Towing on 2010 ram 6.7 diesel

[Bobroham]

Hello all,

Debating on getting a ram 2010 6.7 2500, Crew, 3.42 RFE. One model here has 130k miles.
Planning on using it for 5th wheel RV towing.
RV is about ~10k.
According to rambodybuilder, payload is 2400 and towing capacity is under 10k (which are pathetic btw)

Considering getting a gasser (6.2 ford or similar) for considerably less money (20k vs 28k $CDN). It just seems hard to justify the cost difference. My thought is that the 6.7 may give me some room to grow if I upgrade my trailer in the future.

Questions:

Whats the reliability like on 2010 6.7?
How far can I push this truck, can I go to a 20k trailer safely? Enough power? (even though its rated under 10k)
Even though payload is 2400, can I put 3k pin weight plus cargo safely? (w/ tire ugrades + airbags)

[Cummins12V98]

vankids wrote:
beware of 2010 with factory installed brake controller. I have a 3500 and the factory brake controller could not stop a 5000 lb let alone my 12,000 without manually applying. Because on the trim model of my truck, relatively base, there is no fancy screen to select between 4 power settings. Dealer could not even access to reprogram.
They were surprised themselves. Now have an aftermarket
With that truck you have power but!

The 2010 and 2011 Factory controllers were about as useful as the P-2.

I installed a MaxBrake in my 11, nothing better! I have it installed in my 15 now since the 15's don't always work well.

Truly "seamless" braking.

[vankids]

beware of 2010 with factory installed brake controller. I have a 3500 and the factory brake controller could not stop a 5000 lb let alone my 12,000 without manually applying. Because on the trim model of my truck, relatively base, there is no fancy screen to select between 4 power settings. Dealer could not even access to reprogram.
They were surprised themselves. Now have an aftermarket
With that truck you have power but!

[Cummins12V98]

spud1957 wrote:

if your insurance provider wont cover you if you have an accident

Not true. Not true. Not true.

There is no exclusion in an insurance policy that states you will not be covered in the event you are over weight.

If you speed and in an accident as a result, are you covered? Yes

If you have bald tires and in an accident as a result, are you covered? Yes

If you run a stop sign and in an accident as a result, are you covered? Yes

Get my point? That's why we have insurance. For all the knowingly and unknowingly mistakes we make.

ALL good points!!!

[spud1957]

if your insurance provider wont cover you if you have an accident

Not true. Not true. Not true.

There is no exclusion in an insurance policy that states you will not be covered in the event you are over weight.

If you speed and in an accident as a result, are you covered? Yes

If you have bald tires and in an accident as a result, are you covered? Yes

If you run a stop sign and in an accident as a result, are you covered? Yes

Get my point? That's why we have insurance. For all the knowingly and unknowingly mistakes we make.

[Cummins12V98]

boatms03 wrote:
purchased this new sierra 42' 5'er and love it. it pulls better than my 30' bumper pull toy hauler did. I have a set of firestone air bags due to the soft rear suspension of the dodge. I would defiantly get a diesel. I had a 3/4 ton gasser and the fuel mileage towing or not was horrible.

Too funny! Talk about the "soft rear suspension" of the 2500 RAM when towing a 42' ToyHauler??? Now that's darn funny. If you have 17" tires you may want to check rear axle weights.

[boatms03]

purchased this new sierra 42' 5'er and love it. it pulls better than my 30' bumper pull toy hauler did. I have a set of firestone air bags due to the soft rear suspension of the dodge. I would defiantly get a diesel. I had a 3/4 ton gasser and the fuel mileage towing or not was horrible.

[B_O__Plenty]

i had a 2010 Ram 2500 diesel.I pulled about 12,500#. My pin weight was over by about 900#. I put airbags on it. It towed it okay but not great. Power wasn't an issue the suspension and tires had about all they wanted. A little rocky in a crosswind. I would never consider towing more than that with one. My biggest issues were recalls and having to wait for parts to get them done along with second rate dealer service departments. I traded to a Chevrolet and am much happier.

B.O.





B.O.

