Tow vehicle issues - Page 3

Greg1780 · 10-31-2022, 06:56 AM

RHAGFO
I’m really concerned about the weight issued and my truck. I’ve had good advice on this forum by many experienced RV’ers. Attached is photos of Rams towing guidelines using my VIN, and I believe I’m just under the limits, maybe you can advise further.
See attached photos:

Trailer attached to truck: 24880
Truck empty. 8820
minus truck. 16660 towing weight
I believe I have about 160 pounds left, if I’m right and I know I’m real close.

hlh1 · 10-31-2022, 07:01 AM

It blows me away that the RAM 2500 has 2173 lbs of carrying capacity and my lowly F150 has 1829 lbs. Only 344 lbs difference between my 1/2 ton and a 3/4 ton. The major difference is in the towing ability.

For my setup I have the following:

Max GCWG: 14400
Truck weight: 5200
Max tow: 8900 lbs
Truck max payload: 1829 lbs (loaded truck)

Max trailer tow: 7071 lbs (max trailer GVW)

Hitch weight with my trailer: 910 lbs
leaves me with a payload of: 919 lbs

If I decided to get a bigger truck I would just jump to the F350 for a significant hauling advantage.

Greg1780 · 10-31-2022, 07:09 AM

It seems to tow the trailer okay, but now I’m a little worried that the trailer is a little big for my truck. We had an accident 23 yrs ago and I don’t want another.

DrSmart1 · 10-31-2022, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg1780

RHAGFO
I’m really concerned about the weight issued and my truck. I’ve had good advice on this forum by many experienced RV’ers. Attached is photos of Rams towing guidelines using my VIN, and I believe I’m just under the limits, maybe you can advise further.
See attached photos:

Trailer attached to truck: 24880
Truck empty. 8820
minus truck. 16660 towing weight
I believe I have about 160 pounds left, if I’m right and I know I’m real close.

If I'm reading this right, your truck occupants and cargo limit is 2173lbs. The brochure hitch weight of the 2022 Montana 3813MS is 2820lbs. Add 500 - 700 lbs of loaded cargo and accessories, your pin weight could be 3500 lbs or more. You're in 3500 dually territory. Focus on truck payload capacity and rear axle weight rating.

Greg1780 · 10-31-2022, 07:13 AM

That helps,
Now to find something in two weeks is almost impossible. When I brought the truck last year, this is all we could find

DrSmart1 · 10-31-2022, 07:33 AM

CAT scales provide 3 weights. Steer axle, drive axle and trailer axles. Go through twice. Weigh with and without trailer. That way you can subtract the truck rear axle weight without trailer from with trailer. That's your trailer's pin weight. The rest of the weights will provide truck weight with trailer to compare to truck GVWR and combined weight of truck and trailer to compare to truck's GCVWR. Having the two print outs from CAT will allow you to sit and digest all the numbers.

markcee · 10-31-2022, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg1780

RHAGFO
I’m really concerned about the weight issued and my truck. I’ve had good advice on this forum by many experienced RV’ers. Attached is photos of Rams towing guidelines using my VIN, and I believe I’m just under the limits, maybe you can advise further.
See attached photos:

Trailer attached to truck: 24880
Truck empty. 8820
minus truck. 16660 towing weight
I believe I have about 160 pounds left, if I’m right and I know I’m real close.

Unfortunately, you're not real close.

Truck as it left the factory only had 21xx pounds of payload. Pin weight alone on your trailer at 16.6K is likely 3500+ pounds.....that's before the weight of the hitch, the weight of any bodies in the truck as well as any other gear in the truck. You are likely exceeding your payload cap by almost double.

While you are within your truck's tow capacity, there is more than one rating/capacity to consider. You are blowing over the truck's payload cap - and thus it's rated 10K GVWR, and probably it's axle cap. When the manufacturer generates the tow ratings, the tests are typically done with a flat load with the weight positioned right over the axles - nothing like a tall 5th wheel or a travel trailer. The test is designed to put the truck's tow capacity in the best light - which unfortunately can't be done hauling a 5th wheel.

Agree with the comment that this trailer definitely warrants a dually.

rhagfo · 10-31-2022, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg1780

RHAGFO

I’m really concerned about the weight issued and my truck. I’ve had good advice on this forum by many experienced RV’ers. Attached is photos of Rams towing guidelines using my VIN, and I believe I’m just under the limits, maybe you can advise further.
See attached photos:

Trailer attached to truck: 24880
Truck empty. 8820
minus truck. 16660 towing weight
I believe I have about 160 pounds left, if I’m right and I know I’m real close.

