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2017 Ran 2500 8' Bed and hitch suggestions

Bill001
Explorer
Explorer
Hi
I'm looking at a new Ram 2500. Inclined to go with an 8'box. Truck will have 5ver package, but I'm surprised what little help RV dealers are concerning hitches; well in fact dismal help in many areas.

A shorter box is appealing, but thinking if I'm starting from scratch should likely go with long box

Suggestions and warnings concerning hitch?

Thanks,
Bill
25 REPLIES 25

tinner12002
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Rock solid, simple, no question if you are hitched.



X2
2015 Ram 3500/DRW/Aisin/auto/Max tow/4.10s,Cummins, stock Laramie Limited--Silver
Tequila Sunrise 2012 Ultra Classic Limited
2018 Raptor 428SP

T18skyguy
Explorer
Explorer
I put a lot of thought into a truck before I bought, and settled on a Chevy Duramax 1 ton short bed. I have a crew cab, and a long bed with that makes for more difficult parking around the city. Most of my driving in the truck will be without the fiver, so I considered that first, but it will handle what I get just fine. Got a Comfortride hitch for it. Yes the ride is a little more choppy, but less so now that the hitch is in there.
Retired Anesthetist. LTP. Pilot with mechanic/inspection ratings. Between rigs right now.. Wife and daughter. Four cats which we must obey.

Durb
Explorer
Explorer
Bill001 wrote:
Just to let ya'll know, I have ordered a Ram 2500 long box Cummins with manual trans. I also settled on a Glacier Peak 26RDS 5ver. B&w hitch

Took the big plunge hoping I've done the right thing.... living out of car in the meantime for January pickup date in Idaho/Washington

Thanks all
BThe


Congratulations on your new truck and trailer. I'm sure you will have many years of enjoyment from them both. You might want to take a southern route home!

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
Bill001 wrote:
Just to let ya'll know, I have ordered a Ram 2500 long box Cummins with manual trans. I also settled on a Glacier Peak 26RDS 5ver. B&w hitch

Took the big plunge hoping I've done the right thing.... living out of car in the meantime for January pickup date in Idaho/Washington

Thanks all
BThe

Good looking trailer and with the 2500 Ram will make a great combo for you.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

TxGearhead
Explorer II
Explorer II
Tell the dealer to order you a 3500. He can sell the 2500 to someone else. No point in starting out overloaded.
From memory...my Ram SRW 3500 has 12,300 GVW, and 4018# payload.
2018 Ram 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4 Cummins Aisin Laramie Pearl White
2018 Landmark Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4
2014 NauticStar 21 ShallowBay 150HP Yamaha
2016 GoDevil 18X44 35HP Surface Drive

Me_Again
Explorer II
Explorer II
Some continue to purchase 250's/2500's when the 350'/3500's have much better numbers for towing 5th wheels.

2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
You'll be over your payload with the 2500. It will only have 2000-2200lbs. The G-Peak will have a pin around 1900lbs with just two batteries and propane. Add another 200lbs for the 5th hitch and you're at your payload.
You can ignore the payload rating and jump to the RAWR. Guessing you'll be around 2700lbs on the rear axle with the GP pin and the front basement loaded up.
The RAWR should be around 6000lbs. Empty rear axle weight is around 2950lbs
Guessing you'll be around 5600lbs on the rear axle.

A 3500 will have 3800-4000lbs for payload. Big cushion.

Jgeorger1
Explorer
Explorer
Check payload on the 2500. with cummins and 4wd you are down to a figure close to a fiver pin weight. on my 2015 it was 2300 lbs payload. consider 3500

Bill001
Explorer
Explorer
Just to let ya'll know, I have ordered a Ram 2500 long box Cummins with manual trans. I also settled on a Glacier Peak 26RDS 5ver. B&w hitch

Took the big plunge hoping I've done the right thing.... living out of car in the meantime for January pickup date in Idaho/Washington

Thanks all
BThe

starcraft69
Explorer
Explorer
Coach-man wrote:
Dodge Ram with fiver package, should include pucks for hitches. What hitch or hitches are recommended by Dodge that fit its puck system? That should narrow it down to two or three hitches. That should help you, get a hitch that will handle more 5th wheel than you have, it will then serve you if and when you upgrade.



+1
2007 chevy 2500 HD 6.0 longbed
2015 Eagle HT 28.5 5th wheel
tucker the fishing dog

RustyJC
Explorer
Explorer
talonhead wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
I would suggest if looking new to look also at a 3500, BUT see you live in Connecticut so may have registering cost issues with a 3500. Hitch B&W, Reese twin jaw, I would stay away from sliding bar hitches.


Only if it's GVWR is 12,501+, then it's Commercial plates with renewal every 12months. However, over 10k it's considered HD and therefore no Emissions.
The new Dually's are rated 14k.


The only reason the new duallies such as mine are rated 14,000 lbs GVWR is that is the maximum for a Class 3 truck. At 14,001 lbs, it becomes a Class 4, which has implications in licensing, registration, insurance, etc. The sum of the GAWRs on my truck (see signature) is 15,750 lbs, which is within 250 lbs of the maximum 16,000 lbs GVWR for a Class 4 truck.

Rusty
2014.5 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSSA #6972

2016 Ram 3500 Dually Longhorn Crew Cab Long Bed, 4x4, 385/900 Cummins, Aisin AS69RC, 4.10, 39K+ GCWR, 30K+ trailer tow rating, 14K GVWR

B&W RVK3600

talonhead
Explorer
Explorer
rhagfo wrote:
I would suggest if looking new to look also at a 3500, BUT see you live in Connecticut so may have registering cost issues with a 3500. Hitch B&W, Reese twin jaw, I would stay away from sliding bar hitches.


Only if it's GVWR is 12,501+, then it's Commercial plates with renewal every 12months. However, over 10k it's considered HD and therefore no Emissions.
The new Dually's are rated 14k.
2014 Ram 3500 Limited Mega Dually 4WD (True Blue Pearl) w/Alcoa's & paint match bumpers.

brianpearce
Explorer
Explorer
Andersen Ultimate aluminum hitch, light and easy to move into and out of truck. Hitch and unhitch at an angle. I went from a shortbed with PullRite superglide to long bed with Andersen and really like it so far.

minnow
Explorer
Explorer
Having had both the "standard" length bed and now the full length 8' bed I haven't noticed much of a difference in length when driving or parking. Yes it's a little longer, but after a week or so with the new truck, I don't even think about it any longer. Coming from a 2004 Silverado 2500HD 6' bed to a 3500 Ram 8' bed, I was actually very surprised that the turning radius was actually less with the new truck then the old one. I now have a tool box mounted at the front of the bed and still have just as much room in the bed for carrying "stuff" as I did before. But most of those tools and do-dads associated with RV'ing are now permanently stashed in the tool box.

As far as the hitch goes, it would be helpful if you told us what model your fifth wheel is.