New tow vehicle

[81SHOVELHEAD]

This is my new tow vehicle .
Plans are to tow a 5th wheel 27 to thirty feet .
Truck is rated to tow 10.500 with a cargo capacity of 2600 lbs
The 5th wheel we have been looking at are 6900to 7700 lbs with pin weights of 1250 to 1500 lbs ,
The truck has 373 limited slip rear end .
Plans to pull the trigger on the new 5th wheel in August .
Looking at the Cougar x lites .
Any experts out ther see anything wrong with this B4 i pull the trigger on the 5th wheel?
Thanks in advance
Mike D
3196

3197

3198

[therink]

Congrats on the new truck. Try to keep in mind when selecting a fifth wheel that it is the gvwr (max loaded weight) that is the important factor when choosing a rig that does not exceed the payload and tow ratings of your truck. Example: A fiver that is listed as weighing 7700 lbs (weight as shipped from facrory) may have a loaded gvwr of around 10k lbs. This calculates to a 20% factored pin weight (loaded) at 2,000 lbs. This leaves 600 lbs reserve in your truck for fuel, hitch, passengers, firewood, other gear in bed etc.
Steve

[Ken / Claudia]

Besides the vehicles GVWR check the tires max load rating, axle load rating. The vehicle appears to be a 1/2 ton, my opinion is that you will be camping/traveling with over max. rating of the truck, axle or tires. Some if not most load and travel at max. but, you could get a bigger truck or smaller trailer even a Travel trailer might work better. Another site had the Ford 1/2 ton with a 5er and the loaded wt the tires could carry under 1700lbs. As said that includes fuel, people, camping eq. RV etc.

[440justin]

As long as you watch the weight and keep everything in check you should be ok. The truck the OP posted is a 3/4 ton not a 1/2 ton as noted by another poster.

[Ken / Claudia]

I would agree if the truck is a 3/4 ton it would have heavier rated tires, axles etc. I would not tell in the small photo. It does go along way to list the actual truck and trailer so answers can be better. And at a 3/4 ton likely good to go with that 5er. Thanks for the correction.

[Bob Landry]

The tow rating on the Ram 2500 seems a little low for a 3/4 ton truck an so does the payload he listed. I've read that Ram has a weaker rear suspension than the other trucks, but zi don't have anything to back that up other than opinions by forum posters. I went to the Ram website and maybe it's because I'm just not used to looking at it, but it seemed very hard to navigate around in, almost like they didn't want you to be able to find a lot of information about their trucks. I guess I'm just used to the Ford site.

[81SHOVELHEAD]

The tow rating on the Ram 2500 seems a little low for a 3/4 ton truck an so does the payload he listed. I've read that Ram has a weaker rear suspension than the other trucks, but zi don't have anything to back that up other than opinions by forum posters. I went to the Ram website and maybe it's because I'm just not used to looking at it, but it seemed very hard to navigate around in, almost like they didn't want you to be able to find a lot of information about their trucks. I guess I'm just used to the Ford site.

Thanks Bob
Yes 10500 with 2600lb payload does sound low for a 3/4 ton Truck ,
But with Hemi & 373 gears + 4x4 this is what the build sheet tells me .
383 HP & 400 FT/LBS of torque ,
Now if i would have spung for a 2x2 diesel with 6 speed tranny it would have increased to 12,000 lb & 380 payload i think(you are correct the web sight is hard to navigate)
Couldn't justify the extra 10 grand for a daily driver diesel
Anyway this is why we are looking at the cougar x lites in the 25 to 30ft length & 6500 to 7500 dry weight ,
I live in Galveston Texas & 90% of our camping will be on the coast .
Its just the wife & I and a 16 lb Snauzer .
We hear the 5th wheels are so much easier to tow so are looking @ the 1/2 ton towables

[Festus2]

81SHOVELHEAD -

Keep in mind that there are many 5th wheels that are "1/2 Ton Towable" with a properly equipped 1/2T truck. If you are seriously considering one of these 5th wheels, beware of the salesman who tells you that "you won't have any problem towing this". As you have been doing up to this point, do your homework before taking the plunge and you'll be fine.

[lightning79]

Very nice truck! I'm on my second Dodge, good choice!

[audio1der]

Nice ride! You'll pass everything but a gas station LOL
Hopefully you have the larger fuel tank.
At least the Hemis have always been willing to rev, whereas some other V8s sound like they want to die when towing over 2K rpm.