2014 RAM 2500 6.7l HITCH WEIGHT 5TH WHEEL TOY HAULER

[Bman916]

Hello,, I have a 14 ram 2500 4x4 6.7l short box. Max payload is 2300 and towing is 17,100. I'm about to pick up the 2015 carbon 357 toy hauler with. Dry weight of 12k and hitch weight of 2300/ 3060 at full load of 16,500. I just put air bags on and will never load the trailer to the max. I run LT tires E and my GVWR is 25000 which I don't even come close too. Just too my truck to the scale and empty with a full tank my truck is 7860 with a max of 10000. So my question is can I pull a 14k loaded TH with a hitch weight of around 2800 on the 5th wheel?

[JRTJH]

The "short answer" is" As long as you don't carry any passengers, no extra cargo and never gain any weight (over the 150 pound allowance for the driver).

Your maximum payload for the truck is 2300 pounds, the trailer pin weight is 2300 pounds empty. The numbers just won't add up.

Of course, you can always go in "upside down", add air bags, heavier tires and pretend you'll be OK, but if you're ever involved in an accident, almost any "ambulance chaser" will easily identify that you were overloaded and then things will become very expensive very fast.

ADDED: Upon checking the Keystone website, the specs you listed are not the same as on the website. The Carbon 357 is listed as:

Shipping Weight 12595
Carrying Capacity 3905
Hitch 3060
Length 38' 11"

When you add batteries, propane, hitch to your truck, you're going to be significantly heavier than your stated 2300 pounds of trailer pin weight. You'll likely be much closer to 3400-3500 pounds of added weight to the truck.

[chuckster57]

Too many times people are told or believe that adding airbags adds GVWR. The federal sticker on the drivers door trumps all. I hear the argument all the time that the manufacturers put axles in that can handle more weight than what the tag says they are rated for. I HAVENT seen any credible proof.

[Bman916]

Hello,

I have a 14 ram 2500 4x4 6.7l short box. my payload is 2300 lbs and my GVWR is 10000 lbs with a max towing of 17,100. My max combined is 25000 lbs for both TH and truck. I have been reading every forum out there the past week driving my self up a wall. About to pick up the 2015 Carbon 357 toy hauler...Dry weight of 12,600 and dry hitch weight of around 2331 lbs. loaded the TH is 16,500 with a hitch weight of 3,060 37 feet long

I just put on the firestone air bags and pullright superglide and never plan to load the trailer past 14500. I have talked to about 20 ram dealer shop forman this past week and all say that with my LT rage E tires and the air bags they would all pull the trailer I'm getting. I know a 3500 DRW would be the best, but I'm already locked in to the deal and have to make it work..... any thoughts from anyone pulling a toy hauler like mine with the 14 ram 2500?

[chuckster57]

There is a couple of replies to your post in the other thread. Did the shop Foreman tell you that installing airbags increased your rear axle rating?

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Too many times people are told or believe that adding airbags adds GVWR. The federal sticker on the drivers door trumps all. I hear the argument all the time that the manufacturers put axles in that can handle more weight than what the tag says they are rated for. I HAVENT seen any credible proof.

That's why I said, "You can always go in upside down, add air bags, heavier tires and "PRETEND" you'll be OK". They aren't the answer to increasing the GVW and realistically, they don't increase the load carrying capability. The statement, "Addition of air bags does not increase the manufacturer's load carrying capability." can be found on every air bag manufacturer's website.

Maybe I should reword my post to make it more clear ???

[chuckster57]

No your post is just fine. Some people need to hear it from more than one person to think about it.

[gtsum2]

Originally Posted by Bman916

Hello,, I have a 14 ram 2500 4x4 6.7l short box. Max payload is 2300 and towing is 17,100. I'm about to pick up the 2015 carbon 357 toy hauler with. Dry weight of 12k and hitch weight of 2300/ 3060 at full load of 16,500. I just put air bags on and will never load the trailer to the max. I run LT tires E and my GVWR is 25000 which I don't even come close too. Just too my truck to the scale and empty with a full tank my truck is 7860 with a max of 10000. So my question is can I pull a 14k loaded TH with a hitch weight of around 2800 on the 5th wheel?

