Is my Ram 2500 Enough for a 311BHS

[Cdsnyder83]

Hey Y'all, I'm looking at buying a 311BHS but I'm on the fence if my truck is going to be up to the job. Based upon the truck and trailer specs, I'm going to be right at my limits on payload capacity and GCWR. Can Y'all check my numbers and give me an opinion on this rig setup and if I'll be in unsafe territory (I have lots of bumper pull experience but never pulled a fifth wheel). Also, if you have a similar size trailer with the same truck, please share your fuel millage while towing.

The truck specs are:
Ram 2500 4x4 crew cab short bed with 6.4 gas.
GCWR - 21500 lbs
Tow Rating - 14300 lbs
Payload Capacity - 3360 lbs
GVWR - 10000 lbs
Base Weight of Truck - 6643 lbs

Grand Design 311BHS
Weight (dry) -11,185 lbs
Pin Weight - 2,316 lbs
GVWR - 13,995 lbs
B&W Slider Weight- 220 lbs

If I calculate total truck/trailer weight using the max GVWR of the trailer (I don't expect to actually hit the trailer GVWR but am erroring on the side of caution), the combined weight is 20858 with a truck limit of 21,500 lbs.

If I take the rated pin weight and increase it 25% as a safety margin and then add the b&w hitch weight to that number, it comes out to 3115 lbs with a truck limit of 3360 lbs.


What is your opinion of this? It looks like the numbers work, even with passengers. If I have a load of firewood in the bed with 4 big guys in the truck then I'll be over weight, but it otherwise looks good (but tight) to me.

 

[Sleeping Rainbows]

Rather than adding 25% to the advertised pin weight, a more realistic number is 20% to 25% of the trailer GVWR.
Calculating that way will put you very close to your payload rating.

 

[Joe1967]

How far away from home are you traveling with the camper? That is not a combination I would want to travel around the country with. But only going a few hours from home is a different thing (at least to me).

 

[Second Chance]

Welcome to the forum!

1) Read the following thread from beginning to end:

https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/showthread.php/14865-How-To-Determine-Your-Truck-s-Trailer-Towing-Capability

2) As stated above, use 23% of the trailer's GVWR for an estimated loaded pin weight (that would be a little over 3,200 lbs. for the 311BHS). Calculating this way, you don't have enough payload left on your truck for a hitch, passengers, "stuff," etc.

3) Mileage while towing an RV is like the old cliche about yachting - if you have to ask, you can't afford it. I don't know anyone who goes into RVing worrying about fuel mileage (it will be bad, no matter what).

Rob

 

[Joe1967]

I get 8.5 mpg pulling my 31MB with a diesel, so I expect you would get about 6.5 at best. On the highway I don't drive faster than 67 mph. If you drive 55 mph you will get better mileage : )

 

[acoleman43]

With the setup you outlined you are over the GCVWR and will be over your payload.

The truck will certainly pull the trailer, but it depends on your comfort level with a tow vehicle that is over it's capacities.

With our current trailer, our original tow vehicle was over on GCVWR, right at it's towing capacity, and had a little payload to spare. If we stayed locally, I would have used it, but we have been north, south east and west US...through mountains, some pretty rough areas. I'm glad we upgraded to a tow vehicle that has more than enough capacity for our trailer.

Aa mentioned previously, your MPG will suck. It's part of the experience

 

[RV2600RB]

Hey Y'all, I'm looking at buying a 311BHS but I'm on the fence if my truck is going to be up to the job. Based upon the truck and trailer specs, I'm going to be right at my limits on payload capacity and GCWR. Can Y'all check my numbers and give me an opinion on this rig setup and if I'll be in unsafe territory (I have lots of bumper pull experience but never pulled a fifth wheel). Also, if you have a similar size trailer with the same truck, please share your fuel millage while towing.

The truck specs are:
Ram 2500 4x4 crew cab short bed with 6.4 gas.
GCWR - 21500 lbs
Tow Rating - 14300 lbs
Payload Capacity - 3360 lbs
GVWR - 10000 lbs
Base Weight of Truck - 6643 lbs

Grand Design 311BHS
Weight (dry) -11,185 lbs
Pin Weight - 2,316 lbs
GVWR - 13,995 lbs
B&W Slider Weight- 220 lbs

If I calculate total truck/trailer weight using the max GVWR of the trailer (I don't expect to actually hit the trailer GVWR but am erroring on the side of caution), the combined weight is 20858 with a truck limit of 21,500 lbs.

If I take the rated pin weight and increase it 25% as a safety margin and then add the b&w hitch weight to that number, it comes out to 3115 lbs with a truck limit of 3360 lbs.


What is your opinion of this? It looks like the numbers work, even with passengers. If I have a load of firewood in the bed with 4 big guys in the truck then I'll be over weight, but it otherwise looks good (but tight) to me.

With that trailer, I think you would have a much better towing experience with a 1 ton diesel.
Just my 2 cents.
Rich

 

[ardvark16]

I think you’ll tow fine but you will be at your limit. Keep in mind that going to a 1 ton SRW will likely only add 600-700 more pounds of payload. I don’t know what you travel with but if you pack conservatively I think you will be ok. 3360 is a very respectable amount of payload. I didn’t see what year you Ram is. If you have the 6 speed tranny it’s going to tow like a dog just fyi.

