Purchasing 5th Wheel - will my truck handle it?

[jerryj]

Ram Quad 3500 - 5. 9l HO Cummins, long bed, single rear wheel - stock 2004. 5
Auto transmission, 3:73 rear axle, GVWR 9900#, Front GAWR 5200#, Rear Gawr 6150# 4-wheel drive. VIN 307LU38C84G208426

I am looking to purchase a new 5th wheel travel trailer. However I'm not sure of how to determine if my truck can handle the job. I also want to install an exhaust brake and a 5th wheel hitch. If the truck isn't strong enough would installing a 4:10 rear axle do the trick. Any information or advice would certainly be appreciated.
The trailer dry weight is 13,250#, hitch pin 2630# and dry weight less pin weight 10620#

Jerry
Jacksonville, OREGONhttps://www.turbodieselregister.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

[cerberusiam]

The 3. 73's will handle that weight fine. You will probably be over the GCVW when you hydrate it, and, you will have to make some mods to the trans to handle an EB but it will handle it fine. I have gone as high as 25k on mine with no signs of ill handling or problems.



An updated transmission is going to make life a lot better, as would a Smarty Jr.

 

[jerryj]

Thanks for the reply. I'll look into the transmission suggestion.
Jerry
Jacksonville, OR

 

[Simplysmn]

/Be careful being over gvw on one of the other sites I use there is a guy that got sued and lost or is losing Everything cause he was involved in a accident that caused a death plus he is also looking at Doing ?Time behind bar's Driver's beware and yes this was with a Ford f250 diesel srw just a FYI

 

[jelag]

We tow with a 04 dually a 22K lb trailer with hydraulic disc brakes... . We also have a DOT number so this truck an trailer has been across more scales than I'd like to think. . we've only had a couple of issues... . its slow up hill and the braking distance is not what you'd call great... out on the freeway where there's no one, its not been a problem but in a big city there's sort of a pucker power so to speak when some yah-hoo pulls in front of you...

We've also killed 6th gear in the transmission... its just not made for this kind of weight in 6th so now we tow heavy in 5th...

My BIL's 03 tows a 15K lb 5er and he had to add the deep pan with the tubes... can't remember the name... . to keep the temperature down... he's now at 150K miles with no problems.

 

[cerberusiam]

/Be careful being over gvw on one of the other sites I use there is a guy that got sued and lost or is losing Everything cause he was involved in a accident that caused a death plus he is also looking at Doing ?Time behind bar's Driver's beware and yes this was with a Ford f250 diesel srw just a FYI

I would comment but it would be a political rant. Suffice to say it is something to think about and consider.

We tow with a 04 dually a 22K lb trailer with hydraulic disc brakes... . We also have a DOT number so this truck an trailer has been across more scales than I'd like to think. . we've only had a couple of issues... .

Yeah, thats a little beyond the expected weight range of a light duty truck. :-laf



I have often wondered how it was possible to have the DOT approve a weight limit beyond what they forced the auto makers to assign to a particular vehicle configuration.



Simply because you pay for the right to haul heavier than normal loads does that make it legal?



... or is it because insurance costs 3-4 times as much and that makes it all better and right?



Of course people that would NEVER qualify for a CDL can buy the equivalent of a medium duty truck and drive badly with less consequences than what a CDL licensed drive faces. Talk about a conflict of interest. :-laf



Going by the book, the OP needs a dually to be "legal" at those expected weights.

 

[LRutigliano]

Ram Quad 3500 - 5. 9l HO Cummins, long bed, single rear wheel - stock 2004. 5

Auto transmission, 3:73 rear axle, GVWR 9900#, Front GAWR 5200#, Rear Gawr 6150# 4-wheel drive. VIN 307LU38C84G208426



I am looking to purchase a new 5th wheel travel trailer. However I'm not sure of how to determine if my truck can handle the job. I also want to install an exhaust brake and a 5th wheel hitch. If the truck isn't strong enough would installing a 4:10 rear axle do the trick. Any information or advice would certainly be appreciated.

The trailer dry weight is 13,250#, hitch pin 2630# and dry weight less pin weight 10620#



Jerry

Jacksonville, OREGONhttps://www.turbodieselregister.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Hi Jerry,



Manufacturers weight claims are mostly just estimates. You need to weigh the trailer.



Your truck will handle it. However, consider these suggestions for a more enjoyable and possibly safer tow experienc:



- inflate your rear tires to 80psi.

- install a set of airbags or Timbrens

- research your 5th wheel hitch purchase carefully. Not all hitches are equal. Get the custom drill-less install kits, not the universal kits. Don't let anyone weld brackets to your frame.

- get a good trailer brake controller

- consider getting a V shaped tail gate, it will make hitching up much easier.

- consider installing a true cold air kit such as PSM to lower EGTs.

- consider an aftermarket intake manifold such as ATS or CFM or GDP. These provide HUGE torque increases at 1800 to 2200 rpm.

- gauges (EGT, trans temp and boost) are a must

- Smarty Jr will improve everything about your truck. More usable power, lower EGTs, increased fuel economy, etc.

- ensure the trailer has newer tires and are rated much higher than your actual axle weights and keep them inflated to max psi.

- do not allow the truck to pull a grade in OD, pull grades in 3rd gear.



Hope this helps,

Louis