Newbie to Fifth wheel towing. We just purchased a 2015 2500 Tradesman, 5.7 Liter V-8 Hemi, Crew cab, 6.4 bed, with an axle ratio of 3.73. The manufacturer of the truck indidates the tow rating for this vehicle is 11,200 lbs. However, in taking into consideration passengers, payload, and weight of fifth wheel hitch, this is reduced to 9,542 LBS. The Fifth wheel we are looking at is a Cougar 27RKS, Shipping weight of 7136, Carrying capacity of 2864, Hitch weight of 1230. It will generally just be the wife and I that will be traveling, so fully loaded trailer probably won't be much over 8,000 lbs. Does this sound as if the truck will be able to tow this trailer safely with a 15-20% differential added in as a safety margin?Also, the salesperson at the trailer location said you could add 15% to the towing capacity with a fifth wheel set up compared to a trailer. Not sure if the salesman is just blowing smoke here.Thoughts?Rob. Specs for 27RKSShipping Weight 7136 Carrying Capacity 2864 Hitch 1230 Length 30' 5"

Newbie to Fifth wheel towing. We just purchased a 2015 2500 Tradesman, 5.7 Liter V-8 Hemi, Crew cab, 6.4 bed, with an axle ratio of 3.73. The manufacturer of the truck indidates the tow rating for this vehicle is 11,200 lbs. However, in taking into consideration passengers, payload, and weight of fifth wheel hitch, this is reduced to 9,542 LBS. The Fifth wheel we are looking at is a Cougar 27RKS, Shipping weight of 7136, Carrying capacity of 2864, Hitch weight of 1230. It will generally just be the wife and I that will be traveling, so fully loaded trailer probably won't be much over 8,000 lbs. Does this sound as if the truck will be able to tow this trailer safely with a 15-20% differential added in as a safety margin? Also, the salesperson at the trailer location said you could add 15% to the towing capacity with a fifth wheel set up compared to a trailer. Not sure if the salesman is just blowing smoke here. Thoughts? Rob. With water you will likely be carrying around 1000-1500 pounds of stuff and water in your fifth wheel. That puts you at least 8200 pounds if not more. Many dry weights are without options so add those weights as well. Water is 8.3 pounds per gallon. The pin weight will be 20 percent or more of the weight of the fifth. That would be around 1650 or more pounds plus the weight of the hitch that can be easily another 150-200 pounds. The salesman is not Dodge Ram and does not provide the tow ratings and payload carrying capacities of the trucks. But, apparently knows how to blow some nice smoke. You will need to check to see what your available payload is and that should be on the placard on the door of the truck and take it from there.

Thank you for quick response. The Ram website divides the capacity as follows:Passengers: 600 LBSPayload: 1,658 LBSBalance for towing: 9,542 LBSTotal towing Capacity: 11,200 LBSDoes the payload include the pin weight? We would not be carrying much within the cab itself and nothing in the bed except the fifth wheel hitch.Rob

The hitch, pin weight, and everything that provides a downward force is part of the payload. You may want to look at a smaller 5er as you'll likely be oveiaddd.

Payload: 1,658 LBS Balance for towing: 9,542 LBS Total towing Capacity: 11,200 LBS Does the payload include the pin weight? We would not be carrying much within the cab itself and nothing in the bed except the fifth wheel hitch. Yes, it includes the pin weight, hitch weight, people, dogs, tools, bbq, bicycles, kayaks, firewood, etc. To be on the safe side use full gross vehicle weight of the fifth (10,000 pounds) for your calculations. Pin would be 2000+/- pounds and the hitch around 200 more. We always carry more stuff than we think we are carrying and I would be surprised if you carried less than 1500 pounds including water and options. I am surprised that the payload is only 1658 pounds unless another 600 has automatically been deducted for the passenger seats. Most 2500's have a payload in the mid 2500 pounds or more range. Even at that 2268 pounds payload seems a little low for a 2500. What does the placard on the door state the payload is?There are people that tow more fifth wheel weight with a 2500 than you are considering so it is up to you what you feel comfortable with. Others justify being a little over payload and gvwr for the truck by staying under the axle ratings especially the rear axle, wheel and tire ratings.

