Nice truck.

Nice truck!

Nice truck, wish you had posted questions about the hitch before going with the Curt.

"The Curt Hitch is what RAM is installing if you order the hitch from the factory with the truck."

This is true, but for some the FACT it's made in China is a deal breaker. Glad you are happy!

Anyone looking for a hitch should compare the B&W line of hitches before making a purchase.

^^^^^ Looks like a properly setup combo!!!

Yes, we have the MorRyde IS 8K Axles, MorRyde Pin Box (dumped the original Lippert Trail Air Pin Box after a major failure on the road), 17.5" G114 Goodyear tires with Kodiak Disc Brakes and a Titan Disc Brake Controller

Rob_Fla wrote:

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Did our first test tow with 2018 RAM and our 5th Wheel.

Everything worked great, truck bed to trailer clearance was good at 7 inches, trailer is level and the Disc Brakes worked great.

 

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 To quote an old movie phase:  "You choose wisely." 

BTW, Rob, you know with the MORryde IS you have about a 3/4" to 1" lift available to raise the rear if you so choose.  There is another set of bolt holes allowing the IS to lift the trailer.  Based on your note perhaps a consideration sometime?  A thought for next inspection time?

Awesome towing machine.  Enjoy, I know you will.

Bill   

Please show where the second set of holes are that allow the raising?

i.imgur.com/YY4tUPGl.jpg">

^^^^^ Got it, thanks!

Sorry, should have been more clear, it is the Trail Air Tri Glide Pin Box.
There are many documented failures out there on the Tri Glide Trail Air Pin Box, Lippert is replacing them at no charge in most cases with the Flex Air Pin Boxes.
They fail in the Glide Section of the Pin Box, there are 3 shafts in the Glide Section, my Tri Glide broke two of the Shafts, I had to have emergency welding done to repair temporarily.
I got the MorRyde because Lippert was not taking responsibility for the failures at that time and replacing them with the Flex Air Pin Box.

We made our first trip with our new RAM and our Redwood 5th Wheel. The truck pulled our Redwood great, Disc Brakes worked well with the RAMs Trailer Braking system (set to Electric over Hydraulic Heavy).
Our RAM rode very good (I was really impressed with the ride) with the RAM Rear Air Suspension Assist package, entry and exit off interstate bridges was very smooth.
The Cummings Engine and Aisin Transmission package worked great and with the 4:10 axle ratio we ordered, starting off on a hill and pulling is effortless with our 5th Wheel.
The RAM Cummings / Aisin transmission combo does work quite different than our previous GMC Duramax / Allison transmission did, it will take a little getting used to but no problems with our first trip.

Nice truck,i have a 2012 diesel swr ram 3500 and is the best truck i've ever owned,i was a Ford owner for years but Fords are prone to problems....good luck with the truck...happy trails to you....

Hdrider wrote:

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Curious, what is the truck rated to tow 5th wheel wise? We are toying with the idea of switching from a MH to a 5th wheel and that's the truck we are considering but have not gone out and looked yet.

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The simple answer is over 31,000lbs trailer weight by specs for the RAM 3500HD DRW.  However, and this is true of all Class III pickup trucks - 3500HD's F-350's, F-450's -  one will almost always run out of rear axle capacity (think pin weight of trailer plus other items such as fuel, hitch and perhaps a hauler bed) long before one will run out of "what can it tow" capacity by specifications.

Long discussion made short.  Towing capacity, at least for the Diesel trucks towing a true 5th wheel, not a goose neck, is seldom the limiting factor.  It's almost always the weight the truck can carry on the rear axle, are they physically big enough (think truck weight vs. trailer) to control the trailer, as well as not to exceed the truck's Gross Combined Weight Rating - which is the full loaded weight of the truck plus the fully loaded weight of the trailer.  That is true scale weight of the total rig, loaded, whatever that number is.

Dozen's of discussions over the years on the forum outlining this but I'm sure that discussion can begin anew. :)  Good place for info.

 

Bill and Linda wrote:

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Hdrider wrote:

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Curious, what is the truck rated to tow 5th wheel wise? We are toying with the idea of switching from a MH to a 5th wheel and that's the truck we are considering but have not gone out and looked yet.

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The simple answer is over 31,000lbs trailer weight by specs for the RAM 3500HD DRW.  However, and this is true of all Class III pickup trucks - 3500HD's F-350's, F-450's -  one will almost always run out of rear axle capacity (think pin weight of trailer plus other items such as fuel, hitch and perhaps a hauler bed) long before one will run out of "what can it tow" capacity by specifications.

Long discussion made short.  Towing capacity, at least for the Diesel trucks towing a true 5th wheel, not a goose neck, is seldom the limiting factor.  It's almost always the weight the truck can carry on the rear axle, are they physically big enough (think truck weight vs. trailer) to control the trailer, as well as not to exceed the truck's Gross Combined Weight Rating - which is the full loaded weight of the truck plus the fully loaded weight of the trailer.  That is true scale weight of the total rig, loaded, whatever that number is.

