What TV would I need

[Beau_Bo]

Hi - planning out the retirement present to DW and myself. Going to the Eagle Cap website they have a handy "build your own" interactive page that allows you to list the camper and any options you want. When complete they give you a wet weight total that includes water, propane, etc. along with the weight of the added options. For the 1165 model the wet weight is 5600. I figure around another 500 lbs of stuff which brings me to 6100. In addition I want to pull my jeep on a car hauler which is around 7000 so I figure the tongue weight is around 1000 bringing the total payload to around 7100 lbs.

I live in CO and mountains must be climbed which leads me to want a diesel. I have been looking at the RAM 3500 dually with Cummins/Aisin. However looking at the Ram towing guide the max payload is around 5600 which leave me minimum 1500 lbs over.

What mods would I have to do to this truck to safely handle this load?

If I wanted to find a diesel pickup that would be rated for this load without mods, what would be my choices? I see the RAM 4500 cab/chassis but don't what is involved in going this route.

When I started looking at this I naively thought that a 1 ton diesel dually would be able to handle any TC I wanted to load on it but now I'm getting worried that that may not be the case and I will either have to go to bigger TV (more $$) or scale back on my TC because of weight.

Thanks...

[Beau_Bo]

Thanks for the replies. After some reflection I think I'll dial back my TC desire to something that will work well with a 3500 as I hope to use the TV for general trans in addition to carrying the TC. I just don't see a 5500 as an enjoyable daily driver...

[Beau_Bo]

Big Katuna wrote:
I'm guessing it's raised and has 33's or bigger and is not tow happy.

Good guess. It's on 35s and I've had a scary experience flat towing so a trailer is a must...

[Big_Katuna]

I'm guessing it's raised and has 33's or bigger and is not tow happy.

[805gregg]

Get a Lance it will be lighter

[MN_Ben]

To lessen the tounge weight I would suggest flat towing the jeep. The tow very nicely.

[Bedlam]

donn0128 wrote:
5500 F550 is what your going to need. With that you get befier axles tires wheels springs brakes. Those items are what carry the load not the motor and transmission.

X2! Plus you still have sufficient capacity to tow behind your rig.

[donn0128]

5500 F550 is what your going to need. With that you get befier axles tires wheels springs brakes. Those items are what carry the load not the motor and transmission.

[-Kevin]

Take a look at those on here who have flatbed trucks or service body trucks. going with a 4500/5500 gives you much larger brakes and a better tire/wheel selection then a 3500 but you pretty much loose a stock pickup bed option without spending tons of cash. Though from the people I have heard from, including me, those who switch to a flatbed would never go back.
That being said there are lots of folks who have campers that heavy with dually trucks. A few things are recommended. Stay within axel, wheel/tire capacity’s and upgrades to suspension (bags, sway bars).
If could do it over I would get a Ram 4500 over my Ram dually, I took my bed off and put on a flatbed about a year ago and it’s the best upgrade to the truck.