Well it is the number on the left of the first picture the is far more important the the one on the right!
Go find a scale you can get individual axle weights and post back.

wegone · 10-31-2022, 08:11 AM

Greg, let me share my story with you, as I struggled to understand these numbers as well.
My brand-new trailer was great, we pulled it and loved it.
Only problem we ever had was the microwave crapped out, and instead of taking it all the way back to the dealer (I live on an island, it's a BIG hassle)
I installed a better one myself.
Having just returned from a 4k plus trip, we were on another trip when a person waved me over, who had been following us and was concerned with the way our tires were running.

Our rear wheels really bowed out in turns, bad.

We got it home, called the dealer, but with COVID, etc, it was almost a year before it got fixed under warranty from a faulty axle install.

After we got the trailer back, we decided on another new trailer would fit our needs, use, better, we bought it.

We had to unload the old trailer of EVERYTHING.

When I first shared about my problem with the guys here, it was weigh your trailer, maybe I'm overloaded and bent my axle, etc.

I said NO WAY am I over.

Now, after having unloaded all that stuff, and in hindsight, I am not so certain, it adds up so very fast, but carrying it out and packing it in over small loads, trips, and what we accumulated while on vacation...goodness, I was shocked.
It was so easy to discard that number, in my mind as not important, but Greg it does add up fast.

rhagfo · 10-31-2022, 08:19 AM

Well 10,000# GVWR minus the 8,820# that the truck weighs (ready to tow?) leaves 1,180# for pin weight.
Now at the 16,660# for your trailer weight at a common 22% pin weight, the pin is likely 3,665# putting you 2,485# over payload/GVWR, this is likely beyond the capacity of a 3500 SRW, you are in DRW territory!
Based of these weights, you are also over axle and tire ratings!

Roper46 · 10-31-2022, 08:35 AM

The biggest issue with your 2021 Ram with the Cummins is the same I had with my 2020 Ram 2500. The Cummins is a very heavy diesel engine and eats up the payload.

My 2020 Ram Bighorn only had 2097# of payload. When I weighed it with my current 5er at the CAT scales I was 300#+ over my payload. And that was loaded for camping just by myself.

My current TV has a payload of 4057# and handles my 5er SO much better. Even with the SRW I have room for a upgraded 5er if I ever decide to.

travelin texans · 10-31-2022, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg1780

RHAGFO
I’m really concerned about the weight issued and my truck. I’ve had good advice on this forum by many experienced RV’ers. Attached is photos of Rams towing guidelines using my VIN, and I believe I’m just under the limits, maybe you can advise further.
See attached photos:

Trailer attached to truck: 24880
Truck empty. 8820
minus truck. 16660 towing weight
I believe I have about 160 pounds left, if I’m right and I know I’m real close.

That 16740lbs tow rating advertised would = 2100+ lbs tongue weight for a TT @ the average 13% & 3800+ lbs pin weight for a 5th wheel @ the average 23%. So towing either type of rv at that weight would put it well over the posted payload.
If towing the typical trailers with low profile loads placed directly over the axles that the truck manufacturers use to arrive at these max tow weights then yes its capable of towing that much as it greatly reduces the tongue/pin weights which in no way compares to towing rvs.

Greg1780 · 10-31-2022, 09:56 AM

Good idea, however I’m pretty sure I’m overweight. Leaving for Florida in two weeks. Last year it pulled fine and no problems.

notanlines · 10-31-2022, 10:45 AM

I'm quite sure it'll pull the socks off a rooster. And then give you fodder for the campfire once you get to Florida.
There are those who makes things happen, those who watch what happened and those who wonder what happened. Luck to you on your trip.

Greg1780 · 10-31-2022, 10:49 AM

Thank you Sir

merchjo · 10-31-2022, 10:58 AM

My 2022 Laramie has a payload of 3027 but mine is a 6.4L Hemi and they have more payload due to a lighter engine.

Greg1780 · 10-31-2022, 11:08 AM

That’s interesting

wiredgeorge · 10-31-2022, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg1780

That’s interesting

Greg, You have a 41' and 17K gross weight trailer. Being conservative, use the gross weight to estimate your pin weight. Normal estimate is 23 percent of gross weight (16,800 lbs). Your pin weight will be just north of 3800 lbs. Then add hitch weight, stuff in the truck and passenger weights so you are around 4500 lbs (don't know how much you or passengers weigh). That is over double your payload capacity. You are mucho overloaded. Probably be a good time to make a decision on a different truck or a different trailer. You are DEFINETLY in dually land. My 1 ton F350 only has a payload of around 4K lbs so I would NOT attempt to drag your camper down the road for safety sake.

Greg1780 · 10-31-2022, 01:52 PM

Thank you for your top notch advice.

Essvar · 10-31-2022, 02:02 PM

My pin weight came in at 4,250# fully loaded... trailers GVRW at 18,000 If you want to stay within the sticker rules... a DRW is probably the best answer. Maybe a 3500 HEMI with auto-leveling suspension, but I'm not sure those exist.

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