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Fifthwheel towing

Rtomlin said:
I have a 2019 Ram 2500hd limited. Purchased it to tow fifthwheel camper the problem is when towing the truck rocks from side to side as if it will turn over. Had camper checked out no problem found. They recommended new shocks and a heavier sway bar. Anyone else having this problem.
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Yes, just purchased a new 2500 deisel to pull my 44 foot fifth wheel today and driving home it swayed back and forth violently if i exceeded 55 mph!
 
jeffphipps1 said:
Yes, just purchased a new 2500 deisel to pull my 44 foot fifth wheel today and driving home it swayed back and forth violently if i exceeded 55 mph!
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Welcome to the forum!

So, some things to consider...
First, a 44 foot 5th wheel is a monster and likely too much for any 2500 class truck to haul. What is the trailer GVWR? Often a 44' is 17k or more which will be too much for your truck. What is your payload on your 2500? What is your GRAWR (rear axle)? I suspect you are very overweight on your rear axle and your payload, even though your truck has the power to pull the load.

Second, the RAM 2500 uses either coil springs or "factory air coil springs" for the rear; which do you have? With the factory air springs you will at least be able to keep the rear end from sagging. Without the factory air you will likely sag the rear and that will lead to sway with any trailer.

Third, the RAM 2500 has the rear suspension (either coils or air springs) mounted inboard on the axle compared to the 3500 with leafs. The 2500s have an amazing ride, but they are just not as stiff side to side. Push and pull on the box and compare it to a 3500 and you'll see what I mean. Others have suggested upgrading the sway bar, and while I have no experience with that it may be helpful.

Summary? Check the weight of your 5th wheel and the payload of your truck. Better yet, load the rig up and take to a CAT scale to see if you are over on your rear axle/payload. Just in case the numbers work for your trailer, then adding air bags (if not factory air) or an upgraded sway bar may help.

Hope that is helpful!

Brad
 
Air bags will be a huge help to tow that monster with the 2500 but as said something that size i would have done a 3500 especially due to the fact it sounds like you bought the truck specifically for that camper
 
jeffphipps1 said:
Yes, just purchased a new 2500 deisel to pull my 44 foot fifth wheel today and driving home it swayed back and forth violently if i exceeded 55 mph!
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What Kobra said about the inboard springs.

But also too much camper, not enough truck.

You need to look at the payload numbers. I think you would be shocked.
 
kobra said:
Welcome to the forum!

So, some things to consider...
First, a 44 foot 5th wheel is a monster and likely too much for any 2500 class truck to haul. What is the trailer GVWR? Often a 44' is 17k or more which will be too much for your truck. What is your payload on your 2500? What is your GRAWR (rear axle)? I suspect you are very overweight on your rear axle and your payload, even though your truck has the power to pull the load.

Second, the RAM 2500 uses either coil springs or "factory air coil springs" for the rear; which do you have? With the factory air springs you will at least be able to keep the rear end from sagging. Without the factory air you will likely sag the rear and that will lead to sway with any trailer.

Third, the RAM 2500 has the rear suspension (either coils or air springs) mounted inboard on the axle compared to the 3500 with leafs. The 2500s have an amazing ride, but they are just not as stiff side to side. Push and pull on the box and compare it to a 3500 and you'll see what I mean. Others have suggested upgrading the sway bar, and while I have no experience with that it may be helpful.

Summary? Check the weight of your 5th wheel and the payload of your truck. Better yet, load the rig up and take to a CAT scale to see if you are over on your rear axle/payload. Just in case the numbers work for your trailer, then adding air bags (if not factory air) or an upgraded sway bar may help.

Hope that is helpful!

Brad
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I have the Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7 diesel. Pretty sure no air shocks. Trailer is 2,540 tongue wt and 14,940 gross wt dry. I load gear such that tongue wt is less, but I don't have much gear.
 
jeffphipps1 said:
I have the Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7 diesel. Pretty sure no air shocks. Trailer is 2,540 tongue wt and 14,940 gross wt dry. I load gear such that tongue wt is less, but I don't have much gear.
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Ok, so that might be the problem also... 5th wheel trailers need to have minimum 15% of the weight on the hitch; less than that and they will be "tail heavy" which leads to sway. 20% is a more typical amount when loaded, and some rigs may even be as much as 25%.
Also, if your rating is 14,940 empty, what is it loaded? Even with light gear, you could easily weigh 16,000lbs+, which would mean 3200lbs+ on the hitch. Many trailers come from the factory above their rated weight, and they don't include some things that the dealer adds, such as batteries. Again, I highly recommend a trip to a CAT scale to see what you actually have.

But, what is the payload rating for your truck? My 2016 2500 Ltd had a payload of ~2100lbs. For a Laramie, depending on options, you may be a couple hundred more but I doubt you are more than 2500lbs.

