Best fifth wheel hitch

[SHODSON]

Any advise on the best fifthwheel hitch to purchase for my 2019 RAM 2500 mega cab short bed. I am going to be towing 2018 Jayco Pinnacle 41’ roughly 14K pounds. My truck has the puck system that was factory installed. Any help would be appreciated!

[GBB]

I bought the hitch that fits the pucks on my 2015 Ram 3500 made by B&W. pulled a fifth wheel up the Alcan with it. Its definitely a heavy duty hitch. Sold the 5th wheel but kept the hitch

[bertschb]

Originally Posted by SHODSON

Any advise on the best fifthwheel hitch to purchase for my 2019 RAM 2500 mega cab short bed. I am going to be towing 2018 Jayco Pinnacle 41’ roughly 14K pounds. My truck has the puck system that was factory installed. Any help would be appreciated!

Standard hitch? B&W Companion
Lightweight? Andersen Ultimate
Air bag? Trailersaver BD3

[TXiceman]

41' and 14,000 lb 5er. Must be the dry weight and a 2500 series truck?

Have you looked at the trailer GVWR?

I would suspect your loaded weight will be well over 16,000 lb, and maybe up to 17,000 lb.

Following is the spec on the pinnacle.
https://www.jayco.com/files/download...cle%202020.pdf

Your loaded pin weight will be closer to 3400 lb. Make sure you have enough truck payload capacity to carry the pin weight plus the cargo and passengers.

Ken

[jjackrash]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Your loaded pin weight will be closer to 3400 lb.

According to your link that's the dry pin weight of the smallest 41'er.

[SHODSON]

Guys, are you telling me I might have bought the wrong truck for the job? Everything I am looking at I should be fine. My Ram shows with my specific configuration I am able to tow 18K pounds. My 2018 36KPTS specs show dry weight of 13,255, payload of 3,245 and a GVWR of 16,500 lbs. and a hitch weight of 2,780. I never travel with more than 1/4 tank of water as well. I purchased (today) the Andersen Ultimate that has a tongue weight of 4,000 lbs max and a tow weight rating of 24,000 lbs.

[Filthy-Beast]

Originally Posted by SHODSON

Guys, are you telling me I might have bought the wrong truck for the job? Everything I am looking at I should be fine. My Ram shows with my specific configuration I am able to tow 18K pounds. My 2018 36KPTS specs show dry weight of 13,255, payload of 3,245 and a GVWR of 16,500 lbs. and a hitch weight of 2,780. I never travel with more than 1/4 tank of water as well. I purchased (today) the Andersen Ultimate that has a tongue weight of 4,000 lbs max and a tow weight rating of 24,000 lbs.

What does the door sticker on the truck say your payload is? 20% of 16500 is 3300# pin weight.

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by SHODSON

Any advise on the best fifthwheel hitch to purchase for my 2019 RAM 2500 mega cab short bed. I am going to be towing 2018 Jayco Pinnacle 41’ roughly 14K pounds. My truck has the puck system that was factory installed. Any help would be appreciated!

As far as the hitch with the short bed you should consider a slider hitch.

[RVGlen]

I believe I once read you should plan on having a 20% safety margin on the weight your truck is towing. So if the RV is 16k loaded you would add 3,200 lbs for 19,200 lbs. It's nice to know you can make it up the mountain and stop it on the way down.

One person on IRV2 said he does the Dragonfly method when towing his RV. He drags it up the mountain and flys down.

[jjackrash]

Originally Posted by SHODSON

Guys, are you telling me I might have bought the wrong truck for the job?

You are going to really be pushing or even exceeding the stated limits for payload capacity. You rig is heavy enough that I would want to know exactly how heavy that pin is running down the road loaded.

[Cumminsfan]

Friday I was at the local Ram dealer getting the oil changed. I walked the lot to check out the new trucks. All the 2500 diesels had door stickers between 2000-2200 lbs.
Didn't look at Mega's but they'll be under 2000 lbs for payload.
2019 Mega's are 3200 lbs dry on the rear axle. RAWR is 6040 lbs. That leaves 2840 lbs for the 5er pin weight and 5th hitch. You'll need a slider so figure 200 lbs
Now you have 2640 for pin weight. Guessing all loaded up with batteries and propane, stuff in the front basement and in the bedroom you'll be near 3200 lbs for the pin.
Minus passengers and gear in the truck plus the 5er pin and you'll be way over the payload and RAWR.
Yes you have the wrong truck.

[keymastr]

I agree, and at 16,000 pounds gross you are really looking at duelly territory. Even if you can carry the likely 4000 pound pin weight you will want the stability of more and wider rubber on your rear axle. I don't think a 3/4 ton anything will be appropriate for that size trailer. If the dealer lets you leave with it he should be run out of business.

[jjackrash]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

All the 2500 diesels had door stickers between 2000-2200 lbs.

The gassers are around 3k payload, IIRC. But, ya.

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by jjackrash

The gassers are around 3k payload, IIRC. But, ya.

Ditto. My 2018 2500 6.4 has 2907 lbs for CCC. I just assumed the OP had a diesel.