not enough hitch weight capability

[Road_Phantom]

I just bought a 2018 ram 2500 diesel 4x4 crew cab with a 2400lb rating for carrying capacity and 17,000 tow limit. My hitch weight is 1950lbs. By the time I add up fuel, my wife, (she's only 140lbs) the hitch itself, there's nothing left for the front storage of the fifth wheel. Air bags won't increase my GVWR.
I plan to move the portable gen and tools inside over the trailer axle and anything else that's heavy. I've seen a lot of rigs in the campground with similar setups and many running much heavier loads than my 9000lb empty trailer. Any solutions besides those mentioned would be appreciated short of asking me to buy a one ton for a few hundred pounds overweight on the hitch. Thanks for your constructive help.

[twodownzero]

Michelle.S wrote:
Not all States will let you license for more than the Door sticker number.

Yep, don't bring your overloaded truck to new Mexico 3/4 ton trucks aren't made to pull big fifth wheels. Anything over 28' is pushing it.

[Michelle_S]

Not all States will let you license for more than the Door sticker number.

[Cummins12V98]

License truck for the weight it has on all 4/6 tires and stay at to under RAWR=GOLDEN.

[spud1957]

Your payload capacity already considers a full tank so don’t use that in your calculations.

[BillyBob_Jim]

ACZL wrote:
Your truck will disintegrate if over by 10 pounds and you'll be sued to high heaven if involved in an accident.

Walaby said it would happen!!

You guys forgot to add.

"Please don't do so as you'll be a safety menace to everyone else on the highway, and their families".

[ACZL]

Your truck will disintegrate if over by 10 pounds and you'll be sued to high heaven if involved in an accident.

Walaby said it would happen!!

I'm staying neutral on this topic.

[mtofell1]

I agree with the others. Axle and tire weights are what really matter.

I run my Hemi 2500 right at or a few hundred pounds over the GVWR but at least 800# under the RAWR. OP, ironically, your truck with my trailer would be +/- 1000# over GVWR but have the same weight on the rear axle.

[JIMNLIN]

Good advice so far Adrain...just to expand a bit. Your 2500 Ram has the same AAM 11.5" rear axle used in the 3500 SRW trucks. For a while it was used in the 3500 DRW as a 9375 rawr.

Get some scaled axle weights.

[Walaby]

Focus on RAWR. Make sure your tires are equal to or greater than RAWR. Weigh with 5er hooked up, loaded for camping. As long as you are below RAWR you will be fine

Some will eventually chime in that your truck will disintegrate if you exceed payload by 10 lbs and that you will be sued for all you own if in an accident. You can follow their advice or make an informed, rationale decision. Your choice

Mike

[camp-n-family]

Keep it under the axle and tire ratings and you’ll be more than fine.

[laknox]

Road Phantom wrote:
I just bought a 2018 ram 2500 diesel 4x4 crew cab with a 2400lb rating for carrying capacity and 17,000 tow limit. My hitch weight is 1950lbs. By the time I add up fuel, my wife, (she's only 140lbs) the hitch itself, there's nothing left for the front storage of the fifth wheel. Air bags won't increase my GVWR.
I plan to move the portable gen and tools inside over the trailer axle and anything else that's heavy. I've seen a lot of rigs in the campground with similar setups and many running much heavier loads than my 9000lb empty trailer. Any solutions besides those mentioned would be appreciated short of asking me to buy a one ton for a few hundred pounds overweight on the hitch. Thanks for your constructive help.

First off, weigh your truck and trailer at a proper CAT scale with your current setup, to get all axle weights. Then, check those #s with your placard and see how close you are to your RAWR and tire ratings. If you're over on your GVW, but under on your axle and tires, tow it and have fun. You =can= physically increase your GVW some by using an add-a-leaf type upgrade. Not sure your state registers by weight, so you could, technically, have a 1t truck with 2500 badges on it. Up to you whether you "declare" it. :B

FWIW, my '02 D'max is supposed to have 245 tires, which puts my tire rating =below= my axle. It had 265s on it when I got it, and that's what I've put on since then. Now, I'm several hundred =over= my axle.

Lyle

[IdaD]

Road Phantom wrote:
I just bought a 2018 ram 2500 diesel 4x4 crew cab with a 2400lb rating for carrying capacity and 17,000 tow limit. My hitch weight is 1950lbs. By the time I add up fuel, my wife, (she's only 140lbs) the hitch itself, there's nothing left for the front storage of the fifth wheel. Air bags won't increase my GVWR.
I plan to move the portable gen and tools inside over the trailer axle and anything else that's heavy. I've seen a lot of rigs in the campground with similar setups and many running much heavier loads than my 9000lb empty trailer. Any solutions besides those mentioned would be appreciated short of asking me to buy a one ton for a few hundred pounds overweight on the hitch. Thanks for your constructive help.

GVWR on 3/4 tons is class maxed at 10k lbs and is meaningless on a diesel truck. You have 6500 lbs or RAWR and with bags I wouldn't hesitate to run that up to the 7000 lb rating on the same year 3500. You've got plenty of truck to load up your trailer and not worry about it.

[Arcamper]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Rear axle/Tires carry the Wet Pin weight

Don't exceed those ratings.

Old debate over GVWR/Payload
Mfg. sets the GVWR and Payload is based on that number

Many States allow you to register the truck at a higher GVW just pay the higher fees....so even many States do not recognize the MFGs GVWR

MANY will scream/holler but one just has to think for themselves and make an informed decision on what is OK for them

Hang on....it's going to get bumpy :B

I saw something Monday I thought was odd but I guess legal as stated above. A road that goes across interstate 49 I cross everyday was under construction and there was a GMC 2500 pickup sitting there from Manhattan Road & Bridge. Under their logo was the following "GVW 18,000". Could not see what state plate it had and I did not have time to get a pic but I know what I saw. Must be one bad a$$ 2500.

[Sandia_Man]

Like you stated there is not much else you can do that will increase your payload, you have plenty of truck that a few hundred pounds more or less should not be a deal killer. Take her out for a run, I think you will find the towing experience acceptable. My old Chevy HD gasser has nearly 1K# more payload but it sure would not be able to haul anything near a 17K# 5er.