5th wheel Towing Limits w/3500 Dually
From : Annonymous
Q: im getting mixed information so i thought id ask the experts in this group. the wife and i are looking at possibly purchasing a holiday rambler presidential model 36skq 5th wheel trailer. according to the documentation for the trailer it says fully loaded gvwr - 16950 lbs hitch weight - 2280 lbs so the question of this group is can i legally and safely tow this unit with the current model dodge 3500 dually diesel. if not what is the recommended tow vehicle thanks bill .
Replies:
From : tom lawrence
but the tow vehicle has to perform double duty as your sole means of transportation once you get there. i see. yep - thats a problem then. maybe hang a jeep on the back of the 5er .
From : christopher thompson
lawrence tnloaswpraemnmcien5g@earthlink.net writes but the tow vehicle has to perform double duty as your sole means of transportation once you get there. i see. yep - thats a problem then. maybe hang a jeep on the back of the 5er i dont think theres any state in the union where you can tandem-tow behind a 5th wheeler. nor would i ever be inclined to attempt it i see it all the time round here. not that i would do it either most who are doing it are pulling the 5er and a bass boat -- -chris 05 ctd 99 durango .
From : dave lee
the trailer im looking at buying has a gvwr gross vehicle weight rating of 16950 lbs which is the trailer empty weight + all contents water propane bottles + all your personal crap. where i come from 16950 - 15850 = 1100 lbs too heavy for the max limit of the 3500 dodge dually. so i guess im asking the obvious what do you tow the trailer with .
From : Annonymous
daveleejd@cox.net writes the trailer im looking at buying has a gvwr gross vehicle weight rating of 16950 lbs which is the trailer empty weight + all contents water propane bottles + all your personal crap. where i come from 16950 - 15850 = 1100 lbs too heavy for the max limit of the 3500 dodge dually. so i guess im asking the obvious what do you tow the trailer with well if youre truly interested in safely towing and being well within rated specifications and even 10% or more under for that extra margin of safety it wont be with a dodge or any other 2500 or 3500. youre going to need a 1 ton 4500 which i dont see in the dodge lineup. point is 90% or more of big 5th wheel owners *do* tow successfully with 2500s and 3500s because anything heavier is just too expensive. that still doesnt make it right. last thing id want to purchase used is someones tired old 2500 or 3500 thats been dragging 1617000 pounds all of its life. one would think that towing loads exceeding the manufacturers rated specs would in some way violate terms of your warranty. .
From : tom lawrence
one would think that towing loads exceeding the manufacturers rated specs would in some way violate terms of your warranty. not to mention violating your wallet if the dot ever decides to check you out. as for costs youd be surprised at the cost difference or lack thereof between a fully-loaded 1-ton pickup and a decently-configured medium-duty truck like an fl50. .
From : Annonymous
lawrence tnloaswpraemnmcien5g@earthlink.net writes one would think that towing loads exceeding the manufacturers rated specs would in some way violate terms of your warranty. not to mention violating your wallet if the dot ever decides to check you out. true although i think here youre more apt to get stung on gcwr. as for costs youd be surprised at the cost difference or lack thereof between a fully-loaded 1-ton pickup and a decently-configured medium-duty truck like an fl50. but the tow vehicle has to perform double duty as your sole means of transportation once you get there. i had a hard enough time selling the little wife on the pickup truck concept then sneaking in the part about it having drw. anything bigger im afraid might make her start to chicken out and want to rethink this whole cockamamie idea. this retirement thing and moving into a 300 sq ft living area has to be 50-50. i dont want to end up always having to be the one who goes out shopping for groceries or running errands ;- .
From : greg surratt
on sat 11 feb 2006 145855 gmt ramman@dodgecity.cc wrote the maximum *towing* capacity of the 06 ram 3500 is 16250 pounds - but read the fine print... the fine print says when properly equipped. as applied to the 3500 properly equipped to achieve the mythical 16250-lb maximum towing capacity means precisely **all four** of the following restrictions 1 - single rear wheels! sorry dually fans the drw option extracts a 400-lb towing penalty for the added weight of the drw option 2 - 2 wheel drive! sorry again 4x4 fans the 4x4 option extracts another 400-lb penalty for the added weight of that option. 3 - 4.101 rear axle ratio with the 3.73 you lose 2000 lbs capacity and thats a pretty big number to lose 4 - automatic transmission the 98 and 99 brochures also had the words ...satisfactory towing performance.... so if your expectations are high i want to climb the eisenhower gradeor grapevine at 90 mph pulling 16250 lbs and get 20 mpg youll be disappointed because your definition of satisfactory is grossly different from that of the designers/engineers. greg .
From : Annonymous
lawrence tnloaswpraemnmcien5g@earthlink.net writes but the tow vehicle has to perform double duty as your sole means of transportation once you get there. i see. yep - thats a problem then. maybe hang a jeep on the back of the 5er i dont think theres any state in the union where you can tandem-tow behind a 5th wheeler. nor would i ever be inclined to attempt it .
