Towing info

[ray1933]

First off I posted this on the RV Towing forum and got 1 reply so please do not bump it over there. .



Thought someone here could give me a good answer.



Look at my signature block about my truck. My question is,, what length 5th wheel RV can I safely tow with out worrying about my transmission. We do not travel a great deal but have decided that it would be nice to unhook the 5er and drive around. We have always used a PU Camper.



Ray

 

[BHolm]

I would say you could tow a pretty big one really the wieghts and frontal area of the RV you want to pull are more important than the length. I would say you could do a 34-36 footer pretty easily though. I really wouldn't be to worried about the transmission. They are not the problem area they used to be on older Dodge trucks. That is assuming you have the 48re version. Some '03s with the standard output engine did come with the 47re. If you have the HO 305 hp engine you will be fine.

 

[LesStallings]

I guess you have the long bed, so turning won't be a problem. Weight wise, power should not be a problem, although it is wise to keep track of EGTs on long hills. I have the manual transmission, but if I had the automatic, I would definitely add a transmission temperature gauge for safety.



My gooseneck trailer is very high profile, similar to a fifth wheel travel trailer. I see many single rear wheel rigs fighting side buffeting winds that have very little effect on the duallys. Just be careful regardless...

 

[HBarlow]

Ray,



We need more information in order to give you a useful reply.



If your truck has an 8' bed you are good to pull a 5th wheel without specialized equipment. If a short bed you'll need a trailer with extended king pin or a slide back hitch.



If your truck has the standard 3. 73 ring and pinions Dodge sets a lower maximum combined weight than if you have 4. 10 gearing; probably 21k instead of 23k.



The length of a fiver will not tell the whole story. There is typically a huge weight difference between one of the less expensive, lighter weight trailers such as a Keystone, Forest River, Jayco, and others and one of the high end units like Teton, Travel Supreme, Alfa and one or two others of the same length. To be conservative I would suggest you limit length to no more than 32' or a loaded trailer weight of no more than 12,000 lbs.



Your truck is probably equipped with single rear wheels, not a dually so your maximum king pin weight will be limited to about 2500 lbs. , maybe less when you count fuel, tools, hitch, passengers, etc. The factory Gross Combined Weight Rating of your truck is probably 21,000 lbs. at most, might be less. Your truck weighs approximately 8,000 lbs. If you subtract 8k from 21k the remainder is 13,000.



Your truck will pull a heavier trailer and you may get away with overloading the rear tires but I would recommend you avoid doing either.



I hope this helps.



Harvey