 

[Thorvald]

As a fellow Ram owner that much payload is insanely good, you must not have very many options on the truck (just look at mine in my sig, only 300 or so more pounds than yours and it’s a 3500). The biggest “issue” with the 2500’s is its coil springs not leaf springs, which does give a nice ride though. It also makes it fairly easy to add aftermarket airbags to help with the leveling.

Moving up to a 3500 just be careful on payload as toys and diesel will eat well into that number, may want to go dually to just end any issue of payload ever again lol.

 

[lorend]

Hey Y'all, I'm looking at buying a 311BHS but I'm on the fence if my truck is going to be up to the job. Based upon the truck and trailer specs, I'm going to be right at my limits on payload capacity and GCWR. Can Y'all check my numbers and give me an opinion on this rig setup and if I'll be in unsafe territory (I have lots of bumper pull experience but never pulled a fifth wheel). Also, if you have a similar size trailer with the same truck, please share your fuel millage while towing.

The truck specs are:
Ram 2500 4x4 crew cab short bed with 6.4 gas.
GCWR - 21500 lbs
Tow Rating - 14300 lbs
Payload Capacity - 3360 lbs
GVWR - 10000 lbs
Base Weight of Truck - 6643 lbs

Grand Design 311BHS
Weight (dry) -11,185 lbs
Pin Weight - 2,316 lbs
GVWR - 13,995 lbs
B&W Slider Weight- 220 lbs

If I calculate total truck/trailer weight using the max GVWR of the trailer (I don't expect to actually hit the trailer GVWR but am erroring on the side of caution), the combined weight is 20858 with a truck limit of 21,500 lbs.

If I take the rated pin weight and increase it 25% as a safety margin and then add the b&w hitch weight to that number, it comes out to 3115 lbs with a truck limit of 3360 lbs.


What is your opinion of this? It looks like the numbers work, even with passengers. If I have a load of firewood in the bed with 4 big guys in the truck then I'll be over weight, but it otherwise looks good (but tight) to me.

If you look just look at the example you gave with taking the rated pin weight and a 25% safety margin and the hitch coming to 3115 lbs, it only leaves you with 245 lbs of payload capacity left. 3360-3115= 245. If you want to take anybody with you they would put you over on the payload. I think with your setup you will almost surely be over the payload. If you look around you see a lot of trucks over their payload. And their have been some on this forum that have even gone so far as to state you should not be closer than 80% of payload capacity. You just have to figure out where your comfort, or risk, level is and make a decision from there. Also, don't forget to check your tire ratings and your axle weight rating.

 

[goducks14]

What year is your Ram. You trucks numbers don't make sense. For one, payload numbers rarely end in zero except in the tow guide. 2nd I don't see anywhere where there's a 14,300 lb tow rating for a 6.4.

 

[Mark_270BN]

Maybe the 270BN is a unicorn, but I only get 15.5% pin weight after I loaded it down as best I could to get a realistic number to scale. Gross of the trailer was 8700 lbs, pin 1340 lbs. Listed pin on the GD sales site: 1166.

Those payload numbers for a 2500, even for a gasser seem high.

 

[ardvark16]

Maybe the 270BN is a unicorn, but I only get 15.5% pin weight after I loaded it down as best I could to get a realistic number to scale. Gross of the trailer was 8700 lbs, pin 1340 lbs. Listed pin on the GD sales site: 1166.

Those payload numbers for a 2500, even for a gasser seem high.

I had a 2019 and my payload was over 3000 for the hemi. It might be 100lbs over but it’s close. Also why do people insist on pushing some 80% safety zone on payload? That’s not a thing at all. These trucks are rated to the amounts listed. If you have 4000lbs of payload, you can use 4000 lbs all day.

 

[Mark_270BN]

I had a 2019 and my payload was over 3000 for the hemi. It might be 100lbs over but it’s close. Also why do people insist on pushing some 80% safety zone on payload? That’s not a thing at all. These trucks are rated to the amounts listed. If you have 4000lbs of payload, you can use 4000 lbs all day.

I admit it just seemed to me like the payload number was high, I didn't actually look it up.

I'm totally with you on the listed capability. If it's rated to do 4000 lbs then do 4000 lbs. The 80% thing is just what makes people feel good. My setup actually has me only 40 lbs under the GVWR of 10k, but I'm also 1220 lbs under the rear axle (tire) rating.

What kind of pad a truck manufacturer uses when determining these weights I don't know, but if it's like airplanes (what I do know), you can use them to their listed capacity. You don't use 80% as your limit, the manufacturer (and FAA) have already done the "padding" work for you.

 

[lorend]

Maybe the 270BN is a unicorn, but I only get 15.5% pin weight after I loaded it down as best I could to get a realistic number to scale. Gross of the trailer was 8700 lbs, pin 1340 lbs. Listed pin on the GD sales site: 1166.

Those payload numbers for a 2500, even for a gasser seem high.

