nosaint3
Sioux Falls,SD
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Joined: 02/06/2005
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I just bought a 2009 Dodge 3500 Laramie 4X4 diesel,3.73 rearend in anticipation of buying a 5th wheel to replace my Class A. The GVWR is 12200 according to the sticker. I had a Hensley TS3 trailersaver hitch installed limited to 20000lbs, hitch weight 4500. I now assume that I can buy a 5th wheel with a weight under 20000 and be ok. I really want a Hitchhiker Champagne that list at 19000 lbs GVWR.
nosaint3
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blt2ski
Kirkland, Wa
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Joined: 03/15/2001
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THe question(s) become,
does the dodge have the payload for approx 4000-5000 lbs of pin wt?
Does teh dodge have teh power to run down the road at potentially 26-28K lbs total wt between the dodge and the trailer?
I know I am one of the more aggressive as to what I will pull with a give rig, but frankly, I would not pull quite that heavy with a typical 3500 dually, maybe 16-17K lbs, but 19-20K lbs no thank you. With the pin wt being 20-25% of 19K, if you end up at 5000 lbs, you will put that on an RA that probably wieghs in at 3500 lbs, for a total of 8500, if you dodge is like my GM dully, at the RA's limit! so you will end up with some bottoming out issues at freeway speeds in dips etc. In the end tho, it is your call.
Marty
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nosaint3
Sioux Falls,SD
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Joined: 02/06/2005
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My front axle wt rating is 5200 and the rear axle wt rating is 9350. I have five springs on the rear axle and this thing is supposed to be for heavy hauling, but its the salesman talking. Its Hensleys 4500 pin weight limit that might hurt if I understand you right. Power wise, the Cummins 6.7 doesn't seem to hurt for power.
The Champagne's hitch weight,according to the Sales folks,falls within limits so I have to check the reality of what I am told. Time to check the owners forum I believe. Thanks.
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hotrod4x5
Southern Calif
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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That 4500 number is the max the hitch can handle. You need to find out what payload you have left. Weigh the truck full of fuel, with hitch installed, and full of all the stuff you will take when camping, including people.
Take that number and subtract it from the truck's GVWR. Arbitrary example: truck weighs 9,000 and you have a GVWR of 11,500. You can have a pin weight of 2500 lbs.
That number will also tell you how much your 5er can weigh. Take the weight again, say 9,000 and subtract it from your GCVWR. Say it's 21,000-9,000, then you can have a 5er that weighs 12,000 with a pin up to 2,500.
So find your actual numbers and then shop for a fiver that fits.
Rodney 2005 Laredo 29GS 2002 F250 V-10 Hughesnet Satellite Internet
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wild bill
Mira Loma, Ca. USA
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The Dodge Ram Dielse will have the power to "run down the road". You bought the right hitch for the job and will be please with how well it works..My main concern would be to not exceed the GVWR for the tow vehicle..I just weighed mine as follows front axle 4540 lbs., drive axle 7,4000 lbs.....total weight of 24,460.... and if I add the second trailer it goes up to a little over 29,000.....point is the truck pulls it just fine.
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http://home.earthlink.net/~wbrown02/wildbillwashere22/index.html
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JIMNLIN
Big Cabin, OK
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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Looking at the Hitchiker web shows two models with 19k GVWR. Both ar a tripple axle units with a 2400-2500 lb dry pin weight and a 14650 UVW. Both have around 4500 lbs of cargo carrying capacity.
Many tripple axle trailers don't have 20 percent pin weights as many tandam axle trailers.
The Dodge does have 9350 RAWR/tire caps which gives the truck around 5500 lbs of payload which would bo approx a 5000 pin weight. Well above the tripple axle units pin weights.
The 3500 DRW will work with the 19k tripple axle trailer. How comfortable you will be with towing at close to max loads will be up to you.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" Will Rogers
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hotrod4x5
Southern Calif
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Keep in mind that dry weights are useless, unless you plan to camp with an empty trailer.
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wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
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Joined: 02/02/2001
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You cannot take one max and declare you are safe if under that max.
Play with this and some numbers. You will see how the values are affected.
http://members.cox.net/bruce.wittmeier/technical/TruckTrailerScale.html
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23mikey
Kent,WA
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Good Aplet Bruce! Thanks!
Happy Camping!
Mike
2003 GMC 2500HD SLT EC LB D/A, J+A, Rhino Liner, J&J SS Running Boards, Prodigy, B&W 5th Wheel Companion, H2 Wheels w/Toyo AT 265x70x17E, MBRP 4" Exhaust, AMSOIL thoughout,
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