Take a look at the yellow tire load sticker by the drivers door. It will read total wt, including passengers, should not exceed xxxx. This is for your exact truck.I would think that trailer would be a good match for your truck, with only 2 people, and an empty bed.You can't trust sales person, but I think he means that a FW hitched trailer can handle more weight, than a receiver hitch is rated for.You do need to count hitch and pin wt, as part of payload.Let us know the door sticker payload,Jerry

Towing Capacity | Good Sam Community

12thgenusa
Explorer
Feb 11, 2015
I take a bit more pragmatic approach. Don't use trailer GVWR for calculating weight unless you are going to actually load it all the way up. We load about 1000# of stuff plus full water (500#). Rear kitchen models tend to have lighter pin weight than others. Your empty ratio is about 17%. I have found that this percentage stays about the same even when loaded. If you add 1000# to the 7136 empty your GVW is going to be close to 8200. Your 17% pin weight would be 1400#.

My 16K Reese hitch weighs 130#.

I don't know the passenger weight, but if you allow a generous 400# plus an additional 200# for "stuff", the total load on the truck is below.

1400 + 130 + 400 + 200 = 2130

Good to go if you don't mind being ~5% under TV GVWR. It would work fine for me.
goducks10
Explorer
Feb 11, 2015
I tow roughly the same weight 5er with a 2500 CTD. My CCC is 2176lbs for the truck. RAWR is 6000lbs. My empty pin is 1385lbs. We load the kitchen sink in the front. I use a B&W Patriot. Our 5er is 8800-9000lbs loaded. The loaded pin is apr 17-1800lbs. I'm over the trucks GVW by 200lbs. Big deal. I'm under the RAWR by 1100lbs. Good deal.

20% for pin weight is the norm. If you're around 8200lbs loaded then 1640lbs would be the pin weight. You can get an Andersen Ultimate 5th hitch that only weighs 75lbs. No need to figure 150-200lbs for a 5th hitch.

IMO to the OP load it up and go. You will maybe be over the trucks GVW a little but well under the GCVWR.
IndyCamp
Explorer
Feb 13, 2015
As usual, the OP is told his truck is insufficient, when it likely is plenty sufficient.

The trailer is 7,136 pounds dry. This isn't a toy hauler, so I think it's unrealistic to tell him to count on carrying an extra 3,000 pounds and having a 2,000 pound pin weight.

Based on the facts given, if the OP buys this camper, loads it up with his gear and family, I believe he will be under all of the the stated limits of his truck.

I would tow with that combination and not think twice, even with my three-year-old kid in the truck.
Rperksp
Explorer
Feb 13, 2015
With being new to fifth wheel towing, I really appreciate everyone's comments. It appears we should be ok, but one last stupid question:

Can the dry hitch (pin) weight for the trailer be deducted from the total dry weight of the trailer for calculating the towing capcity if it has already been figured into the payload of the truck? For example, If the total dry weight of a trailer is 7,000 pounds, and of this weight 1,000 pounds is the dry hitch weight that is figured into the payload of the truck, can that 1,000 pounds be deducted from the 7,000 pound of the trailer for doing the calculations, since it was already figured into the payload of the truck?

Maybe thinking through this too much, but just wanted to clarify.
MFL
Nomad II
Feb 13, 2015
You are thinking too hard at this point. If you are talking about gross combined weight rating, it is only figured once, no matter where it is placed.

Your rig as described, should work just fine for you.

Jerry
goducks10
Explorer
Feb 13, 2015
There's 3 weights for that 5th. The UVW, pin and axle. The UVW is the total of the axle and pin. If you hitch up and hit the scales and when you roll across them you'll get the trucks rear axle weight and the 5er axle weight. The 5er axle weight won't include the pin weight, that will be included in the trucks rear axle weight.

If you load that 7000lb UVW 5er up with 1000lbs of gear, then the loaded weight will be 8000lbs. The pin will be apr @20% 1600lbs. Now drive to the scales and when you cross them the rear of the truck will weigh 1600lbs more than when empty. And the weight on the 5er axles will be 6400lbs. 8000lbs-1600lbs=6400lbs.
mb1776
Explorer
Feb 13, 2015
One thing to remember too is that the RAM 2500 5.7 HEMI has a GVWR of 9,000 lbs. The 6.4 HEMI and CTD are at 10,000 lbs.

Forum Discussion

Towing Capacity

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Towing capacity

Towing capacity question

Towing Capacity Question

Toyota Tacoma towing capacity

towing capacity