Ram 2500 payload

[Wasy]

I’m currently looking at fifth wheels. I now have a 34 ft TT 9600 gvw and 815 hitch weight happily being towed by my 2020 ram 2500 bighorn, 6.4, 3.73 8sp trans with a reese WDH. I’ve been crunching and calculating numbers for several days. I would like to stay at 34 or 35 feet which I believe would give me more inside room than the TT. I think the key number is the max payload of the truck which is 3350 And how close to that do I want to get. manufacturers are listiing the hitch weight around 15%. After watching a youtube vid from a very knowledgeable full timer he is convinced it is more like 20 or more and has the CAT printout to prove it. I’m aware of all the variables to go into the equation. I guess my question really is how much of my payload do I want in surplus. Is there a percent to use in the calculation that would give me the surplus Or should I be happy with say 500 pounds of payload left. Sorry for the length, This has been very hectic. Thanks in advance

 

[donn]

Forum members have always used 20-25% as pin weight. Now, since you don't have the trailer use 20% of the GVWR. Of course that does not account for the hitch, which usually adds 250-340 more pounds. Since likely tires will be your limiting factor, load it up like your going camping and drive to a set of scales. Weigh your rear axle and subtract that from your rear tires capacity. Your truck may have around 3000 load capacity, but that is based on 4 wheels. Fifth wheels place more than 90% of the loaded weight directly over the rear axle.

 

[steveblonde]

If looking at a 5er 20% gvwr if a toy hauler 25% of gvwr is normal as toy haulers are nose heavy, hitch is 200lbs if buying a reese or curt 250lbs if buying a patriot etc
Simply put 3350 minus 200 for hitch minus you wife kids etc stuff in the truck box. I would not go over 3000lbs total weight
Im running a f350 payload 5167lbs my trailer loaded with water wife dog mecetc etc etc is hitch of 4200lbs my gvwr is 20000lbs i would not want to go much more than that regularly but i have run as high as 4700lbs

 

[Rob&Deryl]

Two lighter hitches…
Andersen hitch - 40lbs , requires a gooseneck ball. I don’t like it as it puts some load on the truck bed
Andersen hitch for bed rails. Requires rails. I have a Reese puck to rails adapter. Hitch = 40lbs, rails = 70lbs.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Agree with the others - the 5W pin weight will be 20%-25% of the loaded trailer weight. Use 20% of the trailer GVWR as an estimate until you can get actual loaded weight.

The truck payload has to cover everything you put in or on the truck. Passengers, their gear, towing equipment and the trailer pin weight. Subtract driver & passenger weights, hitch weight, and any stuff you plan to carry in the truck bed, then whatever is left can carry the trailer pin weight. Probably around 3000 lbs, which would mean a 5W with a 15,000 lb GVWR. That probably excludes most 35 footers. You really want a one-ton (3500) class truck for that size trailer.

 

[Kirk]

To do your own calculations, I suggest that you use this weight calculator and follow his advice.

 

[Rob&Deryl]

Agree with the others - the 5W pin weight will be 20%-25% of the loaded trailer weight. Use 20% of the trailer GVWR as an estimate until you can get actual loaded weight.

The truck payload has to cover everything you put in or on the truck. Passengers, their gear, towing equipment and the trailer pin weight. Subtract driver & passenger weights, hitch weight, and any stuff you plan to carry in the truck bed, then whatever is left can carry the trailer pin weight. Probably around 3000 lbs, which would mean a 5W with a 15,000 lb GVWR. That probably excludes most 35 footers. You really want a one-ton (3500) class truck for that size trailer.

My 35’ is GVWR 14,000

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

My 35’ is GVWR 14,000

Which is why I used the words "probably" and "most".

 

[Kirk]

My 35’ is GVWR 14,000

Have you weighed it with everything in it that you ever travel with and if so, what does it actually weigh? Do you have individual wheel weights?

 

[donn]

I just love how people claim they pull XXX with YYY truck with no actual hard facts like true scaled ready to camp weights.
For 2-1/2 years I pulled my 13,500 (scaled) pound with my 2004 2500HD D/A. Trucks GVWR was 9200 pounds and I scaled at 10,500 pounds. Tires, air bags all added and did not change the facts I was grossly overloaded. But we could not afford to change until 2007 when we got our dually. Pulling the exact same fiver was totally different experience.

 

[Rob&Deryl]

Have you weighed it with everything in it that you ever travel with and if so, what does it actually weigh? Do you have individual wheel weights?

Yes, many times. Last summer, in prep for our winter trip, i weighed it at a Cat scales each time we changed campgrounds.
I do not have individual wheel weights.
I do not remember the numbers right now but I do remember the trailer was under GVWR (not much) and under on axels and tires.

 

[longhaul]

I guess my question really is how much of my payload do I want in surplus. Is there a percent to use in the calculation that would give me the surplus Or should I be happy with say 500 pounds of payload left. Sorry for the length, This has been very hectic. Thanks in advance

Having towed trailers for a living I use every bit of the trucks fawr/rawr payload for any trailer towing duties. Actually the truck fawr doesn't change much if any when the trailer is hooked and the truck is road ready. So keeping under rawr will be your target.

