Quick question as this is my first time owning a truck or really towing much of anything. Recently bought a '21 2500 6.7 Laramie with the intent of getting a little toy hauler and some toys. Fast forward to everyone still smoking crack in the house market, looking more like its more cost effective to get a nicer 5th wheel toy hauler and live in that for about a year until the market corrects. I looked up my max weights via the Ram towing guide by VIN, and it looks like my max payload is 2042 lbs and max towing is 16,740. Now the trailer I'm looking at is 14,300 lbs dry, so no issues with the actual towing (I think) but the hitch weight is 2,900 lbs. Does that mean I can't tow it, since it'll be hitched in the bed? New to this so any info would be great, thanks!
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Hitch Weight vs Payload
- Thread starter drisso88
- Start date
Correct, 2500’s (especially with the 6.7) have notoriously low payload values. You will be FAR exceeding your payload with that (and most) 5th wheels. Payload includes pin weight, hitch weight (my auto slide hitch + bracket is almost 400lbs…), your weight plus passengers, anything else you have in the truck, etc. That all goes to your payload. 1 ton 3500 is the way to go if you’re looking to stay within manufacturer payload/tow limits. My 3500 SRW SO Cummins mega has 4,090 payload for reference.
Unfortunately buying a 3500 isn't an option right now. Is there any way to increase payload capability? Also, I assume theres a little wiggle room in their numbers. Maybe this one is too far off, but I'd assume that if a truck is rated for a 2000 lb payload, it isnt going to implode. For those with a lot of experience, what would you say is a "safe" buffer?
This is an age old discussion. Can it tow it, mostly likely. If you are involved in an accident could you be liable for overloading your 3/4 ton? I would think so, but I'm not a lawyer. If I was run over by an overloaded truck, and lived, I would definately seek legal remedy. Would your insurance cover you If you knowingly overloaded your truck? I've heard of some states that will weigh 5ers and write tickets if you are overloaded. You have to have the right tool for the job, imo. But I see 3/4 ton trucks pulling 16k toyhaulers too often...usually at 80mph.
Yeah the tow weight isnt the issue at all, I have about 3000 lbs to spare when it comes to towing capability. My issue here is that the tongue weight exceeds my payload capacity. What I dont understand is why have that much towing capacity if nothing I can find even close to that weight has a low enough tongue weight.
Also, I've heard that if you want to reduce your tongue weight, put stuff in the garage. Any experience with that? If I always kept my side by side in the garage whenn I tow, would that release enough weight on the tongue to make it work?
With the Ram 2500 6.7s the issue is always limited payload. GM and Ford have increased their payload in their 3/4 ton trucks to around 3000lbs. Ram is lagging.
I don't think that you are going to be able to load the Toyhauler to reduce the pin weight to below your payload capacity.
Looks like my rear axle rating is 6040 lbs
I believe some people weigh the weight on the empty rear axle then subtract that from their axle rating. Do some searching there is a lot of people here with loads of knowledge. I believe that the 2500 are a bit de-rated to stay under 10,000 gvwr for registration purposes. Again I’m not an expert on the subject, but there’s lots of good knowledge here. Don’t give up on your truck yet.
jetrinka
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Yes many people on here advise putting airbags on the truck and then load based on axle ratings, not payload ratings. Other than the springs the rest of the suspension is the same between the 2500 and base 3500. The brakes are the same as well. It'll pull it and stop the trailer just fine - a coil sprung rear end will handle things a bit different than a leaf sprung will.
(insert legal arguments here) YMMV
Personally I believe as long as the truck is level (or as much as possible) to keep the suspension geometry the same front to back I wouldn't see any problem with it. Keep those rear tires at their max PSI too
(insert legal arguments here) YMMV
Personally I believe as long as the truck is level (or as much as possible) to keep the suspension geometry the same front to back I wouldn't see any problem with it. Keep those rear tires at their max PSI too
Your payload is your truck's weight subtracted from 10,000 lbs. It's a legal issue to be classified as a 3/4 ton pickup. The only reason a competitor 's equivalent 2500 can have a higher payload is due to having a lower curb weight. The bigger the cab and the more options you have all add to the weight of the truck. If you want a 2500 with a higher payload, stick to a regular cab Tradesman. Modern trucks are heavy, mainly because they are larger and offer more luxury options than the typical pickup from 10 years ago. It's simply the way consumers have pushed the market.
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In that case, your truck axle weights are most important then. Don’t go over either FAWR or RAWR and the truck should carry the weight without damage.
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H3LZSN1P3R
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A set of bags and load the trailer tail heavy you should be OK its not ideal but its within the GAWR so id still send it
DougB
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Not a gooseneck or 5th wheel but still an example what you see Ram 2500 diesels do everyday that some people say to avoid and get a 3500.
This is my ‘22 2500 mega cab on last trip. Over payload? Yep. Over GVWR? Yep. Felt unsafe? Not in the least. Towed very well. Way better than when it was behind my ‘06. Well under axle weight ratings.
FAWR 6000
RAWR 6040
A 3500 mega cab has same FAWR but RAWR grows at 7000. Payload is nearly double because of the higher GVWR at 12,300. Crew cabs are same but GVWR drops for 11,800 so payload is about same.
This is my ‘22 2500 mega cab on last trip. Over payload? Yep. Over GVWR? Yep. Felt unsafe? Not in the least. Towed very well. Way better than when it was behind my ‘06. Well under axle weight ratings.
FAWR 6000
RAWR 6040
A 3500 mega cab has same FAWR but RAWR grows at 7000. Payload is nearly double because of the higher GVWR at 12,300. Crew cabs are same but GVWR drops for 11,800 so payload is about same.
jetrinka
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Mega has larger GVWR and rear axle ratio?