TT vs 5th Wheel

I bet it does just what you think it's going to do. It will lesson your gas mileage and it will slow your rig down when traveling on steep hills. Just a guess though. These rigs are kind of like boats there are no perfect ones. If there were everyone would own the same one (W) So I think the sage advice is what would you like more. More comforts or better mileage and performance.

Well the problem is you have a 2500 Mega Cab 4X4 SRW with short bed......

GVWR is 10,000#
GCVWR is 25,300#
SO that would allow for a 15,300# trailer (GCVWR minus GVWR)

Unfortunately you only have a 1990# payload (GVWR minus base weight)
Base is 8006#

So IF you choose to stay within ratings.......not much of a 5th wheel
Pin Weight is typically 20% of 5vrs weight.
Your shipped weight of 12,100 plus 1500# cargo----13,600# at 20% is a pin weight 2720#.
That 2720# is what you have to carry -----payload
Your payload is listed at 1990# which you still have to subtract trucks cargo (passengers/stuff/5th wheel hitch) so 500# minimum drops your payload to 1490#

2720# pin weight minus available payload 1490# puts you 1210# OVER Payload

Also with 8006# base plus passengers/stuff 500# plus the pin weight 2720# puts truck weight at 11,226#------1226# OVER GVWR

Check the certification label/data stickers on YOUR door jam for GVWR/Base weight/Payload etc

One goes by ratings or justifies ignoring them

Check out Open Range 323RLS... we just bought one last month and are full-time in it... It has everything you want and is less than 9000lbs with a 2400 lb cargo avail. It is a solid trailer and we have nothing wrong with ours from factory... very few problems online and comes with 2 year warranty... Good luck....

Not enough payload for 5th wheel. I would expect you to be 1500+ pounds over GVWR, and possibly over rear axle. That 12000 pound 5er will grow to 14000 pounds or more full timing with 2500+ pounds of pin weight. Add a 200 pound receiver and some people and gear in the cab and bed. You'll need closer to 3500 pounds of payload to be comfortable.

8700 pound dry TT will grow to over 10000 pounds with 1300-1400 pounds of loaded tongue weight. Add a bed of full timing gear and people in the cab and you'll want at least 2000 pounds of payload for that TT.

Check your tire and loading sticker on driver's door for as equipped payload.

You have lots of power to pull 25k pounds over the mountains.

My first thought is you should not be towing at 65 to 70 MPH. I watched a water tank fly out of the side of a TT as the truck and TT was weaving in and out of traffic at 70MPH. He was headed for Glamis

With the extra weight it will take longer to build up speed getting on to the freeway. It will also take longer to stop. Hill climbs will be slower and you'll need to be careful not to burn up your brakes going downhill. Like the grapevine headed down towards Bakersfield.

As a Ram 2500 Megacab owner, I can assure you that it has a much lower payload than you might expect. Two years ago I looked into what type of 5th wheel I could pull, and it was only smaller lightweight models. You can tow a much nicer travel trailer than a 5th wheel with the 2500 Megacab due to the payload limitations.

Looks like cargo payload is going to be a problem, so a TT may be the only way for us to go. I don't mind beefing up the suspension but that will only get me about 1,000 pounds extra cargo payload and the is still pushing the limits. So we will keep looking for now.

As for driving 65-70 mph, that was a test just to see what the truck would do going up the Grape Vine. I normal drive a 60 mph when towing. Though the truck wants to go faster if I don't keep an eye on the speedometer.

Still curious about which unit has more wind drag, a TT or a 5th wheel? I am thinking the TT has more wing drag as Ram states the truck can pull 4,000 pounds weight in a 5th wheel than a TT. Being that wing drag is equal to added weight but I could be wrong.

Thanks again,
Craig

We prefer the level flour of a TT.

I will agree with others that you do not have enough truck for the 5th wheel but the TT should be fine. We tow a 35 foot, 8,000 pound TT and it rolls down the road real nice. As stated earlier though, you should keep it under 65.

I have pulled them and my brother pulls them now for Horizon. I say and he agrees they pull like a sled.