tow vehicle

[case24]

I might be reading too much but I am totally confused. Everyone I talked to said I would have not trouble pulling 37'- 311BHTS or a Solitude if I bought one of them. When I go into the Forums and they start talking about GVWR and axle weight and tow weight I'm lost. I don't think I can even pull a tent trailer.
I have bought a 2017 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7L Diesel Crew Cab SRW 4x4. Front axle 7000 lbs, rear axle 6000 lbs GVRW 11,700 lbs. Can I tow either one of these vehicles.
Can someone please put my mind at ease before I go looking for the trailer.
Case24

[D2Reid]

You need more information. Quick google search brought up this towing chart 2017 Ram 3500 Towing Chart.

311BHTS specs sheet says GVWR 13,995

When I looked at the Ram chart I think it said your truck can tow a trailer up to 17,360. Total truck and trailer weight can't exceed 25,300. I was looking at the A6 68RFE transmission line, so it could be a little different.

Your 11,700 GVRW was the actual weight on the truck, that is, the truck, passengers, dogs, cats, gas and the pin weight of the trailer.

It gets grossly confusing.

[case24]

Thank you so much for finding that chart for me it cleared up my confusion completely. All the talk on the forums about payload, gvwr, gcwr, tongue weight was so overwhelming and I didn't understand it. I felt like an idiot. But in one click all is well. Thanks again.
Case24

[Jerryr]

Thank you so much for finding that chart for me it cleared up my confusion completely. All the talk on the forums about payload, gvwr, gcwr, tongue weight was so overwhelming and I didn't understand it. I felt like an idiot. But in one click all is well. Thanks again.
Case24

Before you get too comfortable please know that the chart does not tell you what the max capability is for your truck. It only lists max capability of a base stripped truck.

As I stated, the likely limiting factor when towing a 5th wheel will be payload. The payload for your truck as equipped is listed on your Tire and Loading sticker on the doorpost as “never exceed combined weight of cargo and passengers” weight.

[RVRunners]

Before you get too comfortable please know that the chart does not tell you what the max capability is for your truck. It only lists max capability of a base stripped truck.

As I stated, the likely limiting factor when towing a 5th wheel will be payload. The payload for your truck as equipped is listed on your Tire and Loading sticker on the doorpost as “never exceed combined weight of cargo and passengers” weight.

I agree. You can use the chart as a general guide on what type of truck to shop for, however, when you look at a truck you need to look at the decals on the driver’s side door post to find out the specific information for each truck. With Ford there are two stickers with the white one having the GVWR, RAWR, FAWR and the yellow one having the payload rating and tire size/load range/inflation information. I assume RAM does it the same way. I did pull our Reflection 367BHS (which is larger than the 311BHS) with a F350 SRW but was very close if not a touch over on payload and RAWR depending on whether we had both kids, dog, etc. so when I got a different truck last summer I went F350 DRW. You can make it work. One tactic that will help alleviate some pin weight is to load as much cargo as possible in the rear of the camper. With the axles on a fifth wheel being more rear middle they will act like a fulcrum with the trailer frame being the lever.

[case24]

Thank you for the info. I'm taking everything in and trying to put everyone's ideas in a book for further reference.
Case24

[shutterbug]

Thank you so much for finding that chart for me it cleared up my confusion completely.
Case24

I know others are already noting this, but DO NOT trust the chart. You must go by the yellow sticker inside your driver-side door. I made this mistake myself, I was going off the manufacturer's website chart, not realizing that the payload of my specific truck was over 500lbs less that what was noted in the chart. As a result I was grossly overloaded. Your trim and options have a significant impact on the weight.

Check the payload on that yellow sticker, that's almost always the limiting factor. If your pin weight of the trailer when loaded, plus the weight of all of your passengers, your 5th wheel hitch, any gear you carry in the truck, etc.. is ALL below that payload number, then you're ok.

[Jerryr]

The limiting factor usually is the "Payload" of YOUR truck as equipped when towing a 5th wheel.

Look at the Tire and Loading sticker on you driver door post. Report what the number is listed for the "combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed" weight is for your truck.

A typical 311BHTS will have a real life pin weight similar to my 337RLS which was 2,220 lbs as delivered without battery and propane and it actually 2,900 lbs when loaded for travel.

