Will Dodge Ram 2500 fit our Challenger 29TRL?

[welshjean]

My husband and I are greenhorns. Middle-aged and starting new life with a rv.
We need help!!! Going to Colorado and doing the big mountains!

QUESTION? We are buying a truck and have bought a FifthW Challenger, 29TRL(33 feet) and are seriously looking at a DODGE RAM 2500 Diesel, 4WD, 6.25 Bed, 6 speed Automatic ,
68RFE Transmission, 6.7L 16 Cummins Turbo Diesel. Has airbags. 3.73 axle ratio.

Gross Vehicle Weight: 9000 lbs.
Gross Com. Weight Rating - 20,000 lbs.

I figured it can tow 13,000 lbs. But since I'm so new at this...(and a woman)
I question this. I am in the dark about most of the numbers and rv jargon...I know I have lots to learn, but sadly, I don't understand alot of this.

My husband insists that this truck will pull or Challenger...10400 dry weight. 3,000 payload. So did the RV tech at the place that we bought the rv.

Anyone out there that can help and put it in pretty simple layman's terms??
Thank you!

[mhs4771]

No doubt that the Dodge will pull it, the question is can it support the weight. 10.4K dry and 3K payload, puts you in the 13K gross range and with 20% for pin means approx 2600 Lbs pin to carry on the Dodge. You need to weigh the Dodge ready for towing with full fuel, passengers, and any cargo you plan to carry in the TV. Subtract that weight from your 9K TV gross and see how much is left for the pin weight. A lot of 2500s come up short on the carrying capacity.

[muddynoll]

I would be looking at the 3500 dually for that trailer for the reasons stated above. IMHO

[turbopilot51]

Originally Posted by welshjean

My husband and I are greenhorns. Middle-aged and starting new life with a rv.
We need help!!! Going to Colorado and doing the big mountains!

QUESTION? We are buying a truck and have bought a FifthW Challenger, 29TRL(33 feet) and are seriously looking at a DODGE RAM 2500 Diesel, 4WD, 6.25 Bed, 6 speed Automatic ,
68RFE Transmission, 6.7L 16 Cummins Turbo Diesel. Has airbags. 3.73 axle ratio.

Gross Vehicle Weight: 9000 lbs.
Gross Com. Weight Rating - 20,000 lbs.

I figured it can tow 13,000 lbs. But since I'm so new at this...(and a woman)
I question this. I am in the dark about most of the numbers and rv jargon...I know I have lots to learn, but sadly, I don't understand alot of this.

My husband insists that this truck will pull or Challenger...10400 dry weight. 3,000 payload. So did the RV tech at the place that we bought the rv.

Anyone out there that can help and put it in pretty simple layman's terms??
Thank you!

I pull my Alpine with a Dodge 2500 CTD with no problems. Just take your time and plan ahead. I went from a 31' tt to my fiver and can tell there is more weight to deal with. Do I wish I had a one ton dually? Sure, but for now the 2500 will do all that I need. Just my .02 worth.

[Jim W]

Originally Posted by welshjean

My husband and I are greenhorns. Middle-aged and starting new life with a rv.
We need help!!! Going to Colorado and doing the big mountains!

QUESTION? We are buying a truck and have bought a FifthW Challenger, 29TRL(33 feet) and are seriously looking at a DODGE RAM 2500 Diesel, 4WD, 6.25 Bed, 6 speed Automatic ,
68RFE Transmission, 6.7L 16 Cummins Turbo Diesel. Has airbags. 3.73 axle ratio.

Gross Vehicle Weight: 9000 lbs.
Gross Com. Weight Rating - 20,000 lbs.

I figured it can tow 13,000 lbs. But since I'm so new at this...(and a woman)
I question this. I am in the dark about most of the numbers and rv jargon...I know I have lots to learn, but sadly, I don't understand alot of this.

My husband insists that this truck will pull or Challenger...10400 dry weight. 3,000 payload. So did the RV tech at the place that we bought the rv.

Anyone out there that can help and put it in pretty simple layman's terms??
Thank you!

What year of truck are you looking at? The earlier 6.7L third gen trucks 2500HD and 3500HD SRW (single rear wheel) trucks had the same frame, axles, differential and brakes the only difference was the additional spring leaf on the 3500HD’s. Now from 2010 Ram has been making changes to the trucks until the 2013 Ram HD’s were released which change the picture totally.
Now I have included a PDF booklet from Ram called the Ram Body Builders Guide for your reference on truck capacities.

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/year.pdf

Click on the red portion of the lettering for prior years before 2013 model year. Then pick the year of truck you are looking at. You may have to click on cab model and truck size such as 2500HD or 3500HD and then cab style plus 4X4 and wheel Base. Then under the technical information section there is a listing which list Base weights/GCW/payload.

