Upgrading to a Newmar Kountry Aire

[jtguyton]

I am thinking about upgrading to a 2008 Kountry Aire 5th wheel that weighs-in @ 19,100 (empty weight). My 2011 Ram crew cab Dually (3.73 gear) can manage 21,000 lbs. Not a full timer so the most cargo I would carry is <200 pounds.

I know most folks that own these heavy 5'ers have class 8 tow vehicles. Any danger towing with the Ram? Getting a 4.10 rear gear would allow 22K towing capacity.

Thanks!

[NC_Hauler]

hone eagle wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
.....like I was saying....

If you were guessing , you were dang near right on.

I was going by weight and pin weight of "my 5er", and guessing at what his 5er might weigh. I pretty much knew the weights for the truck based on my owning 2010 and 2012 Ram 3500 CC/LB dually's. (mine is 4X4, so guessed OP's was, if not he has a tad more weight to play with:)

BUT....guess if one really wanted to talk about a "plain old" light duty truck being able to tow the 5er OP is discussing.....My truck has a GCWR of 37,500# with the 4:10 and medium duty Aisin transmission...Also have a GVWR of 14,000# and a RAWR of 9750 (based on tires, etc...AAM rates it at 11,500-11,800#...can't seem to make up their mind)...Anyway....Right now, with my truck, wife, full tank of DEF and fuel, two boxers, tool box and 5er, I'm just a little over 26,000# and the truck tows/hauls all this quiet effortlessly through the mountains where I tow....

Drive axle, like above, with no 5er connected is 3840#....based on Chryslers 9750# RAWR, That would allow pin weight of 5900# (at that point I've MET my RAWR, based on OEM tires)...My pin weight at this time is 3540#...still close to 2400# under my trucks RAWR AND, at this time I'm also UNDER my trucks GVWR of 14,000# by by a little over 1200#.

So, all that to say, KNOWING how my truck handles this 5er that I have now, towing in the mountains, with 6 speeds, the Aisin tranny and the 4:10 and of course the Cummins with 385HP and 850 TQ, I DO believe that my truck could tow, safely the 5er we're discussing in this thread....If I go to a 5,000# pin weight, an additional 1500# over what I have now, I"d "just" go over my trucks GVWR by approx. 300#, BUT STILL be under my trucks RAWR of 9750# by 900#....So with an extra 4,000# of 5er and 1500# more of pin weight that would raise my GCW to 31,500#, which STILL has me under the trucks GCWR by 6,000#,

NO, I won't ever tow that heavy....had thought about upgrading to a Carriage or newer, heavier 5er, but at this time....won't be doing it, BUT, I do know that IF I do, this truck is more than capable of handling a much heavier 5er without exceeding the trucks RAWR and GCWR....and really not exceeding the trucks GVWR by that much...

With what OP has, knowing what I know about his truck, (based on my 10' and 12') and knowing weight of his 5er....it's too much for his truck...

[Joezilla]

jtguyton wrote:
I am thinking about upgrading to a 2008 Kountry Aire 5th wheel that weighs-in @ 19,100 (empty weight). My 2011 Ram crew cab Dually (3.73 gear) can manage 21,000 lbs. Not a full timer so the most cargo I would carry is <200 pounds.

I know most folks that own these heavy 5'ers have class 8 tow vehicles. Any danger towing with the Ram? Getting a 4.10 rear gear would allow 22K towing capacity.

Thanks!

Not sure where your towing info is coming from, but my ex 2012 Ram dually CC 4.10 was only rated for 19500. That is one of the reasons I upgraded to a 2014, with a 3.73 and the Aisin transmission, I can tow 23,500.

Joe

[Cummins12V98]

My truck with 4:10's would have a combined rating of 30K. Gears ratios have nothing to do with safety. Plenty of power not to slow people on the highways. I have 6 gears, I run mostly in 5th the same rpm's as a truck with 4:10's in 6th. I climb the West coast in 3rd and descend in 3rd at around 55 on the steepest 6% grades. Traveled in 45mph winds and was rock solid.

I am well under my rear axle and tire ratings.

I have towed many TT's and 5ers over many years and I know what a TV feels like when it's overloaded. This one is not! It does not need air bags or 19.5's to do the job safely.

