Ram 2500 6.4 gas Towing 5th wheel.

[tuvok42]

I'm trying to find information about towing a 10k or less 5th wheel with my Ram short bed 2500 gas 6.4. I don't have air bags on the truck but will add them if necessary. I'm concerned about the coil spring and there impact on towing. I can always buy a TT but I wanted a better towing trailer.

[JIMNLIN]

One of our long time members posted this about his then new 2014 2500 Ram with rear coils vs his older '07 3500 srw towing his 12k lb 5er (with both.)

*** ib516

Way up north eh

Senior Member

Joined: 04/18/2003

Posted: 10/05/18 12:32pm Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
I hooked a 14k 5er to my coil sprung 2500 and it sat level. I regularly towed a 12k 5er with no issues. In fact, the 2014 2500 with coils sagged less with the same 5er than my 2007 3500 SRW did with Torklift Stableloads installed.

Here's a 12k 5er that's 37 feet long with 3 slides (one of which is over the pin) and all stock rear suspension...IIRC, the pin weight was right around 2000# when I weighed it.***

Seems hauling tall top heavy truck campers with the 2500 Ram rear coils gets the most negative opinions.

[Grit_dog]

Martyn wrote:
I have truck and fith wheel as shown in my signature. It tows/pulls like a dream and half the time you don't know it's back there. Recently completed a trip from Florida to Ontario and back and no issues. 10.5 mpg for the whole round trip. I used to have diesel truck but went with this one for the extra payload capacity for the 5er and due to the price of diesel. I used to get 10mpg towing with my diesel, so I am coming out ahead right now!

As to the coil springs - never noticed any difference from the leaf springs in my old 2002 CTD.

10.5mpg? Roflmao

[tuvok42]

3.73 ratio. And thanks this has all been very helpful.

[ScottG]

Martyn wrote:
I have truck and fith wheel as shown in my signature. It tows/pulls like a dream and half the time you don't know it's back there. Recently completed a trip from Florida to Ontario and back and no issues. 10.5 mpg for the whole round trip. I used to have diesel truck but went with this one for the extra payload capacity for the 5er and due to the price of diesel. I used to get 10mpg towing with my diesel, so I am coming out ahead right now!

As to the coil springs - never noticed any difference from the leaf springs in my old 2002 CTD.

Good info. What gearing do you have?

[Martyn]

I have truck and fith wheel as shown in my signature. It tows/pulls like a dream and half the time you don't know it's back there. Recently completed a trip from Florida to Ontario and back and no issues. 10.5 mpg for the whole round trip. I used to have diesel truck but went with this one for the extra payload capacity for the 5er and due to the price of diesel. I used to get 10mpg towing with my diesel, so I am coming out ahead right now!

As to the coil springs - never noticed any difference from the leaf springs in my old 2002 CTD.

[FishOnOne]

mkirsch wrote:
I'd think they'd have more of an impact on bumper towing than 5th wheel towing, if they had any impact at all.

They still produce the 2500 with coil springs right? They've been making them since what, 2008? That pretty much says it right there. If the coil springs were a problem, they would have stopped producing them long ago.

Any perceived "problems" with the coil springs were well-discussed BEFORE the trucks were available for purchase. Lots of fretting and hand-wringing over nothing.

I don't think the coil spring rear suspension supports truck campers with the factory setup, but a larger sway bar upgrade may support it.

[MFL]

^^ "They've been making them since what, 2008?"

IIRC, the Ram rear coils came along about 2014, not that is really matters. I think ride improvement the reason. If they hindered the perceived use of a HD truck, I agree, they would not have continued using them.

[ls1mike]

The guy I frequently camp with has one. No issues, he loves it.

[mkirsch]

I'd think they'd have more of an impact on bumper towing than 5th wheel towing, if they had any impact at all.

They still produce the 2500 with coil springs right? They've been making them since what, 2008? That pretty much says it right there. If the coil springs were a problem, they would have stopped producing them long ago.

Any perceived "problems" with the coil springs were well-discussed BEFORE the trucks were available for purchase. Lots of fretting and hand-wringing over nothing.

[FishOnOne]

From what I've seen, the rear suspension with coils is a non issue

[MFL]

I don't see a problem with the coil springs, but have no personal experience with them. I know they do tow FWs with them. It should not affect the stability of towing a FW, but depending on pin wt, you may want to add bags or Timbrens.

Rams have a bit shorter distance from rear axle center, to back of cab, with the shorter beds, so hitch selection is more important than the coil springs IMO.

Jerry