RAM 2500 to pull Rockwood 8280WS?

[T_Dougherty]

First post, and I'll create an intro thread ASAP.

Bought a 2018 RAM 2500 Cummins to pull a future trailer, just wondering if it's stout enough to pull a Rockwood 8280WS? The GVWR is 1772, and the trailer specs are as follows...

Weight Dry Weight 8,707 lbs.
Payload Capacity 1,279 lbs.
Hitch Weight 1,336 lbs.

I see folks pulling bigger trailers with a similar truck, but I want to be safe about it.

[67L48]

3/4 ton diesels will run into payload limitations first. So, start there. Get your payload number of your door jamb sticker.

Trailer will weigh about 9,700 rolling down the highway, which will put around 1,500 lbs on your hitch (using the same hitch/weight ratio as the fictional dry weights).

Your 3/4 ton diesel probably has around 2,500 lbs of payload. That means you have about 1,000 lbs left for people (you and passengers), the hitch, gear, pets, aftermarket options on the truck, wood, bikes, and so on.

Good luck.

[pclevel1]

I have 2018 RAM 2500 6.7 4x4, and pulled my recent purchase 8299BS thru the mountains of WV without any issue. Didn't even feel it. My trucks rated for 17K more or less.

[Jim34RL]

I have a 2008, 2500 Mega Cab, 6.7L Cummins with the 68RFE auto and 4X4 with 3:73 gears. The tires that I use are Nitto Dura Grappler LT285/70R/17 126R . These have a weight rating of 3750 LBS at 80PSI but I run them at 70 PSI so, the weight rating is 3415 LBS.

This is the back ground on my vehicle and so, you can make up your mind as to what you want to do.

Now I tow a 34RL, Cedar Creek, for a total load of 21,000 GCW and my axle weights are 6,100 LBS rear, Cat Scaled. The trailer is empty as far as water and waste water in the tanks. I have towed this combination since 2015 for a total 21,000 miles up and over the continental divide out west. This was done at 55 MPH 2,000 RPM's in 5th gear, boost pressure was under 30 PSI and EGT's was under 1100 F.

[T_Dougherty]

I was surprised to find that my GVWR is only 1772 pounds. The fifth wheel I was looking at has a pin weight of about 1336 pounds, I would still be under, and I know folks have told these things with the same truck all over the place, but was just looking for some feedback.

I have upgraded the tires 235/12.5/20’s, they are Toyo Open Country Xtreme’s.

[BigH]

That 1772 is your trucks available payload. Meaning that is the maximum amount of weight you can add to the truck. Once the trailer is loaded that pin weight is going up... so that new increased pin weight, plus the hitch in the bed of the truck and any passengers must not exceed that number.

Welcome to the site.

[Blackrock]

I'm pulling almost the same size trailer with a RAM 1500 5.7 Hemi 8spd with no problems. You should be fine even though your weight limit is lower than mine.

[67L48]

GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating, and it's a much larger number. The 1,772 lbs is your payload rating. That's how much stuff you can put onto the vehicle. You don't seem to know much about these numbers and what they mean. That's totally OK, but you should do some reading to better familiarize yourself with GVWR, GCWR, payload, tow capacity, and GAWR.

I was assuming a payload of 2,500 lbs above, but I was off.

Originally Posted by T_Dougherty

[...] The fifth wheel I was looking at has a pin weight of about 1336 pounds, I would still be under [...]

No, it doesn't ... and no, you won't. You're not paying attention.

Again, your trailer will put about 1,500 lbs on your truck as you drive it down the road. Dry weights of trailers are essentially meaningless. It's the same as if someone asked a 40 year old man what he weighed and his response was, "Well, I weighed 155 lbs in high school."

That leaves you 272 lbs. That probably would cover an average sized driver and a light-weight 5th wheel hitch. But, you can't so much as carry another passenger or a stick of wood .. whoever is camping with you would have to drive their own car.

The truck will probably pull the trailer just fine ... but you'll be exceeding your payload capacity by quite a bit. You didn't ask if the truck could pull it, you said that you want to be safe. The best way to be safe when towing is to make sure you're within the specifications of your truck.

Good luck.

[Vladivar]

2017 2500 CTD pulling an 8324BS. 36ft nose heavy trailer (my loaded TW is sitting at just shy of 1300#). With a good WDH ( I use a BlueOx with 2000# bars) my towing experience is great. Lots of power to pull, lots of braking to stop - the engine brake is great - and enough weight that the trailer won’t “wag the dog”.

[tuckerdog1]

By the numbers, you're not going to be able to tow that 5th wheel ( unless you go alone and bring nothing with you ). In real life, you can probably get away with it. I'm kind of surprised by how many here are happy to say they motor down the road, towing RVs well beyond what their TV is rated for. Even if you do it with no obvious issues, consider the possible liability if you're involved in an accident.

Tuckerdog1

[pclevel1]

Originally Posted by tuckerdog1

By the numbers, you're not going to be able to tow that 5th wheel ( unless you go alone and bring nothing with you ). In real life, you can probably get away with it. I'm kind of surprised by how many here are happy to say they motor down the road, towing RVs well beyond what their TV is rated for. Even if you do it with no obvious issues, consider the possible liability if you're involved in an accident.

