I have a 2013 Ram 1500 w/ 5.7 lt hemi with the new 8 sp transmission, 3.21 gears and crew cab with the 5.7' box. I wanted to install a 5th wheel hitch to pull a 27' Prowler Regal, can I do that and what recommendations do you have for me ? This is my first 5th wheel and any suggestions will help. I know I will have to put air bags on my truck and I need a sliding hitch. Any models recommended ? Thanks for the help.

Need to check your weights of the camper fully loaded and ensure the truck can handle the pin weight. Air bags and a slider (or similar to my Andersen) are a must. I pulled a fifth wheel for years with a half ton and although the truck could handle it, I never really felt comfortable. If you're just going out a few times per year probably not a big deal.

Great thanks, with all these "weights" that I can gather from various web sites, what weights do I refer to ie: GVWR or GAWR ? What would an approx number for the pin weight limit be for the 1500 ? Any recommendations on the type/brand name of air bags and slider ? I wont be using it all that much, this will be an introduction into the camper world for us and if we like it I will get a bigger truck and camper. thanks for the help.

Forget web sites.Look at the data plate on door/pillarTrucks GVWR, axle ratings etc.Then go get your truck weighed with you, all passengers and any stuff in truck....add 250# to your trucks actual weight for hitch.How much do you have left before exceeding trucks GVWR?How much before exceeding rear axle rating?How much before exceeding rear tire MAX LOAD Ratings?Do you have enough for pin weight of 5th wheel (roughly 20% of trailers GVWR)?Although 150/1500 trucks have come a long way they are still lacking in actual payload to handle majority of 5th wheels. Would need to find a 'Lite' model.Air bags just pump sagging overloaded rear up......don't had weight capacity.A lot more travel trailer can be had and towed better.....which makes for better camping experiences vs I HATE to tow this %^$&#

Old-Biscuit wrote:Forget web sites.Look at the data plate on door/pillarTrucks GVWR, axle ratings etc.Then go get your truck weighed with you, all passengers and any stuff in truck....add 250# to your trucks actual weight for hitch.How much do you have left before exceeding trucks GVWR?How much before exceeding rear axle rating?How much before exceeding rear tire MAX LOAD Ratings?Do you have enough for pin weight of 5th wheel (roughly 20% of trailers GVWR)?Although 150/1500 trucks have come a long way they are still lacking in actual payload to handle majority of 5th wheels. Would need to find a 'Lite' model.Air bags just pump sagging overloaded rear up......don't had weight capacity.A lot more travel trailer can be had and towed better.....which makes for better camping experiences vs I HATE to tow this %^$&#Pretty much sums it up...Some might be able to give you a "down and dirty" answer if you post the GVW of the 5er....you may not load to that, but it would help to determine what kind of towing experience you might have. I towed a 5er with a 2000 Chevy 1/2 ton set up for towing and I "lived and learn", and it was a 27'5er....but trucks have come a long way since then....As stated, a 1/2 ton tends to not have as much "payload"....IF you know the 5er's GVW, you could take 20% of that to "ballpark" what your pin weight may be close to....Also add 200# for a 5er hitch.When I towed mine, all tanks were empty, even the hotwater heater to make it as light as possible..but all my towing was in the mountains. My experience wasn't a good one, but that's been 14 yrs ago and a lot of things have changed...I could be wrong, but I get the impression that the 1/2 ton Rams don't offer a lot of payload...that being said, I'm not 100% sure of that statement. Do the math and use some common sense before you "make the move". Again, if you could post the 5er's GVW, a lot in here know the specs of your truck and may be able to give you a more consise answer.

The 3.21 gears will be a major setback. Also, the rams lower payload than the other half ton trucks who want to be 3/4 tons.

5th Wheel Towing with 2013 Ram 1500 5.7lt Hemi | Good Sam Community

ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
ChooChooMan74 wrote:
The 3.21 gears will be a major setback. Also, the rams lower payload than the other half ton trucks who want to be 3/4 tons.

Heed all the (unfortunately) negative advice for your 5th wheel plan.

Sure, it can be done - but you won't be happy.

Go with a Travel Trailer instead. Plenty of good choices..;)

~
Allworth
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2014
Before we got the Titanium (13,804# gross) we towed a 28' Outback for three years including two Rocky Mountain trips quite successfully with an 04 Ram 2500 HD (BUT it was diesel powered).

