Are These ratings for real????

[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????

 

[HSKR R/T]

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????
View attachment 164451

This is a 1500 forum. You'd be better off asking your question on HDRams.com

 

[Rick3478]

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????
View attachment 164451

Not sure, and I can't read the minds of the chart's authors, but I'll float a couple ideas.

You might think "payload" would be the total of trailer tongue weight and all the other stuff, so it should be higher. But the location of the trailer tongue is precisely known, whereas "payload" is less controlled and might be badly distributed. The actual ability of the truck to carry things is probably much higher if it is optimally loaded.

It's no surprise for a class 3/4/5 bumper hitch to be the lowest rating, since that is arguably one of the worst possible places to connect a trailer and any weight placed there compounds stability problems by lifting weight off the front steering wheels.

What is strange on that chart is for a 2500, the fifth wheel weight is greater than gooseneck, but for a 3500 it's the other way around. I can't think of a reason why that should be so, and can only guess that it might be a mistake in the manual.

Also, I think it can be said that these specifications are written with heavy input from lawyers, and may represent more CYA than real world capabilities.

 

[chiefsfan1969]

This is a 1500 forum. You'd be better off asking your question on HDRams.com

oh crap.....i thought that's what this was lol

 

[Bt10]

Not sure, and I can't read the minds of the chart's authors, but I'll float a couple ideas.

...

What is strange on that chart is for a 2500, the fifth wheel weight is greater than gooseneck, but for a 3500 it's the other way around. I can't think of a reason why that should be so, and can only guess that it might be a mistake in the manual.

Also, I think it can be said that these specifications are written with heavy input from lawyers, and may represent more CYA than real world capabilities.

I noticed that also, strange. And his question about the weight of the fifth wheel hitch to payload itself is valid, as long as they would be in the same location to axle.

 

[Nsleone]

2136 is a pretty good payload for a 2500 Cummins, and going to a gooseneck instead of 5th wheel setup will save you some weight, especially if your truck have the 5th wheel/gooseneck prep package already.

 

[devildodge]

Once again, MAX is the key word. This would be a regular cab 2wd tradesman.

Forget MAX.

Get the GCWR from a chart and the rest is on your door Sticker.

Max towing means nothing. Unless you have the base truck and drive by yourself and be under 300lbs.

The gooseneck to 5th wheel seems like a mistake. It should be the opposite...and even then still seems wrong.

GCWR, GVWR, GAWR are all set in stone numbers tested by SAE J2807...towing numbers are all marketing numbers...read the fine print stuff.