I use every bit of my old '03 2500 Dodge Ram Cummins HO quad cab short bed nv5600 manual 6 speed tranny 3.73 gears 6000 rawr pulling various trailers I have. My 32' 5th wheel trailer (bedroom and living room slide) Has 2400-2600 lb hitch weight depending on loaded for a long stay or a couple of days. Its towed this trailer since the truck was new.
I also pull a 36' tiaxle GN stock trailer (7k axles) . This type of trailer allows the heavy stock over the trailers axles to keep any tow vehicle under rawr.
The truck has 362k miles and runs like it was new.

I doubt you will find a 5th wheel trailer that length that won't exceed a 2500 rawr.
Rawr includes axle assy....oem wheels...oem tires... brakes....oem rear suspension.

 

[foneguy]

ours is 40 ft, and for a 40' fifth wheel the gross weight from the manufacturer is 12K Lbs pin weight is 1200 lbs, plate 200 lbs and i have a ram 2500 cummins i did add firestone ride right bags just to keep everything level by no means am i overloaded, nope i have not hit a scale but ill be doing that this spring for the fun. we add clothes some food and the bar...camp chairs and a 100 lb inverter just in case we stop at a rest area for a night.
so the coaches are out there it depends on what luxuries you want . auto leveling adds a ton of weight, solid surface counter tops, residential refer, stuff i would love but really dont care for.

 

[steveblonde]

No way does a 12k 5er have a 1200lbs pin weight thats 10% - sorry you need to find a scale
My gvwr on my 5er is 20000lbs my pin is 4200lbs loaded 22%.
My old 40ft fiver had a pin of 3617 on 16500 gvwr

 

[steveblonde]

ours is 40 ft, and for a 40' fifth wheel the gross weight from the manufacturer is 12K Lbs pin weight is 1200 lbs, plate 200 lbs and i have a ram 2500 cummins i did add firestone ride right bags just to keep everything level by no means am i overloaded, nope i have not hit a scale but ill be doing that this spring for the fun. we add clothes some food and the bar...camp chairs and a 100 lb inverter just in case we stop at a rest area for a night.
so the coaches are out there it depends on what luxuries you want . auto leveling adds a ton of weight, solid surface counter tops, residential refer, stuff i would love but really dont care for.

Pin weight dry is 1800lbs which is 18% thats before batteries , propane tanks, food water pots pans etc 18% of gvwr would be 2160lbs and thats still a light estimate a 2020 ram 2500 cummins has a max payload of 2600lbs thats for a tradesman a longhorn coiuld be as low as 2000lbs that includes driver,passengers,hitch weight, hitch, wood tools boxes etc 2 6volt batteries and 2 30lb bottlies of propane will add 200lbs or more directly to the pin weight

 

[foneguy]

never carry wood, water only 1 battery, i use the notes on the coach. but i plan on weighing all this spring when i take it to the summer site.

 

[steveblonde]

never carry wood, water only 1 battery, i use the notes on the coach. but i plan on weighing all this spring when i take it to the summer site.

My guess is youve under estimated your pin weight by 1000lbs its going to be close to 2200lbs on the truck for the trailer plus you passengers stuff in the cab and box etc - even the air bags take 50+ lbs off the available payload

 

[Wasy]

Having towed trailers for a living I use every bit of the trucks fawr/rawr payload for any trailer towing duties. Actually the truck fawr doesn't change much if any when the trailer is hooked and the truck is road ready. So keeping under rawr will be your target.

I use every bit of my old '03 2500 Dodge Ram Cummins HO quad cab short bed nv5600 manual 6 speed tranny 3.73 gears 6000 rawr pulling various trailers I have. My 32' 5th wheel trailer (bedroom and living room slide) Has 2400-2600 lb hitch weight depending on loaded for a long stay or a couple of days. Its towed this trailer since the truck was new.
I also pull a 36' tiaxle GN stock trailer (7k axles) . This type of trailer allows the heavy stock over the trailers axles to keep any tow vehicle under rawr.
The truck has 362k miles and runs like it was new.

I doubt you will find a 5th wheel trailer that length that won't exceed a 2500 rawr.
Rawr includes axle assy....oem wheels...oem tires... brakes....oem rear suspension.

Thanks long haul for the well articulated response. I have found a 34 foot kz durango HT 290rlt with a dry pin of 1420 with weights that I’m happy with for my 2020 ram 2500,3100ccc, gvw10000 and gcwr21500. Kz seems to have some nice features. I guess I’m wondering if you know anything about this company. Thanks in advance.

 

[foneguy]

kz is a decent manufacturer, they dont like to do anything beyond warranty dates, they did offer to do a full awning replacement after the smart arm control failed 3 times, so id say they are fair compared to others

 

[steveblonde]

Thanks long haul for the well articulated response. I have found a 34 foot kz durango HT 290rlt with a dry pin of 1420 with weights that I’m happy with for my 2020 ram 2500,3100ccc, gvw10000 and gcwr21500. Kz seems to have some nice features. I guess I’m wondering if you know anything about this company. Thanks in advance.

Forget dry pin weight it means nothing. Thats NO OPTIONS,NO BATTERIES,NO PROPANE,no water,food clothes,pots pans,lawn chairs,gazebos,bbqs.
My pin dry weight and loaded pin weights are 1400lbs apart. "Advertised" brochure is 1865lbs actual is 4200lbs