Dozen's of discussions over the years on the forum outlining this but I'm sure that discussion can begin anew. :)  Good place for info.

 Thanks for that, we are probably not that far off in reality to switching from the motorhome to a 5th wheel and even though I have always been a for guy and have not done a bunch of research we are thinking the Ram 3500 just might be the truck we go with when it's time. Oh, and we are toying with the idea of the New Horizons like we mentioned to you at the rally in Pahrump. 

 

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-- Edited by Hdrider on Tuesday 29th of May 2018 06:26:35 AM

Hdrider wrote:

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 Thanks for that, we are probably not that far off in reality to switching from the motorhome to a 5th wheel and even though I have always been a for guy and have not done a bunch of research we are thinking the Ram 3500 just might be the truck we go with when it's time. Oh, and we are toying with the idea of the New Horizons like we mentioned to you at the rally in Pahrump. 

-- Edited by Hdrider on Tuesday 29th of May 2018 06:26:35 AM

 

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If you are considering a larger New Horizons I'd like to recommend you consider the Ram 5500HD.  Simply put many NH owners have gone to this truck to allow lots of rear axle headroom and weight allowance for aux fuel and a hauler bed, with a lot of etc.'s thrown in.  Many feel, as I do, for a larger NH this is just a more optimum choice.  Yes, the 3500HD can tow a 23,000lbs and without a hauler bed it can be OK on the rear axle, but close - depends.  You will be required to have an air-ride hitch in any truck and that adds about 325 or so extra lbs.  It's just the larger Ram Class V true MDT class truck seems more suited in many's opinions for the much larger trailers.

The hauler bed upgrade really gives you absolute trailer to truck bed rail clearance that is not available with a pickup and unless you opt for the largest NH trailers it is almost impossible to overload the rear axle of the 5500HD.  We enjoy the comfort of ours with the full air-ride.  No springs.  As many say, "no towing or controlling drama."

Just opinion and info, FWIW.

On edit, I should have mentioned considering the aux tank comments, the 5500HD OEM tank alone is 52 gallons so for some, perhaps like you, aux fuel is not a concern.  Just is for us as I commented.

 

-- Edited by Bill and Linda on Tuesday 29th of May 2018 01:24:55 PM

Rob_Fla wrote:

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I switched my 32 Gallon OEM Tank on my RAM 3500HD to a aftermarket Titan 55 Gallon Tank.
So far been very happy with the switch and the 55 Gallon range is quite enough for us without an aux fuel tank.
But again, everybody has different needs and wants for their lifestyle and budget.

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Excellent upgrade Rob.  Honestly hadn't thought of that for the Ram.  Transfer Flow?

Rob_Fla wrote:

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Bill and Linda wrote:

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Rob_Fla wrote:

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I switched my 32 Gallon OEM Tank on my RAM 3500HD to a aftermarket Titan 55 Gallon Tank.
So far been very happy with the switch and the 55 Gallon range is quite enough for us without an aux fuel tank.
But again, everybody has different needs and wants for their lifestyle and budget.

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Excellent upgrade Rob.  Honestly hadn't thought of that for the Ram.  Transfer Flow?

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Bill, I replaced the OEM "Mid-Ship" 32 Gallon Fuel Tank with the Titan Products 55 Gallon "Mid-Ship" Fuel Tank  http://titanfueltanks.com/products/mid-ship-fuel-tanks?find=2018-dodge-ram-3500-3389

Remove the OEM sending unit, filler and vent hoses from OEM Tank and install on new Titan Tank

-- Edited by Rob_Fla on Wednesday 30th of May 2018 05:48:04 AM

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 Excellent find, Rob.  Had not seen that one and the 55 gallons is as large as I have seen for an OEM replacement.

Here we go again with, "a choice."  That's about the same price as an in-bed 60 gallon (50 state legal) tank which would give ~ 92 gallons total for the 3500HD.  But one does loose bed space and then there's that weight thing again.  But at 55 gallons, probably something like 52 usable, that's a nice choice for some applications like yours.

I just always hate to have fuel issues.  Guess it comes from having those back when we had the supposed "gas crisis" in the '70's.  When one gets ~8 to 9 MPG with ~30 gallons usable that means for 200 miles one more or less has to get fuel during or at the end of a travel day.  Works for some, not so much for us.  Again, a choice, but one worth discussing to make an active decision.  Glad you found the product that works well for you and sharing it for others.

Pleased you are  enjoying the truck.

FWIW for those reading along -  The 5500HD has a second OEM tank available mounted mid-ship. The main OEM 52 gallon tank is mounted in rear.  While that is an option that mid-ship location is a prime real estate to mount the compressor and air-tank for the full rear air-ride.  So once again, choices to be made.  Love options.

Safe travels,

Bill

What are "chromes" ?