5th Wheel interest

45Ricochet wrote:
3042 ratings per tire were stock for your truck, which is about what you said, 6k lb. RAWR.
There is a couple of ways to increase this rating, both require new wheels and tires. You can stay with your current size wheel only wider and get a 265 tire or go with the best option in a 19.5 wheel and tire package. Gobbs of weight ratings with those with a ton of tire options to choose from.
OBTW we have the same axles so your only limit currently is your wheels and rubber and maybe a over load spring pack or air bags.

HERE'S a link for you

Thanks. I'll give them a call and see what I can learn.

3042 ratings per tire were stock for your truck, which is about what you said, 6k lb. RAWR.
There is a couple of ways to increase this rating, both require new wheels and tires. You can stay with your current size wheel only wider and get a 265 tire or go with the best option in a 19.5 wheel and tire package. Gobbs of weight ratings with those with a ton of tire options to choose from.
OBTW we have the same axles so your only limit currently is your wheels and rubber and maybe a over load spring pack or air bags.

HERE'S a link for you

45Ricochet wrote:
Lots of guys just upgrade the wheels and tires for higher axle ratings. New wheels and tires, maybe some bags or rear spring overloads you should be well under your RAWR, although you'll be over the GVWR set by the manufacturer.

Let's talk about this. This winter I replaced the original tires, cracks on the sidewalls. I was sold a set of BF Goodrich Commercial. The tire guy told me they were what is used on U-haul etc. Said they were 12 ply. E rating on the sidewall and 3,000 lb load limit per tire. Did not bother to check the originals before I removed, so I'm not sure if they are a better load tire or not. Would hope these are better since Commercial is stamped on them in big letters. The rear axle is rated at 6,000 lbs. So if I knew how much pressure the empty rear end of my 8 ft bed and axle, etc were exerting on these tires .... Well, just a thought.

If anyone is interested, these commercials are just as smooth at the originals at 70 mph. Originals were Michelin. I understand Michelin owns BF.

Thanks for all the responses. Will go window shopping again this weekend.

My 5er has a 12,100 gvw an even when we pack for a 3 week trip we are not over any limits of the truck or trailer. My truck is the same as yours, but is a '04.5 with a gvw of 9k. I bought the truck a year before the 5er. The truck and trailer sit level hooked up and trailer loaded for our trips. Just my set up. Others are different.

'07 Dodge 2500
5th wheel.......stay under 12,000 GVWR
12K GVWR trailer will put you right at RAWR, Rear Tire Load Ratings

Lots of guys just upgrade the wheels and tires for higher axle ratings. New wheels and tires, maybe some bags or rear spring overloads you should be well under your RAWR, although you'll be over the GVWR set by the manufacturer.

You don't need a 3500. Just look at some of the newer lighter 5'ers. New technology has brought about a new lighter 5'er that's just as nice as the old heavy ones of the past. I tend to use the trucks RAWR when dealing with pin weights. If the pin is 1800 dry it won't be 3000lbs loaded. 3000lbs would be for a 15,000lb 5'er. Most 5'ers are balanced well enough to get you close to 20% of your loaded weight on the pin. Look for a 5'er with a pin that's close to or a little lower than 20% of the 5'ers UVW. That way when you load up you'll be close to 20% on the pin. An 11,000 5'er should have a pin around 2200lbs.

If you know from previous trailering how much you load into your trailers then you could simply add that to the new 5'ers weight sticker that's usually found on the door. Figure 20% for pin and go from there. I never use the 5'ers GVW as a gage for pin weight since GVW's and UVW's are not consistent. Some 5'ers have really high CCC and some really low. Mine has a 4315lb CCC. I don't even have enough storage to put 4315lbs of stuff in there. It has a GVW of 11,500. But I'm actually at 9000lbs loaded. By using the GVW for figuring pin I'd be at 2300lbs. 500lbs more than it really is.

IMO if you are putting 500lbs in the truck and have a 2200lbs pin you'll be at 2700lbs for payload. That's only 275lbs over the trucks GVW. I've been running 200lbs over for the last year. My 2500 CTD, except for rear springs is no different than a 3500. I'm certain yours is the same way. You will still be under your RAWR by 500-600lbs.

rainwater wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
If you want to keep the truck, lower your sights a little on the 5er. Check out floor plans of some of the so called "light weight" 5ers. There are some pretty long 5ers built now with weights significantly lower than standard weight 5ers.

I have looked at them a little and even the nicer travel trailers. I made the mistake of looking at those nice 5th wheels first. Bad move!

Sounds like a new 3500 in your future then. :B

dennisgt60 wrote:
Welcome to the forum!

We ordered a new fifth wheel recently rated at 10K GVW. That's as heavy as I'm comfortable with based upon the truck in my sig.

Hope this helps.

I see you have nearly 2900 lbs to work with. That's very nice. Congrats on the new toy. Have fun.

BB_TX wrote:
If you want to keep the truck, lower your sights a little on the 5er. Check out floor plans of some of the so called "light weight" 5ers. There are some pretty long 5ers built now with weights significantly lower than standard weight 5ers.

I have looked at them a little and even the nicer travel trailers. I made the mistake of looking at those nice 5th wheels first. Bad move!