Payload capacity/tow question

[lovegolf44]

I'm so glad I went with the 4x2/8' bed on my Laramie 3500 for the better PL.

 

[EMS_Pilot_66]

Unless you're looking at 1/2T towable fifth wheels, you will forever regret getting a 2500 diesel truck. There's just not enough payload left over. next thing you know, you'll want a larger fifth wheel, or carry a generator, or add a truck box or fuel cell, etc. I speak from experience.

You have to add hitch, gear, people, fuel, etc. Short bed? Slider hitch @250lbs.

Get the 3500 or stick with a gasser. If the gasser won't tow the weight you need, there's no way a 2500 diesel payload will work. MAYBE a stripped down tradesman, no way an optioned up Laramie or Limited.

Max tow is trailer pulling capability.

GCWR is everything truck+trailer

Fifth wheel will have 18-20% of the GVWR on the pin when wet. The dry weights are like these RAM numbers, nowhere realistic once you're loaded up.

My 32' Grand Design 303RLS is 12K GVWR, 2200 pin. My 3500 Limited is 3707 payload (had air ride). After loading up all gear and hitching, I still have 900 lbs available. 2500 would be more than 1000 lbs over it's payload.

I had a 16 ram tradesman diesel with rfe transmission, rambox short bed and we full time RV in our 35 ft fifth wheel and we loved it. Our fiver weighs almost 13k and it was capable of 17 k and it pulled it great. The fuel mileage was way better than this 3500 fuel hog. Yes we did have to have a specially installed slider hitch, but it worked great and I never had to worry about hitting my bed sides. Yes we decided to trade it in for the big boy 3500 that can tow anything. Reason being is we are going to buy allot heavier fifth wheel and needed more capability. Like brutal said, if I would of known from the get go that someday we would be getting a monstrous fiver that's 48 ft long, I would of just bought the 3500 from the start and saved myself thousands between two knew vehicles.
In saying all this , if in the future you plan on upgrading to a big 40+' toy hauler, then I would suggest you hold out until you can get the right truck for your needs on the first time. If your sure that your staying under 17,000 ( my opinion number), and you don't plan on living years upon years in the RV then the 2500 will be a great choice.
The 2500 is allot better on fuel and gets around town better. I personally would only buy the diesel model over the gasser due to its ability.
I would also only buy the fiver instead of the tt as its way more safer, rides way more better, has a ton more storage, and feals like a small appt on wheels. I am a full time rv er who used to be a truck driver. My views and opinions are my own and I urge you to do as much research and asking questions as you can before buying and try to foresee your future needs as best you can. I'd be happy to help anyway i can.
Again go
1: diesel
2: fiver
3: 3500/2500 depends on your long-term needs& wants

Thanks for the information. The 5’er is listed under the 1/2T 5’ers on their website, it’s the 2021 Keystone RV Cougar Half-Ton 29MBS and loaded weight is listed at 11K. If I understand everything the pin weight will be max of 20% so 2200# if fully loaded with gear. We won’t be pulling it often as we’ll be working/living out of it while we decide if we like the area we’ll be at for long term living and locations to purchase a land based house.

Now if I understand the replies the gasser will actually handle the payload/pin weight better than the CTD due to the weight of the diff engines/trannies but the diesel pulls more/better. Which to me makes no sense that it handles less payload other than the weight of tranny/engine. Am I understanding that correctly?

We don’t have any plans within the next 10yrs to upgrade or go larger with the trailer. Not that we won’t later in life but by then it’ll be retirement time and we’ll have saved for a drivable or larger truck/trailer.

Right now we’re just looking for some comfort and office space for her to work from daily; I work 7 days or nights on/off with my job, so her space has to be somewhat separate so I can still relax when home and not disturb her.

I’m sure I’ll have more questions after replies, but for now I think this covers it.

