Hi
Is it possible to go for a ram 3500 mega Cab Diesel dually to tow a 5th wheel from carriage, Cameo 35 feet, about 15000 lb total weight (incl. water, etc.) ?
Whats about the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight? Does I will have a problem?
Is there something special I have to check?
Do I need a ram 4500? - hope not...

Many thanks for your help...

sven

 

I don't have a 3500 so I don't know thge answer but it's all in the owners manual.

 

I know with a quad cab your right at what it's rated for the mega cab might be alittle lower. GCWR 10,000 truck 15,000 trailer =25,000 You might want to check with the state to see if you need a class A non commercial drivers license to pull it. I'm in Maryland and you would. The feds say you can tow anything as long as your gcwr is under 26,000 but some states are more strict.

 

Your really close on the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight.
Depending on where your going to be traveling. If your going to stay in the south and mostly flat land running you should be ok. If your going to be running in the mountains and pulling lots of steep grades I would look at the 4500. A larger truck is always better to have. To small of a truck will get you into trouble. When pulling/towing BIGGER is always better.

 

I tow my 2008 Cameo F35SB3 5th wheel with my '05 Ram 2500 CTD 4x4 Quad cab, auto trans (wish I had the 6 speed manual for the couple extra MPG). The only addition is a rear sway bar. So far about 12,000 miles... Before that we had a 32 ft Wildcat 5th wheel. Towed it about 23,000 miles with this same truck.
Load your trailer for camping and get an actual weight (from the scales). I think you will be well under 15K. Don't travel with full tanks, especially holding tanks, unless you can absoultely NOT avoid it.
I would highly recommend a 'slider' type hitch in the bed. Get the 'auto slider' if you can afford it. I have a manual slider and it has come in very handy few times!

PS: on a trip to Corpus last spring I towed my motorcycle on a trailer behind the 5th wheel. No problems. As long as I'm traveling in the 'common sense' states. (not the left coast of North East) I'll probably tow the Bike more.

 

i have an '07 3500, dually, long box quad cab, four speed auto, i tow a 38' rapter toy hauler, the changes i made were as follows.

rear gear change from 3.73 to 4.10,
jake brake installed,
firestone air springs installed,
changed rear over load from single leaf to four leaf,
rear sway bar installed,
full set of gauges,
double deep trans pan,

i have done many other changes but they did not pertain to towing, they are more personal changes. i am legally able to tow 15000 pounds, and i have a max package weight of just under 28000 pounds. i also carry a 9' 6" adventurer camper which we used for a five month trip to the east coast and down through the middle states, with this setup i tow an '09 wrangler for city use. i hope this helps.

 

I have a 31 foot Puma that i haul camping. I was gonna get a fifth wheel, but didn't, will be trading in soon to do so. I have a 3500 Quad cab, and I can barely tell she is pulling anything.
You really shouldn't fill your tanks until you get where you are headed.
Safe travels.