2012 Ram 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab 169" SLT Long Bed

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mercybolton

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Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Posts
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My question as a newbie is I have this truck with specs:

Ram 2500   
Crew Cab Pickup   
Body Code
169" WB   
Drivetrain: 4-Wheel Drive   
Gross Axle Wt Rating - Front
5200  lbs  5200.0 min 5500.0 max

Gross Axle Wt Rating - Rear
6010  lbs  6010.0 min 6010.0 max

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap
8800  lbs  8800.0 min 8800.0 max
Gross Combined Wt Rating
20000, 17000  lbs  17000.0 min 22000.0 max
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
5000  lbs  5000.0 min 5000.0 max
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
500  lbs  500.0 min 500.0 max
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
13250, 10250  lbs  9450.0 min 14450.0 max
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
1988, 1538  lbs  1418.0 min 2168.0 max   
Engine Type
Gas V8   
Displacement
5.7L/343 
And the camper i am looking to get is the Sierra by Forest River 381RBOK
with specs as follows:

2016 Forest River Sierra 381RBOK
Year2016
ManufacturerForest River
Model NameSierra
Trim Name381RBOK
Fifth Wheel
Weights
GVWR16,519 lbs.
Dry Weight, Hitch2,519 lbs.
Unloaded Weight13,131 lbs.
Cargo Capacity3,388 lb

I have tried to figure out the pin weight and if the truck will haul this comfortably. Any and all advice on this will help me greatly!

 
There should be a sticker in the door of your truck telling you the payload of your truck.  You need enough payload to carry 20% of the loaded trailer weight, passengers, you, a FW hitch, and some stuff.

An unloaded weight of 13000 lbs is going to be tight in a 3/4 ton...
 
In a word-no. Around here, most of us assume you will eventually load the trailer to the max. Assuming it is loaded to the max, you will probably end up with 3300# or so pin weight. that will put you over the max available payload and the max GVWR of your truck. Then , also assuming trailer loaded to the max, you will be over your GCWR unless your truck, occupants, and whatever else you have in the truck weighs less than 5481#. And I haven't added about 200# for the hitch. You need to be looking for a fiver that has a GVWR of about 12,000# or so.
 
After sitting down and really going over your numbers, I think you will have to look for an even lighter fiver than what I recommended. You really need to weigh your truck with you and a full tank of gas along with any others that will be rving with you. Subtract that number from your trucks GVWR. That's what you have left over for payload such as the hitch, pin weight of the fiver, and anything else you will put in the truck. Are you sure your GVWR is only 8800#? Is that from the registration or the sticker on the door pillar?
Here's the numbers from my truck to give you an example of how to do the figuring:
Truck with full tank of gas, myself, my wife, and the stuff we normally carry in the truck-7460
Truck GVWR-10,000#, leaves 2540# for payload
subtruct another 200# for hitch-2340#
2340#x5=11700# fiver assuming 20% pin weight
With 4:30 gears, I'm good for 22500# GCWR, but my truck can't handle the pin weight of a fiver heavy enough to max out my GCWR.
I hope this helps you out.
 
So saying that, I should look into a 3500HD to pull this around. I just want to make sure that i have enough truck for the trailer.
 
Agreed wit all of the comments above.

In my research, ? ton trucks should not pull ANY 5th wheel, unless the GVWR is less than 9,000#.

? ton trucks can handle up to 12,000# 5er, with gas engines a little more (lighter truck, higher CCC)

SRW 1 ton can usually handle a 15,000# 5er.

DRW 1 ton goes over 20,000#.

All numbers assume 500# passengers and cargo and 200# hitch.

Check YOUR numbers compared to YOUR truck capacities.  YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)
 
grashley said:
Agreed wit all of the comments above.

In my research, ? ton trucks should not pull ANY 5th wheel, unless the GVWR is less than 9,000#.

? ton trucks can handle up to 12,000# 5er, with gas engines a little more (lighter truck, higher CCC)

SRW 1 ton can usually handle a 15,000# 5er.

DRW 1 ton goes over 20,000#.

All numbers assume 500# passengers and cargo and 200# hitch.

Check YOUR numbers compared to YOUR truck capacities.  YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)
Click to expand...

Very solid analysis.

mercybolton.....you're firmly into 3500 territory, and I'd step up to a dually at that weight.
 
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