Okay,

I have the 2500 with the camper package. 7500# axles and 3500 suspension setup. I've dumped over a ton in the rear and can barely even tell it's there. I have D rated 315/70R17 tires with a load rating of 3195# apiece. The way I see it I can have up to 6390# over the rear axle and still be okay. I looked at E rated tires, but they all have 3195# loads except some smaller 285/70R17s that run higher. I know my truck will pull the load and I will be below the axle/tire weights with the pin weight of about 2000-2500#.

Has anyone pulled a fiver with a setup like mine? I also have 3.54 gears and would probably be out of OD running 60-65mph, I would guess. The fifth wheel we are looking at has a GVW of 15K lbs on a pair of 7K# axles. I'd also install a Tekonsha P3 and the unit has the equaflex leaf springs. I know there are some out there that would say: "Get a DRW, idiot," but I just want to know if some guys have hauled heavy with larger tires and 3.54 gears. I'm happy with the weights if I'm careful and just want to know if the gearing will handle that kind of load....

 

Any trailer over 10k should be pulled with a dually.

 

Doesn't a pair of 7K axles yield only 14K load? Just asking...

 

From what I can tell, the axles on most fivers are less than the total weight of the unit. The hitch weight, when added to the axle weight yields the GVW.... IOW, a GVW of 14390, hitch weight of 2390, and 2x6000# axles....

As far as "any trailer over 10K should be pulled by a dually" goes to the question: why? If I've got the same undercarriage structure and ratings as a 1 ton are the benefits of a dually the wider stance and upped tire loadings, or what? That was my question. I kind of was looking for reasoning, not just blanket statements.... JMHO

 

4 rear tires= twice the stability

 

Anything over about 12k is 3500 territory. Yes, you can proably get by with a 2500 and lots of people do. It is more a question of safety and having the right size hammer for the job. The dually is WAY more stable pulling a heavy trailer.
Then theer is always the issue if you do have a wreck involving someone else and you are over rated capacity, it could be a very bad day in court. Your insurance company may not want to know you anymore. Am extreme example, but anything can happen out there on the road. Why gamble?

 

so what if its a 3500 SRW?

 

[QUOTE=sheriffav8r;2784209]Okay,

I have the 2500 with the camper package. 7500# axles and 3500 suspension setup. I've dumped over a ton in the rear and can barely even tell it's there. I have D rated 315/70R17 tires with a load rating of 3195# apiece. The way I see it I can have up to 6390# over the rear axle and still be okay. I looked at E rated tires, but they all have 3195# loads except some smaller 285/70R17s that run higher. I know my truck will pull the load and I will be below the axle/tire weights with the pin weight of about 2000-2500#.



Towing that heavy and that tall with D rated 315s is an invitation to a crash. Imagine blowing one out on a curve, while towing, with your family on board. They are probably BFGs, and if they are, they are not worthy of much more than the weight of groceries. Get some real tires that are E rated and can carry around 3900 lbs easily. Toyos in 285/75, for instance, are under rated instead of over rated. They'll do more than the sidewall says and do it well.

There's a lot more to the game than simply reading the side of the tires and doing some addition! Sidewall stiffness is a big part of it.

And, by the way, you'll likely hate "too tall" gearing with 315s and a 3.54 axle while towing a heavy trailer.

 

checkster,

There's no need for him to buy a whole new truck. The difference between the 2500 and the 3500 SRW is the spring package. He's already got the springs and, in a second gen like that, probably the rear sway bar too.

The issue is tires.

 

Agree with the tires post. Go to 19.5 Ricksons on the truck. You will probably be over your axel or tire caps with a 15K fiver with stock tires on the truck. I have 5600 lbs on the rear axel with a 11.7K lb fiver. I really do think i'd go to a dually for 15K though.

 

[QUOTE=sheriffav8r;2784209]Okay,

I have the 2500 with the camper package. 7500# axles and 3500 suspension setup. I've dumped over a ton in the rear and can barely even tell it's there. I have D rated 315/70R17 tires with a load rating of 3195# apiece. The way I see it I can have up to 6390# over the rear axle and still be okay. I looked at E rated tires, but they all have 3195# loads except some smaller 285/70R17s that run higher. I know my truck will pull the load and I will be below the axle/tire weights with the pin weight of about 2000-2500#.

Has anyone pulled a fiver with a setup like mine? I also have 3.54 gears and would probably be out of OD running 60-65mph, I would guess. The fifth wheel we are looking at has a GVW of 15K lbs on a pair of 7K# axles. I'd also install a Tekonsha P3 and the unit has the equaflex leaf springs. I know there are some out there that would say: "Get a DRW, idiot," but I just want to know if some guys have hauled heavy with larger tires and 3.54 gears. I'm happy with the weights if I'm careful and just want to know if the gearing will handle that kind of load....[/QUOTE

This is from the Dodge Towing Guide for a 2002 truck. 2001 was not available.

With Axle Ratio - 3.55 Axle Ratio [i] You Can Tow 9300 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) [i] = 8800 lbs
Payload [i] = 2236 lbs
Curb Weight [i] = 6564 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4046 lbs/4046 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear [i] = 5200 lbs/6084 lbs
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) [i] = 16000 lbs

Using the weights you've given for the trailer, 15K, with 7000lb axles, the normal pin weight for this trailer at max load would be 20% of the trailers
GVW or in your case 3000lbs. The curb weight on your truck is shown above.
That puts you at 9554lbs which exceed your vehicles GVWR, no mater what you've done to the suspension. And, that does not include fuel in the truck, the weight of the fifth wheel hitch, a fuel tank if you have one, Passengers, tools and anything else you might have in the truck which contributes to the trucks GVW before you even hook up to the trailer.

Your max tow weight is 9300lbs and max Gross Combination Weight (truck and trailer) is 16000lbs. Brakes, frame size, drive train contribute to this rating. I sure you can pull it, stopping it is the problem when the time comes.
It will push you down the road at full brake application.

I know someone that pulls a little more weight than you want to with a 2001 2500 Cummins. Same rear, same tranny. His tranny is shot, his rear is gone, his brakes discs have heat stress cracks in the rotors, and the front end is shot.

I would suggest you go back and re-think your decission.

 

I had a leftover set of D tires I put on my truck, rated to carry the camper too. They disintegrated. E-rated tires do not, they are much tougher than D tires even if they have the same rating. D-rated tires are for 1/2 ton trucks, grocery getters. When you load your truck to its maximum rating, you maximize your problems and minimize your reliability. Don't take your family out in that rig.

 

Thanks for all the input. My truck has the same suspension as a 3500 (springs and rear sway bar) but with a Dana 70. I have the bigger 2003+ front and rear brakes (rotors and calipers) and would have electric trailer brakes, of course. I just wanted to know if my truck would pull the same as a 3500 SRW. I know I need to get better tires and will probably get 285/70R17s with a stiffer sidewall. For me, I guess, it comes down to tires that I'm comfortable with....

 

Yes your truck will tow just as much as a 3500, but it will not handle the load near as well! You need a dually to pull a 15K 5th wheel.

 

My fivers GVW is 14675,scaled i,m at a 2800 pin wt,rear axel wt .empty,3300,tires are rated to 6400 lbs,not much room left,the toyos are a good tire,i,m on my 2nd set.The fiver handles fantastic,could be the wide tires and rims that give it the stability.You could load the unit on the light side,1000-1500 lbs is a lot of stuff.