Best 5th Wheel Hitch & Towing Capacity of 2018 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn With 5th Wheel Prep Package
Question:
I may have made a significant mistake. I purchased a 2018 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 with 6.7 Cummins. Crew Cab with 6.4’ bed and 3.42 axle ratio. I looked for the largest towing capacity I could find in the 2500 model. I didnt really want a dually or a 3500 because of daily ride. The expectations was that I should be able to tow a moderately sized 5th wheel with the 2500 - I see it all the time. Now, researching after the fact, it looks like the maximum weight 5th wheel I could tow is around 6250 lbs - Im not sure they even make them that light. I come to this number based on what appears to be a very low payload number. Am I misunderstanding something? Curb Wt: 7619 GVWR 10000 GCVWR 25300 Payload: 2007 from the door sticker If I subtract passengers 350 lbs, cargo 50 and 5th wheel hitch weight 250, Im left with only about 1300 lbs for hitch weight. At 20 percent of GVWR on the trailer, that puts it around 6500 for the trailer. This would defeat the entire point of the truck. How much pin weight can I have? I’d appreciate a hitch recommendation. My truck does have the 5th wheel prep package.
asked by: Scott W
Expert Reply:
You did not make a mistake at all by purchasing a 2018 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4. In fact, you made a great choice because based on my research your truck, with a Crew Cab, 6.7L Cummins engine, 6'4" bed and 3.42 axle ratio your towing capacity is a bit under 17,300 lbs, which is more than enough to tow a mid-size fifth wheel trailer.
The payload capacity of 2,007 lbs you referenced is the capacity you can load in the bed and will be the pin weight (like tongue weight for 5th wheel trailers) you need to abide by, so your loaded fifth wheel trailer will need to have a pin weight of 2,007 lbs or less including the weight of the hitch.
As for a fifth wheel hitch for your short bed '18 Ram 2500 with the factory prep package I strongly recommend the B&W Companion # BWRVK3670, which is a sliding hitch that will fit directly in your Ram's factory pucks. The Companion is considered by many to be the highest-quality fifth wheel hitch available. With more than 450 reviews to date from our customers who have purchased it, this hitch has received a nearly unanimous 5-star rating.
The hitch is considered the best for a number of reasons, including the dual jaws which are a full 1" thick and provide complete contact with your king pin so you can have faith that your connection is completely secure; they have a tolerance of .002 inches, which is roughly the thickness of a piece of paper. I've added a picture of the jaws so you can see for yourself how impressive they are.
The Companion # BWRVK3670 is also going to give you a much quieter ride with less rattling than other fifth wheels due to that secure connection, along with its polyurethane bushings. This hitch also has a pivoting head to make hooking up easier, a cam-action latch to deter binding, offers three different height settings to ensure you are level with your fifth wheel and has a towing capacity of 20,000 lbs.
The only other thing you would need is wiring and a great option for your '18 Ram, assuming it has the factory 7-way, is the Pollak 5th Wheel / Gooseneck T-Connector # PK11893-11932 which will give you a 7-way connector in the truck of your bed so you can power your fifth wheel's lights.
I have added a link to a video install of this harness in a Ram 2500 as well as reviews of the Companion for you to check out.
Products Referenced in This Question
Pollak 5th Wheel / Gooseneck T-Connector with 7-Pole - Ford, GM, Dodge, Nissan w/ Factory Plug
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Fifth Wheel and Gooseneck Wiring
- Vehicle End Connector
- No Tow Package
- 7 Round - Blade
- Plug and Lead
- Plug-In
- Pollak
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 20K
- 5th Wheel Hitch
- Sliding Fifth Wheel
- OEM - Ram
- 5000 lbs Vertical Load
- 20000 lbs GTW
- Double Pivot
- Standard - Double Jaw
- 17 - 19 Inch Tall
- 12 Inch Fore/Aft Travel
- B and W
more information >
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on 5th Wheel Hitch
Sam
5/16/2020
I bought a 2017 Ram 2500, so I’m having similar concerns. First, the passenger weight of 170 lbs is included in the calculations for your payload capacity, so that helps. As for a hitch, try an Anderson Hitch. They have great ratings, can handle more than 20,000 lbs and weighs 40-60 lbs. Finally, try a toy hauler of rear basement fifth wheel, to minimize hitch weight.