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emilyjane918's avatar
emilyjane918
Explorer
Nov 20, 2022

Towing with lifted truck; need assistance

Hi everyone!
I’m super new to gvwr, pin weight, axles, etc. and have no clue how to calculate a safe towing weight that I can haul. I have a 2015 4x4 6.7l turbo diesel ram 2500 truck that’s lifted (I think 6 inches) and not sure how big the tires are. Attached the side door jam stickers info below. I’m okay with doing a travel trailer (preferably a toy hauler style) using a drop hitch to balance out the lift, would also like a fifth wheel toy hauler if possible (I doubt though due to the lift). All this math is difficult for me to do and I just want to make sure my truck won’t get damaged or my family is at risk by being overloaded or towing improperly. Could I get a gvwr rv range (not dry weight) that would be best for my truck? Looking to live out of it and not financially able to purchase a dually unfortunately. The weight of my family & belongings (car seats, bags, etc) is around 600 on the high side

Combined weight of cargo and occupants never exceed 2155 lbs. Front & Rear tires 295. GAWR front 6000, GAWR rear 6500. GVWR 10,000.

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  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Nov 20, 2022
    If going strictly by the numbers, you have even less payload with the mods done to the truck.. Those bigger tires weigh more than the OEM ones. The lift kit has added additional weight as well.. If I had to guess, I'd say you are probably around the #1900 payload now. (with the #10,000 GVWR you subtract the actual weight of the truck as it sits right now to come up with a new payload #)

    My F150 has a #1900 payload rating! But, your 2500 Ram is still a much more HD truck than mine, so you can get away with going over payload if you wish... But, that's up to you to decide by how much.. :)

    You'll have to settle for a TT for the reasons given above, but it's still not gonna be a 'hitch it up and go' kinda deal.. You'll really need to adjust your driving and learn how the combo reacts with each other and go from there..

    Good luck! Mitch
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Nov 20, 2022
    Anyone's guess regarding the quality of the lift kit, installation and how it impacts the factory numbers. But it most likely affects them in a negative manner.

    In addition to needing to get the 5er an extra 6" higher, with a 2100lb payload, you are probably only good for around 6000-7500lb GVWR 5er (assuming 20-25% pin weight and 600lb in the truck) if you want to stay within the original factor ratings (which may no longer apply).

    Even a travel trailer may be marginal with unknown modifications. Assuming a family of 4, firewood, cooler, generator etc...in the truck bed, even a 8000lb bumper pull may be pushing the payload limits.

    Having driven (but not towed) a few lifted trucks with big tires, no way would I want a lifted truck for towing.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Nov 20, 2022
    Good on you for trying to do things right.
    Now you posted your axle ratings. BUT there is now way in the world that I, or anybody else reading can guess the strength of parts used on the lift. This makes the factory number mean snot.
    Now, I'm likely to upset you and many others. Fact is when you lift a vehicle you raise the Center of Gravity. This makes the vehicle easier to overturn. (IMHO, car seats in a lifted truck is worse than any of the 7 word you could not say on broadcast TV) But the rollover is just the worse case. It will also change the handling/control of the truck. Ad a trailer, especially a heavy trailer, and no way I would let my family ride. And prefer not to share the highway.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Nov 20, 2022
    Welcome to the forum!

    A fifth wheel trailer is not going to work, with a 6" lifted truck, due to not enough clearance between trailer and truck bed rails.

    You should be able to handle a fair sized travel trailer type toy hauler. How big, using a lifted truck, kind of depends on your towing ability, and comfort zone concerning family safety.

    A forum friend on here towed a rather large TT toy hauler with a nearly same truck and lift as yours, just a 2016 Ram 2500. He did not use a WDH, with IIRC, about 1,400 lb hitch weight. He is an experienced tower, with an abundance of confidence!

    Normally lifted trucks, don't make the best tow vehicles, but can be done.

    Jerry
  • RetiredRealtorR's avatar
    RetiredRealtorR
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2022
    midnightsadie wrote:
    you wanna tow? put the truck back on the ground. your headed for trouble jacked up.


    I absolutely agree. A lifted truck is enough trouble on its own -- add trailering to that and I see it as pretty much a recipe for disaster.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Nov 20, 2022
    you wanna tow? put the truck back on the ground. your headed for trouble jacked up.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Nov 20, 2022
    You'd need a weight distributing hitch NOT a simple drop receiver. I'd pick a brand of wdh and call their tech dept. I would not be optimistic they are designed for a standard geometry truck.
  • Tvov's avatar
    Tvov
    Explorer II
    Nov 20, 2022
    That is a very capable truck. Stock it can handle most all but the biggest travel trailers.

    I am interested to see more replies. I don't know much about modifying trucks like that.
  • ROBERTSUNRUS's avatar
    ROBERTSUNRUS
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2022
    :) Hi, this may not be what you want to hear, but it's the truth. A co-worker of mine had a lift kit installed on his truck and on his trailer. Shortly after, he rolled them both. Scared the 7734 out of him and he never towed again. Fortuneatly, no-one was badly hurt, just some briuses.

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