Towing 5th wheel near the trucks limits

[kodiakcanuck]

Without starting up the great "can halfton's tow 5th wheels" debate, what are your thoughts on how the truck would handle this tow:

5th Wheel Trailer
2005 Flagstaff 8524 CBS
25 feet
Pin/hitch weight 1010 lbs
Gross Weight 8115 lbs
Dry weight 5866 lbs

Truck
2014 Ram 1500 4x4 crewcab, 5.7 VB 3:92 rear end
Max towing 10,000 lbs
Max Payload 1450 lbs

The max payload weight would be close, so nothing else could be added in the truck. Mostly just driver and passenger in the truck.

I have towed a 29 foot travel trailer that had a heavy 800 lbs hitch weight and a good weight distribution set up and it still felt comfortable, so although this 5th wheel would have a heavy set up on the payload, the trailer would be shorter than I have previously towed.

[Grit_dog]

troubledwaters wrote:

kodiakcanuck wrote:
Thanks for the info all, I think I have decided against this set up.

If that fifth wheel was a Travel Trailer you'd be fine. Just saying - you can tow a lot bigger TT with any given truck than a 5th wheel.

Lol, fake news.

[JIMNLIN]

kodiakcanuck wrote:

MFL wrote:
Agree with Old-Biscuit, it will work if you can stay under rawr/tire rating. You will likely be over payload some, but 2014 truck won't break in half over a few hundred lbs.

Jerry

The tires are L/T BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2, so they have a higher rating than stock tires. I will check it out, Thanks!

JFI for your next truck or trailer....your trucks rawr is the lessor of a tire....wheel....rear suspension....axle rating.
Up rate one component is fine but don't forget the others.

[Blazing_Zippers]

Kodiak, I've never met 'Old Biscuit," but I think he is probably one of the most knowledgeable on this forum. Consider his response.
Remember, this RV thing is supposed to be fun, and fun always costs a lot.

[troubledwaters]

kodiakcanuck wrote:
Thanks for the info all, I think I have decided against this set up.

If that fifth wheel was a Travel Trailer you'd be fine. Just saying - you can tow a lot bigger TT with any given truck than a 5th wheel.

[N-Trouble]

MFL wrote:
Not recommending...but from experience, towing overloaded with a FW, is a better experience than towing overloaded with a TT.

Jerry

^^This^^

Over or not bet it still tows real nice

[Frostbitte]

Hmmm, all things added up, I'm sure you'll eventually be over the stated payload limit of the truck after you load up the trailer, add your hitch and people and whatever in the truck.
If you do decide to do it this way, the RAM will squat pretty hard and I'd make sure your tires are E rated tires and not P tires that some half-tons come with and maybe airbags or timbren overload springs will help with the squat.

[kodiakcanuck]

Thanks for the info all, I think I have decided against this set up.

[MFL]

Not recommending...but from experience, towing overloaded with a FW, is a better experience than towing overloaded with a TT.

Jerry

[Old-Biscuit]

kodiakcanuck wrote:

MFL wrote:
Agree with Old-Biscuit, it will work if you can stay under rawr/tire rating. You will likely be over payload some, but 2014 truck won't break in half over a few hundred lbs.

Jerry

The tires are L/T BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2, so they have a higher rating than stock tires. I will check it out, Thanks!

Axle ratings are usually lower then the tire load ratings

[kodiakcanuck]

MFL wrote:
Agree with Old-Biscuit, it will work if you can stay under rawr/tire rating. You will likely be over payload some, but 2014 truck won't break in half over a few hundred lbs.

Jerry

The tires are L/T BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2, so they have a higher rating than stock tires. I will check it out, Thanks!

[IdaD]

The rear axle and tire ratings are the critical things to look at, imo. My guess is you'd be very close on those metrics. Ratings aside, it would probably tow nicer than your 29' TT did with the same truck. You could band-aid it a bit with higher rated tires and Timbrens or bags.

[MFL]

Agree with Old-Biscuit, it will work if you can stay under rawr/tire rating. You will likely be over payload some, but 2014 truck won't break in half over a few hundred lbs.

Jerry

[Sandia_Man]

Definitely at the limits and more than likely over payload with a GVWR of 8115#. Most 5ers have a pin weight ranging from 20% to 25% easily eclipsing your payload capacity, even if your 5er weighs in at let say 6500# because no one tows around at factory stated UVW, at least 1300# of payload is gone. That being said your truck has a nice transmission and decent gearing for towing, I know I have seen other half tons towing more, you may feel it is doable as towing comfort level varies for every one. Good luck, hopefully it works out in your favor.

[Lwiddis]

1,450 payload is terrible! My 2015 Tahoe, an SUV, had 1595. My new Silverado is 1720.