CTD 3500 owners

[kimomjtb]

What are your thoughts,about this set up? We have a
2003 CTD 3500 quad cab larrimie. 5.9 automatic 4wheel drive
Michelin lt265/70R17. Air bags, new heavy duty shocks
Bully dog, tranny was rebuilt 2 years ago with heavy duty parts

Just purchased a

2015 Palomino Columbus

Hitch Weight 1940lbs
UVW 12,320 lbs
GVWR 15,940
CCC 3620lbs
Exterior Length 41'1

I had one person say it was too,heavy of a trailer for our truck...Thoughts? If so what are our options for trucks? Can't really afford to get a new one but if needed what is going to be bigger than we already have? Thanks

[SouthernLoCo]

I pull a 2015 Jayco Seismic (dry weight of about 15K). I had a Dodge 2500 with firestone airbags, a Banks exhaust brake with the 5.9 Cummins. I had no problems pulling in OK, AR, TN, etc. However, Monarch Pass did the 2500 in! It got us home, but the tranny was shot. I loved this truck, but the tranny could not pull my heavy girl in the mountains.

I got home, and traded for a 2015 RAM 5500. Put a CM flatbed on it and B&W flatbed Companion hitch. The truck has the Aisin 6 speed tranny and I got 4.88 gears. My world is totally different now! Love this truck and feel much safer pulling with it. Pulls that 44ft fifth wheel like its a little wagon.

When I began the fifth wheel buying journey, I thought I could modify my undersized pickup and be okay. I was dead wrong. Get a tow vehicle that is more than you'll need. There is nothing more stressfull than having all your kids, two dogs, and gear on a trip. Then praying you'll make it home. I had to learn the hard way....

[alboy]

Go with 18,s, lots more choices in rubber and a way cheaper than the 20,s that i had.

[Cummins12V98]

kimomjtb wrote:

45Ricochet wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Old-Biscuit has it right. You will most likely be over your rear tires carrying capacity.

A 16K 5er and yours will easily get there will have a minimum 20% 3,200# pin and easily up to 25% 4,000#.

So now you have a choice of blindly towing it like most will do or installing a set of much higher load range "E" tires from a new RAM or 19.5 tires and wheels or better yet get a truck that the new RV is within it's ratings.



Of course all JMHO!

X2
Your going to be over on your RAWR IMO. Start shopping for tires with a higher ratings. 19.5 will get you within your trailers pin weight.

Can younTell,me what I need for tires...obviously the place we bought them from did not know what we needed....told us they were pretty much the best ....seems everyone who told us we had plenty of truck ect were not really aware of how things are calculated including Us.

Someone on here can fill in the blanks for me but look for a set of 13 and newer 18 or 20"3500 tires and wheels. They will fit your lug pattern and will look good and give you a lot more capacity. Look on Craig's list and find a set then sell your tires and wheels.

[kimomjtb]

45Ricochet wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Old-Biscuit has it right. You will most likely be over your rear tires carrying capacity.

A 16K 5er and yours will easily get there will have a minimum 20% 3,200# pin and easily up to 25% 4,000#.

So now you have a choice of blindly towing it like most will do or installing a set of much higher load range "E" tires from a new RAM or 19.5 tires and wheels or better yet get a truck that the new RV is within it's ratings.



Of course all JMHO!

X2
Your going to be over on your RAWR IMO. Start shopping for tires with a higher ratings. 19.5 will get you within your trailers pin weight.

Can younTell,me what I need for tires...obviously the place we bought them from did not know what we needed....told us they were pretty much the best ....seems everyone who told us we had plenty of truck ect were not really aware of how things are calculated including Us.

[mowermech]

An additional note to my post in the other thread:
when I finally decided to weight the rig, I discovered I was UNDER the GAWR (front); GAWR (rear), the GVWR (truck and trailer) and the GAWR (trailer axles.
I was WAY under the registered max GVW of the truck.
Since the total max load for the tires was more than the GAWR, it was obviously under that rating also.
HOWEVER, I was 3,160 lbs OVER the GCWR of the truck!
Since nothing bent; nothing broke; there had been no accidents, incidents, or occurrences; and nobody was injured or died; I decided that the numbers just weren't worth worrying about (I had been towing the rig for over 2 years by then).

