Towing a fifth wheel

[RobWNY]

I have a RAM 3500 SRW with 3.73 rear end and the 6.4 Hemi. I'm considering buying a new fifth wheel but it seems that I'm limited to the Eagle HT models with this truck. It appears all specs are in range for a regular Eagle except the GCWR which is 19,900 Why are all of these fifth wheels beyond the capability of many one ton trucks?

[ciollika]

Don’t be too bummed about being limited to the Eagle HT. That’s what we have and love it.

[RobWNY]

Originally Posted by ciollika

Don’t be too bummed about being limited to the Eagle HT. That’s what we have and love it.

I'm not knocking the HT models. I'm sure they're wonderful. We're just not crazy about the floor plans. We're interested in bunkhouse models. Now if Jayco made an HT version of the 347BHOK, We'd be all over it but they are just too heavy for my truck.

[ciollika]

What about the 30.5MBOK?

We have the 29.5BHDS. Any bigger wouldn’t fit in my shop!

[RobWNY]

Originally Posted by ciollika

What about the 30.5MBOK?

We have the 29.5BHDS. Any bigger wouldn’t fit in my shop!

It's a nice fifth wheel for sure but very similar to what we have now as far as the living area is concerned. Just not ideal for a 5-6 month living arrangement. I'll probably have to upgrade my truck to get the RV that really fits our needs. Unfortunately, a Diesel Dually is not fitting in my garage and not fitting into my financial plans right now either!

[shadester]

I know the later model trucks have higher GCWR. I have a dually, But some I know have SRW and they say they are within there GCWR with decent size 5th wheels.

[RobWNY]

Originally Posted by shadester

I know the later model trucks have higher GCWR. I have a dually, But some I know have SRW and they say they are within there GCWR with decent size 5th wheels.

I think with a 4.10 rear end you get a higher GCWR

[Big1]

Okay, so what kind of Eagle are you looking at and what year is your truck? I had a 2016 2500 6.4L with the 4.10 gears and my towing specs was 15,000 lbs towing and my payload was 3000 lbs or around there but not sure I think that my payload was 2,9xx lbs.

[Big1]

Oh, I think that my GCWR was 23,xxx lbs but your 3500 should be a better.

[RobWNY]

Originally Posted by Big1

Oh, I think that my GCWR was 23,xxx lbs but your 3500 should be a better.

My truck is a 2017 3500 with a 3.73 rear end and the 6.4 Hemi. According to the door sticker, I have 3900Lbs. of Payload but only 19,900 GCWR. I'm interested in the Eagle 347BHOK. It has a Dry weight of around 12,865 and a Max weight of 14,850. With a full tank of gas and my wife and I in the truck I'm 7045 pounds. So I'm maxed out before putting anything in the camper and I'm sure the weight posted isn't the weight as it sits on a dealer lot.

[Quantum]

Maybe the new trucks have higher GCWR?

My dad's 2019 F350 SRW 6.7L diesel has a GCWR of 28,000lbs.

[RobWNY]

Originally Posted by Quantum

Maybe the new trucks have higher GCWR?

My dad's 2019 F350 SRW 6.7L diesel has a GCWR of 28,000lbs.

Look at that same chart just above the one you highlighted. The 6.2L Gas engine with the 3.73 rear end allows for a 19,500 GCWR. I think there's likely several factors involved that the manufacturers take in to account when determining the GCWR. Diesels provide a lot more torque allowing for a much higher GCWR. Lower gear ratio's in gas trucks gives you more torque and provide the same thing. I would likely be fine as long as I accepted I'm not going to be cruising up steep hills at 65mph. I'm more worried about being overweight and getting into an accident because I didn't stay within specs.

[billcf7]

Originally Posted by RobWNY

My truck is a 2017 3500 with a 3.73 rear end and the 6.4 Hemi. According to the door sticker, I have 3900Lbs. of Payload but only 19,900 GCWR. I'm interested in the Eagle 347BHOK. It has a Dry weight of around 12,865 and a Max weight of 14,850. With a full tank of gas and my wife and I in the truck I'm 7045 pounds. So I'm maxed out before putting anything in the camper and I'm sure the weight posted isn't the weight as it sits on a dealer lot.

