simoniz

Hey guys, I have not been on here since probably sometime in 06 but I have a 2006 Dodge 2500 5.9 Mega cab with a 3.73 rear gear and Firestone Airbags.

I have access to (2) 5th wheels in my family. Both are 42' long and weigh about the same at 16K.

I had read in years past that it was maybe not a good idea to be towing a 5th wheel with a Mega Cab. Thought's needed??

I'm looking for input from folks towing 5th wheels with mega cabs. Suggestions on hitches, brands and cost.

Also, I do not have any guages, so please make some suggestions on that as well.

Thanks Mark

pdogg

Probably less to do with the Mega cab part and more the 2500 part with a trailer that heavy. But with Airbags you're taking most of that out of play. A DRW truck is probably a better choice regardless.

Some will say you need an auto-slider hitch.. some won't... but you will most definitely need some sort of sliding hitch.

surfram

Depending on the front cap design of the 5th wheel, you may need a slider hitch. I would also recommend a dually for a 16k trailer.

Fiftygrit

I tow a 36ft 5th wheel with my 06 QC 2500 short box, only 12500lbs the slider hitch is the way to go, my airbags helps lots also, but this is about as heavy as I would go with this truck, an exhaust brake would be a must with the weight your talking about, good luck

justen920

I tow my 5th wheel with a 20k Reese Slide hitch, and you should be fine. Just take it slow. The total cost for installation and the hitch was $1000. I agree, you will need a sliding hitch.

Jim W

I am not the weight police but if the trailer weights about 16K and the truck weights about 7,300 LBS than you will be over the GCVW of the 2500 series truck. I believe that the GCVW rating of your 2500 truck is 20k like my 08 2500 Mega Cab is with the 3:73 axle. You will also exceed the RAWR of 6,010 LBS and max trailer towing weight of 12,550 LBS. See attach Ram Body Builders guide.
http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2006/docs/dr/mlup.pdf
Jim W.

simoniz

As far as I can tell, the camper is a 2011 Forest River XLR 3912 weighs 14K empty, Add a Polaris RZR4 1300lbs + gear. Its going to be in the neighborhood of 15 to 16K. I can't remember what the truck was rated for but it's going to have to do for me.

Scotty

Like Jim said, I am not the weight police and this may not apply to you. However, if you look at the sticker on the drivers door jamb...look at the numbers.
Almost all states and provinces do not mess with a private ride but you will be over the max total in and on the truck on that sticker.

My 3500 mega cab says I can have a max weight of 10,500 on the truck. Its leaves very little for pin weight and passengers if someone was to enforce that limit.
I would assume your max weight for your 2500 will be lower yet.

Just a heads up. I never could figure out why a mega cab dually was rated at 10500 and the quad 3500 dually was at 12200 when the mega only weighed 400lbs more.

Good luck and glad you are looking into whats needed.

As for gauges...fuel pressure, pyrometer, boost and trans. In that order.
You can get a triple gauge pillar set up and a steering column mount for the 4th gauge. There are a few dual display gauges out there and you can also get a screen display with some tuners/options.

An exhaust brake will make you smile.

junebug95628

I have the same truck and options you mentioned. I installed a superglide 18k hitch that I bought on Craigslist absolutely the best hitch for your truck. it slides automatically which is the awesome part. some will argue that the need of a special plate to be temporaraly mounted to the trailer and the price as a bad part. good far outweighs the bad! I pull 12k and its a lot for this truck. I upgraded the tranny by installing goerends torque converter and valve body. helped a ton and allows me to pull with a programmer to give me better mileage and towability. I have a cheap brake controller and that sucks. I haven't tried the prodigy3 but I hear good things, if you want a great controller try the DirectLink. I did research and haven't heard a bad thing yet. Next, with that weight you need an exhaust brake. I'd also install a massive sway bar in the rear, air bags help with level but they do zero for sway.

simoniz

Thanks for the replays guys!