Changed trucks to a Ram 1500

First off.....
that pin weight is DRY (unloaded) weight number.
WET pin will be closer to 1400#

Best changes to 150/1500 for towing....upgrading to at least a 250/2500 for 5th wheel

Payload is the issue.
Payload includes ALL passengers weight, any stuff in cab, any stuff in bed including that 5th wheel hitch PLUS the wet pin
1400# eats up a lot of payload for a 1500 especially a 2003 4x4 which only has 1200-1300# payload to begin with.

Then you have the RAWR which is 3900#
Curb weight is roughly 3100# leaving only 800# before exceeding RAWR.


Air bags do NOT add capacity.

I looked at 5th wheels when I had a 1/2 ton pickup, and decided I couldn't find one that I would feel comfortable pulling with my Sierra.

As already mentioned, I think you're already exceeding your payload.

Good luck.. And Im sure you will be getting lots of advice shortly.

Mike

Jlschuma wrote:
I went a few years newer and got 2003 4X4.

Now I need to get the truck set up for the camper. I am thinking airbags and new Bilstien shocks. The tires are rated at over 2400 pounds each which is over the axle rating of 3900.

What are the best changes anyone has made to a 1500/150 for towing?
The pin weight of the fifth wheel is 884.

YOu should not have any trouble with the 5.7 I pulled a 34' with a 5.7 and 3.73 gears. If you beef the suspension a bit you should be able to do OK if you don't have gears lower that the 3.73. If mine had 4.10 gears I could have gone most anywhere. Good Luck

The dry weight of the camper is 6320 I may end up just at max payload when I am loaded but do not expect to be over 1000 for loaded pin weight.

Jlschuma wrote:
The dry weight of the camper is 6320 I may end up just at max payload when I am loaded but do not expect to be over 1000 for loaded pin weight.

Well that will leave you 300# or less of payload for you, passengers, stuff and hitch

Course that will put you over RAWR but what the heck they are just numbers anyway.

Sure .....go for it.
Like others have said....No Problem!

I'd do as you say, air-lift's and as it's older, shocks. Watch the tranny temps, on my old gmc I added a 2nd tranny cooler.

I had a couple of 1/2 ton trucks some years back towing 5th wheel trailers and........jee wiz they did the job just fine.

Running some numbers on your 1500 truck with a 3900 RAWR shows many of these size trucks can have approx 2500 lb rear axle weight which leaves approx 1400 lbs for a payload. Only you will know how much weight you add to the truck and if that weight goes over the trucks rear or between the axles. Not all occupants sit over the trucks rear axle which carries all the trailer hitch weight.
You have the truck so a trip to the scales for front and rear axle loads will be required so you will know what type of mods are needed to carry the load.

You mention 2400 lbs of load capacity for your tires which sounds like a P tire. If thats the case according to fed regs P tires used on a truck or trailer will have its 2400 lb load capacity reduced by dividing 1.1 = 2182 lbs of capacity.
Regardless for that size 5th wheel trailer I would go with a LT C (6 ply rated) or a D (8 ply rated) for your truck. Some folks go with a E tire however most 1/2 ton truck wheels aren't rated that high.

The Hemi with a 3.92/4.10 gears will have no problems pulling that much weight. Now if the truck has 3.23/3.08 gears then its gonna' struggle.

Check out these 1/2 ton size 5th wheel trailers clicky link

Heavy duty rear spring packs, check at sdtrucksprings.com

LT load range D tires

Heavy duty shocks, Bilstein yellow 4600 series