My co-worker has a 2012 Ram 1500 "Punisher" edition (Really a sharp looking truck). With this pkg, it has different tires and larger HP motor. Is considering getting a 5th wheel, but before doing so (still has a lot of looking to do), I asked him to provide me with some info to see what he can/can't tow.This is what he has given me so far:1. 425+/- hp engine2. 3.55 gears (from label attached to axle)3. 12 bolt axle cover, Dana_____4. Auto trans5. 4wd6. Crew or club (I don't know when Ram came out w/ true CC)7. Stock tires removed and larger 20" that don't say either P or LT yet have max air psi of 50 and weight rating of 3K +.8. Data label on door says GVW of 6700 (I think it's that or darn close to it)9. Stock tire info on label says max air psi is 35.10. Both axle capacities are 3900 (again I think ---CRS on my end).He has no idea what his truck weighs but did tell him to fill w/ gas and go to a CAT scale. He doesn't want to switch out tires which BTW are something like 4 or 6 ply which I feel could be a limiting factor. Has some kind of special rims too w/ pkg. So my question(s) to you all is where does he stand? More info needed?He recently towed a 28'BH TT approx 2 hours last w/e w/o incident. First time he's towed camper as it has been on a seasonal site since new (2005). Any assistance that can be provided will be greatly appreciated and passed on.Thank you in advance.AC

If he changed out the wheels he also needs to know the wheel rating. After market wheels sometimes have a very low capacity.

Not a chance in h!!! that he'll find a 5'er with a low enough pin weight for his truck. 6700 GVW is way, way down on the 1/2 ton GVW scale. I would be willing to bet he doesn't have much over 1,000lbs for payload. Then just minus him at 150lbs? and now he's at 850lbs. He's better off looking for a TT in the 4,000lb dry weight area.

For me, what it mostly comes down to is:1) What's the cargo carrying capacity sticker say?2) If he hits a scale, what is his GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating), RAWR (rear axle weight rating) and FAWR (front axle weight rating) compared against his actual weights?3) What is the tire load capacity on the tires + wheels he has now?Edit to add: obviously I didn't read your original post closely enough. You've answered a lot of these.I agree, with a GVWR of 6,700 pounds - he's going to be hard-pressed to tow much of anything once he adds the rest of himself (if over 150 pounds), passenger(s), pet(s), stuff into/onto the truck, hitch and have anything left over for pin weight.

In most cases 5er's and 15 series trucks don't match up to well. I believe the Ram towing guide even says " fifth wheel towing not recommended".

9. Stock tire info on label says max air psi is 35.LOL, what are they bicycle tires?

2012 Ram towing guide/info help | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jun 25, 2013
I didn't see a "punisher" refered to in Dodge body builder specs but did see a 1500 R/T with the hemi/20" P tires and a 5025 lb tow ratings. HP doesn't equate to big tow numbers as the Dodge SRT10 1/2 ton truck with the 8.3 V10 at 510 hp/525 ft lbs engine shows. These trucks are for lots of go and very little tow/haul.

Other Dodge "sport trucks" with the 3.55 axle shows a 8200-8500 lb tow ratings. He will have to find his trucks particular tow rating from his Dodge dealer.

As all 1500 Dodge trucks with that small GVWR and wimpy 3900 lb RAWR numbers the 5th wheel will have to be a small unit with 800-900 lb dry pin weights.
APT
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
This sticker is on every 2006+ vehicle, usually on the driver's door or door jam.

Payload will be the problem for a 2009+ Ram 1500. As little as 800 pounds, maybe 1500. Take off 200 pounds of a receiver, however much the family weigh, and you are left with a tiny amount for the 15-25% pin weight of a loaded 5th wheel RV.
45Ricochet
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
Like I said earlier, 5er's don't mix with most 1500 because of the lack of payload. His GVWR is 6700 lbs, subtract unladen vehicle weight and thats how much stuff (people, fuel, hitch, and pin) it can carry. Just a comparison mine is 12,200 almost double the payload of this pusher. Jim's GVWR is 14k which is more than double the payload. Simply put that truck just can't carry the weight of most 5th wheels.
Even if you were to use the RAWR of 3900 lbs I believe your max would be exceeded at roughly 1k lbs. Hitch alone will weight 200 lbs. Not many 5er's with a pin weight that low. IMO a nice bump pull is in order, lots of nice TT well within this trucks specs.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
goducks10 wrote:
He needs to look at the door sticker that shows the payload rating. Even with the low 6700lb GVW Rams can be anywhere form 1100-1600lbs on payload. Just depends on the trim level and options added. Once we know that then better advice can be given.

