5th Wheel towing with the 2014 Ram 2500 6.7

[timesquare]

My 2010 3500 SRW just got totaled. I wanted to hear from any members who tow with the 2014 and how your experiences have been with the rear suspension. And what size/weight your pulling.

I have a 32ft bunkhouse 2 slides around 12,000 lbs. Since its so new all I have been reading is either Rams press release or people casting doubt on this platform. Took a test drive was impressed with the system it is very robust. i just placed an order and want to be sure I made the right move. The 3500 SRW Aisin seem to be on restriction forever.

[Ezbagr]

Here is your truck. Ram 3500 SRW Crew Cab with Aisin tranny.
http://www.dennisdillonchryslerjeepdodge.com/new/Ram/2014-Ram-3500-Caldwell-0942f57f0a0a000202ac45035256da1b.htm

[cummins2014]

gtsum wrote:
I recently went through this with thoughts on going the fiver route and I quickly noticed how easy it would be to overload the 2500 truck with payload (I got burned on this on my 2013 Ram 1500 Laramie). I ended up ordering a 2014 3500 CTD SRW Laramie 2 weeks ago....this will be my daily driver and I expect a bit rougher ride than the 2500 with the new suspension, but that is the trade off to be made I guess. Also, Reese, Mopar, and Pullrite all make adapters to fit the factory fifth wheel prep package now...you can then install most hitches on those adapters. Other options would be Curt or B&W now make hitches that drop straight into the factory pucks (non sliding though). I will go with an adapter and a pullrite superglide hitch on my 6'4" bed

FYI ordered the Reese 30154 picture frame adapter from RedTrailers.com cost was 325.54 plus 1.00 processing fee ,free shipping total 326.54. Should have mine in the next 4-6 days. Best price I could find.

[gtsum]

I recently went through this with thoughts on going the fiver route and I quickly noticed how easy it would be to overload the 2500 truck with payload (I got burned on this on my 2013 Ram 1500 Laramie). I ended up ordering a 2014 3500 CTD SRW Laramie 2 weeks ago....this will be my daily driver and I expect a bit rougher ride than the 2500 with the new suspension, but that is the trade off to be made I guess. Also, Reese, Mopar, and Pullrite all make adapters to fit the factory fifth wheel prep package now...you can then install most hitches on those adapters. Other options would be Curt or B&W now make hitches that drop straight into the factory pucks (non sliding though). I will go with an adapter and a pullrite superglide hitch on my 6'4" bed

[plkitchen]

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

I recently faced the same issues regarding the payload capacity of the 2500. I wound up purchasing a 2013 laramie longhorn 3500 crew cab long box dually with the cummins and the 68rfe trans. We also bought a new trailer with a dry weight of 11,400 and pin weight of 2,300. We have taken two trips so far one long and one short. The truck performs great. I hardly know the 5th wheel is back there. I think you should consider buying the 3500.

[bironacad]

timesquare wrote:

Me Again wrote:

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

Well if you could live with a long bed, you should call Kingman, Az RAM Dealler and buy the 2013 they have been setting on. I talked to the saleman there and he said it is not a problem selling into California and that they do it quite often.

RAM really seems to be behind the curve on 5th wheel prep if the new 2500 coil suspension takes different hitch pieces/picture frame.

BTW, the guys on the Tow Vehicle section think the new coil springs are the next best thing to toast. Chris

The 2500 does drive nice, if I didn't have a 50 toolbox tank combo and pin weight to worry about, I might have bought one.

How is the dually in the snow, really toying with the idea of buying one, planning on moving to Okanagan BC in the next year or so. But afraid snow could be an issue, but really more worried the Los Angeles freeways will make driving such a big truck tiresome?

I don't know about straight rear wheel drive but there is no problem here in the snow when switch to 4x4.

I am actually really starting to like the truck which I picked up Monday. We had 8" of snow here Wed and she did great. I was concerned going from a SRW to the DRW but no longer, go figure.

Good luck with whatever you decide a new vehicle doesn't come along all that often so enjoy.

[timesquare]

Me Again wrote:

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

Well if you could live with a long bed, you should call Kingman, Az RAM Dealler and buy the 2013 they have been setting on. I talked to the saleman there and he said it is not a problem selling into California and that they do it quite often.

RAM really seems to be behind the curve on 5th wheel prep if the new 2500 coil suspension takes different hitch pieces/picture frame.

BTW, the guys on the Tow Vehicle section think the new coil springs are the next best thing to toast. Chris

The 2500 does drive nice, if I didn't have a 50 toolbox tank combo and pin weight to worry about, I might have bought one.

How is the dually in the snow, really toying with the idea of buying one, planning on moving to Okanagan BC in the next year or so. But afraid snow could be an issue, but really more worried the Los Angeles freeways will make driving such a big truck tiresome?

[NC_Hauler]

45Ricochet wrote:
Fifth wheel trailers with any ball mount will require a safety chain or cable while fifth wheel plate and kingpin styles will be required to have a safety on or locking of the operating handle. Please also refer to Motor Vehicle Regulation 14-137-123 and 124.

