Please-Just One More Weight Question

[MikeWard]

I am currently driving a 2001 Dodge V10 1 ton DRW. I would like to buy a 5er and due some traveling. If I have figured everything correctly - I have taken the weight of the truck (7520) subtracted this from the GCAWR (19000) which leaves me 11480lbs. Pin weight doesn't seem to be a problem but if I am right this is the heaviest 5er I can tow with everything in it, this eliminates a lot of 5ers with slides. I would like to know how individuals with say a 2500 truck can tow a 34' to 36' 5er with 3 or 4 slides? Have I figured this wrong or are they over the weight limit? Do newer trucks pull more weight? Thanks for your input.

[MikeWard]

I am currently driving a 2001 Dodge V10 1 ton DRW. I would like to buy a 5er and due some traveling. If I have figured everything correctly - I have taken the weight of the truck (7520) subtracted this from the GCAWR (19000) which leaves me 11480lbs. Pin weight doesn't seem to be a problem but if I am right this is the heaviest 5er I can tow with everything in it, this eliminates a lot of 5ers with slides. I would like to know how individuals with say a 2500 truck can tow a 34' to 36' 5er with 3 or 4 slides? Have I figured this wrong or are they over the weight limit? Do newer trucks pull more weight? Thanks for your input.

[450Donn]

We are generally waaayyy over the trucks GVWR. This is from experience towing a 35 foot three slide fifth wheel with a Chevy 2500. Most people in this situation advocate ignoring the GVWR and instead using the axle ratings. Since your truck has a gross combined of 19,000 pounds, I would suggest that you have two choices, one, is a newer truck with a higher gross combined ( current dodge is 23,000) or stick with a fiver of around 32 feet and no more than two slides and quit worrying about. From experience towing overloaded is not fun and I will never tell someone else to do it.

On edit, my current fiver has a GVWR of 14,500 pounds and scales about 14,000 when everything is said and done. This might be just slightly over for your current truck, but not much.

[CD]

Mike Ward
Are you sure about the GCVWR (?) My 01 is 21500. I have the CTD & the 410 rear end which may make a difference. My PU traveling weight is about 8K, which would leave me about 13500. I don't advise it but I have been up to 27K & 25K. The 27K was way too much and I didn't go very far and the 25K load I didn't go over 55mph. I didn't have any trouble but knew I had a load.

[RustyJC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CD:
Are you sure about the GCVWR (?) My 01 is 21500. I have the CTD & the 410 rear end which may make a difference. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Yes, the Cummins HO/NV5600/4.10 in the 3500 (dually) was the only 2nd Generation Ram with a 21,500 lb GCWR. The same truck with a 3.54 axle ratio had a 20,000 lb GCWR. The V-10s generally carried even lower GCWRs (I had a 1996 V-10/47RE dually).

Rusty

[MikeWard]

I appreciate the information and will certainly take this under advisement before I put out the money. Thanks again and be careful on the highway.