Optional

[richardcoxid]

We are in throws of ordering a new 2017 Ram 2500 Cummins, prolly 75% of its use will be towing our 13,000# 32' 5W. Is the optional "Auto level rear suspension system" worth it? On our '98 2500 I added rear air bags, the rear suspension of our current 2500 was improved and I didn't add the bags. Now has the 2017 "5 link-link coil spring rear suspension" been improved to the point that Auto- Level system the is desirable or not?

 

[shorthorn]

Why not order a 3500 for hauling 13k #'s?

 

[Lynx0849]

Will a 2500 handle the load (not the tow, but the hitch weight + hitch + passengers & cargo). Hitch weight for 13k lbs could be 2600 all by itself.

Check an example of the truck you looking at and read the yellow sticker on the drivers B post.

 

[Bob4x4]

http://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2017_ram_2500_towing_charts.pdf

 

[shorthorn]

Thanks Bob... as I suspected there is no 2500 diesel configuration that is rated for the pin weight of a 13,000 lb 5er... I assume 20%, so you are talking 2600 lbs plus the weight of passengers, gear, the hitch itself and so on.

 

[Jim W]

Thanks Bob... as I suspected there is no 2500 diesel configuration that is rated for the pin weight of a 13,000 lb 5er... I assume 20%, so you are talking 2600 lbs plus the weight of passengers, gear, the hitch itself and so on.

I think if you look at the first page of the charts that Bob supplied you will see a 2500 Ram Reg cab Long bed 4X2 with the 68RFE, 6.7L Cummins and 3:42 axle has a max trailer weight of 17,900# and a payload of 3,160LBS. So, yes a 2500 can tow a 13,000LB 5er.

 

[TConver]

I think if you look at the first page of the charts that Bob supplied you will see a 2500 Ram Reg cab Long bed 4X2 with the 68RFE, 6.7L Cummins and 3:42 axle has a max trailer weight of 17,900# and a payload of 3,160LBS. So, yes a 2500 can tow a 13,000LB 5er.

Not really, 20% pin weight plus 35 gallons of diesel and you are at max payload, forget driver, passengers and other stuff.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Towing has NOTHING to do with what the truck can CARRY!

20% is a minimum and up to 25% pin is more common than most realize.

Load the truck with EVERYTHING, hitch, fuel, passengers, tool box. Now hit the scales. Take your RAWR and subtract the actual rear axle weight. Now take that number and multiply x 5. That will give you the MAX weight 5er you can tow at 20% pin. Take the number x 4 that will determine what weight 5er you can tow at 25%. You will add less than 100# to the front axle at that 5er weight when hitched.

 

[shorthorn]

Not trying to be the weight police here but man if you are ordering a truck to do a job, I would want to be sure I ordered the right tool.

 

[Jim W]

Not really, 20% pin weight plus 35 gallons of diesel and you are at max payload, forget driver, passengers and other stuff.

Are you saying that the vehicle engineers for Ram do not know what they are talking about? Also these specs are SAE J2807 compliant, so I guess that group of engineers do not know what they are doing either!

 

[TConver]

Are you saying that the vehicle engineers for Ram do not know what they are talking about? Also these specs are SAE J2807 compliant, so I guess that group of engineers do not know what they are doing either!

Sure is can pull 18k, but not as a 5er. That would be 3600 lbs minimum on the pin. With load distributing hitch and pull behind I am sure it can pull 18k safely probably pull a lot more. But to put that much weight in the bed is going past max and is dangerous. Like Cummins12v98 said, load it up with all you normal stuff you plan to carry in the truck, your passengers and a full fuel load and weigh it. Subtract off the dry weight of the vehicle then subtract that number from the 3200 lb payload and that is the max pin weight multiply it by 4 or 5 and you are at you trailer weight with appropriately distributed pin weight. In reality you should allow 5 or 10% under that for safety margins.

 

[jacknife]

Might think about getting a one ton with the air leveling. Not much more money.

 

[Lynx0849]

Are you saying that the vehicle engineers for Ram do not know what they are talking about? Also these specs are SAE J2807 compliant, so I guess that group of engineers do not know what they are doing either!

Of course they do. The yellow sticker is for a specific truck. The sales brochure is generic and doesn't include options installed.

Also, there are several maximums involved. You shouldn't exceed any of them.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Sure is can pull 18k, but not as a 5er. That would be 3600 lbs minimum on the pin. With load distributing hitch and pull behind I am sure it can pull 18k safely probably pull a lot more. But to put that much weight in the bed is going past max and is dangerous. Like Cummins12v98 said, load it up with all you normal stuff you plan to carry in the truck, your passengers and a full fuel load and weigh it. Subtract off the dry weight of the vehicle then subtract that number from the 3200 lb payload and that is the max pin weight multiply it by 4 or 5 and you are at you trailer weight with appropriately distributed pin weight. In reality you should allow 5 or 10% under that for safety margins.

You are ALMOST correct. PAYLOAD is irrelevant hauling a 5er. Truck Camper maybe it's relevant. It is what the RAWR is minus the actual RAW on the scales.

 

[TConver]

You are ALMOST correct. PAYLOAD is irrelevant hauling a 5er. Truck Camper maybe it's relevant. It is what the RAWR is minus the actual RAW on the scales.

How is it irrelevant. Whether it is a pallet of cement blocks or a 5er pin the weight is in the bed of the truck.

Technically the tires are probably the limit so with a full truck and all your gear go weigh the truck total and then each axles individually to see your weight distribution. Multiply the rating of your tire times 2 and subtract off the truck weight on the rear axle. Whatever that number is will be your max pin weight period. I would guess it will be around 3000 lbs on these trucks with a typical load range e tire and typical weight distribution of the truck.

The axle itself is good to 10k

 

[Jim W]

How is it irrelevant. Whether it is a pallet of cement blocks or a 5er pin the weight is in the bed of the truck.

Technically the tires are probably the limit so with a full truck and all your gear go weigh the truck total and then each axles individually to see your weight distribution. Multiply the rating of your tire times 2 and subtract off the truck weight on the rear axle. Whatever that number is will be your max pin weight period. I would guess it will be around 3000 lbs on these trucks with a typical load range e tire and typical weight distribution of the truck.

The axle itself is good to 10k

What, if I took off the bed and just carried the 5er hitch on the frame? No bed what so ever. That is why I never follow payload rating for towing a 5er, just GCWR and GAWR front and rear. I also change out my tires to a heavier load rating when towing my 5er.

I have scaled my truck and 5er and I am within specs for my model year of truck!

 

[Cummins12V98]

My PAYLOAD is exactly the difference between my GVWR of 14K and my actual truck weight. The 14K is JUST A NUMBER to keep me within my Class 3 rating. I can load 6K pin weight on my rear axle and be at my RAWR but I WILL be over my PAYLOAD. It's all numbers to keep your truck within it's GVWR for licensing and insurance purposed.


My front axle is around 5,200# empty, if I load ZERO weight on my front but load my rear to it's RAWR WaLa I am OVER my GVWR.

5er's don't load the front axle but MAYBE 100# or so. All a person has to do if they want to be LEGAL is have the proper tonnage for their load. Me for example with over 15K GVW I would need 16K tonnage to be LEGAL.