What's new
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Towing numbers

Messages
54
Reaction score
46
Points
18
So, I bought a 2021 3500 Laramie SRW crew cab long bed with the HO/Aisin. Love the truck. Bought it to tow our new 2021 keystone Fuzion 373 toy hauler. I was really trying to stay away from a dually.
Finally got the truck and trailer combo weighed. I have;
5520 on the front axle
7740 on the rear axle
Trailer axles are 13640
Total weight 26,900.
I know I’m over on the GVWR. I have replaced the wheels with method HD wheels with 4500 Lb rating. I have replaced the tires with cooper AT3 XLT tires with 4079 Lb rating. Trailer tows fine other than needing to adjust my hitch a little. How concerned would you guys be with these numbers?
 
You're 740lbs over the RAWR.

I think that explains it all.

Was that with toys loaded? Can you shift some weight back?

What hitch? Can it adjust forward? (B&W does)
 
You're 740lbs over the RAWR.

I think that explains it all.

Was that with toys loaded? Can you shift some weight back?

What hitch? Can it adjust forward? (B&W does)
I dont have any toys (yet). We use the garage as a bunkhouse for the kids.
Hitch is a Andersen ultimate 5th wheel that uses the goose ball. Only way I can think to shift it is to change factory goose prep to B&W and then use their offset.
Where do I find the axle ratings? I believe this has the same axles as the dually and the only difference is the extra tires.
 
I dont have any toys (yet). We use the garage as a bunkhouse for the kids.
Hitch is a Andersen ultimate 5th wheel that uses the goose ball. Only way I can think to shift it is to change factory goose prep to B&W and then use their offset.
Where do I find the axle ratings? I believe this has the same axles as the dually and the only difference is the extra tires.

The HO SRW does have a 12" ring gear and 4" axle tubes, but it's necked down at the hubs.

The RAWR on my 2020 3500 HO truck is 7000. Some claim there's a margin built in for changing dynamic loads, but IMHO you're running on the ragged edge.

Ratings are on the door stickers. Sorry for the bad photos, taken in the dark and I never think to grab something better.

Not to start an AUH debate, and I'm a pretty vocal opponent of them, but IMHO that's a lot of trailer for one.

1625947829514.png
 
Is there any way with a 5th wheel to move the hitch to try to bring weight to the front...like a bumper pull does with a WDH...
 
You are no where near GCWR though...so maybe get a toy into it to lower the pin weight.

Haul the family in the garage lol
 
The HO SRW does have a 12" ring gear and 4" axle tubes, but it's neced down at the hubs.

The RAWR on my 2020 3500 HO truck is 7000. Some claim there's a margin built in for changing dynamic loads, but IMHO you're running on the ragged edge.
Aam states the axle is good for 11000lbs for the 11.5” so i know dodge is basicaly 1/2ing the rating the 12” would be in the same boat im sure if looked up
 
Aam states the axle is good for 11000lbs for the 11.5” so i know dodge is basicaly 1/2ing the rating the 12” would be in the same boat im sure if looked up
Like to see that datasheet on that. I prefer fact over fiction.

It's possible the axle is rated higher and that limit is based on the weakest link elsewhere (springs, etc.)
 
Is there any way with a 5th wheel to move the hitch to try to bring weight to the front...like a bumper pull does with a WDH...

Unless the hitch in the truck is adjustable forward-back, there isn't really any. There's also a happy medium between cab clearance and tailgate/bumper clearance.

The AUH has a collar that clamps on the kingpin that can be positioned to push the kingpin rearward for short bed trucks. In the other position I believe it's directly over the ball. But I believe that ball is also aft of the GN in the bed.

I think the Pulrite ball hitch places the ball directly over the GN.

The B&W Companion has hitch head arms that can be bolted in in various configurations for height and forward/aft position. I don't know if even that would have enough effect to shift that much weight. Offset the added weight of a conventional hitch like the B&W @ around 200lbs vs the AUH 35 lbs and you're just chasing your tail.

Toyhaulers are setup to take weight off the hitch by putting heavy toys in the back. Without toys they are going to be pin heavy. Most also have a fuel cell behind the axles either standard or optioned. Looked it up and dry hitch on that rig is 3155lbs. Dry weight is just over 14K.

What is your truck level like? Is it sagging? Where is the fresh water tank and do you run with it full?

Assuming the axle is derated and you're not concerned about the legalities of it, maybe add supplemental air springs (Air-Lift) for peace of mind.
 
Unless the hitch in the truck is adjustable forward-back, there isn't really any. There's also a happy medium between cab clearance and tailgate/bumper clearance.

The AUH has a collar that clamps on the kingpin that can be positioned to push the kingpin rearward for short bed trucks. In the other position I believe it's directly over the ball. But I believe that ball is also aft of the GN in the bed.

I think the Pulrite ball hitch places the ball directly over the GN.