Thanks again guys.
Brian

 

[Rich]

Thanks for the information. The 5’er is listed under the 1/2T 5’ers on their website, it’s the 2021 Keystone RV Cougar Half-Ton 29MBS and loaded weight is listed at 11K. If I understand everything the pin weight will be max of 20% so 2200# if fully loaded with gear. We won’t be pulling it often as we’ll be working/living out of it while we decide if we like the area we’ll be at for long term living and locations to purchase a land based house.

Now if I understand the replies the gasser will actually handle the payload/pin weight better than the CTD due to the weight of the diff engines/trannies but the diesel pulls more/better. Which to me makes no sense that it handles less payload other than the weight of tranny/engine. Am I understanding that correctly?

We don’t have any plans within the next 10yrs to upgrade or go larger with the trailer. Not that we won’t later in life but by then it’ll be retirement time and we’ll have saved for a drivable or larger truck/trailer.

Right now we’re just looking for some comfort and office space for her to work from daily; I work 7 days or nights on/off with my job, so her space has to be somewhat separate so I can still relax when home and not disturb her.

I’m sure I’ll have more questions after replies, but for now I think this covers it.

Thanks again guys.
Brian

My 13k fiver had a pin weight of 2500 lbs and my old 16 2500 didn't even hardly a squat and handled that weight with ease. Happy searching

 

[EMS_Pilot_66]

My 13k fiver had a pin weight of 2500 lbs and my old 16 2500 didn't even hardly a squat and handled that weight with ease. Happy searching

Thanks Rich
Did your 16 have gas or diesel? Short or long bed? Also which would be better bed wise? Was yours a loaded truck or plain Jane? sorry for all the questions but new to all this and trying to do it safe as possible while not breaking the bank or my banker telling me HELL NO

 

[Bozo]

well, dare I say it, I am pulling a cedar creek 39’ 5er with a 2500. I did bag it and upgraded tires to compensate. That said, pulls and stops, handles great. Yes, I would rather do it with a dually, but this is our transition rig. My pin is 3100 according to scale. All tires are new and upgraded, including on 5 er. Tires on truck have 4080 cap vs trans force‘s 3640. I did this as tires were overloaded and heating, now cool to touch. If I were you, I would get the heavier truck with the added stability of 4 rear tires as modifications will cost you anyway. I am tagged for the load and tire was my only concern as srw3500 and 2500 underpinning were identical except for coil vs leaf spring. When I trade, someone is going to get a nice ride with all the mods done. Onboard air and all. . But judging by some concerns about factory air ride, I will opt for conventional suspension and put my own bags on again. Mine will be another Tradesman, if they ever get a transmission with more gears. Your results may vary.

 

[Rich]

Thanks Rich
Did your 16 have gas or diesel? Short or long bed? Also which would be better bed wise? Was yours a loaded truck or plain Jane? sorry for all the questions but new to all this and trying to do it safe as possible while not breaking the bank or my banker telling me HELL NO

16 2500 diesel 6.7 short bed with ram storage boxes, 4x4 tradesman. Tradesman are pretty much the base line model with only must a grew features and luxuries. The short bed was totally doable with the purchase and install of a slider hitch. Honestly imop when towing a fifth wheel it's easier and more convienant to have the long 8ft bed as you can then get a standard hitch and don't have to deal with the slider hitch needed for a short bed. In saying that my slider in my short bed had worked great and awesome, but it is nice now having the extra room and not have to deal eith the slider. I was more than happy with my 2500 diesel short bed with the rfe transmition. I got double the fuel millage when not towing with the 2500 and it got around town allot easier than 3500.
Now, from my personal experiences, if your going to buy brand new like I did , you can get a base model 2500 or 3500 for probably only 5k difference , but thats plain Jane. But honestly a plain Jane 3500 won't haul that much more than the base line 2500, just handle and brake better but my 2500 handled and stopped the tow very well.
Know that buy what you need because when you start up grading the possibilities are endless with a big price tag to boot. I know this is a little apropos for me to say since I have one of the expensive rigs now but thats what I'm going to need in the near future. If we weren't upgrading rvs, we would of stuck with the 2500.