Great Tow Capacity - Bad Payload Capacity... Increase PL?

SirKeats wrote:
That said, is there anything that can be done to increase the payload capacity?

No. The payload stated by the truck manufacturer "is what it is" and can't be changed.

Time for a truck upgrade.

The situation you have is exactly why I always say when truck shopping, skip the 2500/250 series trucks and go straight to a 350/3500. That way, you won't need to buy a new truck when you decide to upgrade the RV.

Your prayers have been answered. Dodge has heard your plea and made amends...They offer a higher rating option...It's called a 1 ton.

Plus at just shy of 17k pounds, that's dually territory with a 5th wheel.

Heck even for a moderate size travel trailer, 1600lb payload is marginal. An 8000lb trailer is going to have 1000-1100lb hitch weight. Add a family of 4 and you are maxed out before putting a single stick of firewood in the bed.

SirKeats wrote:
So I have a 2016 Ram 2500 Megacab with the 6.7 Cummins. I love it. Great truck. It has plenty of tow capacity for us and our current trailer and possible future 5th Wheel upgrade at 16,936lbs.

The problem is that the payload capacity is absolutely horrible at only 1637lbs!! . . .

The empty rear axle weight on the Cummins equipped '16 Ram 3500 SRW megacab and '16 Ram 2500 megacab is nearly identical at ~3100 lbs. RAWR on the 2500 is 6500 lbs. (with 18" wheels/tires) and 7000 lbs. on the 3500.

Bottom line: you have approx. 3400 lbs. of rear axle capacity remaining on your 2500 (and 3900 lbs. of rear axle capacity remaining on a 3500 SRW).

Some folks will tell you don't have this rear axle capacity based on the lower payload and 10k GVWR, but the fact is, based on Ram's own specs, you clearly have 3400 lbs. of rear axle capacity on your '16 Ram 2500 Cummins megacab.

Since the Ram 2500 and 3500 SRW use 99% of the same components, it's easy to deduct the lower payload and 10k GVWR on the 2500 is solely based on the need to pigeon-hole a 2500 (in reality a 3500 SRW with slightly derated rear axle) into a class 2b (3/4-ton) rating for marketing purposes only. Nothing more, nothing less.

A lot of folks will say you need to upgrade to a 1-ton 3500 SRW. Not sure it's worth your time and money just to gain 500 lbs. of additional rear axle capacity.

Your problem is tongue weight vs. pin weight. For any given weight trailer, the tongue weight of a TT will be approx. half the pin weight of a 5 er. So tell me again why do you want a 5er - so you can buy a new truck?

WNYBob wrote:
You can't change the sticker weights ( just ask the weight police on here).
There is a lot that goes into those numbers, axel, breakes and transmission to name a few. Yes you can add air bags other spring assists but willit be safe and stop you?

Axle is the same between 2500 and 3500.
Rear differential is the same between 2500 and 3500 (although 3500 has other options).
Brakes are the same between 2500 and 3500.
Transmission is the same between 2500 and 3500 (although 3500 has other options).
If you have 18" wheels, they are the same between 2500 and 3500.
Engine is the same between 2500 and 3500.
Tires are the same between 2500 and 3500.
Frame is essentially the same, with the exception of mounting points for coils (2500) and leaves (3500).

2016 2500 Megacab with Cummins has a rear axle rating of 6500 lbs. 2016 3500 Megacab with Cummins has a rear axle rating of 7000 lbs.

Functionally, there is a 500 lbs difference between the 2500 and 3500 (when equipped with CTD). A 3/4 ton truck is class limited to 10,000 lbs, meaning that it can't weigh more than 10,000 lbs to be considered a class 2B truck. The way that manufacturers do that is to simply slap a sticker that says GVWR 10,000 lbs. OP, if you simply register your truck for a higher weight, you are perfectly legal and as safe as a 3500 to tow up to your axle limits. You'll stop the same, you'll be as safe (or no less unsafe) as you would in a 1 ton. Use common sense, not advertising jargon.

You can't change the sticker weights ( just ask the weight police on here).
There is a lot that goes into those numbers, axel, breakes and transmission to name a few. Yes you can add air bags other spring assists but willit be safe and stop you?

At almost 17,000 lbs. your going to need a 1 ton truck.

With a FW, almost all wt is added to the rear axle. Your rear axle rating will be limited mostly to tire rating, as springs can be improved.

Know what your rear axle weighs, ready to camp, add hitch wt, and what is left, is useable pin wt of loaded to camp FW.

Jerry

Don’t worry about the truck. Coils are a bit soft on initial travel, but they are durable.
Literally nothing else to worry about up to about 7500 lbs on the rear axle, except spring rate. Payload number is a fake number to equal the magic 10klb gvw assigned to class 2 trucks until recent.
If it makes you feel better, I’m hauling somewhere between 1500-2000lbs tongue weight, on theOE hitch receiver, no weight distribution.

Rams Body Builders guide shows the 2500 Mega cab has a 6000 rawr. This will be on your drivers side door post.
The 6000 rawr on 3/4 ton Dodge Rams has been around for 25-30 years. The Mega Cab is a heavy beast. You have the truck so drop by a set of CAT scales and weigh your trucks front and rear axles separately.
I've seen some Mega cab owners report 3100-3200 lb rear axle which leaves around 2800-2900 lb payload before exceeding a tire/wheel or rear spring pack.
The axle is a 11.5" AAM with around 10800 lb rating from AAM. Dodge Ram derates it with smaller tires wheels and rear suspension.

There are no 3/4 ton LDT that can handle a 16k lb 5th wheel RV trailer that can have 3200-3800 lbs of hitch weight alone. Add the hitch and other gear/people and your overloaded.
Many mod their 3/4 or one ton srw trucks with rear leaf suspension with 19.5" tires/wheels. The 2500 Ram has rear coils but I'm not up on rear suspension help for coils. Others may know.

I pull a '97 28RK 11400 lb 5th wheel trailer (31' 10" length) with my old '03 2500 Dodge/5.9 Cummins quad cab short bed. The truck has the same 6000 rawr and is well under all axle weight ratings and tow ratings.

Your payload is a GVWR based payload. Some 3/4 ton trucks with high gvws may show a 3500-3600 lb payload sticker which over loads rear suspensions. Other trucks like yours with a low gvwr = low gvwr payload.

I would be looking for a one ton drw for a 17 lb 5th wheel rv trailer.