So my F-350 has a payload of 3,523 lbs
2900 lbs pin weight
450 lbs driver, passenger, dog, parrot and cage, cooler and other stuff in the cabin
100 lbs for lightweight (35lb) Andersen hitch, and other stuff in the truck bed
70 lbs for the BakFlip BedCover
-----
3,520 lbs total, JUST 3 lbs short of my payload.

If my 337RLS was a max GVWR of 13,995 total truck and trailer weight would be 25,490 lbs. I only travel with minimal fresh water and when loaded to travel the trailer weight is usually below 13,000 lbs, so my total weight is 24.490 lbs or less.

[BeerBrewer]

The limiting factor usually is the "Payload" of YOUR truck as equipped when towing a 5th wheel.

Look at the Tire and Loading sticker on you driver door post. Report what the number is listed for the "combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed" weight is for your truck.

A typical 311BHTS will have a real life pin weight similar to my 337RLS which was 2,220 lbs as delivered without battery and propane and it actually 2,900 lbs when loaded for travel.

So my F-350 has a payload of 3,523 lbs
2900 lbs pin weight
450 lbs driver, passenger, dog, parrot and cage, cooler and other stuff in the cabin
100 lbs for lightweight (35lb) Andersen hitch, and other stuff in the truck bed
70 lbs for the BakFlip BedCover
-----
3,520 lbs total, JUST 3 lbs short of my payload.

If my 337RLS was a max GVWR of 13,995 total truck and trailer weight would be 25,490 lbs. I only travel with minimal fresh water and when loaded to travel the trailer weight is usually below 13,000 lbs, so my total weight is 24.490 lbs or less.

Jerryr, if you read the towing spec (J2807) you'll see that the "testers" already made some allowances for some passenger weight, options and hitch weight, so you don't need to add them again. This is also mentioned in note 7 on the 2017 RAM 3500 HEAVY DUTY TOWING CHART that was attached to one of the posts. It reads as follows:
"Trailer Weight Rating and Tow Vehicle Trailering Weight are calculated as specified in SAE J2807.Passenger Weight = 300 lbOptions Weight = 100 lbTrailering Equipment Weight: 75 lb for Conventional Hitch, 70 lb for Gooseneck and 250 lb for 5th Wheel.Tongue weight: 10 percent of the gross trailer weight for Conventional Hitch, 15 percent of the gross trailer weight for a 5th Wheel or Gooseneck hitch."

Adding the weight in again isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just adds a bit more of a safety cushion.

[Jerryr]

Jerryr, if you read the towing spec (J2807) you'll see that the "testers" already made some allowances for some passenger weight, options and hitch weight, so you don't need to add them again. This is also mentioned in note 7 on the 2017 RAM 3500 HEAVY DUTY TOWING CHART that was attached to one of the posts. It reads as follows:
"Trailer Weight Rating and Tow Vehicle Trailering Weight are calculated as specified in SAE J2807.Passenger Weight = 300 lbOptions Weight = 100 lbTrailering Equipment Weight: 75 lb for Conventional Hitch, 70 lb for Gooseneck and 250 lb for 5th Wheel.Tongue weight: 10 percent of the gross trailer weight for Conventional Hitch, 15 percent of the gross trailer weight for a 5th Wheel or Gooseneck hitch."

Adding the weight in again isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just adds a bit more of a safety cushion.

Too many assumptions. You must look at real world weights.

As I stated earlier, the likely limiting factor will be Payload, not SAE J2807 published Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight. In most cases you will exceed Payload Well before you reach Published Max Weight Trailer.

The assumption of SAE J2807 is 15% of gross trailer weight for a 5th wheel. That’s not real world for current 5th wheel RVs. Most of us run 20-23%.

My 337RLS as delivered from the factory weight sheet has a pin weight of 2,220 lbs with total weight of 10,640 lbs, for 20.9%. That’s even without batteries or propane. When lightly loaded to travel the pin weight is 2900 lbs and total 13,000 lbs or 22.3%.

My truck weighs 7,977 lbs EMPTY. That is why the payload is 3,523 lbs (11,500-7,977)

While the Ford Towing guide states Max Loaded Trailer Weight of my F350 Diesel SRW @15,000 lbs I’m at 3,523 lbs max payload at @ only 13,000 lbs trailer weight, 2 people, small dog and lightweight Andersen hitch.