing in the 5th wheel.
second, your truck's poor towing rear end ratio of 3.55 is another problem.

this is why most 1/2 ton trucks can't tow most 5th wheels. not enough payload for the heavy hitch weights.
X2!!!

Look at smaller TT'S or trade up for bigger truck if you must have a fifth wheel



__________________
2013 Sabre 32RCTS-6 (sold)
Family of 4 whose always on the GEAUX!
Cajun Po-Boy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 07:27 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
another_newfie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 684
Sorry, but the reality is more truck or a TT. Don't look at this as negative though. Have you even looked at TT? There are many many many many floorplans out there.
__________________
2015 F-350 SRW 6.7 PSD
2014 Crusader 295RST

1 Fantastic DW
1 Amazing DD
1 Beagle that will be missed (RIP Zeus)
another_newfie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 09:02 AM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 32
Awesome guys. Thanks so much for the informative replies. Not the answers I was hoping for, but I had a feeling these salespeople were clueless. That's exactly why I decided to post here where the real professionals could tell me what my truck could and couldn't handle.

Yes. We've looked at TT's and found a few floorplans that would work for us. It's going to be just my wife and I traveling, along with our four dogs (3 bulldogs and a morkie).

So, if I stepped up to the Ram 2500, would the 3/4 ton truck handle the Rockwood 8289WS?

If I decide to keep my 1/2 ton truck, what are some options out there in the TT lines that would work with the limitations of my truck?

Thanks so much for the info!
The Crow 1994 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 09:05 AM   #10
WFD
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,947
Our first 5th wheel was purchased 3 yrs ago..it was about as small and as light a 5th we could find. We towed it with a Ford F150 that had approx 200lbs more payload than your Dodge has and had a rear end ratio of 3.73. We towed it, but it was maxed. We upgraded after that first summer to a 3/4 ton truck....we have since purchased an 8289WS like you looked at....I would never have thought of pulling that trailer with the F150 we had.
It blows my mind that dealers so easily state that the 8289 is 1/2 ton towable...do your own homework and dont rely on the dealers.
Now having said that there are some 8289 owners on this forum that are towing with Ford Ecoboost 1/2 tons...but they will tell you that their trucks were special order Heavy Duty Tow package 1/2's that have increased tow capacity, improved suspension, increased payload and likely a 4.10 rear end ratio...so like I say, do your research...maybe some of them will step in and shed more light...but one thing for sure....the current truck you have is not suitable for a 5th...but there are many TT out there that will work just fine for you.

Rick
WFD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 09:12 AM   #11
WFD
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,947
The Ram 2500 will absolutely handle the 8289WS. Just f.y.i...after picking up our 5th from the dealer...so none of our "stuff" was in there yet...which I guess you could call the "dry" weight...I went straight to a CAT scale and weighed it, since I wanted to know the true dry weight...not the sticker or brochure weights...and my pin weight, "dry", is exactly 1400 lbs.

Rick
WFD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:05 AM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 32
Thanks Rick for the info.

I think my wife and I will go look at TT's today and see if those floor plans would work for us. From all that I've read and have been told, towing a 5th wheel is easier and feels more under control. Is that a fair statement?

The bad thing about upgrading my truck is Ram discontinued the Copperhead Pearlcoat color for 2014, and that's one of the main reasons why I bought the truck I did. Also, like I mentioned earlier, the 8 speed tranny in the 1500 is a thing of beauty. It's the smoothest shifting transmission I've ever driven and it's always in the power band.

Decisions...decisions...
The Crow 1994 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:08 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
another_newfie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 684
Quote:
Originally Posted by WFD View Post
Now having said that there are some 8289 owners on this forum that are towing with Ford Ecoboost 1/2 tons...but they will tell you that their trucks were special order Heavy Duty Tow package 1/2's that have increased tow capacity, improved suspension, increased payload and likely a 4.10 rear end ratio
3.73 Rear end in my F-150HD. 2177 payload for reference.
__________________
2015 F-350 SRW 6.7 PSD
2014 Crusader 295RST

1 Fantastic DW
1 Amazing DD
1 Beagle that will be missed (RIP Zeus)
another_newfie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:16 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
avolnek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 630
Quote:
Originally Posted by davel1971 View Post
before calculating payload from the king pin weight, you already need to add 250 lbs for the 5th wheel hitch that is part of your payload. That means there isn't a 5th wheel on the market for your truck.

I hate being a downer for you but I am with Dave on this!

you figure at least the 250 pounds for the hitch itself in the bed of the truck. Then another 200 pounds per passenger. Assume you have 3 other passengers at another 600 pounds. Right there you would be 850 pounds of your 1100 pound pay load... just not a wise way to go...