Those are some pretty good numbers. You obviously have never been accused of packing heavy. You are only getting to 15.5% on the pin weight which is pretty impressive. The way most are talking to calculate the pin weight would be to take the 22 to 25% of the gross rating (9995)which would put you at about 13.5%. Just looking at the stock numbers, on your 270bn the base pin weight is a little under 12%, on his 311bhs the pin comes in close to 16.5% when figured from the GVWR. Maybe you do have a unicorn? In a later post you refer to the 80% safety zone that I had brought up. I agree with you that the capacity is what it is rated at and is what I use it for. I do not agree with that extra 20% being a safety zone and not to be used, I had mentioned it because I have read on this forum that some people think that is what is prudent and safe. It was just to help the OP see that the opinions are all over the board and that he needs to do what is safe for him and the numbers he has to work with. If we all worked with the 80% rule then there would not be a lot of 44ft rvs on the road unless they were behind a semi tractor.

 

[Mark_270BN]

Those are some pretty good numbers. You obviously have never been accused of packing heavy. You are only getting to 15.5% on the pin weight which is pretty impressive. The way most are talking to calculate the pin weight would be to take the 22 to 25% of the gross rating (9995)which would put you at about 13.5%. Just looking at the stock numbers, on your 270bn the base pin weight is a little under 12%, on his 311bhs the pin comes in close to 16.5% when figured from the GVWR. Maybe you do have a unicorn? In a later post you refer to the 80% safety zone that I had brought up. I agree with you that the capacity is what it is rated at and is what I use it for. I do not agree with that extra 20% being a safety zone and not to be used, I had mentioned it because I have read on this forum that some people think that is what is prudent and safe. It was just to help the OP see that the opinions are all over the board and that he needs to do what is safe for him and the numbers he has to work with. If we all worked with the 80% rule then there would not be a lot of 44ft rvs on the road unless they were behind a semi tractor.

Ha, yep agree that some of the 5ers out there would need a Kenworth to pull 'em if you had to stick to the 80% rule.

As for my numbers, that's what the CAT scale showed. I put everything in I could think of. I topped off the water tank, full propane all our stuff etc. I suppose it could get heavier, but I would think only by 100-200 lbs total. Of that increase only a % will be to the pin of course and I don't think I can even get to 20% on the pin unless I stuff everything into the bedroom.

Interesting note, someone private messaged me asking about chucking with the 270BN cause he had heard that it was probably due to a light pin weight. It seems as though they have the 270BN built in a way that does keep more weight distributed to the rear. I experience some chucking, but I would think nothing out of the ordinary. However, it's my first 5er so I don't have anything to compare it to.

 

[TrueHeeOHs]

Sorry for reviving this thread from the dead, but Im researching 311BHS weights as well. I own a 2024 model and am having a bit of a question that I cant seem to reconcile. This model year has 6k axles and a Lippert 1621 pin box rated at 15.5k with a max pin weight of 3100#. Thus my question regarding the calculator AND my own weights on a CAT scale.

It turns out that with this pin box we cannot exceed ~22% hitch weight since that gets us right to the 3100#. This darn trailer has all of its storage in front of the axles and we are having a heck of a time keeping the pin weight below this number (even with nothing in any tanks). I know it doesn't help much that we are full-timing it in the 311 since that means we bring more stuff than the average camper, but it still seems like a mis-step on the part of GD to equip it with a pin box not capable of more weight given the design of the storage.

Just thought I would throw it out on this thread to caution the use of the calculator for anything above that pin weight. Seems 3100# can be used for payload calc usage on anyone looking for info on trucks.

 

[coglesby]

The yellow sticker on my F350 says payload of 3525 so that payload looks a little high for a 3/4 ton.

 

[triplethreat]

Folks, don't expect any answers or input from the OP. He made the post on March 2nd this year and has NOT been back on the forum since that day

 

[OC455-]

Sorry for reviving this thread from the dead, but Im researching 311BHS weights as well. I own a 2024 model and am having a bit of a question that I cant seem to reconcile. This model year has 6k axles and a Lippert 1621 pin box rated at 15.5k with a max pin weight of 3100#. Thus my question regarding the calculator AND my own weights on a CAT scale.

It turns out that with this pin box we cannot exceed ~22% hitch weight since that gets us right to the 3100#. This darn trailer has all of its storage in front of the axles and we are having a heck of a time keeping the pin weight below this number (even with nothing in any tanks). I know it doesn't help much that we are full-timing it in the 311 since that means we bring more stuff than the average camper, but it still seems like a mis-step on the part of GD to equip it with a pin box not capable of more weight given the design of the storage.

Just thought I would throw it out on this thread to caution the use of the calculator for anything above that pin weight. Seems 3100# can be used for payload calc usage on anyone looking for info on trucks.

The pin box is rated to tow a 15,500 lbs trailer. The actual pin weight based of the percentage of the trailer weight...at 22% would yield 3410lbs., if you were towing a 15,500lbs, trailer. I would only be worried about the pin weights if it is over your max cargo capacity of the tow vehicle. Hopefully you aren't over your gross Weight rating for the trailer.