Yeah, but add two adults at the very least, fill the fuel tank, add the hitch and now you've lost some of the little that you only had to begin with as far as payload goes....can't be much to begin with.

Surely the guy has an owners manual...got to be a section in there are recommended towing for the truck.... I mean, it's full of information that the owner of the truck might find valuable, .....like now:)
branson4020
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
goducks10 wrote:
He needs to look at the door sticker that shows the payload rating. Even with the low 6700lb GVW Rams can be anywhere form 1100-1600lbs on payload. Just depends on the trim level and options added. Once we know that then better advice can be given.

Hmm? Never seen a payload rating on the DOT sticker. On my Ram, it shows GVWR, front and rear axle GAWR, and tire info. That's it. No "payload rating." You get that by weighing the truck and subtracting that number from the GVWR.
goducks10
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
He needs to look at the door sticker that shows the payload rating. Even with the low 6700lb GVW Rams can be anywhere form 1100-1600lbs on payload. Just depends on the trim level and options added. Once we know that then better advice can be given.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
ACZL wrote:
******* UPDATED INFO********

I got more or updated info from the owner last night.

Stock tire size was P275/60R20 with max psi of 35lbs.
Aftermarket tires are: 305/55R20 w/ max psi of 50lbs and weight rating of 3,086lbs. Info on sidewall says that the tread is 2 ply steel, 2 ply polyester(?) and 2 ply nylon. Sidewall is 2 ply poly. No mention on aftermarket tires if they are a P or LT (not stamped on sidewall). No load range rating either.

Axle ratings:
Front: 3900 lbs
Rear: 3900 lbs.

GVWR: 6700 lbs

Owner thinks that with the "Punisher" pkg, the hp on the motor is 455.

Not sure of rear end, but has a 12 bolt axle cover. Does this mean it's a Dana 44? Axle dia is pretty large.

Hope this helps those in the know about Dodge/Ram specs to in turn help him.

Again, Thank you.

AC

Nice truck to run rice burners with from light to light, but he doesn't have "E" rated tires, which take 80 psi and with only 6700# of GVWR, the truck was meant to see how fast it could get from home, to the grocery store and then soccer practice...Tell him to buy a pop-up or a truck to tow with.

As stated earlier, sounds like he's already been "punished" by this truck....Might be able to tow one of those little Scamp 5er's with it, but I'd wonder about that..
ACZL
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
******* UPDATED INFO********

I got more or updated info from the owner last night.

Stock tire size was P275/60R20 with max psi of 35lbs.
Aftermarket tires are: 305/55R20 w/ max psi of 50lbs and weight rating of 3,086lbs. Info on sidewall says that the tread is 2 ply steel, 2 ply polyester(?) and 2 ply nylon. Sidewall is 2 ply poly. No mention on aftermarket tires if they are a P or LT (not stamped on sidewall). No load range rating either.

Axle ratings:
Front: 3900 lbs
Rear: 3900 lbs.

GVWR: 6700 lbs

Owner thinks that with the "Punisher" pkg, the hp on the motor is 455.

Not sure of rear end, but has a 12 bolt axle cover. Does this mean it's a Dana 44? Axle dia is pretty large.

Hope this helps those in the know about Dodge/Ram specs to in turn help him.

Again, Thank you.

AC
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
It's a good looking, high HP, street machine (nothing more), not a tow vehicle.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jun 19, 2013
Bumpyroad wrote:
that Ram punished him all right.
bumpy

'at was a gud 'un Bumpy:B