new 3500 srw tow vehicle?

bironacad wrote:
I would like to think I will be all right with the quad cad, 4x4, short box with the fifth wheel prep. Anyone driving a similar 2013.

I'm driving the truck you asked about, except a long bed. My load isn't quite as heavy as you are contemplating, but the truck tows like a dream with my trailer. My actual numbers by the scale when loaded are as follows:
GFAW = 5420
GRAW = 5600
GCW = 18460
GVW = 11020
Actual Payload = 2100 (pin weight + load in the bed)
Actual trailer = 9500

I've had the truck a few months now and also didn't want a dually. I can't really speak for the difference because I've never had a dually, but I can't imagine it could feel any more stable than my SRW is. Unless you need the additional payload rating because of the additional pin weight, I'd think you would be fine with a SRW. The max payload rating of this truck is 4370 lbs. The only other benefit I can think of with a dually is safety in case you had a catastrophic failure of one of the rear tires.

Be careful with the short bed though. Do some careful measurements with your trailer. The RAM 3500 short bed is actually shorter by about 8" than the F250 short bed that I came from. I had a slider with that truck and was able to get a full 90 degrees in the slide-back position, and about 75 degrees in the slide-forward position. According to my calculations, in the RAM short bed and using a slider, I would only get about 65 degrees in the forward position, and around 80 degrees in the slide-back position. Of course, your trailer nose will be different and the the clearances will be different. I wanted to get away from the slider and not have to worry about it so I went with the long bed. Yes, harder to find a long parking place, but easier to manuver without worry, and easier to store more stuff in the bed when towing. If you decide to go with a long bed, there are two options I highly recommend that will help you get into regular spots and get close to walls, etc. without contact - that's the Park View (camera in the back tailgate) and Park Assist (ultrasonic locator in the rear bumper) that reads out in distance. I use both extensively when not hooked to the trailer. Interestingly, the RAM factory installation places the fifth wheel pin position, or the gooseneck ball position, directly over the rear axle (not 2-3" ahead like most trucks do). Accordingly, all the hitch manufacturers I spoke with used this same factory position for their mounts. Evidence of this is when I weighed my truck, the GFAW is lighter by 40 lbs with the trailer connected than when it is not connected. My hitch mount is a "no drill" Curt made specifically for this truck (which uses existing frame mounting holes), so I didn't want to modify it just to load the front more. So, you may want to assume this pin position when making measurments for your short bed consideration.

My mileage has varied widely while towing. During the past few trips, I've gotten between 10 and 11.5 MPG, (I usually tow at 65 - 70 MPH), but today I was in no rush to get home, so I decided to see how well it would do. The trip was ideal for mileage - all interstate, speed was 55-65, no wind, cool dense air, and no stops. I was elated to see 12.7MPG!