[45Ricochet]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Old-Biscuit has it right. You will most likely be over your rear tires carrying capacity.

A 16K 5er and yours will easily get there will have a minimum 20% 3,200# pin and easily up to 25% 4,000#.

So now you have a choice of blindly towing it like most will do or installing a set of much higher load range "E" tires from a new RAM or 19.5 tires and wheels or better yet get a truck that the new RV is within it's ratings.



Of course all JMHO!

X2
Your going to be over on your RAWR IMO. Start shopping for tires with a higher ratings. 19.5 will get you within your trailers pin weight.

[cmeade]

Have 2010 Ram 3500 4x4 SRW megacab pulling 2014 Keystone Alpine 3500 RE 14K lbs. Firestone airbags at 60 psi B&W companion hitch 4" behind axle and 56k mi on truck. It handled great but then I put Bilstien 4600 shocks on and it really handles now. I was lucky to have steering replaced and not inspected under recall (tie rod ends, idler arm etc). As posted earlier make sure it is level going down the road and enjoy.

[Cummins12V98]

Old-Biscuit has it right. You will most likely be over your rear tires carrying capacity.

A 16K 5er and yours will easily get there will have a minimum 20% 3,200# pin and easily up to 25% 4,000#.

So now you have a choice of blindly towing it like most will do or installing a set of much higher load range "E" tires from a new RAM or 19.5 tires and wheels or better yet get a truck that the new RV is within it's ratings.

Of course all JMHO!

[alboy]

X2 on the air bags, i ran my pac bags at 22/24 max with 3000 pin wt.At 30/35 lbs the truck was felt/unstable,awesome at 22/24.

[mkirsch]

After having a few minutes to think about it, I'm going to agree with some on the other thread and say it's your airbags.

The easiest thing to do is dump the air from the airbags and go for a ride. If it handles better, you've found your problem.

I vaguely remember that airbags on certain vintage Dodge trucks don't work well. Then again you've got yours pumped up to bursting pressure.

[kimomjtb]

Thanks all for the information....I don't think power is going to be an issue especially since we don't go far...the air pressure in tires and bags may be what is throwing things off...we have towed twice...once before the airbags but just 30 minutes away.on highway ..did not seem to be a problem....since then put the air bags and new tires on the truck and the experience was not good..about a two hour drive on highway...you can check the others post I did....this post was strictly to get cummins owners opinions on our set up.. If we can get the towing Experience to a more comfort level perhaps in a couple more years we will be able to get a newer truck...not looking to travel far for the time being but would like the option to do so down the road...

[Old-Biscuit]

Yep.....over weight comment on other post --- that would be me.

Your truck GVWR is 9900# 3:73 and 2400# payload

Mine is 10,100
I tow 14K 5vr.
Wet pin is 2900#
I am right at RAWR/REAR Tire MAX Load @80#
I am over trucks GVWR
I have 4:10

Yes you will be over trucks GVWR, probably over RAWR and most likely over Rear Tire Max Load Rating 3195# (17" tires?)

You already have a post going that your recent tow experience was ".....were all over the road it was handling terrible it was a white knuckle experience."

Load up truck & trailer 'camp ready' (everything/everybody you would take with you on a camping trip) and hit the scales. (As was suggested)

Get YOUR real numbers......see how much your are over ratings.
Then YOU can decide whether or not to go with rantings/actual numbers OR ignore and 'hook up --- tow'

I'm just the messenger .........based on real numbers with my 3500 * 5th wheel

Your choice.....real numbers/ignore the numbers.

[C_Schomer]

I have 4.10s and it handles our 15k 5er, no problem. You'd love 4.10s if you don't already have them. Craig

[alboy]

I would bet you will be close to 13k dry.You should be able to keep your weight around 15k, thats what i hauled with my 06 3500 Ram.Had the Pac exhaust brake,thats a must.It did a great job,that being said the newer srw 3500 ,s toy with that weight.

[blofgren]

Hitch it up and go. The only thing you may want to think about adding is an exhaust brake, especially if you will be towing in mountain passes. My 2013 is the first truck I have owned with one and I wouldn't tow without one again, it really is that good :B