As an example my truck which is a 2008 4X4 Mega Cab SB with the 3:73 differentials will only tow a max weight trailer of 12,450 LBS this is a fully loaded trailer weight. The same truck as a 3500HD will support a max trailer weight of 13,500LBS. This is because the additional spring leaf added to the rear spring pack.

You can PM me for any more information on the Ram trucks and what to look for.
Jim W.

[diugo]

The truck with fuel, driver, and passengers probably weighs around 7200 lb so that leaves 12,800 lb for the trailer, so you're pretty good there.

But hitch weight generally ends up being about 20% of the weight of the trailer, so 2560lb. This means the truck will be carrying 7200+2560 = 9760 lb, which exceeds its 9000 lb GVWR by 8.4%.

Unfortunately the only way it will work is if the hitch weight is 9000-7200 = 1800 lb---which means a trailer weight of 9000 lb. Simply not possible with a dry weight of 10,400 lb.

[diugo]

Let's rerun the figures assuming the fully loaded truck weighs in at 6700 lb.

That leaves 2300 lb for the hitch, which means 2300x5 = 11,500 lb for the trailer.

So this scenario works---but it means a very lightly loaded truck and a very lightly loaded trailer.

It's really all about the hitch weight. If your trailer has tons of storage space aft of the wheels, effectively reducing the hitch weight---you might be all right with this truck. But I think I would be looking for a slightly bigger one.

Another fly in the ointment is tank distribution. My fresh water tank is aft of the wheels, but all the waste tanks are fore. So starting out with a full fresh tank and empty waste tanks, I have a good hitch weight on my Dodge 2500. But heading to the dump with empty fresh and full waste, my hitch weight receives a double whammy, increasing by over 300 lb, exceeding my truck's GVWR.

I thought I had done all my homework in selecting this tiny fifth wheel of mine, but completely overlooked this one aspect.

[webslave]

You are going to have to load light (no 3000# of stuff) to keep the trailer weight down to around 11,500. I tow the rig in my signature and I'm right at the "edge" of the numbers and wouldn't tow heavier for any great distance (we're retired and travel long distances).

Going to CO and the Rockies? I'd either find a lighter trailer or get a bigger truck and I'm not the "weight police" type (a lot of folks would say I need a 1 ton for my Cougar). Slightly lighter trailers with the same, or even more room (our Cougar comes in at 34' with three slides) can be had that will have a lighter pin weight and be a much better match with the 2500 series trucks. The Cougar 318SAB is dry at 9500# with a 1600# pin weight and a max load of 11,900#; much better numbers than the coach you are looking at and a much better match to the Ram 2500.

I've had the rig in my signature out on the road for 48,000 miles and 12 months of RVing coast to coast and "wandering" in between and have had no issues with weights, ability to go or stop and coupled with the TrailAir Tri-Glide pin box, ride comfort.

Can you do it? You can, but, you'll be over some of your numbers if you load to max and IMHO, you should re-think the 5er you want or get a bigger truck, a 1 ton, either dually or SRW would work if you absolutely have to have that 5er you are looking at.

[SAABDOCTOR]

HI I HAVE PULLED my Montana with 2000 dodge 2500 3.51 and 6spd manual it really did well with the load and the pull. But there is always a but on a long down hill stopping was so hence the 05 3500 td dually. if you can swing the 3500 you will be far safer and no white knuckels. Reading all the other posters comments I think you will see that a bit bigger truck is in order.Also when you like my dw says i like this BIGGER TRAILER down the road you won't need a biiger truck again. enjoy all the adventures

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by SAABDOCTOR

HI I HAVE PULLED my Montana with 2000 dodge 2500 3.51 and 6spd manual it really did well with the load and the pull. But there is always a but on a long down hill stopping was so hence the 05 3500 td dually. if you can swing the 3500 you will be far safer and no white knuckels. Reading all the other posters comments I think you will see that a bit bigger truck is in order.Also when you like my dw says i like this BIGGER TRAILER down the road you won't need a biiger truck again. enjoy all the adventures

Well your choice, I pull a 05 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS with our 01 Ram 2500 CTD, Camper Special (came with one ton springs). It is about 9,500# dry, with a 12,500# GVWR, we run between 11,000# and 11,500#. The but above was easily solved with the install of a Pacbrake, this will hold this rtig to what ever speed I want down hill.
I don't have Air Bags as I don't need them, the truck is really a 01 3500 SRW, which Dodge didn't really sell.

This is on a tow to the Beach fully loaded.

[davidjsimons]

Depending on the year, that truck most likely is already exhaust brake equipped, most 6.7's, if not all, are I do believe.


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