Another thing, you wont like the 3.55 gearing for towing anything! I would also assume the 8 speed trans would be awfully busy shifting up and down while towing, also not smart, as shifting creates heat...

So like I said, hate to be a downer, but a heavier duty truck is almost a must for you...
__________________

TV- 2015 Ram 2500 CCLB 6.7 Cummins 3.42 gears
Camper - 2015 Saber 322BHTS
avolnek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:20 AM   #15
Camper Less Camping
 
Cajun Po-Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NW
Posts: 3,642
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Crow 1994 View Post
Thanks Rick for the info.



I think my wife and I will go look at TT's today and see if those floor plans would work for us. From all that I've read and have been told, towing a 5th wheel is easier and feels more under control. Is that a fair statement?



The bad thing about upgrading my truck is Ram discontinued the Copperhead Pearlcoat color for 2014, and that's one of the main reasons why I bought the truck I did. Also, like I mentioned earlier, the 8 speed tranny in the 1500 is a thing of beauty. It's the smoothest shifting transmission I've ever driven and it's always in the power band.



Decisions...decisions...

Indeed a fifth wheel is so much smoother towing than a TT...IMO, reason for so many people quickly moving up from a TT to 5'ver as there are plenty of great TT floor plans that can rival a lot of fifth wheels BUT can't replace the tow experience of a 5'ver



__________________
2013 Sabre 32RCTS-6 (sold)
Family of 4 whose always on the GEAUX!
Cajun Po-Boy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:28 AM   #16
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
They say I can't tow a Flagstaff 8528RKWS with my 1/2 T & 3.23 gears, but I have and do with no problems. Have air bags and LR E tires. Don't win drag races, but I can tow at 60-65 with no problem. In the Smokeys, Appalachians and Ozark mountains, I just get over in the truck lane and go with the flow. You don't have to run the speed limit in the mountains or hills, the semi's sure don't.

Will it load your truck, you betcha, will it tear your truck up, very doubtful. I've towed over 60,000 miles with mine and never had a problem.
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:32 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
SKnight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,428
I'll walk with the crowd here, that's a bit too much. A few hundred over payload isn't a big deal to me, but pushing 1000 over isn't wise. Will it be ok? I doubt that you'll lose a wheel and careen through a school or something, but the towing experience will be more stressful than you can imagine. Wallowing all over the road, probably questionable braking, the trans will likely be busy as all getout.

Any modern 2500 will pull the vast majority of 5ers out there and will be a much more pleasurable experience as well.
__________________
Now-2014 Sierra 346RETS 5er BUB
Then-2002 Keystone Springdale 286RLDS TT

Nights camped in 2014-28, 2015-127, 2016-10
SKnight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:33 AM   #18
Mddle of the Rd Extremist
 
MeepMeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 553
Having gone from a 2012 RAM 5.7L CC short bed pulling a Flagstaff Ultra-lite 5er, I can tell you from first hand experience that it is VERY uncomfortable always having to worry if that pack of burger buns put you over the weight limit. There's also an axiom that your first RV is not your last...couple that with "you can never have TOO much truck" and you'll get where all this is going

If you get the bigger truck, a whole world of 5th wheel options opens for you - otherwise, you'll spend all your time trying to match an RV to your current TV instead of camping

Good luck with your hunt!! and let us know what you bought (with pix of course)
__________________
Dan, Carolyn & The Bandit (1999-2015 RIP...)
MCPO (Retired)
United States Navy ('65 - '87)
2014 Cedar Creek 38FL
2013 RAM 3500 6.7L diesel DRW Crew Cab
"When you get to the fork in the road, take it....."
MeepMeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 10:52 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
EricInColorado's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 258
(Since everyone is steering your towards a TT)

A TT is really quite nice to pull, especially with all the awesome WD and Sway Control devices out there. The expensive 5er hitch and air bags you won't need to buy will allow you to buy a really nice hitch setup for your TT.
__________________
Eric, Tara, and most of China
2013 Camping Nights: 2
2014 Camping nights: 31
TT 2014 Rockwood Roo 183
TV 2012 Nissan Armada
EricInColorado is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 11:08 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
ryand's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Metro St. Louis Area
Posts: 1,248
I have a Ram 1500 with the 3.92 gears and 17" wheels....rated to tow 10,500. It does good with my 7k loaded TT but my Payload is near capacity with my particular set up. I have seen guys tow 5'ers with the new Rams, but i could not imagine what a stressful trip those would be.
__________________
2019 SOB Bunkhouse (Former Coachman FR Owner)
2015 Ram Bighorn 2500 6.4L
https://www.ryandethrow.wordpress.com
Nights Camped 2016: 32
ryand is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
500, towing

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:42 AM.