Great Tow Capacity - Bad Payload Capacity... Increase PL?

[SirKeats]

So I have a 2016 Ram 2500 Megacab with the 6.7 Cummins. I love it. Great truck. It has plenty of tow capacity for us and our current trailer and possible future 5th Wheel upgrade at 16,936lbs.

The problem is that the payload capacity is absolutely horrible at only 1637lbs!!

We're looking to upgrade from our TT to a slightly larger (like 4 extra feet) 5th Wheel at some point, and after taking into account our family (people/pets) and what little cargo we carry in the truck, I'd need a pin weight of like 1000lbs to say within spec!! I checked... not gonna happen.

That said, is there anything that can be done to increase the payload capacity? I can easily stay under the tow/trailer capacity, I just need to be able to increase the pin weight capacity.

Like I said, I really like my truck. Would hate to have to up-size just to get a 5th wheel.

Thanks!

[Grit_dog]

Devo the dog wrote:

spoon059 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
1600lb payload vs 2700lb payload

CTD vs V10... .

Only CTD owners believe that the engine is the only item that matters in a truck.

And that's why the trucks are substandard. The manufacture knows the type of customers that repeatedly buy their future spot welds because the only thing that matters is the CTD.

LOL.

Another stunner by Devo….
Do you ever tire of being an angry spiteful person?

Guy was referring to the weight difference and you go off in a roundabout way about your sorry truck again.

[Grit_dog]

^It might be ok if you were actually right about what you’re talking about, but alas, you’re not. So in this case, it would be better to not say anything at all.

[valhalla360]

n0arp wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

n0arp wrote:
Also that payload capacity indicates, in this case, that the Ford is 1000lbs lighter -- a heavier truck (to be fair, this is a 100% anecdotal claim I've read online, which my personal experience seems to agree with) tends to handle a heavy trailer better in adverse conditions. Much less so with a fifth wheel than a travel trailer, but still...

Wow, the Dodge curb weight runs 8500lb? That's insane. I'm sure it will pull a 5000lb 5th wheel great because it's so much heavier than the trailer.

3/4T trucks are sold as class 2b, which is limited to 10K GVWR (for tax/registration purposes). The Ram is most likely heavier due to the optioning, not just the engine. The Ford could easily be just as heavy with the right trim. GVWR - weight = payload. Edit: found your Ford is a 2008, which easily explains the rest of the difference as all three competitors have gained weight in newer generations.

Fortunately for most owners, they also provide axle weight ratings, which are not artificially capped. You will find the majority of newer 3/4Ts pulling fifth wheels are over GVWR, but a lot of them still under axle ratings. A 6500 RAWR on the Ram leaves around 3K to spare, where all the pin weight sits, without going over either of the axle ratings. So do what you want with that information.

You have a 2008. Newer trucks have grown in almost all metrics, but still have the same 10K cap for class 2b (your truck might even be lower due to the year). The 2016 Ram would most certainly handle any trailer better than your 2008 Ford.

https://roadsumo.com/dodge-ram-1500-2500-3500-weight/

According to this, the heaviest Dodge is about 7400lb curb weight...so with a 10,000lb GVWR, that would still give a 2600lb payload if it was just the GVWR...yet the OP indicates his door jamb says 1600lb...that doesn't sound like it's grown and also doesn't seem the GVWR is the limitation.

Most of the 3/4 ton Dodges are in the 6000-7000lb range which if GVWR is the limit would provide 3000-4000lb of payload if your theory was correct. Again, wildly different from the OP's 1600lb limit.

If you were suggesting the OP exceed payload by a couple hundred pounds, I would probably shrug it off as not too critical but recommending he exceed it by 1100lb is moving into gross negligence.

[4x4ord]

SirKeats wrote:
So I have a 2016 Ram 2500 Megacab with the 6.7 Cummins. I love it. Great truck.
The problem is that the payload capacity is absolutely horrible at only 1637lbs!!


That said, is there anything that can be done to increase the payload capacity?

Thanks!

