2019 FOREST RIVER ARCTIC WOLF M-245RK4 and Ram 1500

[egbok24]

Hi all!
We have a 2015 RAM 1500 that has a towing capacity of 8600 pounds. We are interested in purchasing a 2019 FOREST RIVER ARCTIC WOLF M-245RK4.

Does anyone have experience pulling this 5th week with a RAM 1500 with 8600 pound towing capacity?

Thanks in advance.

Tim

[bikendan]

Welcome to FRF!
Focus FIRST on the truck's payload capacity BEFORE its towing capacity. Nearly all tow vehicles will run out of payload way before getting close to the towing capacity.
Post a pic of the driver's door yellow sticker. It'll say something like "Occupants and cargo should not exceed xxxxlbs".
With a fictional pin weight of 1345lbs, loaded for camping, it'll exceed your 1/2 ton's payload capacity. And with a fictional dry weight of 7928lbs, adding batteries, options, water and cargo, it'll exceed your max tow capacity.
Very few 1/2 tons are spec'd to tow a 5th Wheel. You need to look at a TT.

[egbok24]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

The payload capacity is 1400 pounds. Does this sticker help? I didn't see a yellow one.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. We have a TT now, but looking for . 5th wheel. Sounds like we need a 2500.

Thanks!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by egbok24

Thanks for the warm welcome!

The payload capacity is 1400 pounds. Does this sticker help? I didn't see a yellow one.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. We have a TT now, but looking for . 5th wheel. Sounds like we need a 2500.

Thanks!

Where did you get the 1400 number?

[itat]

Welcome to the forum, egbok24.

There is usually a white and yellow sticker on the drivers door jamb that states what Bikedan is talking about. The sticker you posted has your GVWR and the front and rear axle ratings. They are a bit lighter than typical half ton pickups. GVWR is typically around 7200-7300 pounds and the rear axle is typically rated around 4000 pounds. With 20” tires you probably have a higher trim level which further reduces your payload capacity. Don’t go by charts on the web, you have to go by the sticker on your truck.

Of course, if you don’t care about overloading the truck, and you just want to know if it will pull a small fifth wheel, then the answer is probably yes. We just want you and your family to be as safe as possible and have the design engineer’s full safety factor available.

[Kimber45]

you don't have the payload if its 1400. what year and configuration is your truck? that number seems low

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

you don't have the payload if its 1400. what year and configuration is your truck? that number seems low

Not for a 2015 Ram 1500.

[revoff1]

I have a RAM 5.7 Hemi with a 3.92 rearend. I tow a Heritage Glenn 5th wheel 9,000 lbs. I added airbags to the rear cool springs. No issues at all, plenty of power I'm within my payload and we'll below my tow capacity.
On RAM website you can check your specific trucks capacity.

[Larry0071]

That truck has a gross weight for both axles at 7,600 lbs and weight of The bare truck is likely in the 5500-5600 area... Around 1,100 lb payload will be in the yellow sticker. Open that driver's door and look at the other sticker, the yellow one. Take a photo of that, and you'll start to see what's up.

[egbok24]

This is the only other sticker on the truck.

Thank you all for your help.

Doesn't sound like this truck will do what I need. I appreciate all your expertise.

[Flybob]

Your cargo capacity which includes passengers and anything else in the TV is 1641. You sill not be happy towing that 5er with your current truck.

[Larry0071]

Originally Posted by Larry0071

That truck has a gross weight for both axles at 7,600 lbs and weight of The bare truck is likely in the 5500-5600 area... Around 1,100 lb payload will be in the yellow sticker. Open that driver's door and look at the other sticker, the yellow one. Take a photo of that, and you'll start to see what's up.

My math was off, but in my defense I was drinking....

Around 2,000 lbs tops should have been my guess, if the truck has any options it drops due to the heavier truck as you see in your yellow sticker.

So you have around 1,700 lbs for people, trailer tongue/pin weight, any items in the bed and toolbox area of the truck, any items under/behind seats, in cubby holes or in storage bins and any added accessories such as bull bars, push bars, nerf bars or HD bumpers.

