Question about Dodge Truck & Toy Haulers

Can your truck handle well over 3,000 pounds (payload) in the bed? Keystone says the pin weight is around 3,500 pounds - quite a lot for a 2500. But for starters, never, ever listen to the salesman.

For what it's worth, my last truck was a Chevy 2500 and it handled our 14,000 GVWR 5th wheel just fine. Then we decided we wanted a toy hauler. It has a 19,000 GVWR and over 3,000 pin weight. We quickly got the dually and haven't been disappointed. I wouldn't even dream of handling the TH with a 2500.

If you go to the Dodge website, they should have the towing guide available for your model truck. Dually's add more pin weight capacity, but also increase stability when pulling heavy loads, a lot will depend on the pin weight and total loaded weight of your proposed new rig.

One other point, your 375TS will be over 15,000 pounds gross weight so you'll need to visit DMV for a Non-commercial Class A endorsement on your driver's license. CHP will see your triple axle trailer and will pull you over to check for the endorsement.

DMV RV Handbook

What kind of cab (Regular, Quad),....which model (tradesman, laramie, etc.), what gearing, Im assuming 3.42. Its not happening. New truck or different trailer.The gearing makes a huge difference. Your payload should be right around 2300 unless u have a regular cab . Then it will be closer to 2700. This is going by the chart on rams site. That damn payload with toy haulers. U gotta hate it. Print this chart out from the ram site and take it to the dealer and tell him to eat his words.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/

That TH has a GVWR of 16,540#
That TH has a listed 'dry pin weight' of 3460#

That Th is too heavy for your 2500 regardless of what is published.

RV Dealers are telling you 'no problem' cause they want to make a sell
'Others' are telling you too heavy. Others are right.


Your 2500 is capable of towing a 5th wheel TH just need to get one that is within your trucks 'true, real, actual weight rating'

You probably have a 10,000# truck GVWR with RAWR of 6500#

So go weigh your truck 'camp ready' (you, all passengers, any stuff in cab, any stuff in bed, full fuel)....add 200# if you don;t currently have a 5vr hitch.
Subtract that number from your GVWR...........???
(Camp ready truck 7200# from 10,000#------2800# payload capacity)

Plus check Rear axle camp ready weight vs RAWR
(Camp ready weight 3800# from 6500# RAWR----2700# payload)
And rear tire MAX LOAD Rating
(Rear tires X 2-----?)

So with 10,000 GVWR and a 6500# RAWR.....look for a 5th wheel TH that has a GVWR of 13,000# (20% for wet pin-----2600#) BUT TH typically run pin weight heavy so that could be closer to 3000#

It's all about knowing what you actually have for capacities based on your trucks actual weights vs published magical mfg. numbers.
Then you can make an informed decision on whether or not you think 'ratings' have any meaning and if you choose to ignore them and tow overloaded.

BUT you have to weigh truck.......otherwise

Definitely a case of "Needs a dually".
Not even close otherwise!
Welcome to the real world of 5th wheel toy haulers!
Challenge the RV dealers....
How about they buy you a new truck if you exceed any of the factory weight ratings on the truck they say would be "no problem"?
IN WRITING!
And see how fast they back pedal:B

Right on, dealers will say anything to close a sale and make you feel good. You might be able to pull it, but can you do so safely. I would error on the side of caution and either find a smaller TH or, get a bigger truck.

joekosoglow wrote:
My wife and I want to purchase a Toy Hauler but a couple people have told me my Dodge truck can't handle it unless I sell it and purchase a "dually".

All the RV dealers I've talked to says "no problem" but others are telling me "the toy hauler is too heavy for my truck"

We are wanting to purchase a Raptor 375TS. And now we are so confused on this purchase.

We have a 2014 Dodge RAM 2500 Diesel 4WD truck. Can someone help me understand whether I can purchase this or do I have to go smaller.

Our heart is set on a 5th Wheel Toy Hauler.

Thanks for your assistance.

Maximum payload for a 2014 Ram 2500 4WD Cummins is approx. 2200-2400 lbs. depending on cab configuration and options (check the door jam for the exact payload rating for your truck). Add a significant other, some gear and you're easily left with 2000 lbs. or less of remaining payload. Empty pin/hitch weight for a Raptor 375TS, I believe, is at least 3095 lbs. (probably much more). If you're comfortable with exceeding the maximum payload rating of your truck by a 1000 lbs. or more, then you're good.

cchristanis wrote:
What kind of cab (Regular, Quad),....which model (tradesman, laramie, etc.), what gearing, Im assuming 3.42. Its not happening. New truck or different trailer.The gearing makes a huge difference.

Has nothing to do with gearing.. It's all about ACTUAL pin weight and real world payload you get with a 3/4 ton truck (regardless of brand).

Frame, suspension, axle, brakes....1 tons, everything is stronger, bigger and the truck weighs more, that helps alot when handling a heavy hauler.