Truck Selection, 5er, by the numbers

[plasma800]

5er Numbers

Published Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 16270
Published Dry Weight: 12009
Published Hitch Weight: 2270
Published Length: 37ft 11

Truck:
15,16,17, or 18
Dodge Ram 3500
crew cab, long bed, DRW
Aisin Transmission

(based on '17 year model specs)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 14000
Gross Combined Weight Rating: 33800
Truck Base Weight: 8314
Passengers and cargo: 1000-1200

Any thoughts at all?

I'm wondering about "too little pin weight" ... not too little pin weight compared to the trailer weight, but is there such a thing as too little pin weight for a particular truck?

[Duoglide1]

That published pin weight is most certainly "dry." Figure 20-25% of gross trailer weight in reality. Mine is 23% when fully loaded-no where near advertised. Good luck.

[SmokeyWren]

Yeah, the published "hitch weight" is the dry hitch weight. A reasonable gross trailer weight for that wet and loaded trailer would be would be 15,000 pounds, with 20% pin weight would be 3,000 pounds. But if trying to match trailer to tow vehicle, plan to sometimes have the trailer loaded to the max of 16,000 pounds with 3,200 pounds pin weight. Add 200 pounds for the weight of the installed 5er hitch, and assuming you weren't behind the door when they passed out the brains, the most hitch weight you should ever have is 3,400 pounds.

So, buy a tow vehicle with enough payload capacity to handle 3,400 pounds hitch weight plus anything and everything that will be in the truck when towing. People, pets, tool box full of tools, jacks and jackstands, extra fuel, campfire wood, grill and fuel for the grill, toys, portable generator, and on and on. I would want at least 5,000 pounds payload capacity in a tow vehicle for that RV trailer. Ram makes it, but you have to pay attention to details to be sure that's what you buy.

...but is there such a thing as too little pin weight for a particular truck?

No, as long as you have at least positive pin weight under all conditions. Bumps, dips, etc. should never result in negative pin weight.

The dry pin weight for that trailer is 18.9% of dry trailer weight. That's plenty to be sure you never have negative pin weight, and not far from the 20% you will probably have with a wet and loaded trailer.

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[plasma800]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

Yeah, the published "hitch weight" is the dry hitch weight. A reasonable gross trailer weight for that wet and loaded trailer would be would be 15,000 pounds, with 20% pin weight would be 3,000 pounds. But if trying to match trailer to tow vehicle, plan to sometimes have the trailer loaded to the max of 16,000 pounds with 3,200 pounds pin weight. Add 200 pounds for the weight of the installed 5er hitch, and assuming you weren't behind the door when they passed out the brains, the most hitch weight you should ever have is 3,400 pounds.

So, buy a tow vehicle with enough payload capacity to handle 3,400 pounds hitch weight plus anything and everything that will be in the truck when towing. People, pets, tool box full of tools, jacks and jackstands, extra fuel, campfire wood, grill and fuel for the grill, toys, portable generator, and on and on. I would want at least 5,000 pounds payload capacity in a tow vehicle for that RV trailer. Ram makes it, but you have to pay attention to details to be sure that's what you buy.



No, as long as you have at least positive pin weight under all conditions. Bumps, dips, etc. should never result in negative pin weight.

The dry pin weight for that trailer is 18.9% of dry trailer weight. That's plenty to be sure you never have negative pin weight, and not far from the 20% you will probably have with a wet and loaded trailer.

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Payload on that truck should be around 5700 lbs.

Sounds to me like this would be a nice fit, i was worried this was TOO much truck, and that I might run into issues there.

I've located a used '08 chevy 3500 HD diesel for a MUCH better price, but it's numbers aren't quite there.

[Oldelevatorman]

You've got to get newer to get more payload. My '15 F350 DRW has 5650 payload.