Ram 2500/Cummins

The important thing to worry about is your “pin weight” That is the weight that is put inside your bed. That effects your suspension, front and rear and things like steering! In your RAM 2500, if it is “heavy Duty”, you should have the same transmission, breaks, differential as a 3500. So the next thing to check is your tires, and their rated capacity. While things like “helper springs” air bags and other “fixes” can solve an issue, you need to look at the truck as a whole to ensure your towing safely.

Yes, almost all pin wt will go on the rear axle. Easy thing to do, is get separate axle wts of your truck ready to camp, full fuel, people, and gear. How much does rear axle weigh? Let's say 3,200, plus 200 more for hitch 3400. Look at your RAWR/tire rating (6-6.5K)? Subtract the 3,400 from your axle/tire rating, and this is the amount you can still put on rear axle.

Jerry

Thanks. Pin weight is 3300 lbs, max rated for the PU is 4,000; so should be fine.

KHJPHOTO wrote:
Thanks. Pin weight is 3300 lbs, max rated for the PU is 4,000; so should be fine.

Max pin for truck 4K? Where does this come from? I doubt your R axle rating will allow an additional 4K?

You say pin wt 3,300? Is this dry wt? You need to figure the pin wt of a loaded trailer, ready to camp. What is GVWR of toy haulers you're looking at?

The 10,000 GVWR of your truck is not the issue, but axle ratings/tire max ratings are.

You may be able to carry a pin of a 14K loaded toy hauler, but probably not much beyond that.

Jerry

KHJPHOTO wrote:
Thanks. Pin weight is 3300 lbs, max rated for the PU is 4,000; so should be fine.

Double check those numbers.
- I pulled up the trailer specs and GVWR is right around 17,000lb. Assuming 20-25% pin weight, that's 3400-4250lb on the pin.
- The highest payload I could find for a 2022 shortbed 4x4 was 3,160lb and that's a stripped down 6.4l gas engine model. There's a "limited" diesel with only 1,640lb payload. Check the sticker on the door frame.
- Keep in mind, you need payload for the hitch, passengers and anything else in the truck, that all counts against your payload.

Honestly, 17k 5th wheels are really better suited to diesel duallies (and if you search my posts, I'm a proponent of gas trucks most of the time but this is a big enough trailer, diesel and dually makes sense)

I'm not saying you will go out in a fiery blaze of glory within the first 50ft but it seems silly when buying new to go substandard.

KHJPHOTO wrote:
Thanks. Pin weight is 3300 lbs, max rated for the PU is 4,000; so should be fine.

Unfortunately many tow these toy haulers with those weights with 3/4 ton pickups ,but that's beyond their safe capability , you are looking at dually numbers here .

Sigh, guess I will hotel,it!

Thanks all for your input

Did you take possession of the truck yet? Any chance you could change out for a dually? Usually the cost difference it pretty minimal.

Yup got the truck - beautiful and love it. Reading here from you guys just thinking it won’t do the job. $70 grand is a hard hit if it won’t do the job!. Speaking with the dealer they tell me the pin weight of a 13,000 lb 5th wheel should be around 1800 lbs; but the specs on the trailer say 3300.

KHJPHOTO wrote:
Yup got the truck - beautiful and love it. Reading here from you guys just thinking it won’t do the job. $70 grand is a hard hit if it won’t do the job!. Speaking with the dealer they tell me the pin weight of a 13,000 lb 5th wheel should be around 1800 lbs; but the specs on the trailer say 3300.

Pin weight is normally 20-25% of trailer weight, so I doubt it will be 1800lbs.

The way trucks are right now, you might come out ok selling it and buying again. 3500's are not more. Might be able to do an almost even swap.