Advice needed on which Ram I need..

[MPWolf]

We are looking into purchasing a new truck. We currently have a 2018 Ram 2500 Mega cab that we pull a 28ft travel trailer and a 3 horse trailer with. No issues with weight. However we are looking to get a 3 horse gooseneck with living quarters . The trailers we have looked at are ranging 13,000 -16,000 GVWR. This truck will also be my commute around town, only pulling maybe 2 times a month.
The sales people have no idea what they are selling and I really dont want to go overkill with a HO beast. Any suggestions on what we will need?

Thank you

 

[Brutal_HO]

I think either the SO or HO works but regardless, don't get anything less than a 3500 SRW. The 2500 diesel trucks don't have enough payload for most GN or fifth wheels.

The SO/68RFE is a better commuter truck, should get better mileage, and should have the tow rating you need.

 

[MPWolf]

Brutal_HO, Thank you

Am I right to think the SO is standard output? I have really only seen the HD and th HO.
I am finding that the trailer towing chart that Ram puts out for the 2020 do not match up with what the dealerships put in their descriptions.

 

[Brutal_HO]

SO = Standard Output/68RFE trans, 370HP/850 lb.ft
HO = High Output/AISIN trans, 400HP/1000 lb.ft

SO is available in 2500 or 3500.
HO is only available in the 3500.

2500 and 3500 are HD trucks.

 

[Deleted member 80]

LQ horse trailers generally put a higher % weight on the hitch, as they are not built like a teeter-totter. Try to find an actual owner of the model you are interested in that has scaled it fully dressed out. I learned this the hard way with Sundowner(toy hauler)and had to go dually.

 

[Huskerz1]

I think either the SO or HO works but regardless, don't get anything less than a 3500 SRW. The 2500 diesel trucks don't have enough payload for most GN or fifth wheels.

The SO/68RFE is a better commuter truck, should get better mileage, and should have the tow rating you need.

100%

 

[Jsrunnlus]

I fully agree with some others in determining what the trailer weights will be then determine the truck requirements. Hitch weight, tongue weight, passenger and other cargo weight all come off the maximum "payload" allowed; as noted in a sticker inside the driver's door jamb. The SO/68RFE will also have substantially lower trailer tow capacity than the AISIN.

 

[Wileykid]

Just to include, when you are using the weight of the trailer(s), use the pin weight (20%(ish)) of the max weight of them. What is in the brochure, is a pin weight when it is empty, no options, no almost anything, very unrealistic. You can see a difference, depending on the trailer, of 500-1K lbs between what the salesman or brochure says, and what it will actually weigh.

 

[Deleted member 80]

Just to include, when you are using the weight of the trailer(s), use the pin weight (20%(ish)) of the max weight of them. What is in the brochure, is a pin weight when it is empty, no options, no almost anything, very unrealistic. You can see a difference, depending on the trailer, of 1K lbs between what the salesman or brochure says, and what it will actually weigh.

A gooseneck LQ horse trailer will generally be closer to 30%, hence my post above.

 

[MPWolf]

Ok so if I take the max weight loaded for the trailer and take 30% that should be my approximate weight needed for payload. So far 4900 looks to be the max payload in most we have found. I did fun one at 5,500 but it has special shocks and a dually. Would prefer no dually as parking is hard enough in CA
it looks like we will end up with the HO AISIN as it looks like it’s 95% of what’s out there.

I think someone said on one of these forums that the HO is more maintenance...Is that because most buy the HO to perform more work?

thank you so much for all the info, trying to not make a mistake here. The dealers know nothing! It baffles me

 

[Brutal_HO]

Ok so if I take the max weight loaded for the trailer and take 30% that should be my approximate weight needed for payload. So far 4900 looks to be the max payload in most we have found. I did fun one at 5,500 but it has special shocks and a dually. Would prefer no dually as parking is hard enough in CA
it looks like we will end up with the HO AISIN as it looks like it’s 95% of what’s out there.

I think someone said on one of these forums that the HO is more maintenance...Is that because most buy the HO to perform more work?

thank you so much for all the info, trying to not make a mistake here. The dealers know nothing! It baffles me

The AISIN requires more frequent fluid/filter changes and is slightly more $$. Otherwise it should be the same.

Keep in mind the HO/AISIN trucks will have less payload (around 200lbs) than similar equipped SO trucks.

 

[MPWolf]

Also the highest rams payloads go up to on their graph is 5670.
that’s a 4.10 ration HO with a 32,000 tow capacity.