I still need help to understand what TV I need, looking at a Durango Gold fifth wheel unloaded weight of 12250 lbs, and GVWR of 14,995 lbs.So my current truck is a 2018 Ram 2500, It has 6000 front axel and 6500 rear axel, 6.7 turbo diesel, door sticker says 2380 cargo capacity. I went to a cat scale with wife and dog & gear in truck and the front axel weight was 4980 & rear axel was 3300. So now the confusion if I go by the 10,000 then I only have cargo or pin weight available of 1720 lbs. But if you go by axel rating I would have 3200 lbs, I suspect I would need a Ram 3500 but not 100% sure, Help me understand this better please, the more I read the more confused I get. I understand where the axel ratings come from but why is payload limited to the 10,000 lb, where does that number come from? need to figure out what to do before buying the Durango.Thanks,

The 10,000 is a made up number. But with 14,995lb trailer weight you want a 3500 DRW IMO. 3200lbs is only around 21% of the loaded trailer weight.

RickeyS1 wrote:I still need help to understand what TV I need, looking at a Durango Gold fifth wheel unloaded weight of 12250 lbs, and GVWR of 14,995 lbs.So my current truck is a 2018 Ram 2500, It has 6000 front axel and 6500 rear axel, 6.7 turbo diesel, door sticker says 2380 cargo capacity. I went to a cat scale with wife and dog & gear in truck and the front axel weight was 4980 & rear axel was 3300. So now the confusion if I go by the 10,000 then I only have cargo or pin weight available of 1720 lbs. But if you go by axel rating I would have 3200 lbs, I suspect I would need a Ram 3500 but not 100% sure, Help me understand this better please, the more I read the more confused I get. I understand where the axel ratings come from but why is payload limited to the 10,000 lb, where does that number come from? need to figure out what to do before buying the Durango.Thanks,Rule of thumb is 20-25% of the GVW as max pin wt. Taking a ballpark of 22.5% that gives you almost 3400 on the pin, AT GVW. Since you =should= prepare for a worst-case scenario, I'd say that you're well under-trucked for that FW. Are any of the 2500, or even 1500, model lines that would fill the bill for you and fit your truck better? This being said, you're also likely to find a lot of late-model 2500s pulling that weight FW with no problems. So long as you're within your =tire= ratings, I'd say you could do it. Might need some help on the rear end; Timbrens, extra helper spring, bags, etc. That rear-end is likely the same as on a 3500, minus a leaf or two, and, probably, smaller brakes.Lyle

You've opened yourself to a huge variety of answers but still a great question. There are towing guides online that I would trust more than everyone's personal opinions and "feelings", like I tow my 15,000 lb trailer with my F150 and I can't even tell it's back there.All that said, first, I'd stick to the door tag. If your trucks door tag states you have a payload capacity of 2380, that's what I go by. Second, always use the GVWR to estimate your pin weight (short of a true weighing). Using a rough guide of 20% of trailer weight that trailer will have 3,000 lbs on the pin. My trailer runs nearly 23% of GVW so it can definitely vary.My trailer weighs (Cat Scales) right at 13,500 lbs. My pin is just short of 3,200. I'm close with my 2016 Denali 3500 SRW with a door tag payload capacity of 3569 .I would go to a 1 ton if I were you. Good luck with your decision.

10,000 GVWR for truck is so it stays in CLASS 2 weight ratingIt is for MFG warranty & Vehicle registration issuesPayload is based on that GVWR so it is also arbitrary None of the above are DOT legal issuesAxle/Tire Load Ratings ARE DOT Legal issuesStay AT or Under the axle/tire ratings and good to go15,000# 5vr GVWR using 22% pin weight ratio results in 3300# WET Pin weightYou will be at/close to RAWR.....depending on how much you load into 5th wheelI tow based on DOT Legal limits.......Axle Rate/Tire Load Ratings.

If this is the one you're looking at then it's way way too much for a 3/4 ton truck. Like mentioned above I think it's more suitable for a DRW.https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2018-Kz-Rv-Durango-%C2%AE-Gold-G384RLT-5000263693

Truck limit | Good Sam Community

IdaD
Explorer
Apr 19, 2018
semlohde wrote:
I have a similar situation. 2018 RAM 2500 MEGA 6.7 Cummins I got 2 weeks ago and Forest River Sierra 356RL, GVWR 14040. I've never had the tanks full traveling - but don't go far either. I look at it using the GAWR of 6000 and 6500. The SRW 3500 has a rear axle rating of 7000, same 6000 for the front, and payload near 4000 while mine is like 1800!?!?!. I weigh below both axle ratings on CAT scales, tires and wheels are capable of those weights, but yes, am above the 10,000. This 2500 is too similar to the SRW 3500 specs for me to believe it can't safely handle the load.. You traded a 2018 2500 for a duelly? wow, had to take a hit on that. But you'll certainly have a truck with nothing to worry about.

