what about air shocks, I had them on an old van and when I filled them I got an extra 1000 lbs of weight I could carry. Even had a compressor, or have the air bags in the springs with a compressor.

 

CURT makes two separate 5th wheel adapters for the '09 1500 - Crew cabs get a different set: #16421 and #16422.
http://www.curtmfg.com/index.cfm?eve...&categoryid=38
16422 - 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cabs

 

any updates on this? is there a vehicle specific hitch that will fit these pickups with the rear coils? if so, what kind of job is it to install it?

 

Way Over 2 years ago I had a fifth wheel installed in my truck. Fifth wheel hitch came with the trailer. Not the brackets of course. Camper service dept ordered a 4th gen bracket kit and the installer put the rails in about 2.5 hours. Said install was only slightly different then a 3rd gen. Ton of nuts and bolts. I waited on it while he did it. He drilled nothing. To those that say don't tow with a 1500 your wrong. The 1500 4th gens pull better and handle weight almost as well as 3rd gen 2500 with 360. I pulled all over Florida last September/October. Rig pulls and handles great. On another 4th gen forumn they have a post a photo of your tow rig. Most are rear hitch pull campers and trailers but a few fifth wheels like mine. OH. NO air bags.

 

thanks for the info hounddog. do you know how much pin weight your 5er has? also, do you know what brand of installation kit was used for the rails in the bed?

i have no doubt that the engine will pull a camper of that size with ease. i have a tundra that i pull a 5th wheel toy hauler that weighs around 10,500 when loaded. the vehicles have engines with similar output, so i know what to expect in that department. the reason i am here is because i am doing some research for my brother-in-law. a local rv dealer told him "no way, no how, can he install a 5er hitch in his 2011 1500". so, i am here to dig up some info.....and i thank you for your contribution.

ohhh, and do you have a slider hitch hounddogg?

 

I am having my 5th wheel hitch installed this week on my 2010 QC, RV dealer has installed several on the 09-11 1500's. I always chuckle when I hear guys say you need a 2500 or bigger truck to pull a trailer a few times in the summer, what about all the small suv's out there pulling trailers. Check the RV lots and you'll see they are full of small lightweight trailers made for smaller tow vehicles. If you stay within specs of your unit there is no reason you can't pull a trailer, been pulling RV'S with half tons for years. If dealers tell you not to pull a trailer with your 1500 they should tell you this before you buy the truck not after.

 

http://tandccampers.com/ This is who ordered me the install brackets(had them in 24 hours) and his tech did the install. Owner and tech are about only employees there. He can tell you what brand install kit. No I don't have a slider. My truck is a quad. Don't know pin weight. Trailer loaded with water and miscellaneous stuff I think is about 4500 lbs. NO air bags. Truck could handle several more thousands of ibs or so it sure seems. It can accelerate up STEEP streets,roads with the caper hooked. Tow/haul is a great feature with the assisted braking and such. I pulled over 2000 miles in Florida once peak season ended down there. Me and my dog. OH guy I bought the trailer from was pulling it with a 2000 Chevy 1/2 with 5.3. Said he and his son went all over Kentucky the previous summer visiting relatives. He wore out a set of tires on the camper. I bought it from him down near Jekyll Island Ga.