5th Wheel Towing Capacity of 2008 Dodge Ram 1500  

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Expert Reply:

You will want to confirm the towing capacity of your specific Ram pickup before selecting a 5th wheel hitch and trailer. Since pickups can come with many choices of engine, transmission and axle ratio, your truck could have a higher or lower towing capacity than 8500-lbs. I reviewed the towing guide on the ramtrucks.com website and 8500-lbs is the listed towing capacity for many versions of the current 1500s, but your owner's manual is the best place to confirm what your truck can do since it relates to your specific vehicle. Another way to know the towing capacity is to contact your dealership with the truck VIN; this allows the dealer to look up the factory-installed equipment.

We offer 5th wheel hitches from many major brands. As you go up in their capacity you'll find more and more nicer features being included with the hitch, features like a fully-articulating hitch head (that makes it easier to hitch the trailer on uneven ground) and a cushioned head to reduce the effect of road shock. An example is the Curt fixed hitch # C16245 which fits the 8-foot bed. Short bed trucks require a sliding type 5th wheel hitch to give you enough turning clearance; while very short beds (less than 6-1/2-feet) will require your trailer to have a special pivoting pin box (called a Sidewinder or Revolution) such as # RP34FR that gives you turning clearance without a sliding hitch.

I have linked for you several helpful articles on 5th wheel hitches and pin boxes. Please let me know your cab style and bed length and I will be glad to recommend a hitch and installation kit.

expert reply by: Adam R

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