From : jimbo
ive seen boats on our highways towed behind a fiver but this was some years back; so i reckon that it can be done. havent seen any lately though because my rving days ended just shortly after ivan here when somebody bought the trailer and truck. -- pcolaphil to reply remove -spamnot- if you cant be happy where you are its a cinch you wont be happy where you aint. tom | lawrence tnloaswpraemnmcien5g@earthlink.net writes | | but the tow vehicle has to perform double duty as your sole means of | transportation once you get there. | | i see. yep - thats a problem then. maybe hang a jeep on the back of the | 5er | | i dont think theres any state in the union where you can tandem-tow | behind a 5th wheeler. nor would i ever be inclined to attempt it | .
From : moparman
about 21000 with the automatic .373 rear end and about 23000 with .411 rear end. how do you figure that using their towing guide i cant seem to find a configuration rated over 16250lbs. i just printed it from the dodge web site. thats how i figured it. -- moparman---remove clothes to reply! --scud coordinates 32.61204 north 96.92993 west-- .
From : ed dunn
on fri 10 feb 2006 014640 gmt ramman@dodgecity.cc wrote scott.hendryx.clothes@sbcglobal.net writes snip this rumor im hearing about a heavier-rated 07 3500 dually might be worth waiting for. anyone know if theres anything to it the new ford 350 has a 19000 lb rating too bad its got an international engine in it. i was in the local dealership asking similar towing questions. i would most likely have a 3500 on order now and buy a smaller 5th wheel except for the fact that the fleet truckguy said unless you are in a hurry you might want to hold off on ordering until the 07s are announced rumor has it that they will have bigger ratings. even though i show quotes those are not the exact words but close. i did not place an order im waiting. first time ever something like that has happened to me at a dealership. being told to wait 6 months to buy a truck. i would not push the envelope on max ratings although some do without apparent problems. usually the same ones who blow past you at 85 or 90 mph. i want to chug along at 60 to 65 while towing and have a relaxing drive not tense expecting things might swarm on me at any second. thats why i like to stay at least 10% under the max ratings. ed .
From : Annonymous
ed.dunn@gmail.com writes i was in the local dealership asking similar towing questions. i would most likely have a 3500 on order now and buy a smaller 5th wheel except for the fact that the fleet truckguy said unless you are in a hurry you might want to hold off on ordering until the 07s are announced rumor has it that they will have bigger ratings. even though i show quotes those are not the exact words but close. i did not place an order im waiting. first time ever something like that has happened to me at a dealership. being told to wait 6 months to buy a truck. i read your earlier post ed and so while at the dealership last night i posed that very question to the salesman & his manager. the salesman denied any knowledge. sales mgr said something to the effect that he too had not heard about it but agreed it would be nice. of course theyre in the midst of a very slow sales period and it was chilly & pouring rain. they naturally offered to let us take a new dually out for a test drive and even keep it overnight but considering the ugly weather we declined. i *did* come away with some brochures and the max towing weights are all right there in black and white and are quite easy to understand; the maximum *towing* capacity of the 06 ram 3500 is 16250 pounds - but read the fine print... the fine print says when properly equipped. as applied to the 3500 properly equipped to achieve the mythical 16250-lb maximum towing capacity means precisely **all four** of the following restrictions 1 - single rear wheels! sorry dually fans the drw option extracts a 400-lb towing penalty for the added weight of the drw option 2 - 2 wheel drive! sorry again 4x4 fans the 4x4 option extracts another 400-lb penalty for the added weight of that option. 3 - 4.101 rear axle ratio with the 3.73 you lose 2000 lbs capacity and thats a pretty big number to lose 4 - automatic transmission the 17000 and 23000 numbers someone else was quoting are the gross *combined* weight ratings gcwr. this term combined means the tow vehicle weight plus the weight of the towed load truck + trailer i would not push the envelope on max ratings although some do without apparent problems. usually the same ones who blow past you at 85 or 90 mph. i want to chug along at 60 to 65 while towing and have a relaxing drive not tense expecting things might swarm on me at any second. thats why i like to stay at least 10% under the max ratings. max ratings are exactly that *max* - personally id feel safer at 20% under which to me makes it look more and more like the proper vehicle for us may turn out to be a ford or chevy 4500 since dodge apparently doesnt make one. that would be a bit of a heartbreaker to me since id much prefer having the cummins engine. i also wonder what the drag coefficient wind load resistance at 65 mph adds to the towing weight. pulling 16000 lbs with a nice tail wind is a lot different than pulling into a head wind especially when your trailer is 13 high. no argument either that the dually adds stability to handling and at only a 400-lb weight penalty is definitely worth having. bill .
From : paul1958
i have a 97 ram 2500 w/v10 auto with a 5th wheel and i tow a 36 foot seirra trailer with it all the time with no problems also have an electric brake for it. .
