Do you own a RAM 1500 and trying to figure out whether it can tow a 5th wheel?
Well, if so you’ve come to the right place.
As I’ve spent years learning all the dos and don’ts of RV towing.
In this blog post, we’re doing a deep dive into the RAM 1500’s towing capacity, plus, all the different weights and factors you need to consider.
And then we’ll put it all together to determine if a RAM 1500 can pull a 5th wheel. (Spoiler alert, most can’t.)
Key Takeaways
- RAM 1500s often lack the towing and payload capacity necessary to safely pull a 5th wheel.
- Heavy-duty RAM 1500s with the highest towing and payload capacities can pull small lightweight 5th wheels.
- RAM 2500s and 3500s are better for towing 5th wheels, as they have higher towing and payload capacities.
Understanding RV Towing
Before we go any further it’s important that you have a basic understanding of RV towing and towing concepts so that everyone is on the same page.
To determine whether a RAM 1500 can tow a 5th wheel there are many weights you need to understand and know.
Starting with the truck, you need to understand and know:
- Max Tow Capacity – The maximum weight a vehicle is safely rated to tow by the manufacturer.
- Max Payload Capacity – The maximum cargo weight a vehicle can safely carry.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – The maximum total safe weight of a vehicle, including its own weight plus passengers, cargo, and any additional equipment.
- Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – The maximum allowable combined weight of a vehicle and its attached trailer, including cargo and passengers.
For the 5th wheel, you need to understand and know:
- Dry Weight – The weight of the RV without any passengers, cargo, or fluids.
- Hitch Weight – The amount of weight the trailer puts on the hitch of the towing vehicle.
- Fully Loaded Weight – Total weight of the RV when loaded with supplies and cargo.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – The maximum weight limit of the RV set by the manufacturer, including its own weight, plus the weight of passengers, cargo, and fluids.
Putting it All Together
Then you need to use these weights to determine whether your RAM 1500 can pull a 5th wheel, based on the truck’s capacities and the realistic loaded weight of the 5th wheel in question.
While keeping in mind two things.
The first is that most travelers will typically add 500 to 1,000 pounds of cargo weight to a fifth wheel, which means you need to add this weight to the camper’s dry weight to get a true picture of weight.
Second, you should ideally be following the 80 Rule for towing, when figuring out whether your RAM 1500 can pull a 5th wheel.
Which states you should never exceed 80% of a vehicle’s maximum towing capacity, to ensure safe and manageable towing and to prevent early wear and tear on the tow vehicle.
Sizing Up Your RAM 1500
Determining the towing capacity, payload capacity, gross vehicle weight rating, and combined gross vehicle weight rating for your particular RAM 1500 is easier said than done.
As there is a wide range of towing capacities and payload capacities for the 1500.
Depending on the truck’s setup, including configuration, engine, drivetrain, suspension, and gear ratio.
And that’s just for the current model year, as different years have different max tow capacities and payload capacities.
So before going any further, you need to determine your particular RAM 1500’s max tow capacity, payload capacity, gross weight rating, and gross combined weight rating.
Which can typically be found in either the driver’s side door well or in the owner’s manual for the truck.
If all else fails though you can contact your local RAM dealer and they should be able to provide you with this information.
Sizing Up the 5th Wheel
Just like the RAM 1500, 5th wheels can have a wide range when it comes to their dry weight, hitch weight fully loaded weight, and gross vehicle weight rating.
For example, the Palomino Puma 255RKS, one of the lightest 5th wheels available has a dry weight of 6,754 pounds and a hitch weight of 1,102 pounds.
While the Dutchmen RV Yukon 421FL, one of the heaviest 5th wheels available has a dry weight of 15,150 pounds and a hitch weight of 3,171 pounds.
So before towing any 5th wheel with a RAM 1500, you must know the dry weight, hitch weight, average fully loaded weight, and gross vehicle weight rating of the fifth wheel in question.
In general, though, even the most heavy-duty RAM 1500s will usually only be able to tow the smallest and lightest 5th wheels.
While less capable RAM 1500s will usually not be able to safely pull any 5th wheel.
What Affects the Towing and Payload Capacity of a RAM 1500
As mentioned above there are many factors that can affect the towing capacity of a RAM 1500.
However, the five main factors, include model year, engine size, drive train, gear ratio, and configuration.
Model Year
One of the biggest factors that can affect the towing and payload capacity of a RAM 1500 is its production year.
As the 1500 has had many different towing and payload capacities throughout the years, as you can see from the below table.
Dodge RAM 1500 Towing & Payload Capacities Through the Years
| Year | Max Tow Capacity | Max Payload Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4,400 lbs | 2,150 lbs |
| 1995 | 3,600 – 8,100 lbs | 1,820 lbs |
| 2000 | 7,250 – 7,950 lbs | 1,317 – 2,264 lbs |
| 2005 | 3,100 – 4,950 lbs | 1,830 lbs |
| 2010 | 3,400 – 8,550 lbs | 1,212 – 1,923 lbs |
| 2015 | 4,160 – 8,640 lbs | 1,250 – 1,948 lbs |
| 2020 | 6,150 – 7,730 lbs | 1,212 – 2,302 lbs |
| 2023 | 6,180 – 8,330 lbs | 1,238 – 2,335 lbs |
Engine Size
It probably comes as no surprise that if you want the maximum towing and payload capacity, the truck needs to be equipped with RAM’s most powerful engine, which is the 5.7L HEMI V8.