So, think about the problems we have here, all that contribute to sway:
-the hitch weight of the trailer will exceed the payload of the truck, likely by up to a 1000lbs or more (once you get fuel and people on board)
-you don't have air suspension (you'd know it by the ALT trailer height button if you did), so we are likely squatting the truck when hitched
-you cannot move the load to the rear of the trailer to reduce the hitch weight or the 5th becomes tail heavy and will wobble all over

Could this be fixed? Not really. Adding air bags and an upgraded sway bar may make the rig more stable when driving. Maybe even you could get it stable enough that you would drive it. But, you will be grossly over the payload of your truck, and especially way over on the rear axle weights. Eventually, something will fail, perhaps dangerously so.

My prior rig was a 2016 2500 Ltd cummins and factory air suspension, with a 35' trailer that weighed ~10k empty and less than 12k loaded. I felt I was pushing it at times and had occasional sway on bad roads or heavy cross winds.
Our new rig is a 40' trailer that is less than 14k empty and ~16k loaded. We upgraded the truck to a 2020 3500 SRW with a 3650lb payload. I would never think of towing this 5th with my 2500, so that's why the truck had to be upgraded.

Your 5th wheel is in a whole new weight bracket. A 3500 SRW may do the job, but a CAT scale may show you that a dually is the right tool for the job. I think the horrible sway you've already experienced is the warning signal that you are vastly "under trucked" for your trailer. I would not ignore the warnings, it could end badly.

All the best in sorting this out.

Brad
 
Unfortunately, @jeffphipps1 , you're one more new 2500 diesel truck owner in a long list of the same that was either told a 2500 Cummins "could pull anything," assumed that was the case, and/or didn't do enough research before purchasing.

Besides trading in the truck for a 3500, the best you could possibly do, assuming you're not going to push over the Rear GAWR, is add aftermarket air bags. Timber Grove and Air-Lift are the most recommended kits. You can even combine the Air-Lift fancy remote control pump setup with the TG or another brand bags.
 
It's important to remember that the addition of airbag system does not allow higher payloads or towing capacity to your 2500 or any truck. Keep in mind that other systems on your 2500 including braking and cooling-are rated for specific rated capacity. Air bags will help your truck handle the load better: sit level and ride smoother [ both loaded and unloaded] but will NOT increase your legal payload capacity. If your payload capacity is 1860 not sure about the 2500 all the air bags in the world won't change that number.
 
Xflight29 said:
It's important to remember that the addition of airbag system does not allow higher payloads or towing capacity to your 2500 or any truck. Keep in mind that other systems on your 2500 including braking and cooling-are rated for specific rated capacity. Air bags will help your truck handle the load better: sit level and ride smoother [ both loaded and unloaded] but will NOT increase your legal payload capacity. If your payload capacity is 1860 not sure about the 2500 all the air bags in the world won't change that number.
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Thats not a “LEGAL” payload number thats what the book jockys put it as to keep the registration simple
 
jeffphipps1 said:
I have the Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7 diesel. Pretty sure no air shocks. Trailer is 2,540 tongue wt and 14,940 gross wt dry. I load gear such that tongue wt is less, but I don't have much gear.
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You are in 3500/1 ton territory with that 5th wheel as others have said. That would be a lot even for my truck.
 
OC455 said:
You are in 3500/1 ton territory with that 5th wheel as others have said. That would be a lot even for my truck.
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Your pic shows a dually thats not heavy at all for a dually…
 
BigDaddyKong said:
This pin weight rating was in the manual.

View attachment 41433
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I only bring this up cause this is probably the 3rd forum I’ve seen this posted from the manual. This chart has **** all to do with what your truck can tow. It’s, as it says, a HITCH selection. All this is stating is the maximum allowable weight on that connection type. No matter what your trucks rated for. It’s meant to keep people from seeing their 4 million pound best in class tow rating and trying to do it off the bumper.

All that chart says is, if your trucks rated to tow 27k pounds. You’re not doing it off the class 5. You’re doing it off the 5th/gooseneck.

Not calling out anyone. Just wanted to clarify for others that might find this thread. Ram has a pretty accurate tow page by model and vin if available. If you’re looking in person. The door sticker is what it can haul/tow.

What I will call out though. If you truly pulled an over 2k hitch/12k fiver with a half ton. You’re a hazard on the road. That is insane.
 
I always hear people say the 2500 will pull without a problem. My camper is 36' and about 14k. I went with a 3500 dually as that is what I am comfortable driving. My main concern is being overweight. I have CDL and haul heavy equipment. The 2500 might pull something but it it scares me to death that if I was in accident and know that I am overweight could my insurance not cover it. I bought the truck for the future in case I wanted to up grade to a larger camper.
 
Rtomlin said:
I have a 2019 Ram 2500hd limited. Purchased it to tow fifthwheel camper the problem is when towing the truck rocks from side to side as if it will turn over. Had camper checked out no problem found. They recommended new shocks and a heavier sway bar. Anyone else having this problem.
Click to expand...
Yes! Same issue with my 2022 Ram 2500 Diesel. I added air load supports to the rear and issue was handled completely.
 
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