Just wondering - can I tow a fifth wheel?

[jergeod]

I have a 16 Ram Laramie crew cab 4X4 with the 5.7 Hemi MDS VVT engine with the 8 speed trans with the 5' 3" bed. Now I was wondering if there is any way a 5th wheel can be towed with this truck because of the short bed. Any info would be great. Longer hitch box on the trailer, slider on the fifth.

[Bob_C]

Sidewinder pin box moves the pivot point back 22" from where it'd normally be....

[smurfsofwar]

With the 8 speed that tells me its a 1500. A laramie tells me its already fairly weighed down. Your rear axle won't like you if you put the pin weight of a 5er on it. I am not a member of the weight police, but I am just pointing that out to save you a headache

Ask me how I know...

Otherwise, above post is the way it's done I believe

[Cumminsfan]

No.

[plasma800]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

No.

This

[plasma800]

Here's a recent discussion.

Be sure to read through post #17
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/artic...ck-374684.html

I'll add that slider will help unload your front wheels.

There is a single 5th wheel out there that people talk about, I can't remember the name, it's really small and light, but I think it's referenced in the post linked above by another member.

[jergeod]

Tell me more, Ram says I am good for 1420 in the box on this truck per serial number and 8460 gvw for the trailer. Not looking to go big and heavy. Keystone has a few that fit the numbers. Make me not want to do this.

[jergeod]

After doing a little more research I kind of agree with you guys need to upgrade the truck. Thanks for the info.

[Freqz]

Originally Posted by jergeod

After doing a little more research I kind of agree with you guys need to upgrade the truck. Thanks for the info.

Good call.

[smurfsofwar]

Originally Posted by jergeod

After doing a little more research I kind of agree with you guys need to upgrade the truck. Thanks for the info.

Good choice.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by jergeod

Tell me more, Ram says I am good for 1420 in the box on this truck per serial number and 8460 gvw for the trailer. Not looking to go big and heavy. Keystone has a few that fit the numbers. Make me not want to do this.

WAGged (guessed) numbers are usually inaccurate. You need real numbers.

The GVWR of a tow vehicle (TV) is a real number. It's the maximum weight that can be on the tires of the TV. Rear GAWR is a real number. It's the maximum weight that can be on the rear tires of the TV.

Tow rating is not a real number - it's a WAG based on faulty assumptions. Payload capacity is not a real number. It's also a WAG based on faulty or unlikely assumptions.

So you want to use the GVWR or rGAWR as your limiter as to how much trailer you can tow without being overloaded, and ignore tow rating. On most pickups the GVWR will be your limiter. On some the rGAWR will be the limiter. GVWR limiter is easier to calculate, and it will be close to the rGAWR limiter, so I use GVWR. That means you have to weigh the wet and loaded TV to determine payload capacity available for hitch weight.

So load your Ram up with everybody and everything that will be in it when towing. Everything. Passengers, kids, pets, toys, tools, jacks and jack stands and jack base, campfire wood and anything else that weighs more than a handkerchief. Drive to a truck stop that has a CAT scale, fill up with gas, be sure all passengers are in the TV, and weigh the wet and loaded TV.

Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded TV from the GVWR of the TV. The answer is the payload capacity available for hitch weight. If you don't already have the 5er hitch installed in the TV, then subtract 200 pounds for the weight of a good 5er hitch and install kit from the payload capacity available for hitch weight. The answer is the payload capacity available for kingpin (pin) weight.

5er RV trailers have about 20% pin weight. So divide the payload capacity available for pin weight by 0.2 (20%) and the answer is the max weight of any 5er you can tow without being overloaded. Be conservative when estimating the weight of the wet and loaded trailer. Use the GVWR of the trailer, or if GVWR is not published then use dry weight plus cargo carrying capacity (CCC) as GVWR.

And no, you don't want to be overloaded. Not even 100 pounds overloaded when you are hauling precious cargo in the TV.

Those real numbers should "make you not want to do this".

[DukeofDburg]

I used an Andersen Ultimate II hitch in my 2015 F250 crew cab short bed 4x4. Since you can adjust the front to rear mounting point as well as the height, I had zero clearance issues with either the cab or the bed rails. Plus it weighs about 35 lbs. which will help with your much-needed payload capacity on a 1500 series truck. Slider hitches are heavy and you have to remember to get out and release them unless you have the automatic version. It can be seen here https://andersenhitches.com/Products...k-version.aspx