[danrclem]

If your 5th wheel is 10,000# loaded then a Ford 6.2 will pull it just fine. Probably would pull more just fine but don't know for sure because I haven't exceeded that with mine.

[memtb]

camp-n-family, Take a look at the axle(AXLE) name and spec's on the later models Dodge Ram HD diesels. The reason the 2500 has a lower load rating,is the lighter spring pack.... Not the axle. On a Diesel Ram 3500... The only difference in the rear differential between the SRW and the DRW, is the distance between the spring plate and the brake/hub assembly (greater distance on the DRW). The load/tow capacity of the axle (not tires,rims,springs) assembly is the same on both the 2500 and the 3500 Ram Diesel HD's.

So.... With a tire,rim,wheel,and spring upgrade you could equal or exceed the load ratings of a factory stock 3500 dually. Though you will "Not" have the wide footprint, which may/probably give more lateral stability.

I hope that this helped clean-up any questions or concerns.

All the best and Happy Trails

[transamz9]

camp-n-family wrote:

memtb wrote:
camp-n-family, At 20K lbs. of 5th wheel, He "WILL" likely exceed the stock tire rating but not the axle (same rear diff. on 2500 and 3500). He also stated... upgrading tires, rims, adding air bags!

2010 Ram 2500s have a 6500lbs RAWR with an empty base model truck weight of ~2700lbs carried on the rear. That leaves 3800lbs for pin weight, hitch etc. Not likely enough for a 20k fiver.

If the OP has to upgrade tires, rims, and airbags to make it safe then they are starting with the wrong truck.

If you look at the comments I quote they say you can not tow a 20K 5th wheel safely with a 2500 no matter what you do to it. I simply state that you can. I said nothing about the OP although the OP did ask can it be done safely by upgrading tires and bags.

If I was looking to buy a truck and knew I was going to be getting a 20K trailer I would be looking at trucks that will handle it without mods.

[camp-n-family]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
" A 20k fiver is at the high end of a 3500 dually ratings."

I guess you have not looked at the capabilities of any of the newer 350/3500 Dually trucks! Read bottom line on the below chart.

My Dually handles our 23K 5er with no issues and is within GCVWR, FAWR and at RAWR.

You are correct, I was maybe a little overzealous with the dually numbers. I could have sworn the 2010 ratings were much less than the current model years.

[camp-n-family]

memtb wrote:
camp-n-family, At 20K lbs. of 5th wheel, He "WILL" likely exceed the stock tire rating but not the axle (same rear diff. on 2500 and 3500). He also stated... upgrading tires, rims, adding air bags!

2010 Ram 2500s have a 6500lbs RAWR with an empty base model truck weight of ~2700lbs carried on the rear. That leaves 3800lbs for pin weight, hitch etc. Not likely enough for a 20k fiver.

If the OP has to upgrade tires, rims, and airbags to make it safe then they are starting with the wrong truck.

[transamz9]

camp-n-family wrote:

transamz9 wrote:

camp-n-family wrote:
No, you cannot safely go to a 20k fiver with a 2500 truck, no matter what you add to it.

He didn't ask if you could stay within the little sticker ratings. He asked if it could be done safely. I'd do it with my 2005 2500 and do it safely.

A 20k fiver would have 4k+ pin weight at the low end average of 20 percent trailer weight. Add in a couple hundred pounds for the hitch and a few more for some passengers and you will FAR exceed the tire and axle ratings of a 2500 truck. That is not safe. A 20k fiver is at the high end of a 3500 dually ratings.

It will not exceed the axle rating. My 2005 2500 weighs 2,800# on the rear axle with my wife and dogs in the truck, full fuel and 5th wheel hitch installed. The tires (285/60r20) combined have 7,280# capacity. By my calculations that is 4,480# left for tongue weight. And incase you are wondering about the suspension, it has a 10,000# working load capacity so it is able to handle 7,200# worth of load added to the truck.

[Cummins12V98]

" A 20k fiver is at the high end of a 3500 dually ratings."

I guess you have not looked at the capabilities of any of the newer 350/3500 Dually trucks! Read bottom line on the below chart.

My Dually handles our 23K 5er with no issues and is within GCVWR, FAWR and at RAWR.