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Old 05-07-2016, 07:18 PM   #41
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I've been basing my calculations on the GVWR of the 5ers.
If your calculations are based on GW then things usually get better in the real world.
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Old 05-07-2016, 07:19 PM   #42
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I've been basing my calculations on the GVWR of the 5ers.
Do you have your heart set a Dodge TV? Other types may give you more gcvw. Just looking for your solution.
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Old 05-07-2016, 07:27 PM   #43
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Do you have your heart set a Dodge TV? Other types may give you more gcvw. Just looking for your solution.


Thanks. I am. I want the megacab
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Old 05-07-2016, 08:14 PM   #44
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Trailer Life.com has all the information you need to set up your tow vehicle. You can download and print off worksheets to calculate the safe towing parameters for your truck. The axel ratings(printed on a sticker inside the drivers door) and a local truck scale are your best friends. Do the homework, try to stay in the 80% of factory ratings; yes, you can go over, but when you are pulling a long incline; you will be glad you did. Enjoy the ride.
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Old 05-07-2016, 08:16 PM   #45
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I'd be willing to go a tad over on payload, but tow weight it pretty flexible. As an example. In a Ram 3500 DRW, max tow is around 17k with 3.42 gears, and 31k with 4.10 gears. 3.73 is in the middle somewhere. There's no difference other than the gearing. A SRW is also 17k with 3.42 gears, and my 2500 is 17k with 3.42 gears. I just know that with 3.42 gears, I wouldn't want to tow much more than 17k, because the truck will struggle in the hills.

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Originally Posted by pprice01 View Post
I also learned that the 2500 shares the same frame as the 3500, and the only differences in the 3500 were the Leaf Springs and the optional Aisin Transmission. These give the 3500 additional payload for hauling a bed full of dirt, etc. and the Transmission allows for an increase in HP by 30 or so.

The only difference in towing capability was that the 3500 can tow 110 more pounds, yes, 110!
A couple corrections there. My '13 2500 has leafs. The '14 went to coils in the back, and that reduces payload. 2500 only shares the same frame in the '14 and up. The Aisin transmission is optional in the 3500, and adds 35 HP and 100 lb ft of torque, for a total of 900 lb ft. Again, the reason max tow is ~17k in most trucks, is because of the 3.42 gears. But from what I understand the Aisin has lower 1-3 gears, since it's made to tow.
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Old 05-07-2016, 08:33 PM   #46
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I'd be willing to go a tad over on payload, but tow weight it pretty flexible. As an example. In a Ram 3500 DRW, max tow is around 17k with 3.42 gears, and 31k with 4.10 gears. 3.73 is in the middle somewhere. There's no difference other than the gearing. A SRW is also 17k with 3.42 gears, and my 2500 is 17k with 3.42 gears. I just know that with 3.42 gears, I wouldn't want to tow much more than 17k, because the truck will struggle in the hills.







A couple corrections there. My '13 2500 has leafs. The '14 went to coils in the back, and that reduces payload. 2500 only shares the same frame in the '14 and up. The Aisin transmission is optional in the 3500, and adds 35 HP and 100 lb ft of torque, for a total of 900 lb ft. Again, the reason max tow is ~17k in most trucks, is because of the 3.42 gears. But from what I understand the Aisin has lower 1-3 gears, since it's made to tow.


Thanks bitNine. I am basing this on the '14 models, which is what I am looking at (aka afford).

What are you towing with your 2500?
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Old 05-07-2016, 08:49 PM   #47
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If you're looking at '14 models IIRC the mega cab was only available in the 3500 series. You may have already seen this but here's a pretty good chart (published by Ram) showing all the weight/towing capacities of the '14 3500 MegaCab.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/tow...wing.Specs.pdf
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Old 05-07-2016, 09:02 PM   #48
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They do have the megacab in '14. I used that chart for all of my analysis.


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Old 05-07-2016, 09:13 PM   #49
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You should have tried for a fourth salesman. Diesel trucks have very high tow ratings, but lot's of trucks run out of payload before ever reaching it. Forget about dirt and continue to keep concentrating on pin weight. You are on the right path.


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Old 05-07-2016, 09:21 PM   #50
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The 3500 has more payload, but that's about it.


