can my truck pull my RV?? newbie
just bought my first 5th wheel camper because I am relocating to a town with essentially no rental houses available! the dealer said my truck would tow it with no problem but now I'm starting to worry...
Forum Discussion
It's the payload. Figure if you're going to be living in that RV it will packed pretty close to 14,000 lbs, so using that as a starting point. In a 5er about 20-25% of that will be on the pin. So 20% is 2800 lbs, 25% is 3500 lbs. Split the difference and call it 3100 lbs, add another 200 lbs for the hitch and you've over the payload of most 3/4 trucks. Brakes and springs, the 5er has its own brakes and springs may sag in the back, you can add air bags for that. Pay attention to the axle ratings and the tire ratings. Best thing you can do is stop at a CAT scale and get the rig weighed enroute to your destination.
I realize this is a general comment without knowing the ratings of your truck. One thing you can do NOW if you can call Dodge and find out what the GVWR is, then take the truck by itself to a scales and see what it weighs with you, full fuel, and the 5er hitch. Subtract the empty weight from the GVWR and that's how much you can put in the bed, ie is available for pin weight.
FWIW, tow ratings are all but worthless in the RV world, the vehicles run out of payload capacity before they exceed their tow rating. My truck is rated to tow 12000 lbs but I am right at GVWR capacity even though the trailer is only 8500 lbs fully loaded.
I realize this is a general comment without knowing the ratings of your truck. One thing you can do NOW if you can call Dodge and find out what the GVWR is, then take the truck by itself to a scales and see what it weighs with you, full fuel, and the 5er hitch. Subtract the empty weight from the GVWR and that's how much you can put in the bed, ie is available for pin weight.
FWIW, tow ratings are all but worthless in the RV world, the vehicles run out of payload capacity before they exceed their tow rating. My truck is rated to tow 12000 lbs but I am right at GVWR capacity even though the trailer is only 8500 lbs fully loaded.
