anyone pulling fifth wheel with ram 2500?

[craignhouston]

I was wondering if anyone is pulling 5th wheel with ram 2500 diesel. If so, what model?
In the spring we bought a travel trailer where the dealer swore we could pull with my old ram 1500..... he was wrong. Now after experiencing the great fun of camping, i am considering trading travel trailer for a 5th wheel but don't want to have to upgrade truck to 3500.

[Flagstaffer06]

You can find many fifth wheels that a 2500 diesel would tell very well. What year Ram do you have? Do you know the payload and towing capacity? That will help you determine some pin weight numbers and also your towing capacity. You'll hit the payload first.

[Ford Idaho]

What are the odds that you will never buy a bigger trailer than the one you have now?



Are you sure?



Get the one ton they are not that much more than the 3/4.

[GmanHawaii]

I tow with 2500. only difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton are the overload springs. You can buy a set of airbags online for 354.00 that will do the same thing as overload springs, difference is when you do not have a load or pulling a trailer you can let some air out of the bags for better ride, overload springs will still ride like S when empty.

You can also install a Smarty or Edge tuner that will give you all the power you could possibly want.

[jtstromsburg]

Appears you have the ram 2500 already. I pulled a 40' 13K lb + fiver for two years with a gas burner f250 and the only problem was due to ice. I now pull the same model camper with a 1T drw and can really tell a difference, but the 3/4t was fine.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by craignhouston

...but don't want to have to upgrade truck to 3500.

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

... Get the one ton they are not that much more than the 3/4.

I think OP explained that in his post.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by GmanHawaii

I tow with 2500. only difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton are the overload springs. You can buy a set of airbags online for 354.00 that will do the same thing as overload springs, difference is when you do not have a load or pulling a trailer you can let some air out of the bags for better ride, overload springs will still ride like S when empty.

You can also install a Smarty or Edge tuner that will give you all the power you could possibly want.

very, very wrong. The springs with a 1 ton add MUCH more payload. Air bags DO NOT add payload. My 1 ton rides better than my 3/4 ton I had. The overload springs do not effect the empty ride what so ever because they aren't touching anything.

[mud yapster]

My new Ram 3500 dually Crew Cab Long Bed 4x4 with 6.7L rides smooth empty or loaded and pulls my 18k 5er and get 11.5 mpg on rolling hills. Aisin tranny and 3.73 axle gives it 33,200 GVWR and if you get that set up with a 4.10 axle it's rated at 37,800 GVWR. But to get those ratings you need the Aisin tranny. Can't go wrong with Ram or Ford diesels. I almost can't tell my 18k 5th wheel is back there and the engine brake is excellent.

[asquared]

Do you have a ram 2500 now? If so, provide more info on it do we can help you (year, payload, GVWR, GCWR, RGAWR, etc). If you don't have the 2500 yet, I also suggest just getting the 3500. My 3500 rides just as good as my old f250, maybe even smoother and has more than double the payload capacity as well as better fuel mileage. Towing down up and down a 4.5 mile 8% grade this weekend with a 12000 lb fiver, I was quite happy with my truck choice.

[GmanHawaii]

Originally Posted by davel1971

very, very wrong. The springs with a 1 ton add MUCH more payload. Air bags DO NOT add payload. My 1 ton rides better than my 3/4 ton I had. The overload springs do not effect the empty ride what so ever because they aren't touching anything.

B.S. the trucks are Identical, same engine, same trans, same rear end same springs. Call dodge yourself, don't take my word for it, they'll tell you the same if you want to make your truck a one ton add the overload springs.

As far as airbags increasing payload your wrong. Research it for yourself.

[GmanHawaii]

And the over load springs do effect the ride because though the truck is not loaded to the point that the ends touch, the middle is still part of the stack of springs.

[Taranwanderer]

I'm pulling my 5-er, around 12k, with no major issues (except that the stock clutch is going to have a short life and will need to be replaced with a South Bend soon.). I put the whole rig on the scale at my local stone quarry last month, nothing in the garage but with a full load of water: 19,400 pounds. The truck had its axles swapped to 4:10 ratio (that was never available from the factory with the manual transmission,) so my unloaded mileage isn't great, but it tows well. Good luck!

[SKnight]

I am, and so far it's been no issue.

If you don't have a 3/4 ton already do shop for the 1 ton trucks also. There's no denying that there's a difference in stability, but if you already have a 3/4 ton then roll with it, just keep the weight ratings in mind.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by GmanHawaii

B.S. the trucks are Identical, same engine, same trans, same rear end same springs. Call dodge yourself, don't take my word for it, they'll tell you the same if you want to make your truck a one ton add the overload springs.

As far as airbags increasing payload your wrong. Research it for yourself.

I didn't say there were any other differences in the 2 trucks, we are talking about springs. Rear springs is the only difference in a 3/4 ton and single wheel 1 ton. We agree on that but yet you are trying to school me on trucks. I've been to the websites of air bag manufactures, and they say themselves that they are for stability and ride control only, and not to increase payload.

[arpipeliner]

2008 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4. The motor is heavy. The first time you get the motor down hill and need to back up on something slippery you will be wanting the 4WD.

Pull 2010 silverback 29RE. Put air bags on truck as I have a 100 gallon drag up tank. 5ver is just under 35'.


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[davel1971]

from the Airlift website:

Q. Will adding air springs increase the Weight Rating of my vehicle?

A. No. Adding air springs will not change the Weight Rating (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR) of your vehicle. Our air springs simply increase your suspension’s ability to support heavy loads. We strongly recommend that you never exceed your vehicle’s Weight Ratings. Exceeding your vehicle’s rating is dangerous and will void your Air Lift warranty.

[Pipeman]

What Davel1971 said ^

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by GmanHawaii

B.S. the trucks are Identical, same engine, same trans, same rear end same springs.

Wow on that statement. The 2500 Ram trucks I have been looking have those coily things over the rear axle, and the 3500s have those long flat thingys over the rear axle. That doesn't appear to be the same for this ol' boy.

[donniedu]

So, by your own admission you bought too much trailer for your truck. Now you want to do the same thing again? I dont understand your logic of buying a bately adequate tool for the job at hand. 2500 series trucks can handle a fiver, as long as you keep it under about 10,000 GVWR. Meaning a fifth wheel in the range of 25 feet. Not knowing how big any future trailer purchases might be quit playing the buying game and get the right truck the first, second in your case place.

[mud yapster]

A 3/4 ton Ram had coil springs and a 1 Ton Ram has leaf springs. The 1 Ton still rides smooth unloaded.