Coupling a fifth wheel with short bed lifted 1500

[NIsaacs]

Here is a good example of being over weight per Dodge on GVW and GCW, however I am under what matters, all axle GAWR's and tire ratings. Notice the truck is level.



Nick

 

[HDR]

HDR,

Your photos clearly display the fact that the rear suspension of your Ram 2500 is significantly overloaded with a deep sag and make me wonder if weight transfer has taken needed weight off the front steer tires.

Also looks like you have inadequate clearance between the front bedroom overhang of the fifthwheel and the truck bed.

Not a rig I would drive any farther than around the block.

That was the day I installed the Pullrite hitch. It might be a little lower than normal because of the KORE leaf springs that replace the helper spring. I have installed airbags on the truck and it tows great.

I have class A and drive a low bed, and fuel truck all the time and am a very safe driver. I also wouldn't do something if I thought it was unsafe.

 

[RVTRKN]

Here is a good example of being over weight per Dodge on GVW and GCW, however I am under what matters, all axle GAWR's and tire ratings. Notice the truck is level.



NickView attachment 84358View attachment 84359

Thanks NIsaacs, I was just about to post that very issue, HB and company always dog the questions when it comes to the "can I tow this" question. But they will also tell you it is perfectly legal as long as you stay with in your DOT axle ratings. Would I tow the OP's setup? Under no circumstances would I. Would it be legal? Well the OP has to have a certified scale check for the weights. If tire ratings are legal, the axle weight DOT legal then OP, go have a good time. But if I see you on the road, I'll give you a wide birth. Its common here in Ca to see this, on their way to Glamis. I avoid them like the plaque. The Opinionated Old Man known as HBarlow, has never pulled anything commercial over his Dodge LT and some MD ratings. Try pulling 80K GCVW over frozen passes in blizzard conditions in the NW. HBarlow is right in his assessment in that its not recommended, just poor judgement in relaying it.

 

[d6c]

Question ... . My little gooseneck has 7k axles..... at 14. 6k on your trailer axles..... does yours have 8k axles?? PJ put the trailer axles further forward on my single tire trailer than my tandem dual trailer... exactly backwards of what they should of done..... the single tire trailer goes over on the trailer axles to easy. btw... make up some hay boards and put truck winches on the front for your front to back straps... . now we are getting it tied down.

Here is a good example of being over weight per Dodge on GVW and GCW, however I am under what matters, all axle GAWR's and tire ratings. Notice the truck is level.



NickView attachment 84358View attachment 84359

 

[NIsaacs]

d6c, I have skidded a lot of logs with one of those. Yes, I have 8k axles and 17. 5 16 ply tires. I have several portable 4" winches and straps but none long enough to reach front to back. I would get some if I had more to haul. One thing I don't like about a normal winch strap is they only tighten from one side so you can actually pull your load to that side. On my old trailer I had 5, 4" weld on winches on each side and used plain strap without hooks, that way I could pull from both sides. If I alternate from side to side with the winches it helps some.



Here is a picture of the 17. 5's and a cute load that Dodge says I should only haul



Nick

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Why not just get 35" tires for the trailer??

 

[HBarlow]

I don't know anything about the op's trailer but travel trailers don't usually have enough extra space between tires on the same side to allow tires more than about a 1/2" taller on each side. Each additional 1/2" puts the treads of each pair of tires 1" closer to each other.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I don't know anything about the op's trailer but travel trailers don't usually have enough extra space between tires on the same side to allow tires more than about a 1/2" taller on each side. Each additional 1/2" puts the treads of each pair of tires 1" closer to each other.

Sorry Harvey I really was trying to make a joke about installing 35"ers on the trailer. I am now in the process of helping a friend figure out how to tow a GN trailer with her lifted huge tired Dodge 3500srw. I have concluded that there is NO WAY I can be part of this. I feel that if I help her with this and she has a accident due to the inherent poor handling of a lifted truck and trailer I would be liable in most any court of law. Just too much risk.

 

[Simplysmn]

Gonzo I don't think you would if you just helped and if it's set up right towing with a Lifted truck is just fine it's done every day and no major troubles happen you just have to make sure it's done right . flip the axles on the trailer and reinforce everything and make the hitch fit right and you will be fine .

 

[NIsaacs]

Sorry Harvey I really was trying to make a joke about installing 35"ers on the trailer. I am now in the process of helping a friend figure out how to tow a GN trailer with her lifted huge tired Dodge 3500srw. I have concluded that there is NO WAY I can be part of this. I feel that if I help her with this and she has a accident due to the inherent poor handling of a lifted truck and trailer I would be liable in most any court of law. Just too much risk.

What kind of GN trailer, horse trailer with or with out living quarters, width, length, flat bed or dump?? Since it is a girl I would guess a horse trailer There is a big difference between a GN horse trailer and a RV trailer. The axle placement on a horse trailer is farther back, usually right under the horses with very little overhang. They are also a lot lower overall and can be towed higher in the front if needed. A GN horse trailer, by design is very stable on the truck with almost no chance of the trailer in control.



Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

3. 73 rear axle ratio. 6" Pro-Comp lift w/ rear air bags, 37x12. 50R20 Nitto

Scott, as you have found out for yourself, the lift is causing you issues with hitch height. Lift kits make poor tow vehicles. Most of them will level the truck, so now you will have to tow with the rear saging. That makes for poor control. If you use the air bags to re-level the truck there will not be enough weight on the springs, that will make the poor control even worse.



The 37" tires look to be solid but like Bob 4x4 said your gear ratio will be off the charts. You might as well lock out 6th gear. The Cummins and the torque converter will still launch the load but overall performance will suck. Since you probably will not tow the RV very often you might get by. If you do buy it and keep it, the experiance will give you knowledge of what you will want in your future truck. Maybe sooner than later Good luck!



Nick

 

[Bob4x4]

If it were me I would drop the truck down to a High quality set up like mine. I can run 37's with just 3'' of lift because of my Carli front control arms and correctly built rear springs that center the axles in the wheel wells. I have 4. 10's when coupled with the 35's put you back very closely to the 3. 73's with stock tires. I have climbed some pretty good grades in Utah but with the 68 and paddle shifter shouldn't be too bad

 

[RVTRKN]

Sorry Harvey I really was trying to make a joke about installing 35"ers on the trailer. I am now in the process of helping a friend figure out how to tow a GN trailer with her lifted huge tired Dodge 3500srw. I have concluded that there is NO WAY I can be part of this. I feel that if I help her with this and she has a accident due to the inherent poor handling of a lifted truck and trailer I would be liable in most any court of law. Just too much risk.

You could also look at it as, what if she takes it somewhere else and they do a bang up job, unlike what you would do, and she kills herself or takes out a family. Just food for thought.

 

[Bob4x4]

Why not just get 35" tires for the trailer??

Back in the 80's I built a toybox on dual axles with 35's,the tow vehicle had 18. 5 wide 40'' tall tires. It was a very stable rig that I could literally go any where it would fit. Lost a tire on the trailer due to a sidwall injury from a spring failure. I would never had felt it but I saw smoke in the mirror.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

What kind of GN trailer, horse trailer with or with out living quarters, width, length, flat bed or dump?? Since it is a girl I would guess a horse trailer There is a big difference between a GN horse trailer and a RV trailer. The axle placement on a horse trailer is farther back, usually right under the horses with very little overhang. They are also a lot lower overall and can be towed higher in the front if needed. A GN horse trailer, by design is very stable on the truck with almost no chance of the trailer in control.



Nick

Her trailer is a GN LQ horse trailer, it is essential that the trailer stays low to the ground for loading the stock. There is no way to hitch to the lifted truck and have any weight on the front axle. If the trailer had a air ride system on it with about 10" of lift (and drop) it might be workable. However there is a $$ issue besides the obvious safety issues. Sometimes it is far more prudent to admit defeat rather than continue to compound the problem by throwing money at it.

 

[Mark31]

Her trailer is a GN LQ horse trailer, it is essential that the trailer stays low to the ground for loading the stock. There is no way to hitch to the lifted truck and have any weight on the front axle. If the trailer had a air ride system on it with about 10" of lift (and drop) it might be workable. However there is a $$ issue besides the obvious safety issues. Sometimes it is far more prudent to admit defeat rather than continue to compound the problem by throwing money at it.

Why, Gonzo!! Be Ashamed!! That is totally un American! "Everyone" knows that the more hopeless the situation, the mo money you hauls off and throws at it!!!

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Why, Gonzo!! Be Ashamed!! That is totally un American! "Everyone" knows that the more hopeless the situation, the mo money you hauls off and throws at it!!!

I have lived and "mistaked" enough times to know when to quit>>!!!!!

 

[NIsaacs]

Her trailer is a GN LQ horse trailer, it is essential that the trailer stays low to the ground for loading the stock. There is no way to hitch to the lifted truck and have any weight on the front axle.

Yes, if it has torsion axles, towing it level is a must. So lend her your '01, it probably needs used anyway



Nick

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Yes, if it has torsion axles, towing it level is a must. So lend her your '01, it probably needs used anyway



Nick

ITs NOT that kind of friendship, First off she is only 25 years old, young enough to be a grand daughter, She can come over and visit anytime, have supper at our place, go out for drinks, even share a beer out of the same bottle, she is a great looking gal and at times our goodby hugs last a bit too long. I have thought at times it would be fun to get REALLY close some evening, I know she feels the same way. BUT NOBODY BORROWS MY TRUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to draw the line somewhere. . :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

Sorry Harvey I really was trying to make a joke about installing 35"ers on the trailer. I am now in the process of helping a friend figure out how to tow a GN trailer with her lifted huge tired Dodge 3500srw. I have concluded that there is NO WAY I can be part of this. I feel that if I help her with this and she has a accident due to the inherent poor handling of a lifted truck and trailer I would be liable in most any court of law. Just too much risk.

Gonzo,

It's sometimes hard to detect joking when we can't hear the speaker's voice or see his facial expression. I know you are knowledgeable of trailers but also know that you pull a big gooseneck LQ horse trailer so didn't know if you were aware of the too close axle placement on almost all fifthwheel RVs.