Forum Discussion

Chuck___'s avatar
Chuck___
Explorer
Apr 26, 2015

How much safety I can tow. Please help check the numbers!

I tried to find the safe tow numbers that my truck can safety handle before I purchase a newer 5th wheel. Below are some of the web sites and resources I tried to fine the correct information from.

1. My truck: 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 3/4 ton, Quad Cab 2-Wheel Drive, 5.9L, I6 Cummins Turbo Charged Diesel, Auto Trans, 3.54 rear end.
Information from the driver door: GVWR=8800; Front GAWR= 4410; Rear GAWR=6044; Tires on truck now: LT245/70 R17, Load Range E, Max Load Single=3000 lbs. Note: Several years ago I have to have the transmission rebuilt. Had it rebuilt extra heavy duty with trans. cooler.

1a. Data from truck operating manual: Note, for Auto transmission list only 4.10 alxe ratio no 3.54: GCWR=18,000, Max Trailer Wt.=12,000. For 3.54 rear end, What is the GCWR rating?

1b. Pin weight for truck: GVWR=8800 X .25=2200 lbs. Am I calculating the pin weight right?

1c. Pin weight for trailer: Max Trailer Wt. 12,000X.25= 3000 lbs.

2. Looked up information on VIN Decoder: VIN# 1B7KC2360XJ636854.

2a. Wt. Distributing Hitch-Max Trailer Wt. = 10,000 lbs.

2b. Pin weight using VIN data: Wt. Distributing Hitch-Max Trailer Wt. = 10,000X.25= 2,500 lbs.

3. Measured weight from scales:
3a. Front GVWR= 3,880 Rear GVWR= 2,720 Total weighted truck @ scale=6,600.

3b. Pin weight: GVWR=8,800-scale total weight6,600=2,200

Summary: So want numbers do I believe? How heavy of a 5th wheel can I safety tow? Please show me if I am calculating Pin weight the right way and other calculations. What is the heaviest 5th wheel I should pull; dry weight and GCWR weight of a trailer?

You look up different web site and you’ll get different numbers! I know I need to take into account the weight of the driver; plus passages and extra weight in the tow truck. Could be an extra 600 pounds off the pin weight calculations. Also not to go by Dry Weight of the trailer. Got to figure in water weight of 8 lbs. per gallon and extra weight of food and supplies. Could weigh up to or more than 1,500 lbs. to 2,000 lbs. additional weight in the trailer.

PS: Like to buy a used 2007 Mobile Suite Model 32 TK3 a local person has. Dry weight is advertised @ 11,500 lbs. But, Luxury 2007 Mobile Suites 32 foot fifth wheel self-contained very clean with only 5,000 miles is in my opinion way over priced at $54,999.00. Just a pipe dream!
  • AH64ID's avatar
    AH64ID
    Explorer
    Apr 26, 2015
    Don't worry about your GVWR, that generation of Dodge had very low ratings. The frame is the same frame as used on a 3500 with a 11,500 GVWR.

    With a loaded truck look at the rear axle, the difference between loaded and 6000lbs is how much pin weight you can support. You can safely tow anything you can support with a 6000lb rear axle.

    I would consider a small trans upgrade to internals and cooling thou, maybe a little more if you plan on adding any power.
  • lawrosa's avatar
    lawrosa
    Explorer
    Apr 26, 2015
    Information from the driver door: GVWR=8800; Front GAWR= 4410; Rear GAWR=6044;

    3. Measured weight from scales:
    3a. Front GVWR= 3,880 Rear GVWR= 2,720 Total weighted truck @ scale=6,600.


    6044 rear - 2720 scale weight = 3324 lbs. Thats your payload. Thats pin, people cargo etc...
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Apr 26, 2015
    For one if you need to worry about your hitch weight you need a bigger truck.

    Your truck will safely tow a RV weighing about 12K loaded.

    I hauled a 32.5' Avion Platinum without air bags with my 98 2500 RAM 4X4 the truck sat perfectly level and towed very nice. I knew I was at my safe limit. When the wife wanted a bigger RV the bigger truck was needed.

    RAM's of that era were very under rated. My combined weight was 20.5K.
  • hbillsmith's avatar
    hbillsmith
    Explorer
    Apr 26, 2015
    A couple of thoughts. You will need aibags on the rear for a truck that old. They weight 35#. You can keep your hitch weight down with an Andersen Ultimate Aluminum (about 100# less than others and good for short beds). Any fiver for you will require you to be prudent on storage bin management. Use 20# propane tanks not 30# to save weight. Lastly, like said before, focus on 1/2 ton towable.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Apr 26, 2015
    ScottG wrote:
    With your gearing the tow capacity is closer to 10K# - gearing makes a big difference.
    Honestly I think that's an awful lot of trailer for your 3/4 ton.
    Also the loaded pin weight is going to be well in excess of your max load carrying capacity which is around 2K#. Then there's the weight of anything you carry in the bed and passengers.
    I'm sorry but I think you need more truck or less trailer.


    I agree; less trailer or more truck.

    Lyle
  • mdamerell's avatar
    mdamerell
    Explorer
    Apr 26, 2015
    Chuck .. wrote:

    3. Measured weight from scales:
    3a. Front GVWR= 3,880 Rear GVWR= 2,720 Total weighted truck @ scale=6,600.

    3b. Pin weight: GVWR=8,800-scale total weight6,600=2,200


    Was the whole family in the truck when you weighted it? Well if you don't have a hitch in the truck yet you are at 2,200 - 200# = 2,000# pin weight.

    2,000# / 20% = 10,000# loaded weight. So probably around 8,500# max dry weight. So look at "Half-ton towable"

    Not really a good truck to haul a 5th wheel. Trucks prior to 2005 have much lower numbers than the new trucks.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Apr 26, 2015
    With your gearing the tow capacity is closer to 10K# - gearing makes a big difference.
    Honestly I think that's an awful lot of trailer for your 3/4 ton.
    Also the loaded pin weight is going to be well in excess of your max load carrying capacity which is around 2K#. Then there's the weight of anything you carry in the bed and passengers.
    I'm sorry but I think you need more truck or less trailer.

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