Tuckerdog1

I can only go by the estimated numbers I have.
2380 payload
-1440 pin (TW x 15%)
-200 hitch
And me by myself. No dogs, kids, wife, suite cases, etc. I feel safe with my 2018 RAM 2500 4x4 6.7 Diesel.

[tuckerdog1]

Originally Posted by pclevel1

I can only go by the estimated numbers I have.
2380 payload
-1440 pin (TW x 15%)
-200 hitch
And me by myself. No dogs, kids, wife, suite cases, etc. I feel safe with my 2018 RAM 2500 4x4 6.7 Diesel.

I'd say you're good to go. The OP however...not so much.

[pclevel1]

Originally Posted by tuckerdog1

I'd say you're good to go. The OP however...not so much.

Yea, sometimes the numbers can get confusing until you get used to it. I know it was for me. Having someone help explain it helps us newbies a lot. I was fortunate to have a friend that tows a toy hauler for many yrs, so he adds 2 harleys, wife, dogs.. Everything!

[woo10-210]

Dang! Those diesels sure take a toll on the payload capacity.

'19 F250 CC 4X4 6.2:

[tuckerdog1]

Originally Posted by woo10-210

Dang! Those diesels sure take a toll on the payload capacity.

'19 F250 CC 4X4 6.2:

Yes they do. I like the ride I get in the 2500, but sometimes I think I should have opted for the 3500.

Tuckerdog1

[itat]

Originally Posted by T_Dougherty

I was surprised to find that my GVWR is only 1772 pounds. The fifth wheel I was looking at has a pin weight of about 1336 pounds, I would still be under, and I know folks have told these things with the same truck all over the place, but was just looking for some feedback.

I have upgraded the tires 235/12.5/20’s, they are Toyo Open Country Xtreme’s.

Attachment 200652

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T_Dougherty, I knew that a RAM 2500 with the Cummins engine would have a lower payload but 1772# is shockingly low. There are lots of half tons with a higher payload than that. Those Toyo Open Country Extreme tires in that size come in 2 load ranges. What is the max. inflation pressure on the sidewall? 65 psi or 80 psi?

As others have said, that Cummins engine will pull an 8280WS no problem but you’ll almost certainly be well over the truck’s 10,000# GVWR. I can say that since the 8280WS is a rear kitchen model it will have a lighter than average pin weight so it could be worse.

My best advice is something your parents would say. Just because someone else does it, it doesn’t mean you should.

Good luck.

[itat]

Originally Posted by pclevel1

Yea, sometimes the numbers can get confusing until you get used to it. I know it was for me. Having someone help explain it helps us newbies a lot. I was fortunate to have a friend that tows a toy hauler for many yrs, so he adds 2 harleys, wife, dogs.. Everything!

Pclevel1, you seem to be relying on marketing numbers, not real world, measured numbers. I suggest you take your setup to a scale and find out what your actual weights are. You may be fine but maybe not. The only way to know is to weigh it.

That Cummins will pull your trailer all day long without a sweat but its more about how the RAM carries the weight which is determined by the frame, axles, wheels and tires. Through research I confirmed that an F-350 of the same model year has a different axle than my F-250 so its not just a simple suspension part as some would suggest.

[pclevel1]

Originally Posted by itat

Pclevel1, you seem to be relying on marketing numbers, not real world, measured numbers. I suggest you take your setup to a scale and find out what your actual weights are. You may be fine but maybe not. The only way to know is to weigh it.

That Cummins will pull your trailer all day long without a sweat but its more about how the RAM carries the weight which is determined by the frame, axles, wheels and tires. Through research I confirmed that an F-350 of the same model year has a different axle than my F-250 so its not just a simple suspension part as some would suggest.

Unfortunately, marketing numbers is all I can rely on at the moment. I've only had it two weeks. I'd like to actually camp in it, just need to find the time. Good advice though, I appreciate the suggestion. I plan on weighing in the very near future. Personally I feel I'm within safe numbers, but weighing will verify. I bought the truck knowing what 5th wheel I was going to get, looked for about a year and both are paid off. If I can't tow this safely and within the numbers, I made a $75+K big mistake.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by T_Dougherty

First post, and I'll create an intro thread ASAP.

Bought a 2018 RAM 2500 Cummins to pull a future trailer, just wondering if it's stout enough to pull a Rockwood 8280WS? The GVWR is 1772, and the trailer specs are as follows...

Weight Dry Weight 8,707 lbs.
Payload Capacity 1,279 lbs.
Hitch Weight 1,336 lbs.

I see folks pulling bigger trailers with a similar truck, but I want to be safe about it.

For what it's worth. My neighbor has a 2007 40' Montana...14,500 (scaled) Towed with a 2005 Chevy 2500HD Duramax. Has his Cat sheet from a couple years ago and he's around 22,000lbs and has been towing that since 2008. Now if that RAM can't handle that trailer then only Kenworth's or Peterbuilts should be allowed to tow anything.

[Anderson15]

Originally Posted by tuckerdog1

I'm kind of surprised by how many here are happy to say they motor down the road, towing RVs well beyond what their TV is rated for. Even if you do it with no obvious issues, consider the possible liability if you're involved in an accident.

And seem proud of it as well.