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Payload on 2500 and 3500

TXGeorge

TXGeorge

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Hi all, I have a RAM 3500 HO SRW LoneStar and want a higher trim.

Not a full time camper but have plan to own this car for long time and tow a 5th wheel.

I have bad experience to tow a 9000lbs TT with RAM 1500 HEMI, but unfortunately got a lower trim and not satisfied (there's not heated seats and steering wheel!)

This time I want a higher trim, but RAM 2500 payload is only 1800Lbs, which frankly to say most 5th wheel will over that payload.

So the best choice is to go directly a 3500, right?

I want order a 3500 limited HO SRW, RAMBOX kept. Is it look weird? Haha.

Really do not understand a 6.7 Diesel can only load 1800 lbs with high trim.
 
all that "trim" has weight. the more fancy pants comforts you load up, plus the added weight of the diesel, eats up payload lbs. you want to go with the 3500. I've read rambox and 5th wheels aren't compatible. may want to check that.
 
Your engine and options lower your payload because it all takes weight. Can the engine tow it yes, can the coil springs on a 2500 do it legally? No, you need the 3500 which has leaf springs to increase payload capacity and in the HO has bigger supporting accessories like axle transmission etc. But I have a S/O 3500 with 4400 payload capacity.

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Sounds like the 3500 is what you need. Be aware that there may be issues with a 5th wheel setup and a Rambox. Do a lot of research on that before pulling the trigger.
 
Pronto said:
Sounds like the 3500 is what you need. Be aware that there may be issues with a 5th wheel setup and a Rambox. Do a lot of research on that before pulling the trigger.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Yes I do a confit on ram truck site, the factory 5th wheel prep is conflict with RAMBOX, but I saw on YouTube there are some guys install the aftermarket 5th wheel setup.

Love the rambox, really good to use.


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If you're only going to say have 2000ish lbs of payload in the truck that the 2500 will be fine. The truck is capped at 10k GVWR, its not actually maxed out if you go over 1800lbs. Now if you want to drop a 3000lbs 5th wheel pin on there then yeah I would definitely get the 3500.

If you get the ram boxes you have to replace the 5th wheel pin box with the Reese Sidewinder. No other pin box will work.
 
I was in a similar situation. I would have preferred purchasing a 2500 but the low GVWR sticker pushed me into a 3500. I wish RAM would take the GM perspective of letting the customer order different GVWR stickers based on their need and state licensing laws. As mentioned above, RAM decided to stick with the 10k GVWR. Others will say to ignore the sticker and go with axle ratings. While that might be true, there was no way I could spend this kind of money and be over the door sticker day one of towing. I think you mentioned you planned to keep this truck for quite a while - even better reason to go with 3500 in case a bigger 5th wheel is in your future.
 
roegs said:
I was in a similar situation. I would have preferred purchasing a 2500 but the low GVWR sticker pushed me into a 3500. I wish RAM would take the GM perspective of letting the customer order different GVWR stickers based on their need and state licensing laws. As mentioned above, RAM decided to stick with the 10k GVWR. Others will say to ignore the sticker and go with axle ratings. While that might be true, there was no way I could spend this kind of money and be over the door sticker day one of towing. I think you mentioned you planned to keep this truck for quite a while - even better reason to go with 3500 in case a bigger 5th wheel is in your future.
Click to expand...

Yeah, their strategy for 3500 Market.

I discussed with family, for next couple of years we will keep the bump puller and when kids bigger we will consider a new trailer. Maybe a new truck that time.

Thanks guys for discussion.

Will get a 2500 limited with 1900 payload and 18900 towing.


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My Laramie sits at 2200#s with heated seats and wheel. Give you a lil more capacity if you went low optioned Laramie.
 
TXGeorge said:
Yeah, their strategy for 3500 Market.

I discussed with family, for next couple of years we will keep the bump puller and when kids bigger we will consider a new trailer. Maybe a new truck that time.

Thanks guys for discussion.

Will get a 2500 limited with 1900 payload and 18900 towing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
This is what I did. Almost 19k bumper pull is a serious trailer... should check all the boxes for a long time. But I understand 5th wheels are a little easier to tow and (I’m guessing) shorter overall length as there is no tongue and you sort of “overlap“ with your own trailer. Thus I’m thinking of a 5th but have ordered a 2500 with ram boxes. I’ll tow maybe 2x a month but prefer the best ride possible at all other times.. seemed like 2500 was way to go.

I did notice 5th wheels from my favorite trailer company start out larger than the bumper pulls. Common sense I guess. But sort of negates one of my points above if the smallest 5th is 32 feet and my current trailer is 24 (or 30 w/ tongue). Though now that I think about it total length now would be 50 feet (truck & trailer) while a 32 foot 5th would maybe 49 feet assuming a 3 foot overlap...
 
I had a 2017 2500 and towing 12,000 lbs on a bumper pull was well within its ability etc...but I traded for a 3500 because we will eventually go to a 5ver and payload is a concern.
 
Chris.Gio said:
This is what I did. Almost 19k bumper pull is a serious trailer... should check all the boxes for a long time. But I understand 5th wheels are a little easier to tow and (I’m guessing) shorter overall length as there is no tongue and you sort of “overlap“ with your own trailer. Thus I’m thinking of a 5th but have ordered a 2500 with ram boxes. I’ll tow maybe 2x a month but prefer the best ride possible at all other times.. seemed like 2500 was way to go.