The B&W Companion has hitch head arms that can be bolted in in various configurations for height and forward/aft position. I don't know if even that would have enough effect to shift that much weight. Offset the added weight of a conventional hitch like the B&W @ around 200lbs vs the AUH 35 lbs and you're just chasing your tail.

Toyhaulers are setup to take weight off the hitch by putting heavy toys in the back. Without toys they are going to be pin heavy. Most also have a fuel cell behind the axles either standard or optioned. Looked it up and dry hitch on that rig is 3155lbs. Dry weight is just over 14K.

What is your truck level like? Is it sagging? Where is the fresh water tank and do you run with it full?

Assuming the axle is derated and you're not concerned about the legalities of it, maybe add supplemental air springs (Air-Lift) for peace of mind.
Truck has factory air suspension so it still runs pretty much level. Flipping the AUH collar on the kingpin wouldn’t really change where the weight is being positioned right? It’s still pressing down on the same spot in the bed based on where the base is in the bed. If I swap to the B&W turnover I can use their offset gooseneck ball to move the base forward. That might have more effect on moving some weight to the front.

you are correct about changing hitches. That was the purpose of the AUH because I knew I was close to pin weight.

I don’t have fuel in it, but I could put some in for generator. Those tanks are at the back of the trailer. I had about 40 gallons of water in the 100 gallon tank.

I was ok being a little over weight but I feel I’m a little too over. I thought my wheels and tires were the weak link so I replaced them with stronger ones.

I think I just need to bite the bullet and get the dually before the market drops and I can’t get as much for the current truck.
 
Like to see that datasheet on that. I prefer fact over fiction.

It's possible the axle is rated higher and that limit is based on the weakest link elsewhere (springs, etc.)
I was mistaken they list it at 9750 it was a different one listed at 11k, yes i know they are listing the pre 19 ones but the only change there was internals not the housing strength
 

Attachments

  • AAE5EE98-EA65-4202-9349-89C8DFF2B14B.png
    AAE5EE98-EA65-4202-9349-89C8DFF2B14B.png
    1.1 MB · Views: 37
You are no where near GCWR though...so maybe get a toy into it to lower the pin weight.

This is a good idea. Put all of your gear in the garage and see what that does to the pin weight.

Trailer is 39' long and certainly on the fine line of "needing" a dually in my opinion, but realistically you should be fine. Put some gear in the garage and then go weigh it again.
 
You are no where near GCWR though...so maybe get a toy into it to lower the pin weight.

Haul the family in the garage lol
I have a similar configuration as Newtocummins and he's actually going to be pushing his GCVWR when he loads a toy(s). My GCVWR is 28,300 (don't know if his is a 4WD or 2WD which makes a difference in PL capacity). Using the 20-23% pin weight rule, I found I can't be hauling long THs. They're just too heavy for SRWs. Regardless of him transfering some of the load to the rear axle by loading one of his toys, his pin weight is still going to be right up there if he ever thinks about hauling up to the GVWR (17k) of that TH. Just my $.02.
 
Truck has factory air suspension so it still runs pretty much level. Flipping the AUH collar on the kingpin wouldn’t really change where the weight is being positioned right? It’s still pressing down on the same spot in the bed based on where the base is in the bed. If I swap to the B&W turnover I can use their offset gooseneck ball to move the base forward. That might have more effect on moving some weight to the front.

you are correct about changing hitches. That was the purpose of the AUH because I knew I was close to pin weight.

I don’t have fuel in it, but I could put some in for generator. Those tanks are at the back of the trailer. I had about 40 gallons of water in the 100 gallon tank.

I was ok being a little over weight but I feel I’m a little too over. I thought my wheels and tires were the weak link so I replaced them with stronger ones.

I think I just need to bite the bullet and get the dually before the market drops and I can’t get as much for the current truck.
I have a similar configuration as you (Laramie SRW long bed w/o HO) and when I researched hauling THs, my calculations told me I would be too close to exceeding PL with pin weight, let alone the RAWR. I'm sure putting a toy in there will transfer more wgt on the rear axle but pin weight will always be your major concern if you ever think about loading up that TH to the GVWR. What's your sticker PL again? Mine's 4270lbs.

I use this site ( ) for giving me the most accurate numbers for making sure I'm not exceeding any weight parameters. I'm hauling a Durango Gold with a GVWR of 14,500 and I can tell you it's very easy to load up the front of the fiver and get your pin weight right up there. I'm taking my fiver on a trip here in a few days and I weighed my truck/trailer then went back to weigh my truck alone and I'm going to have to be careful not to load up the front of the camper because of pin weight and RAWR. I'm good on GCVW and Max tow so no worries there.

Like others have said on here you may be ok if you can transfer wgt to the camper's RA, however overloading our trucks is not difficult to do..
 
Last edited:
I just tried the APP. Had guessed at it before but now have actual numbers for my '21 3500 SRW Laramie CC. Unless I totally screwed up the numbers , I have 653 pounds extra payload and over 3K on the GCWR with a pin weight around 3-3100 pounds. Glad I ordered the long bed as I figured I might need the extra payload.
 
Back
Top