The payload capacity is kind of a meaningless number on a sticker found on the door jam of your truck .... that can't be changed. If you want to increase the capability of your truck so it can handle a 3200 lb pin weight you'll have to upgrade your rear suspension. Install a set of air bags.

[n0arp]

valhalla360 wrote:

n0arp wrote:
Also that payload capacity indicates, in this case, that the Ford is 1000lbs lighter -- a heavier truck (to be fair, this is a 100% anecdotal claim I've read online, which my personal experience seems to agree with) tends to handle a heavy trailer better in adverse conditions. Much less so with a fifth wheel than a travel trailer, but still...

Wow, the Dodge curb weight runs 8500lb? That's insane. I'm sure it will pull a 5000lb 5th wheel great because it's so much heavier than the trailer.

3/4T trucks are sold as class 2b, which is limited to 10K GVWR (for tax/registration purposes). The Ram is most likely heavier due to the optioning, not just the engine. The Ford could easily be just as heavy with the right trim. GVWR - weight = payload. Edit: found your Ford is a 2008, which easily explains the rest of the difference as all three competitors have gained weight in newer generations.

Fortunately for most owners, they also provide axle weight ratings, which are not artificially capped. You will find the majority of newer 3/4Ts pulling fifth wheels are over GVWR, but a lot of them still under axle ratings. A 6500 RAWR on the Ram leaves around 3K to spare, where all the pin weight sits, without going over either of the axle ratings. So do what you want with that information.

You have a 2008. Newer trucks have grown in almost all metrics, but still have the same 10K cap for class 2b (your truck might even be lower due to the year). The 2016 Ram would most certainly handle any trailer better than your 2008 Ford.

[Devo_the_dog]

spoon059 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
1600lb payload vs 2700lb payload

CTD vs V10... .

Only CTD owners believe that the engine is the only item that matters in a truck.

And that's why the trucks are substandard. The manufacture knows the type of customers that repeatedly buy their future spot welds because the only thing that matters is the CTD.

LOL.

[valhalla360]

n0arp wrote:
Also that payload capacity indicates, in this case, that the Ford is 1000lbs lighter -- a heavier truck (to be fair, this is a 100% anecdotal claim I've read online, which my personal experience seems to agree with) tends to handle a heavy trailer better in adverse conditions. Much less so with a fifth wheel than a travel trailer, but still...

Wow, the Dodge curb weight runs 8500lb? That's insane. I'm sure it will pull a 5000lb 5th wheel great because it's so much heavier than the trailer.

[valhalla360]

spoon059 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
1600lb payload vs 2700lb payload

CTD vs V10... I'd argue that the Ram will pull it better, the exhaust brake will control it better going down hill. I'm trying to remember the last year Ford put a V10 in the Superduty, probably a decade ago? What is the rear axle rating on that F250, compared to the 6500 lbs rear axle rating on the Ram 2500?

You are too focused on an arbitrary advertising number (10,000 lbs GVWR) rather than the actual functionality of the whole truck. But hey, to each his own.

I don't believe the dodge diesel weighs in 1100lb heavier, so even if it was the F250 with diesel, it still provides better payload.

Having a 500hp and 1500ft/lb of torque doesn't really matter if you are limited to a 5000lb 5th wheel.

I'm sure you know better than the manufacturer engineers, so you can exceed the ratings by 70-80% and all will be great.

[n0arp]

spoon059 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
1600lb payload vs 2700lb payload

CTD vs V10... I'd argue that the Ram will pull it better, the exhaust brake will control it better going down hill. I'm trying to remember the last year Ford put a V10 in the Superduty, probably a decade ago? What is the rear axle rating on that F250, compared to the 6500 lbs rear axle rating on the Ram 2500?

You are too focused on an arbitrary advertising number (10,000 lbs GVWR) rather than the actual functionality of the whole truck. But hey, to each his own.

Also that payload capacity indicates, in this case, that the Ford is 1000lbs lighter -- a heavier truck (to be fair, this is a 100% anecdotal claim I've read online, which my personal experience seems to agree with) tends to handle a heavy trailer better in adverse conditions. Much less so with a fifth wheel than a travel trailer, but still...

