2500 and fifth wheel campers

[bigblock_doc]

Air bags are good for leveling the truck so the headlights don't blind on comers.

 

[grabinov]

To go back to PM's original post: You can tow a substantial 5th wheel with a 2500. In fact you can more safely tow a bigger 5th wheel than most foks could tow with a 3500 a few years ago. Unless you have VERY grand plans, your truck will not limit your decision about a trailer -particularly for, as you mention, you and your wife (not you and your wife and your buddy's jeep rock crawler).

My 2014 leaves my 2004 in the dust, and i loved that truck, and had all kinds of neat upgrades on it. I think the odds that you will need a Kelderman system (not that it isn't neat) are virtually 0. You can solve the truck leveling problem with a relatively inexpensive airbag system (Ride Rite; Pac Brake), and that really IS a nice feature - your truck rides better, steers better and aims its headlights better with the trailer. It doesn't increase your GVWR, but that's unlikely to be your limiting factor.

ENJOY your super-cool new truck. It's capable as hell!

 

[Eagle eye]

I have pulled our fifth wheel which has a GVWR 12,700, hitch wt 1831, dry wt 8623 and 12'3" height. We usually loaded to about 2,500 lbs of stuff and water and recently made a 10,000 miles trip out to California and returning to Tennessee by way of Canada with our 2009 Dodge Laramie QuadCab 6.7 Cummins with no complaints. We do however have leaf rear springs and a "AirSafe" hitch which I highly recommend for comfortable towing. Outfit the RV with "E" rated tires or better and know that the exhaust brake will safely bring you down hill from our highest crossing of 10,000 ft elevation with ease.
We have decided to retire from Rving and have the fiver and truck for sale as we transition into trawler style boating.

2009 Dodge Laramie QuadCab 4X4, Cummins 6.7, AirSafe 5th wheel hitch
2008 SunnyBrook BrookSide 276 FWSCS

 

[Powder Extreme]

I'd like to point out that most people don't realize what the Kelderman kit on a new COIL SPRING 2500 actually is. It's NOT the old system that installs a frame under the axle, multiple links and such to the tune of $2500 or so. All it does is replace the coils with airbags, no need for all the extra links and such since Ram has already done it. You can buy strictly the bags without the air compressor and auto leveling for not much more then the "helper airbags" used on leaf spring set ups. As an owner of a coil spring 2500, I can say when loaded heavy the airbags would be a REALLY nice feature, I'm installing a full Kelderman kit front and rear on mine. The suspension actually squats a considerable amount with the weight.

As an example, my bumper pull 30' enclosed with around 1,800 on the hitch has to hitch up with the tongue raised and my adjustable ball mount as high as they will go yet still ends up being slightly low on the nose when I'm pulling it. The rear squats about 5-6" at the bumper. Your 5th wheel wouldn't be that extreme, but a few hundred bucks for the airbags would eliminate any issues.