How Legit is FifthWheelSt's Calculator?

Differential gear ratios and transmission ratings would be the first things to check.
Higher numerical differential may increase capacity.
Went to the website and it shows gear ratio as 3.73 for Chev. That is too high of ratio. Should be at least 3.90 to 4.10 Look at the ratings using 4.10s

Here's a screen shot of the specs of the RAM 3500 HD and the results just to show you what I mean.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zogi36auhpmu26a/fifthwheelst%20calculator%20screen%20shot.tiff?dl=0

Lol, you never want to look at what others may be towing with. I am sure there has to be someone towing that size with a half ton, and airbags.

I haven't looked at the calculator, but I am thinking it would be picking the 1 ton DRW, to add plenty of safety.

IMO, many of the SRW new models would carry a 3,000+ pin wt, plus a 200lb hitch.

Jerry

Your tow vehicle weight is wrong. Not even a semi tractor weighs 15500.

The gross weight of the trailer is 15,500!

BobKrogstie wrote:
Your tow vehicle weight is wrong. Not even a semi tractor weighs 15500.

OK - I'm an idiot. I understood that field to be for the weight of the trailer.

Thanks for pointing out my error.

Having said that, when I correct that with the weight of the tow vehicle (7082 lbs) it still shows that I'm 2000 lbs short of being able to tow the trailer.

Any one of those trucks will pull those RVs. That is not the problem. The real issues to be concerned about are:
1--- Will the TV rear axle carry the load? What's the TV rear axle rating.
2--- Will the TV tires carry the load? What are they rated for?
3--- Will the truck stop the load?

As suggested, you can change the gear ratio and/or go to a dually.

Personally, I would get a dually with at least a 4.1 gear ratio.

Like many RVers, you get a TV with more capacity than you need to start with because down the road Ma-Ma most likely will want a bigger RV.

As your user name implies, "hopeisnotastrategy", get it right the first time!!!!

Adjust your pin weight percentage selector to 20% and you should be able to tow 17,618 pounds worth of FW. I used 11,500 GVWR of my 2009 RAM dually in this calculation. See my signature for full truck description.

15,500# GVWR 5vr....WET Pin Weight roughly 3400# (or higher)

ANY current model DUALLY can handle that pin weight

IF you are looking for a SINGLE rear wheel the available payload, trucks GVWR and the GCVWR will be an issue

Hi,

Here's the numbers for my 2014 Ram 3500 SXT swr:

Payload: 4026lbs
GVWR: 11,700
FAWR: 6000lbs
RAWR: 7000lbs
Towing capacity: 17,600

Currently I am without a trailer :(, but with these ratings I am more than comfortable using the truck up to these ratings. This is just ME....notice I said "up to" these ratings. Over? Not on my life.

It's amazing the numbers the newer trucks have. When I started RV'ing back in '08 the above numbers would have been reserved for dually long-boxes. That's why I think it's hard to wrap our minds around the current posted capabilities of newer trucks.

Put a 40 foot fifth wheel with 16K GVWR in a parking lot with a new DWR and SWR next to it and ask most folks which truck could handle it and I bet a majority would only point at the dually, when in fact both 'could' do it. The DWR would have more 'breathing room' numbers wise, but the SWR could be used safely as well.
It does seem "odd" that a short-box SRW truck can tow so much, but who am I to second-guess engineers. ;)

Again, this is MY take, and I would have no problem using my truck as designed.
Must mention that my truck is only slightly above 'bare bones' options-wise, which is why I have the Payload rating I have. Obviously there are SRW trucks that wouldn't work with the above mentioned fiver, but mine certainly would :)
Can't wait to get the green light to go shopping :) :)

Mike