Community Forums

mrpd114 · 06-26-2015, 09:47 PM

My wife and I are full time RV'ers. We recently traded in our Ford F-250 diesel for a new 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie diesel crew cab Longhorn. It's max towing rate is 17,100 lbs. Now looking to upgrade to a Redwood 38Gk at 14,079 lbs dry, 16,500 max. We will most likely stay under 16,500k loaded the way we travel.
Will the Dodge have any problems pulling this weight, especially up or down a steep incline?

Timon · 06-26-2015, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpd114

My wife and I are full time RV'ers. We recently traded in our Ford F-250 diesel for a new 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie diesel crew cab Longhorn. It's max towing rate is 17,100 lbs. Now looking to upgrade to a Redwood 38Gk at 14,079 lbs dry, 16,500 max. We will most likely stay under 16,500k loaded the way we travel.
Will the Dodge have any problems pulling this weight, especially up or down a steep incline?

The only way to know is do a full calculation using one of the great online programs. You need to watch your pin weight which can easily overload the TV well before you go past the towing capacity.

Franka548 · 06-27-2015, 05:13 AM

As Timon said, you will overload the weight carrying capacity of the truck itself, either the GVWR or the rear GAWR before you will get anywears near the GCWR of the truck. The best way to tell how much carrying capacity you have is to load the truck full of fuel with the hitch installed and everything that you normally put in the truck when you are traveling (people, pets, tools, firewood, etc.) and go to your local CAT scales and weight the truck, then look at the door sticker for the GVWR and the rear GAWR. Subtract the total weight of the truck from the GVWR and subtract the rear axle weight from the rear GAWR on your drivers door sticker, the smaller of these two numbers gives you the load carrying capacity of your truck. My educated guess is that trailer will be too heavy for your truck. Your truck will pull it just fine, but you will be over the posted weights for your truck with the pin weight.
Frank

Bamaman · 06-27-2015, 09:17 AM

For a full size trailer, a 1 ton dually is really needed. It's the king pin weight that's the deciding factor in a 3/4 ton truck--more than the truck's ability to pull it. The rear axle housing, drive axles and differential parts are not as heavy as those used in 1 ton duallys.

Isn't there a 12K lb.dry weight fifth wheel trailer in the retail market that would have less pin weight--and better suited for your truck?

JIMNLIN · 06-27-2015, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Will the Dodge have any problems pulling this weight, especially up or down a steep incline?

No problems pulling that much weight.
However a 3/4 ton truck simply doesn't have the tires wheels and rear suspension to carry the pin weight and other stuff in the truck.
The 2500 Ram has a 6000/6200 or a 6500 RAWR. It may weigh 3000-3200 lb on the rear axle which leaves 3000-3300 lbs for a 3200 lb pin weight/several hundred lbs of passengers /a 200 lb hitch and another 200 for gear in the truck which all adds up to approx 7000 lbs . The trucks wheels/tires and rear springs are severally over loaded.

You will need to adds some serious mods for the 2500 truck to carry loads that heavy.

A 16500 lb 5th wheel RV trailer needs a one ton DRW truck with its 9750 lb RAWR.

TDI-Minnie · 06-27-2015, 07:13 PM

Your issue is going to be payload capacity.
The trailer and hitch weight are going to be on the high side for a diesel, crew cab, 3/4 ton. A gas, regular cab, for example, can carry a much heavier trailer.

Also, you didn't say which gear ratio you have.

tuffr2 · 06-27-2015, 09:16 PM

Anyone upgrading to a 3/4 ton truck is really not upgrading towing/carrying/ability. You upgraded to a very nice truck that simply can not carry the weight of the trailer you are looking at.

Cummins12V98 · 06-28-2015, 01:16 AM

How do people get into this position? I don't care what the 38' trailer weighs that is just too much mass!

And the fact that is way too much weight sitting on a 2500. It would be borderline for a 3500SRW.

Dasmoeturhead · 06-30-2015, 08:11 AM

KYour already over your limit before you even get started. It's unfortunate, but it's the truth. You need at least a 3500, and better yet a dually. I had a 14 Ram 2500 ctd and pulled a Montana at 15500 K, and while it had plenty of power it was overloaded. Since the 2500's only come 3.42 gears, the transmission will take a beating under all conditions except flat highway towing. I know cuz I did it for 20 states.

