Why Is It So Complicated

[Chillbilly]

I have a 2014 Dodge Quad Cab 4x2, with 6'4" bed, 5.7L Hemi, 5-speed transmission, and 3.92 axle. I weigh 180 pounds and my wife weighs 150 pounds and the 5th wheel hitch receiver installed in the bed weighs 120 pounds. There is no other cargo carried in the truck. The door sticker specifies FGAWR 3700, RGAWR 3900, and GVWR 6800. If anyone knows how to figure out what I can tow in a 5th wheel and what the maximum pin weight can be, I surely would appreciate the help.

[woodsman]

A Great place to start is VIN Decoder @ North American Motoring. The basics to tow safe. All the data on the truck, before mods, can be found.

[The_Rhino]

If you go to the RAM website, you can enter your VIN & the website will show your specific truck's tow rating. Ram Trucks - Towing Capacity Chart

Your 2014 likely has a payload around 4,000 lbs. & a tow rating of 11,400 lbs. plus (1) 150 lb. driver. To figure what you can actually tow - max, subtract the weight of the hitch, wife, how much you weigh over 150, & anything else you are hauling in the truck bed or cab. Although technically you could tow something in the 10,750 lb. range (loaded with gear), I would not want to tow over 8,500 lbs. with the 5.7/3.92 combo.

My TT is 7,500 loaded with gear & there are 5 of us in the cab. I'm comfortable with the weights at both highway speeds & steep inclines but I would not want to add another 1,000 lbs. I traveled between campsites with full tanks (about 750 lbs. extra), just as a test, and I could really tell the difference on hills & this is with a TT, not a 5er that creates more wind resistance...

[ChooChooMan74]

Sounds like you have a Ram Truck 1500. I don't believe Ram Trucks makes Quad Cabs in the HD models any longer (I could be wrong). The 1500s have poor payload ratings. But, I am in yhe market for one myself, with the 3.0 VM A630 diesel engine.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by The_Rhino

Your 2014 likely has a payload around 4,000 lbs. & a tow rating of 11,400 lbs. plus (1) 150 lb. driver. To figure what you can actually tow - max, subtract the weight of the hitch, wife, how much you weigh over 150, & anything else you are hauling in the truck bed or cab. Although technically you could tow something in the 10,750 lb. range (loaded with gear), I would not want to tow over 8,500 lbs. with the 5.7/3.92 combo.

With a 6800# GVWR, I doubt he has 4000# payload. Would mean the truck weighs 2800#. Payload more likely around 1200#, but I'm just guessing. Don't think this truck is even in 5er territory.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

With a 6800# GVWR, I doubt he has 4000# payload. Would mean the truck weighs 2800#. Payload more likely around 1200#, but I'm just guessing. Don't think this truck is even in 5er territory.

I agree.

My 3/4 ton
Gvwr 9200#
Payload 2448#

[campingwilliamsons]

Door jamb will have a yellow sticker with an available payload rating. Take that number and subtract you, your wife and your cargo weights. Take the remaining number and divide by 0.15 and you will have a good idea of your maximum loaded trailer weight.

Example: Payload 1200lbs
1200-120-180-150-100 (misc stuff) = 650lbs remaining payload (this would be pin weight, or hitch weight). 650/0.15 = 4,333 lbs max LOADED trailer weight

[The_Rhino]

Oops... I missed the GVWR 6800 which means it's a 1500...

Although Keystone advertises the Cougar X-Lite 5ers as being "1/2 ton towable" personally I would not make it a regular habit. (Maybe just to move it to a permanent campsite, etc....) Even if you can legally tow your empty trailer with your mostly empty truck, how can you enjoy camping without all of the stuff that makes camping fun?

Before we bought our own TT, we borrowed my uncle's heavy 5th wheel pulled by a 3500 dullie. Our PT Tracer has a LOT more space inside but only weighs 6,500 empty with a hitch weight of 700 lbs. Technically we could tow our TT with a properly configured 1500 but it would make for a stressful trip. So IMO once you get past 7,000 you need a 2500 to be safe.

For instance, on a recent trip into the steep hills of S. Ohio, my 2500 brakes were very hot by the time we got to our campsite. I can't imagine driving the same roads with the same 7,500 lb. TT (loaded) with only a 1500. My 2500 has the same 5.7 Hemi & 3.92 gear ratio as some of the 1500s but its the heavy duty springs in the back, E rated tires, etc. that keep everything in place on steep corners.

