Thinking of getting a fifth wheel..

Dave_DianT wrote:
Confused about how much truck can carry.i got these off door jams,hoping they would help.we are looking a between 30 to 34 ft.
2006 dodge ram 3500,i6,srw,sb.deisel,5.9 4x4
Just 2 people an ice chest and two bikes for cargo.
Gvwr 09900
Gawr front 5200
Gawr rear 6200

Other says combined weight of cargo and occupants not to exceed 2858

Staying conservative and looking at only the payload (that 2858 number), you can get an idea from this:
http://towingplanner.com/Calculators/TowingPayloadEstimate

Only the scales can tell you what is left for pin weight/hitch wt on the rear axle. You have 6,200 available. If the truck rear axle weighed 3,200, full fuel, passengers, ready to camp, you'd have 3,000 lbs left for hitch and pin wt. The hitch will be about 200#s, so 2,800 left for pin. You should be able to handle the size FW you are considering, keeping in mind a FW loaded to camp wt of about 12K.

Jerry

Thanks ,looks like thats what we will do once weather improves in our area

Welcome to the forum.

Cargo carrying capacity is 2,858 pounds
Deduct the weight of both passengers
Deduct the weight of the bikes
Deduct the weight of the ice chest
Deduct 200 pounds for a hitch
Divide that number by .2 and .25 and you will get a range for potential trailer weight.

Better yet, fill up the truck, throw the bikes and ice chest in the bed, both of you get in and have the truck weighed. Deduct that weight from 9,900 and then do the math.

For instance, 2,200 pounds of remaining capacity translates into approximately a 9,000-11,000# fifth wheel. You could bump that up if you put the bikes and ice chest in the trailer and bought a light weight hitch. Some trailers are lighter on the pin than others. Your drive train won't have any problems towing a 5er but your cargo capacity is the limiter as to how large you can go.

Here is a good place to get good, unbiased information clicky

Google: your truck

Of course you'll have to refine it a bit.