The thread is about towing with a 1500 powered by a Hemi!
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
bbq-breath wrote:
I wouldn't even tow that small fifth wheel with a Ram 2500. No payload on any of them. They are tough looking though...

You wouldn't tow a 5er with a GVW of 11,000# with a Ram 2500? Really?? You need to look at the specs on the new Ram 2500, they do more than just "look tough"...Check out the specs on a 14' Ram and let us know if you can still "assume" you know what you're talking about. ANY of the Big 3's 2500's could tow that 5er .Sounds like you're no fan of Ram trucks..again, you may want to really check out the specs before you make a blanket statement that "No payload on any of them"...Brand loyality can become ugly at times.
TXiceman
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2014
My initial resposne is a bigger truck or a smaller trailer. A Hemi will have lots of power, but a 3.21 axle will have you spending lot of time in the lower gears.

A 1/2 ton is much better suited to tow a travel trailer since the tongue weight will be much less than the pin weight of a 5er.

A 1/2 ton truck has a very limited GVWR and a resulting low cargo capacity. Your cargo capacity will include all of your passengers, cargo, hitch and the pin or tongue weight.

You can get a TT that will tow well if you get a good WD and sway control hitch and set it up properly.

Ken
bbq-breath
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
I wouldn't even tow that small fifth wheel with a Ram 2500. No payload on any of them. They are tough looking though...
Allworth
Explorer II
May 31, 2014
Not only lack of payload in a 1500, but....

((Here is where the firestorm starts))

The Hemi engine's power curve is really not well suited to towing. Sure, you can tow with it and if you have never used anything else you will probably be happy. In reality the Hemi's power comes on at RPM levels above what would be best for towing.

It was designed by Dodge as a "Muscle" engine, not a "work" engine.

If you use one and like it; good for you! There are a lot better things out there for serious RVing.

JMHO (based on Chrysler's Engineering newsletters of the past.)
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
May 31, 2014
ppgear wrote:
The GVWR and GAWR for the 5th wheel is 4218kg and 1950kg respectively.

As for the truck, the GVWR is 3085 kg and the rear GAWR 1770kg.

Some explanation of the numbers would be great. Is there any other numbers that I can provide that make the explanation more clear ?

Thanks for the help,
There are more numbers than that, and I have to try and figure out which is which here since you are metric.

First, let me send you to www.learntorv.com where you may find some useful information.

The big thing is the pin weight on your trailer, in addition to the weight of the hitch, and anything loaded inside the truck could (and probably would) severely overload the truck. You could have upwards to 800kg+ of pin weight when the trailer is fully loaded.

Another thing that hurts is the gearing. Using the 2014 guide with an express model, you lose over 2000lbs (800kg) of "towing capacity" (mind, they don't rate it using a big box RV, but something with better aerodynamics). The tow rating for the 2014 is 3600KG and your trailer could weigh as much as 4200KG!

Last problem is your bed size. I believe Etrailer.com suggests using a Reese Sidewinder/Revolution pinbox with this bed. Your other option is Pull Rite 3100 series hitch for short beds less than 6 feet. That hitch itself can weigh 180 kg with all the brackets needed.

So, with a payload of no more that 635KG (using a stripped down express model as an example) before you exceed your GVW, when you add your passengers, cargo, hitch, and pin weight to the equasion, you can easily be well over that. If you have a high end model, like a laramie limited, you only have about 490KG of payload.
ppgear
Explorer
May 31, 2014
The GVWR and GAWR for the 5th wheel is 4218kg and 1950kg respectively.

As for the truck, the GVWR is 3085 kg and the rear GAWR 1770kg.

Some explanation of the numbers would be great. Is there any other numbers that I can provide that make the explanation more clear ?

Thanks for the help,
ppgear
Explorer
May 31, 2014
WOW.... thanks for all the input from everyone and the information has been a learning opportunity. As much as I would love to take the 5th wheel, I will have to step back and reconsider my decisions.
2PM_s
Explorer
May 30, 2014
Forget the 5th and look into travel trailers. Or a get a 2500, you will feel much better when you get to your campsite. Not enough of payload with what you got, I would assume plenty of power.

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5th Wheel Towing with 2013 Ram 1500 5.7lt Hemi

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