3/4 Ton Towing fifth wheel

I know when my 12,400 5er is back there, the brick truck rides a lot better. And actually tracks on the highway better, with less steering input. Chris

dennis1949 wrote:
I pull a 3125 Blue Ridge.. Truck does not know 5th wheel is back there. Get about 12.5 mpg if run between 60 and 63. Total weight of truck and camper is 12,300 lbs.

Am I missing something here? I looked up a Forest River Blue Ridge 3125 and saw a dry weight of a little over 11,000#, and you stated your truck AND your 5er only weigh 12,300:h Did I look up the wrong 5er? Anyway, Hold on to that 5er and truck. most people towing now a day's, unless towing a very light 5er, DO know "it's back there"......AND you're getting 12.5 mpg!!....You must do all or most of your towing in flat land....but again, to not even know it's back there speaks VOLUMES about your trucks power, and the mpg is great....

rhagfo wrote:

Me Again wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Chris
What does your combo weigh?

When I towed with my 98 12V Cummins 2500 4X4 my combined weight was 20,500# the RV was a 2002 32.5' Avion Platinum. The truck sat level without air bags. I ran stock 3rd gen tires and wheels. Can't find my weight slips but it handled the load very well but I always said that was the limit for me. Anything longer or heavier was going to be a dually.

Sent you a PM. My 2001.5 was built like a SRW 1T, but Dodge did not tag it as such. Only in 2003 did they start officially building SRW 1T's, and they had tires of a lesser capacity than my 2001.5 optional 265's.

Chris

They just don't make them like those 2nd Gen Ram/Cummins any more! The same here 01 Ram 2500 towing 05 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS run about 2,100 pin loded and 19,000 GCVW. NO bags or Timberns, sits level, run hills all the time pull great, STOPs great goes great! The Camper Package makes all the difference, 3500 running gear and springs!

Looks just like my 98 only mine is red. Also have the same 3rd gen tires and wheels. Powered towing mirror to boot!

I previously towed the fiver in the sig with a 250 6.0. Weights were around 11.5k and pin weight was around 2k. Went up and over the Rockies with no problems. Squatted a little, but not enough to have to make any changes. Don't think I would have gone much heavier with it though, especially pin wt.

Me Again wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Chris
What does your combo weigh?

When I towed with my 98 12V Cummins 2500 4X4 my combined weight was 20,500# the RV was a 2002 32.5' Avion Platinum. The truck sat level without air bags. I ran stock 3rd gen tires and wheels. Can't find my weight slips but it handled the load very well but I always said that was the limit for me. Anything longer or heavier was going to be a dually.

Sent you a PM. My 2001.5 was built like a SRW 1T, but Dodge did not tag it as such. Only in 2003 did they start officially building SRW 1T's, and they had tires of a lesser capacity than my 2001.5 optional 265's.

Chris

They just don't make them like those 2nd Gen Ram/Cummins any more! The same here 01 Ram 2500 towing 05 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS run about 2,100 pin loded and 19,000 GCVW. NO bags or Timberns, sits level, run hills all the time pull great, STOPs great goes great! The Camper Package makes all the difference, 3500 running gear and springs!

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Chris
What does your combo weigh?

When I towed with my 98 12V Cummins 2500 4X4 my combined weight was 20,500# the RV was a 2002 32.5' Avion Platinum. The truck sat level without air bags. I ran stock 3rd gen tires and wheels. Can't find my weight slips but it handled the load very well but I always said that was the limit for me. Anything longer or heavier was going to be a dually.

Sent you a PM. My 2001.5 was built like a SRW 1T, but Dodge did not tag it as such. Only in 2003 did they start officially building SRW 1T's, and they had tires of a lesser capacity than my 2001.5 optional 265's.

Chris

Me Again wrote:

dennych1 wrote:
I cant buy a new fiver and a truck my wife will be upset. I went to dumps yesterday and the weight of truck was 8k. The weight of the rear axle was 3600lbs. The sticker on the door frame said my rear axle was 6084lbs.

OK now we are getting somewhere. You have 2484 pounds available for pin weight. If you need more than that, which you most likely do. I would look for a set of GM takeoff wider wheels and install LT265/75R16E rated to 3415 pound each. That pushes you rear tires/axle to 6830 and 3230 rear capacity.

The wheels that GM uses with LT245/75R16E's are 6.5" wide and not wide enough for the 265's, which are best on 8" wide wheels. You could also get aftermarket rims.

Sounds like you have a 2007 Classic, and you should hang onto it!!!

Chris

This would be your cheapest option OP as your current setup is a no go . Your DRY pin would be in the 2600 lb range.

The bottom line is this:
1) Its your choice
2) Most any 5er with loaded pin weight exceeding 2000 lbs will overload payload on most 3/4 ton trucks when loaded with passengers and gear, hitch, etc.
3) Its your choice

This is learned through my own experience.

Chris
What does your combo weigh?

When I towed with my 98 12V Cummins 2500 4X4 my combined weight was 20,500# the RV was a 2002 32.5' Avion Platinum. The truck sat level without air bags. I ran stock 3rd gen tires and wheels. Can't find my weight slips but it handled the load very well but I always said that was the limit for me. Anything longer or heavier was going to be a dually.

dennych1 wrote:
I cant buy a new fiver and a truck my wife will be upset. I went to dumps yesterday and the weight of truck was 8k. The weight of the rear axle was 3600lbs. The sticker on the door frame said my rear axle was 6084lbs.

OK now we are getting somewhere. You have 2484 pounds available for pin weight. If you need more than that, which you most likely do. I would look for a set of GM takeoff wider wheels and install LT265/75R16E rated to 3415 pound each. That pushes you rear tires/axle to 6830 and 3230 rear capacity.

The wheels that GM uses with LT245/75R16E's are 6.5" wide and not wide enough for the 265's, which are best on 8" wide wheels. You could also get aftermarket rims.

Sounds like you have a 2007 Classic, and you should hang onto it!!!

Chris