New Member need help

Rob13 · 07-12-2021, 12:14 PM

Hello, as you can tell am new to RV'ing and have many questions. wife and I are retiring soon so we want to do some traveling. as of yet I have not purchased a 5th wheel as I am researching different models.
would be towing with 2018 2500 Ram CC 4x4 6.7L cummins with GVWR of 10000#, curb weight of 7070# which I assume leaves me with 2930#. checked many sites to try to read up on what will work with this truck and it gets very confusing.
thinking about 368 MBI. with pin weight of 1980# which would leave me 950# which is not much weight since I have not factored in persons and hitch. could use some advice. some people including the dealerships tell you truck can handle it but I am a little skeptical? other question, I do not have any experience in traiioring but was told bigger rv's are easier to maneuver then smaller or am I biting off more than I can chew? wife wants larger one to accommodate when our grown children and spouses want to come along.any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance. Rob

wiredgeorge · 07-12-2021, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob13

Hello, as you can tell am new to RV'ing and have many questions. wife and I are retiring soon so we want to do some traveling. as of yet I have not purchased a 5th wheel as I am researching different models.
would be towing with 2018 2500 Ram CC 4x4 6.7L cummins with GVWR of 10000#, curb weight of 7070# which I assume leaves me with 2930#. checked many sites to try to read up on what will work with this truck and it gets very confusing.
thinking about 368 MBI. with pin weight of 1980# which would leave me 950# which is not much weight since I have not factored in persons and hitch. could use some advice. some people including the dealerships tell you truck can handle it but I am a little skeptical? other question, I do not have any experience in traiioring but was told bigger rv's are easier to maneuver then smaller or am I biting off more than I can chew? wife wants larger one to accommodate when our grown children and spouses want to come along.any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance. Rob

I think your are over stating your payload a bit. I suggest you open the driver door on your Ram truck and look at the yellow/white placard. My sister has basically the same truck (a Laramie edition) and her payload is 2162 lbs. With payload in that range, you need to look at a VERY LIGHT fifth wheel; a 10K gross pound fifth wheel will have a pin weight of about 23 percent of gross or 2300 lbs. Add hitch, stuff in truck and passengers, etc. and you will be looking at close to 3K lbs load. The Cougar you are contemplating is almost 40' and 14K lbs gross. That is one ton dually truck territory. Look at bumper pulls or get a larger truck for that big a trailer.

Rob13 · 07-12-2021, 12:28 PM

thanks, agree did not think that would work.. those numbers I did get from the drivers door though.

Rob13 · 07-12-2021, 12:43 PM

think I will look at the lighter 1/2 ton cougar 5th wheel selection.

**flybouy** · 07-12-2021, 12:59 PM

Don't rely on the published numbers on any trailer, they are not "real life" numbers. The typical travel trailer will have a tongue weight around 13% of the trailers weight. The trailer weight will be closer yo the gvw of the trailer than the "shipping "weight". Then add about 100 to 120 lbs for a good weight distributing hitch. That's a STARTING POINT",

For a fith wheeler use 23% of the trailer gvw and the hitch can weigh anywhere from 120 to 300 lbs. You're doing the right thing by investigating. Do not fall into the "TRAP" of thinking I can make this work or I'll JYST MAKE IT. If it's close then no cigar.

notanlines · 07-12-2021, 01:08 PM

Rob, post a picture of the sticker on the door post George spoke of. As George mentioned, that real pin weight will be 3K if it's an ounce when you're ready to travel. With four in the truck and some gear, maybe a nice hitch and you're 1500 pounds over the gross. Just real figures. I agree that RV's 14-15Kand above are dually territory. Not mandatory of course, but to to travel comfortably and safely it is.

kfxgreenie · 07-12-2021, 01:39 PM

Just get a dooley and the RV you desire now, your retirement account will thank you later. If you settle now it will cost you later.

wiredgeorge · 07-12-2021, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob13

