New ruck and new member

[Trike]

I had previously owned Ford 7.3 diesels while I was shoeing horses. I am now retired. This is the vehicle I just purchased.


2014 Ram 3500 Laramie, Crew Cab, 4WD, 8.0 FT Bed, 6-Speed Automatic
68RFE Transmission, 6.7L I6 Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine, Single Rear
Wheel With 3.42 Axle Ratio:

I intend on pulling a fifth wheel rv. based on the following stats
Gross Trailer Weight = 16910 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 12300 lbs
Payload = 4380 lbs
Base Curb Weight = 7918 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear = 6000 lbs/7000 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 25000 lbs

In your opinions, am I safe to pull a 16900 lb RV? Or is that over taxing the system? I realize the above factory info says I can pull a 16910 trailer...I just would like a practical opinion on if it is advisable with that rear end. I compromised the rear end to facilitate better fuel mileage.

On a 16000 lb load, what mpg would you expect at 60mph? Also, due to the miserable fuel quality, what additives does this forum recommend for use on a regular basis.

Any information is appreciated.

 

[Jim W]

First Welcome to the forum.

Now you are going to get a lot of opinions on your set up. Some on here have pulled heavy fifth wheel trailers and they tend to pull with a dually for the added stability.

The SRW trucks are only offered with the 3:42 gear set from the factory.

I know you are just under the max tow rating of the Ram truck, I believe the SRW truck is rated to tow a 17,000 LB trailer. So you have about 90 LBS to play with. To me you are in the dually range with that size trailer regardless what Ram rates the truck for. You need to remember that if you carry any passenger or extra gear than you need to subtract the trailer weight to allow the extra weight in the truck.

I myself would look for a lighter trailer say around 14,000 LB GVW, this way you will have some room for extra items and passengers in the truck or go with a dually and 3:73 gears.

I believe your towing mileage like all others with the 2013.5 and up trucks will be around 10 to 11 MPG's when towing.

I do not use and additives except Howe's diesel treatment in the winter to prevent gelling of the fuel with my 6.7L 2008 truck.

Good luck and again welcome to the forum.
Jim W.

 

[Trike]

Thank you for your help. I figured that it was not a good idea to approach the max and will plan on staying in the 14000 approximate area. I have had dually trucks before and found they pull great and are stable...but are helpless in the winter...helpless. I know the 4wd makes a difference but I stayed away from the dually on purpose. I will go with the lower range. When I spoke of the 16000 range, I was figuring on loaded weight with passenger but in reality...I agree with your assessment and prefer not to tax the vehicle to the max.

I was adding a fuel additive/lubricant because of the low sulfur. I was pulling 6000 lbs with a Ford 5.4 gas engine with horrible results....7-9 mpg. That made my mind up to go back to the diesel engines. The down side is that now, I am figuring on going up in trailer size to the 14000 range. I was hoping for 12 mpg on that. Do you think that is possible?

 

[Jim W]

Hi; it could but do not count on the 12 MPG especially at first. The newer model trucks are using DFE and they seem to be getting slightly better fuel mileage than the older 6.7L engines. Also remember you still have that 12 to 13 foot air brake behind you when you are towing a 5er.

My current truck which is a slightly modified 2008 6.7L Mega Cab 2500 4X4 68RFE, is pulling a 11,000 LB Cougar. My fuel mileage is routinely between 10 to max of 12 MPG's and this is hand calculated. On my last trip which was last week; on the pull down to the camp site I got 11.83 MPG and on the way home I had 12.1.

My wife and I have been kicking around the idea of a new truck and 5er also a one ton SRW. We have been looking at the Heartland Line of 5er's and found a fairly nice one in the Gateway line and they have three models that have a GVWR of 14,000 LBS. She likes the Gateway 3500RE I like the Big Country 3070 RE which also weights in at 14,000 GVWR.

Just a thought.

Jim W.

 

[EDankievitch]

Having owned a 2012 non DEF truck and now a 2013 DEF truck it is night and day. The power and performance and fuel Mpg's are much better both running bob tail and towing. The DEF consumption goes way up when towing from 1 gal per 1000 miles down to about 500miles per gal. But I would rather fill a DEF tank and enjoy 10-16000 mile oil change intervals then the 18-2200 mile oil change intervals the 2012 would give. The 12 would load the lube up with so much fuel it would over fill my 18 Qt oil pan at each oil change time.
That said I would not sweat being close to the max tow weight limit. Keep your tires in good shape and well aired up. Maintain your breaks on the truck and trailer and you'll never have any issues. These trucks are underrated. I use to move 18,000 to 24,000 Lbs boat trailers with my 1989 w250 on a regular basses back when I had the boat moving business 15 years ago. That truck had well over 500,000 miles of hard towing on it when I sold the business. I should have never sold that truck. Never had an issue or a break down. These new trucks are much better with better breaks and more Hp and stout trannys. So enjoy and share your travels with us here.

 

[Trike]

Jim W and EDan....thanks to both of you. All valuable information and appreciated. I have a Goldwing Trike that I will be hauling after I find a decent 5th Wheel toy hauler. I need a 12 foot box on it and want decent living quarters as well. We volunteer at parks and do not want to get shut out of areas due to a long RV. Some parks get touchy after 30 feet. I have a 28 foot KZ now that is ok...a little quirky but ok. I do not want to continue to leave the trike at home. My old 7.3 Ford pulled like a freight train when we had cattle so I know the diesels can work hard. The older Ram trucks were bad about transmission longevity. I understand that has been rectified. People who know me also know that I swore I would never own a Dodge...but after two years as truck of the year...they are doing something right. The engine has always been hard to beat...it was the transmission and electronics that had me spooked.

 

[rscurtis]

Just curious, but why didn't you continue with the blue oval?

 

[Trike]

Blue Oval?

 

[rscurtis]

Ford. Why didn't you buy another Ford?

 

[Trike]

I had left the house on the way to Butte, when it dawned on me what the Blue Oval was. At 67, get a bit slow from time to time. I sold my Ford Diesel when I retired from horse shoeing and cattle. I had used three of them without complaint. They were outstanding. I do not believe the new Ford diesels can hold a candle to the Dodge...in my opinion. I have an RV now and am upgrading to a fifth wheel RV. I think the Dodge can do the best and most reliable job at pulling that. The most efficient and most reliable. Hope that answers the question.

 

[sag2]

I towed 5,000 lb travel trailer this weekend with 14 3500 SRW crew long bed and was getting right at 10.8 on flat ground at 60 mph. It was staying in 5th because the speed wasn't high enough. Over about 62 it would shift into 6th and MPG came up slightly even with the higher speed.

 

[Trike]

Sag2

Hate to hear that. Most of the people I have spoken with have gotten better mileage than that pulling bigger loads than that. How many miles are on your truck?