Owners Manual Tow Ratings Wrong???

[chiefsfan1969]

I have a Ram 2021 2500 CTD crew cab. We are thinking of moving from a TT to 5th wheel. I've been looking at pin weights and what not. I see all kinds different thoughts on the payload vs hitch weight. I even saw where someone said that payload is a different animal from hitch weight because the 5th wheel hitch is bolted directly to the frame and not really payload in the bed. (I don't really subscribe to this notion myself) So, I looked in my owners manuals towing specs/limits and was gob smacked!! Owner's manual lists a 2500 5th wheel max weight as 25,000 lbs. and tongue weight/pin weight max as 3,750 lbs.(also ,why would goose neck be lower? wouldn't ditching the weight of the 5th wheel hitch help increase payload? I've never messed with either so i don't know) That's crazy numbers considering my door sticker says max payload is 2136 lbs. Anyone ever tow even close to those numbers???? seems scary to think about honestly for a 2500

 

[chiefsfan1969]

For the record, I'm not considering anything close to these numbers

 

[Ramsomair]

Door sticker is correct for your exact truck as equipped. Owners manual states the max in the best configuration. IE reg cab/gas engine etc.

 

[AH64ID]

As stated, the ratings in the owners manual are absolute max ratings and specific configurations may be lower.

Not sure on why GN is lower than 5th wheel on a 2500, but the opposite is published on the 3500. It may have to do with the suspension differences.

Hitch weight is payload. All weight is transferred to the suspension thru the hitch, anyone who says differently is smoking something.

A lighter hitch doesn’t increase payload, it increases available payload. Different hitch weights are accounted for by SAE J2807 tow ratings.

 

[joshuaeb09]

I know when I bought my '22 I got a nice little PDF that showed "max" numbers for my truck, but even those were hilariously optimistic. Always go by payload either GVWR if you wanna keep the internet weight police happy or be 1000% sure to stay under GAWR. Those are always going to be the limitations long before anything else, especially when you factor in any equipment on the truck, cargo, passengers, etc.

 

[Brad83]

The only way to truly know your trucks capacity is to weigh it with a you and a full tank of gas. Then you need to add in the weight of passengers and cargo. You'll be surprised at how little payload you actually have.