Any of the current model year 2500 diesels would handle a 14k lb fifth wheel with no issues. Just make sure you're registered properly for teh weight and go have fun.
semlohde
Explorer
Apr 19, 2018
I have a similar situation. 2018 RAM 2500 MEGA 6.7 Cummins I got 2 weeks ago and Forest River Sierra 356RL, GVWR 14040. I've never had the tanks full traveling - but don't go far either. I look at it using the GAWR of 6000 and 6500. The SRW 3500 has a rear axle rating of 7000, same 6000 for the front, and payload near 4000 while mine is like 1800!?!?!. I weigh below both axle ratings on CAT scales, tires and wheels are capable of those weights, but yes, am above the 10,000. This 2500 is too similar to the SRW 3500 specs for me to believe it can't safely handle the load.. You traded a 2018 2500 for a duelly? wow, had to take a hit on that. But you'll certainly have a truck with nothing to worry about.
Jim_Sharon
Explorer
Apr 18, 2018
Good thinking Rick. Use the tool that will do the job, and then some, Jim
wilber1
Explorer
Apr 18, 2018
joebedford wrote:
My thinking parallels CWSWine's

X2
RickeyS1
Explorer
Apr 18, 2018
Well; I pick up the new 3500 dually on Saturday!
This will be the last truck I ever buy.
Thanks
Rick
BarneyS
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2018
I think this has been beat enough. Let's move on.
Barney
laknox
Nomad
Apr 17, 2018
Lantley wrote:
laknox wrote:
Lantley wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
CRSWine - still waiting for you to show me one lawsuit where exceeding the GVWR entered into the equation for liability. Been about 6 months now and I'm still waiting. Until then it's just a lotta hyperbole - could cause this, could result in that.

You are correct . But if the plaintiffs lawyer realized you were exceeding your GVW do you think they would use it against you? Hyperbole or not it would be a liability if you were in civil court.
There are civil court trials everyday all across America it would be naive to believe the issue has NEVER surfaced.

And how do they prove that you were exceeding any numbers? Likely the FW is a pile of sticks, so =real= hard to tell, especially if you're close.

Lyle

Sure we all seen photos of rigs that have been obliterated. But we have also seen rigs that were towed away.

I don't think the GVW labels will disintegrate.
For instance in MD, PA and a few other states any combo over 26001 GCVWR requires a non commercial endorsement to your license.
This requirement is based on the GVW of the vehicles and not their scaled weights.
So if you are stopped with a 15K GVW trailer and a 12K GVW truck.
12K + 15K = 27K. 27,000 > 26,001 you can be ticketed. If you do not have the correct endorsement to your license. No weighing required. They are not interested in your scaled weights but your registered weight.
Get into an accident without the proper endorsement and you've exposed yourself to more potential liability, no scales required.

But if I ever traveled through your neck 'o the woods, I'd not have an issue, on those grounds, since there's no requirement for that here in AZ, where I'm licensed. (shrug)

Lyle
Lantley
Nomad
Apr 17, 2018
laknox wrote:
Lantley wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
CRSWine - still waiting for you to show me one lawsuit where exceeding the GVWR entered into the equation for liability. Been about 6 months now and I'm still waiting. Until then it's just a lotta hyperbole - could cause this, could result in that.

You are correct . But if the plaintiffs lawyer realized you were exceeding your GVW do you think they would use it against you? Hyperbole or not it would be a liability if you were in civil court.
There are civil court trials everyday all across America it would be naive to believe the issue has NEVER surfaced.

And how do they prove that you were exceeding any numbers? Likely the FW is a pile of sticks, so =real= hard to tell, especially if you're close.

Lyle

Sure we all seen photos of rigs that have been obliterated. But we have also seen rigs that were towed away.

I don't think the GVW labels will disintegrate.
For instance in MD, PA and a few other states any combo over 26001 GCVWR requires a non commercial endorsement to your license.
This requirement is based on the GVW of the vehicles and not their scaled weights.
So if you are stopped with a 15K GVW trailer and a 12K GVW truck.
12K + 15K = 27K. 27,000 > 26,001 you can be ticketed. If you do not have the correct endorsement to your license. No weighing required. They are not interested in your scaled weights but your registered weight.
Get into an accident without the proper endorsement and you've exposed yourself to more potential liability, no scales required.
laknox
Nomad
Apr 17, 2018
Lantley wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
CRSWine - still waiting for you to show me one lawsuit where exceeding the GVWR entered into the equation for liability. Been about 6 months now and I'm still waiting. Until then it's just a lotta hyperbole - could cause this, could result in that.

You are correct . But if the plaintiffs lawyer realized you were exceeding your GVW do you think they would use it against you? Hyperbole or not it would be a liability if you were in civil court.
There are civil court trials everyday all across America it would be naive to believe the issue has NEVER surfaced.

And how do they prove that you were exceeding any numbers? Likely the FW is a pile of sticks, so =real= hard to tell, especially if you're close.

Lyle
troubledwaters
Nomad
Apr 17, 2018
Lantley wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
CRSWine - still waiting for you to show me one lawsuit where exceeding the GVWR entered into the equation for liability. Been about 6 months now and I'm still waiting. Until then it's just a lotta hyperbole - could cause this, could result in that.

You are correct . But if the plaintiffs lawyer realized you were exceeding your GVW do you think they would use it against you? Hyperbole or not it would be a liability if you were in civil court.
There are civil court trials everyday all across America it would be naive to believe the issue has NEVER surfaced.
So it should be pretty easy to find one to prove it has happened. Until then - "could" increase liability is hyperbole and doesn't substitute for "has", "will".

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