Anyway my next purchase will be rated to tow most any RV out there and be backed up by being ASE J-2807 compliant. It will feel and handle exactly the same other then it will climb the grades even better and will descend even better with a even better exhaust brake.

[Cummins12V98]

rhagfo wrote:
Cummins12V98, run a 5er about that size states 27,000 GCVW, with the same year Ram 3500.

Hey don't under state my obese standings! I recently weighed at the WA State truck scales 14K on the TV and 15K on the 5er for a new total of 29K!!!

It honestly handles the weight extremely well. Just did the math my RV pin weight is 5,080#.

[bwdboss]

Probably a good decision with the dodge, I have been all over the east coast with my setup , but never tackled the Big hills. Class 4/5's can do it , but as always , a little wisdom helps. By the way , they are great units and very stable with the dual duallies.

[jtguyton]

Thank you everyone for not letting me blinded to the beauty of this rig when the reality is that it's simply too much coach.

See you down the road!

[hone_eagle]

NC Hauler wrote:
.....like I was saying....

If you were guessing , you were dang near right on.

[Dennis_M_M]

GVWR on my Mountain Aire is 20k, Kountry Aires are heavier. My advice? - see my sig!

I climb over Raton Pass South of Denver in 9th gear with the cruise set, come down the other side the same way, usually without touching the brakes.

Why not be comfortable and safe?

[NC_Hauler]

.....like I was saying....

[hone_eagle]

That trailer will pound that LGT into the ground in just a few years ,then you will have to buy another and another.
Love that new truck smell ? Go for it.
FWIW the pin weight will approach 5000#,mine was supposed to be 2800 # according to the manufacturers brochure ,The CAT scale result - Over 4000#.
And we load the truck as much as possible.

[Me_Again]

Volvo!!!! 610 or 670!

[NC_Hauler]

jtguyton wrote:
I am thinking about upgrading to a 2008 Kountry Aire 5th wheel that weighs-in @ 19,100 (empty weight). My 2011 Ram crew cab Dually (3.73 gear) can manage 21,000 lbs. Not a full timer so the most cargo I would carry is <200 pounds.

I know most folks that own these heavy 5'ers have class 8 tow vehicles. Any danger towing with the Ram? Getting a 4.10 rear gear would allow 22K towing capacity.

Thanks!

I had a 2012 Ram 3500 Dually HO with 4:10 and GCWR was 29,000#, I think...They increased GCWR that year, but still old frame, only raised GVWR to 12,300.. Your pin weight could easily hit 4,000#, probably wouldn't exceed your trucks RAWR, but would go well over it's GVWR, (not widely used anymore)...I believe you'd be pushing the safety limits of your truck, but just my opinion. With the 3:73, GCWR is all the way down to 21,000#, you'd HAVE to change gearing, or loaded the way you are right now, you'd be around 27,000# (and that's going by your dry weight of 19,000#), so you would be approx. 6,000# over your trucks GCWR set up the way it is now.


As far as carrying "only 200#" of cargo....not going to happen. With clothes, pot's pans, dry goods, even with all tanks empty, you'll easily load more than 200#...

The trucks engine and tranny will handle it, no problem, BUT the trucks GCWR will be exceeded by quite a bit unless you opt for the 4:10 gearing, but still might be pushing the limits of the trucks RAWR....My 2012 empty weighed approx. 3500#, plus 3400# pin weight, at 6900#, so under RAWR and GCWR.....your pin weight, I would wager would be closer to 4,000-4100#...4:10 gearing might make it work...

Is the RAWR of the 11 9,000#?? I'm not sure, I know on my 13' it's 9,750# (rated to 11,500#)

[laknox]

We have a friend that has a Newmar and tows with a Freightliner Sport Chassis. He says it's a "perfect match" and, as an OTR trucker, I take his word for it.

Lyle

[ol_Bombero-JC]

rhagfo wrote:
Cummins12V98, run a 5er about that size states 27,000 GCVW, with the same year Ram 3500.

There's a lot of folks towing too much with too little - who can justify it's A-OK while looking in the mirror - and supply the "facts" why they are "good to go" anyplace else..:R

An MDT or a tandem Class 8, or singled Class 7 HDT - is the best answer for "GO" power & load, as well for stopping - the "Whoa! ability.

However, if the OP goes with his plan, I'll be behind him all the way.......
at least if I see him on the road), LOL...:W

~