LINK

Could be a pain if your planning a multi state vacation. Guess it's like towing doubles, some states okay some not. Chances are nobody going to notice anyway.

Probably right.....Well, I don't have one, so I guess it doesn't much matter, but guess if someone were to purchase the Andersen, they might need to check their state laws as to if it needs safety chains or not.

(won't double tow and probably will never get to Connecticut either:))

[45Ricochet]

Fifth wheel trailers with any ball mount will require a safety chain or cable while fifth wheel plate and kingpin styles will be required to have a safety on or locking of the operating handle. Please also refer to Motor Vehicle Regulation 14-137-123 and 124.

LINK

Could be a pain if your planning a multi state vacation. Guess it's like towing doubles, some states okay some not. Chances are nobody going to notice anyway.

[NC_Hauler]

45Ricochet wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

Andersen is a good set up, it's considered a 5er hitch and not a GN, and in most states around here, you don't need safety chains, (again, it's considered a 5er hitch, not a GN).

It's still a ball and not a pin. Me thinks this is a grey area with law enforcement. I had a nice officer remind me my chains on the GN trailer were not attached once. How could this be any different, the hitch is attached with a GN ball :H No link :B

You're probably right Rick about some states...Chris stated the same thing also in one of his post, but I have a friend I work with who got an Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch, and in NC, he's not required to use safety chains due to the ball not being located on the floor of the truck, but at the top of the hitch that attaches to the 5er via the coupler...I know that about NC because we checked..If you remember I came 'within a hair" of pulling the trigger on one myself, and did the research for NC requirements, and they don't consider it a GN.

Don't know about links, I called DOT, then made a trip to Asheville DOT, Safety Officer brought up the link on the Andersen hitch, made a call to Raleigh and I didn't get an answer till the next day when I received a call and was told safety chains not required in NC for that particular hitch... that's what I was going by...

[45Ricochet]

NC Hauler wrote:

Andersen is a good set up, it's considered a 5er hitch and not a GN, and in most states around here, you don't need safety chains, (again, it's considered a 5er hitch, not a GN).

It's still a ball and not a pin. Me thinks this is a grey area with law enforcement. I had a nice officer remind me my chains on the GN trailer were not attached once. How could this be any different, the hitch is attached with a GN ball :H No link :B

[bironacad]

Me Again wrote:

bironacad wrote:

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

I went through this and finally bought a dually for not just the payload buy the piece of mind.

I think your castle needs one bigger garage door. Chris

I am downsizing the house that is how I can afford the truck, the truck still wont fit in the new houses garage lol
here are a couple of picks of the cottage and the two garages that it fits in:

[Me_Again]

bironacad wrote:

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

I went through this and finally bought a dually for not just the payload buy the piece of mind.

I think your castle needs one bigger garage door. Chris

[Me_Again]

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

Well if you could live with a long bed, you should call Kingman, Az RAM Dealler and buy the 2013 they have been setting on. I talked to the saleman there and he said it is not a problem selling into California and that they do it quite often.

RAM really seems to be behind the curve on 5th wheel prep if the new 2500 coil suspension takes different hitch pieces/picture frame.

BTW, the guys on the Tow Vehicle section think the new coil springs are the next best thing to toast. Chris

[bironacad]

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

I went through this and finally bought a dually for not just the payload buy the piece of mind.

[NC_Hauler]

timesquare wrote:
After researching more, it looks like the Ram 2500 would tow my 5th wheel fine. Where I am running into trouble with the numbers is the payload. Add the hitch weight and the toolbox/tank combo and family of 4, and I am over. It seems like a lot of people must be over the vehicles payload numbers yet still be fine with the tow weight. Looks like I need to reevaluate. Sure wish the 3500 SRW Aisin were not on restriction.

The 14' Ram 3500 SRW with the 68RFE is more than enough tranny for the truck...I had two trucks with the 68RFE, a 2010 Dually and a 12' dually, both with 4:10 and 12 was HO...I towed my 16,000# 5er through the mountains of WV, TN, NC, SC and VA and never had a problem. Nothing wrong with the 68RFE if you can't find a 3500 SRW with the Aisin.

The 14' 2500 also has the new frame, but for no more than it cost to go to the 3500 SRW, if you ever decide to go bigger with a 5er, you're pretty much set....Both could tow your 5er if only weight of 12,000#....shouldn't be an issue even with 2500...

If you get the 5er/GN prep package, you could probably keep the hitch you have now, as stated in an earlier post and buy a picture frame adapter to mount into the prep package. mount your hitch to it and you're ready to go.

As also mentioned, if you get the GN/5er prep package...the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch and a drop in ball (made by Reese, fit's perfectly into GN hole), and you have a nice set up. quite a few on the cummins forums have went this route, be it short bed or long bed truck, it appears the Andersen is a good set up, it's considered a 5er hitch and not a GN, and in most states around here, you don't need safety chains, (again, it's considered a 5er hitch, not a GN).