Hello, as you can tell am new to RV'ing and have many questions. wife and I are retiring soon so we want to do some traveling. as of yet I have not purchased a 5th wheel as I am researching different models.
would be towing with 2018 2500 Ram CC 4x4 6.7L cummins with GVWR of 10000#, curb weight of 7070# which I assume leaves me with 2930#. checked many sites to try to read up on what will work with this truck and it gets very confusing.
thinking about 368 MBI. with pin weight of 1980# which would leave me 950# which is not much weight since I have not factored in persons and hitch. could use some advice. some people including the dealerships tell you truck can handle it but I am a little skeptical? other question, I do not have any experience in traiioring but was told bigger rv's are easier to maneuver then smaller or am I biting off more than I can chew? wife wants larger one to accommodate when our grown children and spouses want to come along.any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance. Rob

This is an actual payload placard from the driver door frame; don't actually see your payload listed only what you "computed". May not be wrong but just double check the ACTUAL payload.

Rob13 · 07-12-2021, 03:09 PM

trying to post it but my Mac won't let me. once I figure it out I will post it. i'm little computer challenged.LOL thanks

**sourdough** · 07-12-2021, 03:16 PM

Rob what numbers did you get from the driver door? I know these things get confusing. Where did you get the actual truck weight of 7070? If some printed material it will be wrong, if from a scale good.

Just from prior posts from owners for trucks around that age I would think your payload would be more in the 25xx range (just a WAG)? It's really immaterial because the truck won't carry a big 5th wheel and stay within weight parameters. The numbers have been explained previously so use those on any trailer you contemplate - be sure and use the gvw of the potential trailer. If using some of the RV websites you have to add the dry weight and carrying capacity to get it because they don't just place it with all the numbers (wonder why). You give up several hundred pounds of payload due to the weight of the diesel.

jasin1 · 07-12-2021, 03:21 PM

I think it would be interesting to have a post that has published pin weights vs actual cat scale weights of different fifth wheels

Rob13 · 07-13-2021, 03:19 AM

got the numbers from door sticker except the 7070 that was from the internet. thanks

wiredgeorge · 07-13-2021, 04:10 AM

To post an image, click the "GO ADVANCED" button and then select "MANAGE ATTACHMENTS". If you take a pic with your camera, send it to yourself via email attachement then save the attachement to your desktop. To post the pic, use the manage attachements function and go to your desktop location and select the image and upload. It is easier than it sounds.

Rob13 · 07-13-2021, 12:57 PM

7070 I got from internet. went in my owners manual, real number is7799, thanks for your help

wiredgeorge · 07-13-2021, 03:05 PM

Sigh... I tried!

**flybouy** · 07-13-2021, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob13

7070 I got from internet. went in my owners manual, real number is7799, thanks for your help

Rob, your "owners manual" is just one more genaric, published book and not specific to YOUR ACTUAL TRUCK. They do not print a unique owner's manual for each truck that goes out the door. The label on the driver's side door (which has been mentioned numerouse times) however IS specific TO THE INDIVIDUAL TRUCK as is required by law.

Rob13 · 07-15-2021, 12:49 PM

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...1&d=1626381751

here is photo from my truck door, the 7790 weight of truck is from ram website that owners manual sends you to for specific configuration of truck

GAWR FRONT: 6000#
GAWR REAR: 6500#
GVWR: 10000

Rob13 · 07-15-2021, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Sigh... I tried!

thanks for your effort, just took me awhile to post photo

Rob13 · 07-15-2021, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

Rob, your "owners manual" is just one more genaric, published book and not specific to YOUR ACTUAL TRUCK. They do not print a unique owner's manual for each truck that goes out the door. The label on the driver's side door (which has been mentioned numerouse times) however IS specific TO THE INDIVIDUAL TRUCK as is required by law.

understood, could not get picture to post until now. thanks

jasin1 · 07-15-2021, 01:20 PM

Rob take another picture of your door jam…your looking for ANOTHER sticker like the one from wired George in post #8 above I believe…it may be on the door jam itself …look all over the door and the door jam ..one sticker is usually on the truck jam and one is usually on the door itself….same drivers door….it specifically says payload or cargo capacity…usually yellow

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