That said, there are some folks who throw caution to the wind, add air bags to level the truck and use the "if it fits, it ships!" mentality. And the good thing for people of that mindset is that getting caught or or any kind of actual trouble over disobeying the vehicle placards is nearly unheard of.

So will it work? I'm sure that if your dedicated to it, you'll make it so.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by egbok24

This is the only other sticker on the truck.

Thank you all for your help.

Doesn't sound like this truck will do what I need. I appreciate all your expertise.

Not bad for a 2015 Ram 1500 but subtracting the 1345lbs pin weight of a stripped-down version of the trailer, you have less than 300lbs for driver, passengers, batteries, hitch, truck cargo, trailer options, water and trailer cargo.
This is why very few 1/2 ton trucks can tow only certain 5th wheels. 5th wheel pin weights are higher than TT tongue weights.

[2019 Cherokee]

I am going to tell you my experience. I bough a 2011 Ram 1500 to tow a Shasta revere that was 6301 dry with a tongue weight of 720lbs. My Ram was an outdoorsman it was rated to tow 10500 with a 1500lb payload. I was just about over payload with nothing but TT and truck. However I put a weight distribution hitch on and antisway and all that other Jazz.. I even put heavier springs and bags in my truck. It lasted 6 years and I killed the truck. It was no picnic trying to stop a 6300 lb TT that weighed basically more than the truck. I had 98000 miles on the truck when I traded it in.. the suspension was totally shot needed new springs again and since I was towing about 10 times a season I was going through brake pads and rotors like they were going out of style. Before anyone says anything I had my trailer brakes adjusted correctly and they were checked every trip to make sure adjustments weren’t needed which turned out to be about every three times out. Anyway I would say it will do it and if you are careful you may get lucky and never have a situation that puts you and your family in danger.. I just upgraded to a Ram 2500 last summer and I will never own a smaller truck again. It is literally night and day comparison. Spend the money and get a bigger truck you will be much happier and safer.

[Mustang19380]

Originally Posted by 2019 Cherokee

I am going to tell you my experience. I bough a 2011 Ram 1500 to tow a Shasta revere that was 6301 dry with a tongue weight of 720lbs. My Ram was an outdoorsman it was rated to tow 10500 with a 1500lb payload. I was just about over payload with nothing but TT and truck. However I put a weight distribution hitch on and antisway and all that other Jazz.. I even put heavier springs and bags in my truck. It lasted 6 years and I killed the truck. It was no picnic trying to stop a 6300 lb TT that weighed basically more than the truck. I had 98000 miles on the truck when I traded it in.. the suspension was totally shot needed new springs again and since I was towing about 10 times a season I was going through brake pads and rotors like they were going out of style. Before anyone says anything I had my trailer brakes adjusted correctly and they were checked every trip to make sure adjustments weren’t needed which turned out to be about every three times out. Anyway I would say it will do it and if you are careful you may get lucky and never have a situation that puts you and your family in danger.. I just upgraded to a Ram 2500 last summer and I will never own a smaller truck again. It is literally night and day comparison. Spend the money and get a bigger truck you will be much happier and safer.

I have the Ram 2500 6.7, only problem you run into is fifth wheel height when connected to
Attic Wolf 315TBH8, we had to put 2” suspensions blocks under trailer leaf springs
Which solved the problem of rear bumper hitting on inclines. But know where having
Front A/C added and is putting top height at 13ft 2” which is not a good thing. Try to stay below 13ft. I just ordered custom rear springs and shocks to lower truck rear 3”

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Mustang19380

I have the Ram 2500 6.7, only problem you run into is fifth wheel height when connected to
Attic Wolf 315TBH8, we had to put 2” suspensions blocks under trailer leaf springs
Which solved the problem of rear bumper hitting on inclines. But know where having
Front A/C added and is putting top height at 13ft 2” which is not a good thing. Try to stay below 13ft. I just ordered custom rear springs and shocks to lower truck rear 3”Attachment 229773

The OP is asking about using a Ram 1500 to pull a 5th wheel, not a 3/4 ton Ram 2500.
BIG difference.