Upgrading to a Newmar Kountry Aire

Volvo!!!! 610 or 670!

jtguyton wrote:
I am thinking about upgrading to a 2008 Kountry Aire 5th wheel that weighs-in @ 19,100 (empty weight). My 2011 Ram crew cab Dually (3.73 gear) can manage 21,000 lbs. Not a full timer so the most cargo I would carry is <200 pounds.

I know most folks that own these heavy 5'ers have class 8 tow vehicles. Any danger towing with the Ram? Getting a 4.10 rear gear would allow 22K towing capacity.

Thanks!

I had a 2012 Ram 3500 Dually HO with 4:10 and GCWR was 29,000#, I think...They increased GCWR that year, but still old frame, only raised GVWR to 12,300.. Your pin weight could easily hit 4,000#, probably wouldn't exceed your trucks RAWR, but would go well over it's GVWR, (not widely used anymore)...I believe you'd be pushing the safety limits of your truck, but just my opinion. With the 3:73, GCWR is all the way down to 21,000#, you'd HAVE to change gearing, or loaded the way you are right now, you'd be around 27,000# (and that's going by your dry weight of 19,000#), so you would be approx. 6,000# over your trucks GCWR set up the way it is now.


As far as carrying "only 200#" of cargo....not going to happen. With clothes, pot's pans, dry goods, even with all tanks empty, you'll easily load more than 200#...

The trucks engine and tranny will handle it, no problem, BUT the trucks GCWR will be exceeded by quite a bit unless you opt for the 4:10 gearing, but still might be pushing the limits of the trucks RAWR....My 2012 empty weighed approx. 3500#, plus 3400# pin weight, at 6900#, so under RAWR and GCWR.....your pin weight, I would wager would be closer to 4,000-4100#...4:10 gearing might make it work...

Is the RAWR of the 11 9,000#?? I'm not sure, I know on my 13' it's 9,750# (rated to 11,500#)

We have a friend that has a Newmar and tows with a Freightliner Sport Chassis. He says it's a "perfect match" and, as an OTR trucker, I take his word for it.

Lyle

rhagfo wrote:
Cummins12V98, run a 5er about that size states 27,000 GCVW, with the same year Ram 3500.

There's a lot of folks towing too much with too little - who can justify it's A-OK while looking in the mirror - and supply the "facts" why they are "good to go" anyplace else..:R

An MDT or a tandem Class 8, or singled Class 7 HDT - is the best answer for "GO" power & load, as well for stopping - the "Whoa! ability.

However, if the OP goes with his plan, I'll be behind him all the way.......
at least if I see him on the road), LOL...:W

~

A friend just bought a similar trailer. When he called about it the first thing the dealer asked was what he would be pulling with. When he told him he had a Volvo he was glad to hear and made a very good deal because most people don't have enough truck to handle it.

2011 Ram Tow Guide shows you'd probably be over on payload.

One of those came through last week. What caught my eye...the trailer axles had two tires per side on each axle (like a semi trailer). I snapped a pic, because I have never seen one like that, which begs to question, why don't the big three axle TH have two bigger axles with that tire set up.

They were towing their's with a Ram 3500...I did not ask what year, but it looked to be a newer model.

Cale

Cummins12V98, run a 5er about that size states 27,000 GCVW, with the same year Ram 3500.

Going to be an awful lot of pin weight. All the gear in the world won't help that.

Even with the upgrade in gearing I'm afraid that you'd still end up with a case of "The Tail Wagging The Dog" issue. IMO I'd tow something that heavy with nothing less then a MDT truck, i.e. a Kodiak 4500, Ford F-650, and maybe a Dodge 550.