Very New with 5th wheel

We have a Columbus 385BH. Our numbers are the same as yours. When we first got the trailer, we had SWR truck. Traded up to a dually a couple months ago and won't ever look back. Ours is a 2016 F350, but a truck from any of the big 3 will do the job beautifully.

Jersey5er wrote:
Hello everyone. New to all of this and learning a lot from you guys just by reading the forums. Thank you. My question is, what type of vehicle do I need to pull my 5th wheel? It's a 2016 palomino Columbus 381fl 42.5 ft long and dry weight 12200 and max weight 16200. I'm trying to stay away from a dually.

Don't know that SRW specs off the top of my head but, IMO, you're at the edge of what one can do. Be safe and go the dually route. "Yeah, St. Peter, I didn't really want to buckle up...or go with the dually..."

Lyle

Just turned 205,000 miles on my 97 Dodge DRW 3500 Cummins,
It is towing it's third fifth wheel and still going strong.

I'm pulling a Montana High Country with a 2016 3500 SRW Ram Cummins Aisin 4X4 long bed. My advertised hitch weight was 2175. Add the optional front bedroom A/C, 2 batteries, washer/dryer, tools, grill, chairs, table, wife's 28 pair of shoes, etc., and I'm over 3200#. Add 250 for the Curt hitch, generators, firewood, etc. I was over the 3267# payload of my Ford F350.
The new Ram payload is 4018.
As you can see the weight skyrockets.
I think you are in dually territory.

I tow a 14K 5vr with a 2007 SRW........over on trucks GVWR but right at RAWR


A 2016 RAM 3500 SRW has a payload of 4400-4500
You will be just fine with the SRW

The new generation SRWs (and DRWs) have higher GVWR, payloads and tow capacities

I checked and my 2014 Dodge 3500 long bed diesel the difference in weight rating was only about 500 lbs more Duels are not necessary but would be much safer and stable in a blow out situation funny tire rating goes down when on a dual I get the SRW comment all the time I am towing a 2016 39' Momentum 350 max weight 16'500. I think at the scale I am about 3'500 to 4'000 lbs in the bed I think dodge rated bed weight just over 5'000. its all within limits. don"t mention Class A non commercial license here in Calif and half the usa SHHHHHH

Jersey5er wrote:
Thank you for the response. I am a Ram fan and was thinking the 3500 diesel. I will definitely take your advice. Glad to meet ya's.

I used a 2007 Ram 3500 diesel (single rear wheels), 6-speed manual to tow my 30' Hitchhiker fiver, which probably weighed close to the weight of your unit. It seemed to be a perfect match. I didn't care for the diesel particulatefiltration system (though that's unavoidable). Still, it was a fine tow vehicle as well as every day driver.

We have a 2016 columbus 385BH and bit the bullet last spring....Just was not comfortable with our 3500 srw.TV.. went to a 3500 drw cummins.....The difference is like night and day..