From : Annonymous
thank you !!!!!!! scott.hendryx.clothes@sbcglobal.net writes about 21000 with the automatic .373 rear end and about 23000 with .411 rear end. heres the web site to figure it for yourself. http//www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/dispatch.do .
From : tom lawrence
about 21000 with the automatic .373 rear end and about 23000 with .411 rear end. how do you figure that using their towing guide i cant seem to find a configuration rated over 16250lbs. .
From : moparman
about 21000 with the automatic .373 rear end and about 23000 with .411 rear end. heres the web site to figure it for yourself. http//www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/dispatch.do -- moparman---remove clothes to reply! --scud coordinates 32.61204 north 96.92993 west-- im getting mixed information so i thought id ask the experts in this group. the wife and i are looking at possibly purchasing a holiday rambler presidential model 36skq 5th wheel trailer. according to the documentation for the trailer it says fully loaded gvwr - 16950 lbs hitch weight - 2280 lbs so the question of this group is can i legally and safely tow this unit with the current model dodge 3500 dually diesel. if not what is the recommended tow vehicle thanks bill .
From : thesnoman
ramman@dodgecity.cc wrote thank you !!!!!!! scott.hendryx.clothes@sbcglobal.net writes about 21000 with the automatic .373 rear end and about 23000 with .411 rear end. heres the web site to figure it for yourself. http//www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/dispatch.do i bit ridiculous from safety standpoint though because i hauled 23k grain trailer over 25 years ago with a hd gmc 4x4 3/4 pickup back when they were still real trucks and power was not a issue but one time i lost trailer brakes and stopping was a real problem as it easily skidded the truck. detroit is getting out of line with some of their tow ratings these days. i do not carry how big a engine you put in the truck you need an bigger/heavier tow vehicle to effectively control 21k on open road when things go bad. -- ----------------- www.thesnoman.com .
From : Annonymous
scott.hendryx.clothes@sbcglobal.net writes about 21000 with the automatic .373 rear end and about 23000 with .411 rear end. heres the web site to figure it for yourself. http//www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/dispatch.do actually the numbers you cite are gcwr gross combined weight trailer + tow vehicle. the trailer alone gvwr is 16950 which looks to be 1100 lbs over the 3500s maximum rated towing capacity properly equipped. okay its close enough you could probably do it but im hearing you should never operate near or at max rated limits. im hearing you should derate by 20% just as a good rule of thumb. whos right .
From : moparman
ramman@dodgecity.cc wrote thank you !!!!!!! scott.hendryx.clothes@sbcglobal.net writes about 21000 with the automatic .373 rear end and about 23000 with .411 rear end. heres the web site to figure it for yourself. http//www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/dispatch.do i bit ridiculous from safety standpoint though because i hauled 23k grain trailer over 25 years ago with a hd gmc 4x4 3/4 pickup back when they were still real trucks and power was not a issue but one time i lost trailer brakes and stopping was a real problem as it easily skidded the truck. detroit is getting out of line with some of their tow ratings these days. i do not carry how big a engine you put in the truck you need an bigger/heavier tow vehicle to effectively control 21k on open road when things go bad. i do it all the time and have no problems... im pretty sure its because there is no gm product in any of my dodge trucks. -- moparman---remove clothes to reply! --scud coordinates 32.61204 north 96.92993 west-- .
From : Annonymous
scott.hendryx.clothes@sbcglobal.net writes how do you figure that using their towing guide i cant seem to find a configuration rated over 16250lbs. i just printed it from the dodge web site. thats how i figured it. the figure youre talking about is gcwr which is gross combined weight rating in other words tow vehicle + trailer. the same site you referred me to shows a max towing weight of 15850 or thereabouts. the trailer im looking at buying has a gvwr gross vehicle weight rating of 16950 lbs which is the trailer empty weight + all contents water propane bottles + all your personal crap. where i come from 16950 - 15850 = 1100 lbs too heavy for the max limit of the 3500 dodge dually. the point of all this is youre operating beyond the manufacturers safe operating design limit. sure the truck could could pull that much and likely a lot more but at 16950 lbs youre over the *rated* limit. this rumor im hearing about a heavier-rated 07 3500 dually might be worth waiting for. anyone know if theres anything to it the new ford 350 has a 19000 lb rating too bad its got an international engine in it. .
From : tom lawrence
lost trailer brakes and stopping was a real problem as it easily skidded the truck. detroit is getting out of line with some of their tow ratings these days. dont you think braking ability has improved just a little bit since the 80s you know... 17 wheels.... 4-wheel discs... bigger rotors... multi-piston calipers... etc. etc. oh yeah - those diesels that you hate so much they work great with an exhaust brake. truck you need an bigger/heavier tow vehicle to effectively control 21k on open road when things go bad. were talking a 16k load - as i believe the 21k/23k was incorrect. .