Non 5'er----yet

Bobandshawn wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
With fifth wheels the critical truck stat is carry capacity not tow weight. Use 25% of the max weight of the fver as a rough estimate of the pin weight of the fver. For example on a 10,000# max weight fver, use 2500# as the pin weight estimate.

Then then subtract from the trucks carry weight: pin weight + 200# hitch weight + weight of the passengers + any thing else carried in the truck. If you come up with a negative number then you have a problem. This is a big problem with most 3/4 ton trucks.

Agree with this as well. I have a 4X4 2500 Mega Cab with the 6.4 gas Hemi and 4.10 gears. The payload on this is 2,903 lbs and towing capacity is 15,250. This is a higher load rating than the heavier Cummins diesel version of the same truck. The diesel model has a payload rating of 1,995 lbs, almost a grand less, and the tow rating is 50 lbs less at 15,200. The Ram 3/4 tons with a diesel are only available with a 3.42 axle gear now. The diesel has less payload due to the added weight of the engine. So even if they had a 3.73 or 4.10 gear ratio on those the payload would remain the same.

So from your calculations I need to stay with a pin weight of about 1500 lbs or so. Now much trailer!!I got such a deal on this truck I may trade up for a CTD Mega Cab dually. LOL

It's pretty simple. With your hitch in the truck all your cargo including humans go to the scales and weigh your REAR axle. Now subtract that number from the MAX carrying capacity of your two rear tires. THAT is what the MAX pin can be. Take the GVWR of the 5er you are looking at and take 25% of that number if it's less than your max pin then you are good to go!

Towing capacity dos not mean JACK in most cases.

The above statement is mostly for SRW trucks.