I ended up taking a beating, and then trading up to a 3500 DRW, after adding all the goodies to a 2500 trying to make it something it would never be. SAFE!

It's a hard pill to swallow, but it's the truth.

JBurg · 06-30-2015, 10:47 AM

There's a fun thread playing out called "how much is too much?" on here that you should check out if you haven't already, OP.

2015 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn CC LB Dually. Cummins, Aisin, 4X4, 4.10 gears. Max towing-28,750. Max payload-5,436. 2016 DRV Mobile Suites 41RSSB4 on order.

jimcumminsw · 06-30-2015, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDI-Minnie

Your issue is going to be payload capacity.
The trailer and hitch weight are going to be on the high side for a diesel, crew cab, 3/4 ton. A gas, regular cab, for example, can carry a much heavier trailer.

Also, you didn't say which gear ratio you have.

He only has one gear ratio on a single wheel vehicle of that year it is 3:42 gear set. This is the only one that Ram offers starting in 2013.5 with the new high out put 6.7L engine.

As explained to us that attended the Turbo Diesel rally in 2013 at the Cummins mid-engine plant; this is enough to tow with at any weight classification for the SRW trucks.
Jim

jimcumminsw · 06-30-2015, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpd114

My wife and I are full time RV'ers. We recently traded in our Ford F-250 diesel for a new 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie diesel crew cab Longhorn. It's max towing rate is 17,100 lbs. Now looking to upgrade to a Redwood 38Gk at 14,079 lbs dry, 16,500 max. We will most likely stay under 16,500k loaded the way we travel.
Will the Dodge have any problems pulling this weight, especially up or down a steep incline?

Now the weight police are going to go APE over this but I do read the information that Ram puts out and not some ones opinion.

Per the Ram Body Builders Guide for towing capacity your truck meets the SAE J2807 Towing standard for 2015. This was test at the DAVIS DAM towing the maximum loads that Ram has certified this truck for. Per Ram PAYLOAD and Trailer Weight Ratings are mutually excusive: foot note 6; for the 2015 towing specs.

In my very very very humble opinion yes your truck can and will tow this trailer. Have fun and enjoy.

I would suggest that you join Turbo Diesel Register. com to learn more about your investment and how to maintain this Ram with the 6.7L Cummins engine in it. I have been a member since Nov. 07, when I bought my new 2008 Ram 3/4 ton with the 6.7L engine; best $35 a year I have spent for my truck.

Jim

Dasmoeturhead · 07-01-2015, 11:25 AM

No weight police here, just been there, done that. I'm telling you from real world experience. I've done the 2014 ctd 2500, and the 3500. Will the 2500 pull it, up and down? Yes it will. Is it fun ? No. These new trucks, 2014 and up are a totally different animal than the older trucks. They run hotter, and when you overload them, they get very hot. Especially in town, and of course long grades where you must go slow due to traffic, or the road itself. Plan on pulling over a lot to cool all the coolants in your engine, and that 68rfe.

jimcumminsw · 07-01-2015, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dasmoeturhead

No weight police here, just been there, done that. I'm telling you from real world experience. I've done the 2014 ctd 2500, and the 3500. Will the 2500 pull it, up and down? Yes it will. Is it fun ? No. These new trucks, 2014 and up are a totally different animal than the older trucks. They run hotter, and when you overload them, they get very hot. Especially in town, and of course long grades where you must go slow due to traffic, or the road itself. Plan on pulling over a lot to cool all the coolants in your engine, and that 68rfe.

I have the 6.7L Cummins and the 68RFE in my truck. The trucks transmission is normally between 180 and 200 F on a 90+ Deg ambient day towing my 5er. How do I know? I have a transmission temperature probe in my MAG-HYTEC Oil pan reading the sump temps. I have had the gage/probe and pan since new in Nov 07 along with my EGT and Boost gauges. This is the oil that goes into the transmission so it should be cool.

I will also downshift to 5th gear to speed up the engine from 1500 to 2000 RPM's when climbing a grade, the EGT's are around 800F and the boost is under 35PSI.

It is funny no one on TDR. com has complained about these trucks running hot and pulling heavy loads regardless if it is a 2500 or 3500 2013.5 and up.

Jim