323BHS Ram 2500 Cummins Combination

[turtypointbuck]

Can owners please share your experience with this combination. How does your Ram 2500 handle the weight?

 

[Bamaman]

It'll be a perfect tow truck/fifth wheel combination. I put AirRide 5000's on my F250 towing a 323BHS, however I'm not getting any squat with the bags not inflated much.

 

[turtypointbuck]

Thanks for the input Bamaman! How do you like your 323bhs? I am anxiously awaiting to hear from others that have the Ram 2500 with coil springs/323bhs combination.

 

[1Papaw]

I have the set up you are talking about and no trouble whatsoever towing. With that said tho the wife can tell the difference in this camper and our old one (9600 lbs.) I have thought of air bags maybe but most of my trips are 4-5 hrs or less so I'm not sure that I need any mods.

 

[steve gravelle]

Rear axle and tire load max would be the issues that I would mention, seeing as my combination is close to the max on both- see signature. Most, no all, of my trips have added up to 40000 miles in a year and a half!

 

[turtypointbuck]

Steve Gravelle,
Did you add your Air Lifts after you got your 337?

 

[steve gravelle]

Sir, I actually installed them prior to the 337 getting to the dealer. Very glad we did, combined with the air bag pin box, the ride quality is good, level is fine, I typically run the Air Lifts about 50 psi, per the dash gauge reading. The on board compressor is on the frame just behind the cab.

 

[SOCAL323BHS]

Interested to any responses to this as well, all set to pick up my new 323 this Friday 2/5/16 with a 2013 RAM 2500 CC/SB 4x4 CTD. Still trying to figure out right now if I should keep the B&W companion I have on order headed this way or jump ship to the Andersen Ultimate Alu.

 

[turtypointbuck]

SOCAL,
Thanks for your interest in this thread. Do you plan to use a sidewinder with your SB truck?

 

[SOCAL323BHS]

Not really sure, I am going to borrow a buddy's B&W companion to take delivery and then see what kind of space constraints I have. More to follow.

 

[turtypointbuck]

SOCAL
Please do share your thoughts when you pick it up!!
Specifically how does your 2500 handle the weight and your hitch.

 

[Jabem4]

Question for the group. I had a 2011 GMC 2500 HD Duramax and planned on purchasing the 323BHS. My father in law, who has been towing fivers for a long time told me the 2500 won't safely tow that weight. I started searching forums and the web to find out he was right. Has anyone here ever looked at or used the online towing calculators? It was an eye opener for me, now I own a 3500 Dually. Interested in some feedback. JMM.


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[SOCAL323BHS]

Time to reply back to the thread with an update. I picked up my trailer and towed it home, managed to get it up the drive way and in to the side yard with zero drama. With the B&W companion the clearance is tight but not bad. No way to get to 90deg and jack knife the trailer, but 85ish was easily achieved. The bed rail clearance was more of an issue for me due to the angle and slope of my drive way and approach combination. I used the same combo for our first trip 2/19-2/21 to The San Mateo campground on the northern edge of camp pendleton. The pin weight when the trailer was loaded and full of water was noticeable on my truck which is bone stock save for larger than stock tires at 325/75 R17 BFG A/T's. The reason I mention the tires is with the stock 3.42 R&P this tires choice resulted in a noticeable negative impact when towing. THe good news is other than taking a little longer to get going from a dead stop the truck and trailer did a great job. I am going to install airbags to allow the adjustment of truck attitude for future trips but the overall ride was very nice. The break controller is still a work in progress as to where I want it set, but with the factory exhaust break we had plenty of stopping power. The end result of all this is after getting home and attempting to unload wash and cleanup from the trip I got to the part where I remove the B&W from my truck. Its is too dam heavy to mess with alone and frankly a challenge with 2 people. I am going with the Andersen ultimate for two reasons;1 the aluminum version is only 35 lbs, so my 11yr old can help me get the truck setup and hooked up. 2 the 4'off set will help with the cab clearance issues. Good luck with your new trailer, we love our already after only one short trip we have 6 more booked through Sept of this year already. My boss has a 2014 clone of my truck, but with the coil spring rear and new steering gear up front. He towa a small toy hauler and loves it. Not sure how much different your truck will be with coil spring and sway bar combo, but you have the ability to tune your ride by upgrading your sway bar if you would like. SHould be awesome, good luck and have fun.

 

[Jabem4]

I am having a b+w turnover ball gooseneck hitch installed next week and plan on using the Andersen ultimate connection hitch. This broken back can't stand the thought of moving a heavy hitch in and out. I have a superglide 4400 I bought and never used. I now have an 8' bed and don't need the slider anymore.


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[SOCAL323BHS]

The back issues, or more specifically my back with and its current state of no issues is a major push for the anderson. The B&W even in 2 separate parts is just to heavy to mess with anymore. The head at 75 lbs is fine but the base is 135 lbs and wide, so awkward is just the first of a long list of adjectives that I used during removal at the end of a long day. I looked a the stated capability of your previous truck the 2011 Duramax and my trucks same stated specs, both seem to be well with in the margin of safety for these trailers. I am coming from the world of So Cal toy haulers where guys were and still are regularly doing what I consider to be crazy unsafe things with 3/4 ton trucks every friday on the way to the desert.

 

[Canyonlight]

Jaben4--As more often than not, it would seem the "stickered" payload posted on the front door pillar would be the only limiting issue when playing in the regulation sandbox ? Seems both the 2011 and 2012 have a 26K GCWR and plenty of spring/factory tire capacity so those are non-issues.

Dan

 

[Jabem4]

Your thoughts about the truck capacities were what I originally looked at. After speaking with my father inlaw and finding fifthwheelst.com I learned different. The owners manual states it can pull a 15600 lb trailer. The problem is the 20% pin weight. The 323BHS has a curb weight of 10708 and pin of 1980. GVW is 13995, 20% pin is 2800. So if you figure down the middle and you pull 12400 that makes your pin weight 2475. That number alone is almost exceeding the entire payload of the truck. Now you have to add a driver and passengers and anything else you put in the truck. It was worth it for me to trade up and know I am safe. Take a look at the calculator on fifthwheelst.com or search a towing calculator. By no means am I associated with any of these but just want to tow safely. JMM.


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[Jabem4]

Toes in the water, I took all the info off the door pillar and entered it in with all the other weights. It shocked me how little of a fifth wheel I could pull. I was shocked and in denial. It took me several weeks for it to absorb but learned it's more about payload than what the listed GCWR is. I am not arguing the point that it's done thousands of times daily or I am not bashing the people doing it, this is what I feel safe doing. I have held a class A CDL for over 25 years and like to know what I am towing is safe and compliant.



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[Canyonlight]

Well done on doing your homework.......having your CDL you certainly understand and follow the numbers and it is appreciated.

Dan

 

[SOCAL323BHS]

Now you have me worried, I hate it when logic comes in to play in these things. I will take a look and see what i find. Thanks for the simple math and real world experience.