I did notice 5th wheels from my favorite trailer company start out larger than the bumper pulls. Common sense I guess. But sort of negates one of my points above if the smallest 5th is 32 feet and my current trailer is 24 (or 30 w/ tongue). Though now that I think about it total length now would be 50 feet (truck & trailer) while a 32 foot 5th would maybe 49 feet assuming a 3 foot overlap...
Click to expand...

I can tell you form experience, a bumper pull at 19K is miserable to tow. The sway on moderately windy days - even with sway bar and a weight distribution (WDH) hitch will make you reconsider that 2500. I have towed a trailer that heavy twice with my 2500 for a friend to California and the winds really made me hate life and literally fatigues you. I towed it once with the 3500 and it was night and day. The 3500 was in command and not the trailer. The 2500 had air bags also which I do not have on the 3500.

Personally anything over 16K I want a fifth wheel or Goose Neck. This year I plan to visit https://www.bpconversions.com/ and have my bumper pulls converted to goose neck.
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
That is ridiculous just buy a 5th wheel in my opinion. It is a creative idea but just not my cup of tea
Click to expand...


Well, What is ridicules' is that on my 2018 Grand Design, it has lost half of its purchase price once I pulled it off the lot. We did go to trade it in in early 2020 - but they trade-in value was about 10K short of what I owed and i did not want to roll 10K of negative equity in to a 60K 5th wheel.

We decided to keep the bumper pull for a few more years then revaluate the 5th wheel options. Right now the 5th wheels have gone up even more with the demand lately - my wife likes the bedrooms/bath area in the 5th wheels due to having the extra slide out - other than that the Grand Design Reflection is more than sufficient for her tastes :cool:. Could probably sell to a private owner and come out with a good down payment....but really I plan to retire in 5 years and do not want a bunch of payments when I do.

So for 3K I can convert it to a goose neck and have a much easier tow etc....
 
My 33ft new bumper pull TT is 7,600 GVWR. The hell y'all putting in those things to push 19k?
 
sstoner911 said:
Well, What is ridicules' is that on my 2018 Grand Design, it has lost half of its purchase price once I pulled it off the lot. We did go to trade it in in early 2020 - but they trade-in value was about 10K short of what I owed and i did not want to roll 10K of negative equity in to a 60K 5th wheel.

We decided to keep the bumper pull for a few more years then revaluate the 5th wheel options. Right now the 5th wheels have gone up even more with the demand lately - my wife likes the bedrooms/bath area in the 5th wheels due to having the extra slide out - other than that the Grand Design Reflection is more than sufficient for her tastes :cool:. Could probably sell to a private owner and come out with a good down payment....but really I plan to retire in 5 years and do not want a bunch of payments when I do.

So for 3K I can convert it to a goose neck and have a much easier tow etc....
Click to expand...

to think it will tow that much better is silly the reason a 5th wheel/ gooseneck tows better is more weight on the pin and the axles are back further
 
TXGeorge said:
Thanks.

Yes I do a confit on ram truck site, the factory 5th wheel prep is conflict with RAMBOX, but I saw on YouTube there are some guys install the aftermarket 5th wheel setup.

Love the rambox, really good to use.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Many 5th wheel pin boxes will come close to the rails of a full width box on level ground when turning, and almost all have the possibility of hitting the box rails if the angle of truck and trailer are "wrong". I honestly do not get that math of how there would be enough clearance with RAMboxes.
I think what you're proposing will be an expensive mistake. "Some guys" on Youtube won't buy your truck back if it doesn't work.

B
 
kobra said:
Many 5th wheel pin boxes will come close to the rails of a full width box on level ground when turning, and almost all have the possibility of hitting the box rails if the angle of truck and trailer are "wrong". I honestly do not get that math of how there would be enough clearance with RAMboxes.
I think what you're proposing will be an expensive mistake. "Some guys" on Youtube won't buy your truck back if it doesn't work.

B
Click to expand...
Look up the Reese Sidewinder, it makes 5th wheels work with the ramboxes. Has a few downsides but it works.

To the post above I honestly can't understand how a 2500 with airbags would be miserable but a srw 3500 would be a dream to tow a big tag trailer. Did the 2500 have factory air? That won't be as stable as coils+aftermarket bags.

The biggest downside with the 2500 is that the coils are softer and set pretty far inward on the axle. If you put some solid aftermarket bags where the bump stops are, they are distributing the weight at the furthest ends of the axle.

Aside from the leafs vs. coils...the 3500 is the same damn truck. Drives me crazy in the RV forums when the tow police show up and say crap like, "it'll pull the trailer just fine, but will it stop it?" It's the same truck man! Now drw is a completely different story, no arguing that is a much more stable platform
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
to think it will tow that much better is silly the reason a 5th wheel/ gooseneck tows better is more weight on the pin and the axles are back further
Click to expand...
Well, your argument is self contradicting. By converting to a gooseneck - thus taking the weight off the bumper hitch - It will move that hitch weight over the rear axle - improving the towability (not a real word?) vs a bumper pull. A for the Axles...they may be in the same position as any other 2 axle 5th wheel that is NOT a toy hauler. The haulers tend to have the fresh, grey, and black water tanks over the axles due to the increased capacity of these tanks in haulers. But even on the 2 axle toy haulers they are pretty close to the axle position of my Reflection TT.

I can tell you it will be that much better in reducing sway and increased maneuverability when backing alone are enough for me. I am not always able to get in to the truck stops for fuel and I am left squeezing in to the pumps where the other drivers are not considerate to the plight of RVers needing diesel and always make it tuff! And its nice when the RV parks have no pull thru spots and your backing in.
 
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