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JA

jackandangela

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Hello everyone, my name is Jack and wife's name is Angela. We are about to purchase a Momentum 348M.:D I have a 2014 2500 Ram Cummins 4x4 short bed. My concern is if this truck is suited to tow this size trailer. I have already planned on installing airbags and changing out the stock 3.42 gears with 3.73. This will be out first toy hauler and we are excited about getting it and start camping. But I'm wondering if I need to look at upgrading to a 3500. Please let us know if anyone on here is already towing one of these TH's with a 3/4 truck and what mods you made to make it work.

Also, if anyone has one of the momentum TH's please let us know what you think of it. Thank you for your help.



jackandangela
 
Welcome to the forum Jack and Angela and congratulations on your new Momentum! One thing you have to remember about your truck, no matter what upgrades you make, nothing will change the load capacity of the rear axle.

Steve
 
Jack and Angela,
We just took delivery of a Ram 3500 mega cab DRW. We closed on a Momentum 348 two weeks ago and have been waiting on the tow vehicle to bring it home. Don't know many 348 people. We needed the garage space and didn't need the second bathroom, not to mention the huge entertainment center in the 350. Funny thing is we have three TVs in the 348, and we never watch TV. I can not speak to whether the 250 is enough tow vehicle, but we didn't feel comfortable with it. Luckily, we were in a place that we could get the new Raw 3500. We had to order to get the mega cab because we take several Great Danes with us. We will pick up our 348 some time this week.

Congratulation on your Momentum. There are not many of us 348's out there.
 
Here is an article you might find of value. http://www.momentumgunner.com/towing_notes.html

There are links in that article to the official Ram towing/weight ratings. In your case, you don't say what cab, transmission, or trim level you have. I'll run with a 2500 CC Tradesman Auto for now. You have 3.42 gears.

Your GVWR is 10,000 pounds. Your front GAWR is 5750, rear GAWR is 6000. You should not exceed ANY of these numbers. Your base weight is 7673 with 4779 front and 2893 rear.

Subtract your base from max and you are at the following available numbers - 2327 payload, 971 front axle and 3107 rear. You don't want to hit any of these numbers as doing so would remove your safety margin. You want to stay below them. You will note that you will hit a payload limit before the RAWR.

What is your trucks actual weight? You need to load it as if for towing (with hitch, people and supplies you'd take on a trip, full DEF, fuel, oil, wiper fluid, etc). Go to a CAT Scale and get weighed. That way you know what your current setup is. It will be higher than the base weights. Then you subtract your actual weights from the max weights.

Then you need to look at your trailer. What are the weights on it? The 348M has a GVWR of 16,500, dry of 13,400, and a pin weight of 3100 pounds.

First problem, hitch is 3100, and your truck stock can only carry 2327 payload. That payload includes you, your family, dogs, cats, hitch, and everything loaded in the truck, plus the pin weight. The pin weight alone of the trailer exceeds the available payload that you have. Most of that pin weight will be distributed to the rear axle - which (assuming your truck is curb weight only) would put it right at that limit too - even if the payload was not an issue.

Changing your gear ratio will not change the load that you can carry in your truck. It has a relationship to what you can pull with it, but you will be over the limit for the truck you have even with enhanced gears. Adding airbags will help level the bed, but will not give you a higher GVWR.

Your GCW is also an issue - 16,500 + your truck weight as for towing = ? Your truck can go to 10,000 pounds GVW, it has a GCWR of 25,000 pounds. 16,500 + 10,000 = 26500. You could manage that by managing payload in both your truck and trailer, but your payload issue says no go.

A 3500 will greatly increase your capabilities and let you stay within a safe margin towing the 348M. Take a look at the article and let me know if you have any questions.
 
As for what we think of the Momentum - we looked at everything and selected the 385TH. Excellent construction and layout, a responsive and impressive manufacturer AND executive staff - we could not find anything better.

If you do look at a 3500, look CC, LB, AISIN, 4.10 gearing, DRW. You won't be sorry.
 
Ramgunner,

Thanks for the very informative post. I kind of figured that I would need to upgrade to a 3500. I have already been looking at 3500 duallies but I am having a hard time finding one with the Aisin transmission. And a lot of the dealerships here have great deals on 3500s right now but they have 3.42 gears in them which just doesn't make sense. I am not really brand loyal so for me it is about getting the best deal that will tow the trailer the best. I would prefer the Ram but I will have to see what I can find around here. Thanks again for the help.


jackandangela
 
Where are you located? There are some dealers such as Dave Smith that do a lot of long distance sales. If you visit CumminsForum.com, you might be able to find some referrals there too.
 
I am from middle Georgia. I will check out that forum and see what I can find. I have found a couple not too far from me that have 3.73 gears but with the 68RFE tranny. Im not too far from Atlanta so if I have to I can go up there. I did find a Chevy 3500 CC LB dually with 3.73 gears so I may go take a look at it. The closest place to me that has F-350 duallies is 87 miles away. But Ford would be my last option. Never owned one their diesels but have had several others. All of which gave me nothing but trouble. Thanks again.
 
We had to order and wait for weeks to get the Ram 3500 DRW mega cab with the 4.10 axle and the ainsin transmission. We ordered from Palmer in Roswell, GA north of Atlanta. They were good to work with.
 
Just remember, whatever truck you look at, get the factory rating numbers and run the same comparison I did. I'll see if I can find the factory Chevy and Ford numbers and put links to them in the article, but last time I looked I couldn't readily find them.

ETA - I posted what I could find for Ford, Chevy, and GMC in the article. They all tell you to check the drivers-side door for the axle weight ratings as far as I can tell.
 
Beachlover,

Thanks. I will have to check out that dealership. We are headed up to Buford today to RV World. And I think I would probably have to order one as well. My problem of course is that I just bought my 2014 Ram 2500. My wife and I talked about getting a 3500 at the time and I sure wish we had now. But I will check out Palmer. Thanks for the info.



jackandangela
 
Ramgunner,

I checked out the website of the Dave Smith dealership you mentioned. That must be a huge dealership. It had like 11 pages of Ram 3500 trucks. Wish that wasn't so far away. But they have several with the Aisin tranny. Waiting for them to get back with me on a price quote.



jackandangela
 
It may end up being worth the drive to trade in the 2500, it depends on how much you owe on it. They are a huge dealer. You might also be able to broaden your search to dealers in adjacent states and see if you can find something closer to home.
 
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