FW limitations for my Ram 2500
We just lost our 6 month-old Outback 316RL TT in a fire at our covered storage facility started by an arson...totally destroyed down to the frame.
I'm looking to replace it and was considering going to a FW. We have a 2012 Ram Laramie Crew Cab 2500 diesel with a 3.73 rear axle. After looking at several "light" FW's, had gotten excited over the Keystone Montana High Country 318 RE. I started checking out the specs and everything worked until I got to the payload issue on my truck.
Back when we first bought the TT I had the truck weighed with full fuel. It came in at 7,500 lbs....4560 front axle and 2940 on the rear. After adding 420 lbs. for passengers and assuming 150 lbs. for a FW hitch it would total 8,070 lbs. The GVWR for my truck is 9,600 lbs., leaving only 1,530 for FW hitch weight.
The FW we were looking at has an unloaded hitch weight of 1930 lbs. So before we add any weight to the FW we're already 400 lbs. over payload. I was shocked and disappointed and was left wondering how all these FW's I've seen pulled by 3/4 ton P/Ups do it. We are well within the limits for GCWR and our rear axle GAWR is 6,010 lbs. so no problem there. But the payload is way over being acceptable.
I'm not going to a 3500, and the FW size we'd need to be within payload limits is way to small for our needs.
Guess we'll scrap the FW idea and look for a TT replacement instead. Am I missing something here? I can't believe how many large FW's I see pulled by 250/2500 trucks.
If I'm wrong somewhere in my calculations please let me know. Thanks.
I'm looking to replace it and was considering going to a FW. We have a 2012 Ram Laramie Crew Cab 2500 diesel with a 3.73 rear axle. After looking at several "light" FW's, had gotten excited over the Keystone Montana High Country 318 RE. I started checking out the specs and everything worked until I got to the payload issue on my truck.
Back when we first bought the TT I had the truck weighed with full fuel. It came in at 7,500 lbs....4560 front axle and 2940 on the rear. After adding 420 lbs. for passengers and assuming 150 lbs. for a FW hitch it would total 8,070 lbs. The GVWR for my truck is 9,600 lbs., leaving only 1,530 for FW hitch weight.
The FW we were looking at has an unloaded hitch weight of 1930 lbs. So before we add any weight to the FW we're already 400 lbs. over payload. I was shocked and disappointed and was left wondering how all these FW's I've seen pulled by 3/4 ton P/Ups do it. We are well within the limits for GCWR and our rear axle GAWR is 6,010 lbs. so no problem there. But the payload is way over being acceptable.
I'm not going to a 3500, and the FW size we'd need to be within payload limits is way to small for our needs.
Guess we'll scrap the FW idea and look for a TT replacement instead. Am I missing something here? I can't believe how many large FW's I see pulled by 250/2500 trucks.
If I'm wrong somewhere in my calculations please let me know. Thanks.