[spoon059]

valhalla360 wrote:
1600lb payload vs 2700lb payload

CTD vs V10... I'd argue that the Ram will pull it better, the exhaust brake will control it better going down hill. I'm trying to remember the last year Ford put a V10 in the Superduty, probably a decade ago? What is the rear axle rating on that F250, compared to the 6500 lbs rear axle rating on the Ram 2500?

You are too focused on an arbitrary advertising number (10,000 lbs GVWR) rather than the actual functionality of the whole truck. But hey, to each his own.

[2012Coleman]

Grit dog wrote:
OP, if you don’t understand vehicles and their components and don’t wish to, just go get a dually like some think is “necessary.”
If you want to keep your truck, I wouldn’t think twice about dropping any pin up to about 3,000lbs on it.
The for and against banter will continue.

So 16936 * 20% = 3387 pin weight calculated - you should listen to this advice - which is basically telling you to upgrade the truck

[Grit_dog]

valhalla360 wrote:

spoon059 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
We have a F250 and it has a 2700lb payload. No it's not going to handle a 15k 5th wheel but way better than the OP's 1600lb.

Better? Based upon what metrics?

1600lb payload vs 2700lb payload

Spoon, he’s just another that only understands what he reads and not the reasoning behind the numbers.
Funny part is him and everyone like him refuse to “try” to understand, and rather than just saying they’re more comfortable with _______ , they try to profess that they are correct and those that actually understand are totally wrong.
He!!, there’s one mod on here that repeatedly deletes my posts in a thread because I suggested airbags!

[ACZL]

Bought a '15 F350 SRW, SB, CC, 4x4, 6.7 in late '14 thinking this would be my last truck and 'nuff truck for whatever we threw at it. Yes it was rated at 11,500 GVW and over 3,000 weight in back.......again thinking' No Problem Zeb"! Come early '17 we upgraded RV's and despite the 350's ratings/capacities, we were over on everything. We towed the entire '17 season w/o any problems, but nagging feeling in pit of my stomach that wouldn't go away knowing we were over things. Granted a few hundred pounds, but still over. Now in '18 we decided our summer/big trip was to FL in Aug in total height/heat of summer. The nagging feeling got a whole lot worse as tires were the weakest link. In short, ended up w/ '17 F350 DRW, CC, 4x4, 6.7 and no worries. DW said she feels more comfy when she drives it towing the RV compared to previous truck. In case your wondering: empty wt of RV....14,000, max wt.....16,000, pin when fully loaded.......3700, RV fully loaded.....15,980.

[valhalla360]

spoon059 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
We have a F250 and it has a 2700lb payload. No it's not going to handle a 15k 5th wheel but way better than the OP's 1600lb.

Better? Based upon what metrics?

1600lb payload vs 2700lb payload

[Huntindog]

SirKeats wrote:
So I have a 2016 Ram 2500 Megacab with the 6.7 Cummins. I love it. Great truck. It has plenty of tow capacity for us and our current trailer and possible future 5th Wheel upgrade at 16,936lbs.

The problem is that the payload capacity is absolutely horrible at only 1637lbs!!

We're looking to upgrade from our TT to a slightly larger (like 4 extra feet) 5th Wheel at some point, and after taking into account our family (people/pets) and what little cargo we carry in the truck, I'd need a pin weight of like 1000lbs to say within spec!! I checked... not gonna happen.

That said, is there anything that can be done to increase the payload capacity? I can easily stay under the tow/trailer capacity, I just need to be able to increase the pin weight capacity.

Like I said, I really like my truck. Would hate to have to up-size just to get a 5th wheel.

Thanks!

Another tow rating victum.
You are not the first, and won't be the last.
When it comes to towing an RV, the tow rating is a fictional advertising number. Everyone runs out of payload long before they would hit the tow rating number.... Now that you have discovered the truth, get a bigger truck with a lot of PAYLOAD.... If you have the payload..The tow rating will take care of itself