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Old 05-07-2016, 09:25 PM   #51
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They do have the megacab in '14. I used that chart for all of my analysis.


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I stand corrected...now I know the MegaCab 2500 was available in '14. But, looking at the 2500 MCab towing specs and payload you are going to be very limited on what trailer you can pull. Gas powered models have low trailer capacity and diesel models have low payloads.
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Old 05-07-2016, 09:29 PM   #52
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I stand corrected...now I know the MegaCab 2500 was available in '14. But, looking at the 2500 MCab towing specs and payload you are going to be very limited on what trailer you can pull. Gas powered models have low trailer capacity and diesel models have low payloads.


Yeah, but the GAWR is still just as high. Can't stack a bunch of stuff all over the bed, but you can attach a heavy 5er directly to the frame via the hitch.
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Old 05-08-2016, 12:50 AM   #53
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All mfg the UVW as published in their guides do not include weight of options. For instance, I had mine built with electric level system, bike rack, 3 slide out covers and upgraded refrigerator. To that were added propane and battery. This added a few hundred pounds to the UVW. You can still populate your spreadsheet but do web searches for the models you want and look for those that have your options. Many times the web dealers have pics of the yellow weight sticker which shows the real off the factory floor weight.
Full Propane has been required in published pin weights since 2007.
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Old 05-08-2016, 06:38 AM   #54
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Yeah, but the GAWR is still just as high. Can't stack a bunch of stuff all over the bed, but you can attach a heavy 5er directly to the frame via the hitch.
the heavy 5th wheel is "all over the bed", and counts for payload the same way anything is bed does. Mega cab is not for mega towing, it's for mega people.
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Old 05-08-2016, 09:56 AM   #55
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What % of max towing capacity are you comfortable with in a 5er?

I am towing at max GVWR but below max GAWR and below GCWR. Tows great and I'm not worried about a thing with my truck. Because well it's a tundra and it towed the space shuttle. Haha ok that has nothing to do with it.
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Old 05-08-2016, 10:28 AM   #56
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3500 or 2500 truck for my application

I recently purchased a Columbus 340 RK that has a pin weight of 2092 lbs. But I had a stackable washer and dryer installed that adds about 225 lbs to the front of coach. The UVW is listed at 11910 and a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. Would someone comment on what I could safely tow this unit with, ie 3/4 ton ram or a 3500 srw or dually. Thank you for any input...John
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Old 05-08-2016, 12:40 PM   #57
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Can you tow it with a 3/4 Ram diesel? Sure. But you will be over the payload rating before you put anything in the fiver or seat yourself in the truck. If this seems important to you get a 3500.


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Old 05-08-2016, 01:15 PM   #58
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I recently purchased a Columbus 340 RK that has a pin weight of 2092 lbs. But I had a stackable washer and dryer installed that adds about 225 lbs to the front of coach. The UVW is listed at 11910 and a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. Would someone comment on what I could safely tow this unit with, ie 3/4 ton ram or a 3500 srw or dually. Thank you for any input...John
Many F250 gassers will have sufficient payload. My f250 XLT diesel is pulling a scale pin weight loaded for snowbird months just under 2000. I also have the 10,000# package. Nothing but 2 of us and a couple sodas in the truck so we are still under payload. Start with the fancy stuff and maybe not. Even the Lariat package adds about 300# which would put it only about 100# under payload. Since everything else is way under max if I'm 200 - 400# over payload it would not bother me but the weight police would have a heart attack. On the F series the only difference between 250 and 350 is an extra spring leaf.
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Old 05-08-2016, 01:35 PM   #59
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for the 2014 Ram that I'm researching, there is only a 500 pound increase in the GAWR for the 3500 over the 2500.

How much of a difference does adding airbags to the 2500 make? Anyone doing this setup (2500 + airbags)? If so, what are you towing and how do you feel about it?

Thanks,

Paul
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Old 05-08-2016, 02:19 PM   #60
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for the 2014 Ram that I'm researching, there is only a 500 pound increase in the GAWR for the 3500 over the 2500.

How much of a difference does adding airbags to the 2500 make? Anyone doing this setup (2500 + airbags)? If so, what are you towing and how do you feel about it?

Thanks,

Paul
Adding airbags does nothing for increasing payload or towing capacity.
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