14850 GVWR of the rv and 11500 aprox. GVWR of tow vehicle is your max GCWR.
Legally you need a truck with 26000+ GCWR

[Lake Huron]

You got the right truck, the right rear gear, just the wrong engine. The 6.4 will tow, but you need something that will TOW. That's where the diesel come in to play.
It's only money,... you can't make it fast enough, you'll never have enough, and you can't take it with you. Go big or go home! Lol! With all the COVID nonsense going on you should find some really good deals on trucks right now.
Sorry, I'm a bad influence on people.

[billcf7]

Here is a good explanation


https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-...le%20/gcwr.htm

[RobWNY]

I get it. With the truck I have, I'm limited. If I had a money tree in my back yard, believe me, I'd be getting the biggest baddest truck out there to tow with so my RV options would be only limited to what's available. Unfortunately, I live in the real world where I can't afford both the new RV to snowbird in that fits our needs and the new truck to tow it. My whole point of this thread was that unless you're driving a diesel 3/4 or 1 ton truck, preferably a dually, the fifth wheel options are limited. There needs to be some regulation and oversight because I guarantee you that I can go into 10 dealers and at least 9 of them will care less what my tow vehicle is. Their job is to sell the RV for the most profit they can, period. Meanwhile, going down the road is every Tom, Dick and Harry towing something way heavier than they should be. I was negotiating with a national RV Dealer who I won't name, and I was asked what my tow vehicle was. When I said I have a 1 ton Ram, the response was, "Oh, you can tow any Fifth Wheel we sell". That might be true but I can't do it legally or safely.

[Big1]

Looking at the numbers your truck will do it but at an high rpm, as far as payload you got that and the towing if you watch what you put in should be good to go.

Now the 2016 Ram 2500 6.4L that I had was okay I also had a 2017 307RL Denali that was about fully loaded 12,192 lbs. The wife and I took a trip from Washington State to Las Vegas, NV it tow it with no problem but going in the hill and mountains going I had to put the pedal down just to keep it going.

So you should have no problem and if you on flat land you are good to go but it not well look on higher rpm, which that what it take for the gas truck, even my wife said why it's doing that and that was a good way to tell her I need a diesel.

So now I bought a leftover 2018 brand new last July, you really don't have to go new there are some good use one out there.

[RobWNY]

Originally Posted by Big1

Looking at the numbers your truck will do it but at an high rpm, as far as payload you got that and the towing if you watch what you put in should be good to go.

Now the 2016 Ram 2500 6.4L that I had was okay I also had a 2017 307RL Denali that was about fully loaded 12,192 lbs. The wife and I took a trip from Washington State to Las Vegas, NV it tow it with no problem but going in the hill and mountains going I had to put the pedal down just to keep it going.

So you should have no problem and if you on flat land you are good to go but it not well look on higher rpm, which that what it take for the gas truck, even my wife said why it's doing that and that was a good way to tell her I need a diesel.

So now I bought a leftover 2018 brand new last July, you really don't have to go new there are some good use one out there.

Thank you Big1 for taking the time to reply. I appreciate your input. Currently, I'm in negotiations with several different dealers on a Eagle 347BHOK and also a Grand Design 311BHS. Both have very similar floorplans. I'm not sure if a deal can be made for either of those RV's but I hope so. If nothing else, it gives me something to do while there's not much else I can do with this pandemic happening.

[Big1]

Okay sir, let us know what you come with.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by RobWNY

I have a RAM 3500 SRW with 3.73 rear end and the 6.4 Hemi....Why are all of these fifth wheels beyond the capability of many one ton trucks?

I don't think there is anything wrong with the fivers. It's a matter of selecting the necessary options to tow the chosen fiver. Here, 4.10 rear, diesel, possibly DRW. If you already have the truck then you need to reverse the process and select trailer that your truck can handle.