Any other engine option, including the 3.6L PENTASTAR V6 or the 3.0L ECODIESEL V6, will reduce the towing and payload capacities of the truck.
Drive Train
Another factor that can impact the towing and payload capacity of the 1500 truck is its drivetrain, as the truck generally needs to be a 2X4, not a 4X4 for the greatest towing and payload capacities.
Gear Ratio
Even the transmission’s gear ratio can have a huge impact on the truck’s performance and capability.
For example, there is a big difference in towing capacity on the RAM 1500 depending on whether the truck has the 321 or the 392 gear setup.
Configuration
One of the last factors that can have a big impact on the truck’s capabilities is its configuration.
For example, in order to achieve the maximum capacities advertised by Dodge in past years of production, the truck had to be equipped with a standard cab and an eight-foot bed, which is no longer available for the 1500.
Popular 5th Wheels that a RAM 1500 Can Pull
Due to the heavy weight of most 5th wheels, which can often weigh as much as 15,000 pounds, even the most robust RAM 1500s can pull very few 5th wheels.
However, there are some ultra-light compact 5th wheels designed for half-ton trucks that the RAM 1500 can pull, which we’ve highlighted below.
1. KZ RV Durango Half-Ton D230RKD
Quick Specs
- Average Cost: $45,000
- Length: 26 Feet 9 Inches
- Dry Weight: 7,260 Pounds
- Hitch Weight: 1,200 Pounds
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 9,000 Pounds
- Sleeping Capacity: 6
- Slide-Outs: 2
The KZ RV Durango Half-Ton D230RKD is a great choice for those looking for a more compact 5th wheel that is easier to manage and maneuver in tighter spaces.
And thanks to its dry weight of just over 7,000 pounds, the camper can safely be pulled by many RAM 1500s.
Offering an ideal balance between spacious comfort and ease of towing, the D230RKD’s design and layout provide ample living and storage space without the heavy load.
2. Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 24RDS
Quick Specs
- Average Cost: $47,000
- Length: 28 Feet 10 Inches
- Dry Weight: 7,463 Pounds
- Hitch Weight: 1,430 Pounds
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 10,000 Pounds
- Sleeping Capacity: 6
- Slide-Outs: 2
One of the most popular lightweight 5th wheels that can be towed by many RAM 1500s is the Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 24RDS.
Designed specifically for half-ton trucks like the 1500, the 24RDS provides maximum comfort and convenience while still maintaining a smaller lightweight footprint.
As the fifth wheel has an exterior length of only 28 feet 10 inches and a dry weight of just 7,463 pounds, yet still manages to offer a spacious interior with plenty of amenities.
3. Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 260RD
Quick Specs
- Average Cost: $55,000
- Length: 29 Feet 9 Inches
- Dry Weight: 7,612 Pounds
- Hitch Weight: 1,258 Pounds
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 9,995 Pounds
- Sleeping Capacity: 5
- Slide-Outs: 2
Grand Design makes a wide variety of popular travel trailers and fifth wheels, however, one of their most popular that can be pulled by a half-ton truck is the Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 260RD.
With a dry weight of just over 7,600 pounds, the Reflection 150 Series 260RD is still light enough to be towed by several RAM 1500s.
And the best part is that the camper is loaded with upgrades and premium features typically only found on larger 5th wheels.
Making it a great option for anyone looking for a quality well-built lightweight 5th wheel that offers all the bells and whistles.
To see even more trailers that the RAM 1500 can tow, check out our blog post “Top 12 Campers You Can Pull With a Dodge RAM 1500“.
Comparing the RAM 1500 to the 2500 & 3500
While the most heavy-duty RAM 1500s can technically pull a small lightweight 5th wheel, the 2500 and 3500 versions of the truck always make a better option for towing a 5th wheel.
As the 2500, which is a 3/4-ton truck, and the 3500, which is a 1-ton truck, offer substantially higher towing and payload capacities.
Thanks to their more powerful engines, heavier duty suspension, heavier axle, larger brakes, more robust transmission, and larger cooling systems.
Allowing them to tow a much wider range of 5th wheels, including not only small lightweight options but also mid-size, full-size, and even luxury 5th wheels, which often have a dry weight of well over 15,000 pounds.
And if you need even more convincing of why the 2500 and 3500 are superior tow vehicles compared to the 1500 for a 5th wheel, just take a look at how the maximum towing and payload capacities stack up for the different trucks.
RAM Trucks Max Towing and Payload Capacities (Current Model Year)
| RAM 1500 | RAM 2500 | RAM 3500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Towing Capacity | 6,180 – 12,750 lbs | 14,400 – 15,620 lbs | 37,090 lbs |
| Max Payload Capacity | 1,221 – 2,321 lbs | 4,000 lbs | 7,680 lbs |
Additional 5th Wheel Resources
- 7 Reasons Why 5th Wheels are Easier to Tow than Travel Trailers
- The 8 Lightest 5th Wheel Toy Haulers You Can Buy!
- 10 Best 5th Wheels Under 50K (With Photos & Video)
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