I have 2014 ram 3500 cummins srw with 4075lbs payload and the 357 is about the biggest I would go. U say it won't be loaded heavy but what r u putting in the garage? Too much trailer for a 2500 IMO. Ur wet pin weight likely be 2800 plus lbs

[gtsum2]

Nothing you do will increase your payload. It is what it is and you will be over your weights with that th. Up to you if u choose to do it

[Bman916]

I just keep finding all kids of conflicting information. I know by the book I'm over my payload a bit, but I have the right tires and my towing exceeds the trailer fully loaded.

They did not tell me it will raise the payload. They said it will help the saga and keep the drive train in line

[JRTJH]

The original poster of this thread also asked a similar question in an existing thread. I have moved all related posts to this location rather than have two discussions ongoing about the same topic.

[Bman916]

Originally Posted by gtsum2

I have 2014 ram 3500 cummins srw with 4075lbs payload and the 357 is about the biggest I would go. U say it won't be loaded heavy but what r u putting in the garage? Too much trailer for a 2500 IMO. Ur wet pin weight likely be 2800 plus lbs

no toys... it will be the kids play area.

[gtsum2]

Rams with coil springs have lighter payload than others...I had a 2013 1500...went to out a travel trailer and thought I better weigh it at the cat scale...I had a whopping 420lbs payload left after the family was in the truck (2 boys under 6 and a wife that weighs 120...). Needless to say I wasn't happy. After doing more research and knowing I really wanted a th, I was not going to make the same mistake twice which is why I ordered the 3500 and sold my 2013 after only 11 months of owning it. Even now I see th that I like that r too big and heavy for my 3500srw....but my 4075lbs is a long way from your 2300 lbs and I would consider the 357 to be as big as I would go...your call

[Bman916]

Yea... I've had the 2500 for about 11 months...Going to take it out on a short trip and see how she feels.... I operated and towed heavy equipment in the Seabees so not a stranger to 5th wheels and steep grades...

[JRTJH]

BMan, You're over much more than "a bit". Your statement that the pin weight is 2300 pounds is incorrect. The actual pin weight of the EMPTY Carbon 357 is 3060. By the time you add propane, batteries and your hitch in the bed of your truck, you're going to be much closer to 1000 pounds over that 2300 pound estimate.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Bman916

no toys... it will be the kids play area.

I see your in Calf. I too live here, and I can tell you from personal experience that the CHP is pulling over rigs that appear heavy. Have you seen the CHP pick-ups with the campershells? There is a set of portable scales in there.

They can and they WILL pull you over and weigh your rear axle. If your over by even 1 pound, your trailer is confiscated on the spot..no argument... no getting personal belongings.

That's just the start. Then you pay tow fees, impound fees and can't get the trailer out of impound until you produce a truck rated to tow it home.

Are you aware of the license requirements for towing a fiver?

No one here is trying to berate or belittle you. We have all been there done that, and don't want to see you make any mistakes. I started towing fivers in 1989 and it used to be no one cared what you towed and towed with. Times have changed and I would hate to see you post an angry thread about how your trailer is sitting in an impound yard, or worse yet, read about you in the paper or see you on the news.

Be safe my friend, and we can all enjoy what we love to do, camp!

[Bman916]

So on the pin weight.... i called keystone and they tell me that the listed hitch weights are based on the loaded weight of the trailer...16500... I called a few times to see if I got the same answer and every time they put me on hold to call the carbon team and came back with the same answer...

Had no idea about the CHP and the impound.... maybe I'll put the 3500 decal on where it says 3500 lol....totally kidding

[chuckster57]

I have a family member watch it happen at Pismo beach. We had a customer two or three months ago that got pulled over, and asked for his trailer endorsement. When he couldn't produce it, he had to unhitch and leave his fiver on the side of the road until he obtained it at DMV... the lines at DMV....

I commute to the bay area each day, and I have seen trucks/trailers pulled over with the pick em up truck parked behind them.

[Bman916]

I'll head to the DMV tomorrow.... I just looked at the CHP info and on their web site says they check the campers gross vehicle weight rating.... I am at 23000 loaded with all my kids/dogs and gear I have... my truck is rated at 25000 max.... or am i missing someting

[chuckster57]

Trailers GVWR is for license. Your going to have to have a non commercial commercial license as your trailer is over 15,000 GVWR.

I have a PDF saved that explains it. Send me a PM with your email and I will forward it to you.