I know I should know the answers to this - but looking for some additional opinions/facts...New truck is a 2015 Ram 3500 SRW crew short bed 4x4, Cummins - payload 3957 lbs IIRC...Smaller trailer is a 27' 6000 lb loaded (~900 lb tongue) bumper pull.2 Questions:1) Any benefit to using WD? I think my factory hitch is 1800 lbs WC (I read somewhere but unsure, seems high even for a 2.5" hitch?) 2) Any issues with the 2.5"-2" factory adaptor if I try to use the WD? I've heard you shouldn't - or should - but can't find either in owners manual...Thoughts? WC capacity of class 5 2.5" hitch and adaptor information? I looked in owners manual but didn't find anything about either..Main reason for the WD would be to use the sway control, which is on my WD hitch, but honestly it's just a friction bar setup and I don't think it helps much regardless..

#8 in notes shows the 1800 lbs, but doesn't specify WC or WD mode...https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2015_ram_2500_towing_charts.pdf

look on the hitch itself to verify the rates. You'll find there is a big difference in the weight capacity with and without a WDH. I have towed my 22 footer with and without the WDH. Under normal conditions, I felt no difference. My truck has a 2900# payload with no drop in the rear with the trailer hooked up. So, on the way home from a 3500 mile trip, we encountered really bad storms with really high crosswinds. I am glad I had hooked up the WDH to help with the sway. I was watching 18 wheelers being blown around from lane to lane and swaying. The WDH helped my trailer stay straight, and except for a couple of tense moments we made it through the storms safely. So my experience says use that WDH. You just never know. Happy camping.

Are you going to be using a 2-1/2" Class V ball mount? If you plan on using the reducer and using a 2" Class IV ball mount, I believe you have to de-rate your capacities to those of a Class IV hitch. I may be wrong, but that's what I've always understood.Bruce

When you really needed it to save the day, wouldn't it too late to put it on?

I think you'd probably be fine without it given the amount of weight you've got on the front axle with the Cummins, but you might like the piece of mind with using one. Nomad, I've not read anything in the manual about derating the hitch if you use the factory reducer. From a practical standpoint I don't see why it would reduce the capability of the hitch, although you'd need to keep in mind that the lowest rated component (ball, mount or hitch) is your max.

New Truck Questions | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

IdaD
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
I think you'd probably be fine without it given the amount of weight you've got on the front axle with the Cummins, but you might like the piece of mind with using one.

Nomad, I've not read anything in the manual about derating the hitch if you use the factory reducer. From a practical standpoint I don't see why it would reduce the capability of the hitch, although you'd need to keep in mind that the lowest rated component (ball, mount or hitch) is your max.
Tom_Barb
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2015
When you really needed it to save the day, wouldn't it too late to put it on?
nomad_297
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Are you going to be using a 2-1/2" Class V ball mount? If you plan on using the reducer and using a 2" Class IV ball mount, I believe you have to de-rate your capacities to those of a Class IV hitch. I may be wrong, but that's what I've always understood.

Bruce
msgtord
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
look on the hitch itself to verify the rates. You'll find there is a big difference in the weight capacity with and without a WDH.

I have towed my 22 footer with and without the WDH. Under normal conditions, I felt no difference. My truck has a 2900# payload with no drop in the rear with the trailer hooked up.

So, on the way home from a 3500 mile trip, we encountered really bad storms with really high crosswinds. I am glad I had hooked up the WDH to help with the sway. I was watching 18 wheelers being blown around from lane to lane and swaying. The WDH helped my trailer stay straight, and except for a couple of tense moments we made it through the storms safely.

So my experience says use that WDH. You just never know. Happy camping.
Vanished
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
#8 in notes shows the 1800 lbs, but doesn't specify WC or WD mode...
https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2015_ram_2500_towing_charts.pdf

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