Ram 2500 and F250 heavy duty diesel

john&bet wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Which year, trim level is this imaginary truck

My vintage/era a 250/2500 max out around 12K 5th wheel

New ones....roughly 14K 5th wheel

I disagree on your statement about the newer ones. I have a 3500 SRW inbound for my 14k GVW 5th.

While your 3500 is the best choice for your 14K GVWR FW, Old-Biscuit is correct to say a new 2500 would work. His truck, 3500 with 6500 RAWR carries a just short of 14K ACTUAL SCALED WT FW. He is still under his 6,500 RAWR, and tire rating, as would be a newer 2500, with the same 6,500 RAWR, and likely higher tire rating.

Jerry

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Which year, trim level is this imaginary truck

My vintage/era a 250/2500 max out around 12K 5th wheel

New ones....roughly 14K 5th wheel

Just so I understand, a 14K FW would have a pin weight of around 2800 pounds? Figure about 700 pounds for passengers, hitch and stuff....This is WAY over any payload ratings I've seen on any crew cab SRW 3/4 ton trucks from any maker.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Which year, trim level is this imaginary truck

My vintage/era a 250/2500 max out around 12K 5th wheel

New ones....roughly 14K 5th wheel

I disagree on your statement about the newer ones. I have a 3500 SRW inbound for my 14k GVW 5th.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

MFL wrote:
You just need to weigh the rear axle of the truck in question, loaded to go, full fuel, people, hitch, gear in bed, etc. If your rear axle weighs 3,200, and your RAWR is 6,200, you have 3,000 lbs of room left for pin wt.

Jerry

I highly advise listening to Jerry on this one!!!

Thanks for the vote of confidence Cummins12V98! Forums are a great source of information, but folks looking for answers, still need the ability to sort wheat from chaff.

Jerry

mtofell1 wrote:
Payload is artificially low on 250/2500 trucks. They are the same truck as a 350/3500 truck except for some rear suspension parts that can be easily made up for. Even before worrying about that, the RAWR is the limiting factor as it rolls off the lot.

As your are learning in this thread there is A LOT of disagreement about whether to abide by the payload or the higher axle weights. Only you can decide that.

Keep researching and decide what you are comfortable with.

Motfell hits it pretty well, if you are comfortable towing over GVWR, the differences between a 250/2500 and the same 350/3500 are very minor especially if the 250/2500 has a camper package. We carry/ tow a 12,360# GVWR with a 2001 Ram 2500, and don’t need bags, stock camper package springs.

vinnydog wrote:
I figured I would go right to the source.

Why are you here then?

The source is the manufacturer. Look up the year, model and configuration and they give you the numbers.

Payload is artificially low on 250/2500 trucks. They are the same truck as a 350/3500 truck except for some rear suspension parts that can be easily made up for. Even before worrying about that, the RAWR is the limiting factor as it rolls off the lot.

As your are learning in this thread there is A LOT of disagreement about whether to abide by the payload or the higher axle weights. Only you can decide that.

Keep researching and decide what you are comfortable with.

Rbertalotto wrote:

You just need to weigh the rear axle of the truck in question, loaded to go, full fuel, people, hitch, gear in bed, etc. If your rear axle weighs 3,200, and your RAWR is 6,200, you have 3,000 lbs of room left for pin wt.

I don’t believe this is even close to accurate. The only weight you need to look at is on the drivers door jam. That payload weight takes into account brakes, tires and other options. The weight rating of the rear axle is not the limiting factor.

Actually the RAWR and Rear Tire Max Load Ratings ARE the limiting factors.

Stay at or under those ratings and you are DOT legal.

vinnydog wrote:
For those people who have either truck, what would be the max 5th wheel pin weight you would feel safe with? I have been researching but I'm getting conflicting reports online. I figured I would go right to the source.

Thanks,
Rocco

To start with if you are going to buy a new truck to tow a 5th wheel and questioning size/pin weight of the 5th wheel, then start with 350/3500 trucks, not 250/2500 trucks.

The newer trucks have a little yellow weight sticker inside the drivers door. It list a payload capacity for that truck. From this number, subtract the weight of passengers, hitch and any cargo. This is your maximum loaded pip weight.

Typically a loaded 5er will have a pin weight of around 20% of the trailers GVWR. Ours is a bit over 21%.

Do not listen to the dealers or owners telling you to add air bags and you will be fine. Air bags do nothing to increase the trucks load capacity,

Ken