[whj77372]

My 2012 V-Cross fiver is said to be 1/2 ton towable. It shouldn't be done due to the pin weight. It would be over weight on the pickup without any thing else in the truck. I tow it with an F250 diesel CC longbed.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by campingwilliamsons

Door jamb will have a yellow sticker with an available payload rating. Take that number and subtract you, your wife and your cargo weights. Take the remaining number and divide by 0.15 and you will have a good idea of your maximum loaded trailer weight.

Example: Payload 1200lbs
1200-120-180-150-100 (misc stuff) = 650lbs remaining payload (this would be pin weight, or hitch weight). 650/0.15 = 4,333 lbs max LOADED trailer weight

Dividing by 0.15 is a 15% pin ratio; which is the lightest safe pin weight. It does give you a much heavier trailer though.

The generally accepted safe range of pin loading for 5th wheel campers is 15-25% with the optimum handling occurring at 20% of camper weight; that is the number I use.

650/.2 equals a 3200 pound loaded camper; not many 5th wheels in this weight class. Obviously if your available payload is more; the max camper size will increase.

You can tow a heavier travel trailer with your truck than 5th wheel since the tongue weight to camper ratio is much smaller; 9%-14% (again generally accepted safe) with optimum handling at around 12%

If your availble payload is that same 650 pounds, your max target camper weight should be 650/.12 or 5400 pounds. That is a nice sized camper in a travel trailer.

[campingwilliamsons]

^ Exactly! I was trying to give a best case scenario. The only Fifth I know that falls into the ratings listed in either response is the Scamp 19'. The only other option is one the tow dolly setups (Hitch Buddy is the one I am thinking of), assuming he has the GCVWR to work with.

[prof_fate]

1500 truck? (based on 6800lb GVWR). That is low IMO, especially for a 4x2. My sliverado is 7000 and barely adequate, F150's I think run 7200 (depends on options of course).

Most likely you've got 1400lbs total payload (give or take 100lbs). Have your truck weighed to be sure.
With you/wife/hitch you're at 950lbs payload..give or take. If a 5vr needs 20% on the pin and you work backwards you get a 5k TT. Not much for a 5vr at all..considering that is a loaded figure and most seem to carry 1200lbs of cargo/food/water/chairs/dishes, etc. DO they even make a 3800lb 5vr?

What is your bed length? I didn't think there were many 5vrs that would work wtih the quad cab (aka short bed) trucks?

You could probably tow more in a conventional TT w/ a WD hitch.

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

I have a 2014 Dodge Quad Cab 4x2, with 6'4" bed, 5.7L Hemi, 5-speed transmission, and 3.92 axle. I weigh 180 pounds and my wife weighs 150 pounds and the 5th wheel hitch receiver installed in the bed weighs 120 pounds. There is no other cargo carried in the truck. The door sticker specifies FGAWR 3700, RGAWR 3900, and GVWR 6800. If anyone knows how to figure out what I can tow in a 5th wheel and what the maximum pin weight can be, I surely would appreciate the help.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

I have a 2014 Dodge Quad Cab 4x2, with 6'4" bed, 5.7L Hemi, 5-speed transmission, and 3.92 axle. I weigh 180 pounds and my wife weighs 150 pounds and the 5th wheel hitch receiver installed in the bed weighs 120 pounds. There is no other cargo carried in the truck. The door sticker specifies FGAWR 3700, RGAWR 3900, and GVWR 6800. If anyone knows how to figure out what I can tow in a 5th wheel and what the maximum pin weight can be, I surely would appreciate the help.

Not enough truck for a 5er - not even a ultra lightweight -sorry.

Travel Trailer options should abound though

[Herk7769]

2014 Ram 1500 Engines and Fuel Economy - MSN Autos



SLT Quad Cab 4x2 Curb Weight is 4900 pounds.

This is for a base truck with no options added (v6 engine).

The 5.6L Hemi adds about 500 pounds to the base truck.

So, with a full tank of gas and a 150 pound driver you should be in the neighborhood of 5400 pound (Conservative because of other options not known).

SLT Quad Cab 4X2

Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) 116.60
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) No data
Standard Towing (lb.) 4400
Maximum Towing (lb.) 8200
Standard Payload (lb.) 1890
Maximum Payload (lb.) 1890
Standard GVWR (lb.) 6700
Maximum GVWR (lb.) 6950

Add 200 pounds for passengers, 150 pounds for hitch, 50 pounds for "sodas and snacks" you have a "notional" curb weight of 5800 pounds.

With the standard GVWR of 6700 pounds, you have a remaining available payload of 6700 - 5800 = 900 pounds for pin weight.

900/.2 = 4500 pounds of 5th wheel (like THAT is ever gonna happen)

However, a 900 pound tongue weight travel trailer can weigh 7500 pounds.

QED