Rockit Man
Texas
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Joined: 03/20/2009
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Just ordered a Cyclone 3800 Hd. First I want to thank everyone on the forum for the tips and advice. Now that I have the hauler, I need a truck and hitch.
According to Heartland it weighs #14750 dry and the hitch weight is #3250. We will be hauling four to six dirt bikes 600-800 lbs. I've been looking at trucks and am leaning toward the Ram Mega Cab 2500 or 3500. I don't really like the drw's, because it's going to be my daily driver, but if I have to go that route thats what I'll do.
The reason I'm leaning towards the Ram instead of the Ford or Chevy is that they cost about 10k less and they don't use urea. I like the duramax and allison combo, but there aren't many available, small backseat and not much discount off the sticker.
What kind of hitch do I need, slider or nonsilder? I have a friend who tows a 3912 Raptor #13600 dry, hitch weight #3150 with a 2500 srw Ram Mega Cab bagged, sidewinder hitch and says it pulls it no problem.
Any suggestions or advice?
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Georgew48
Ohio
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Joined: 10/30/2006
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I'm not the weight police, but you will be hard pressed to find a SRW truck that can handle that trailer without being over the rear axel limit and the combined gvwr. You are looking at close to or above 18K loaded and your pin weight is going to be the deal breaker. I know there are a lot of people towing these large toy haulers with 3/4 and 1 ton srw trucks and say they have no problems but they are all on the ragged edge and their luck will run out sooner or later. I went from a SRW F350 to m y current DRW F350 and I don't have a problem with it being a daily driver. Just remember you have wide hips. I think if you can swing it, you will be much happier towing with the DRW truck.
2013 F350 Dulley King Ranch
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Rockit Man
Texas
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Thanks. What about the hitch?
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gpshemi
Lapeer, Michigan
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You're even heavier then mine. I'm very happy with my setup, already owned it, but depending on where you're going with it, you might not be happy. If you're buying new, I'd look for a DRW.
GPSHEMI
06' 3500 Dodge Ram Megacab 4x4 w/ bombed 5.9L
18K Pullrite SuperGlide w/super rails
2010 Heartland Cyclone 3612
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Redwing1
Oklahoma
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Rockit man, I don't think you will be happy with anything less than a 1-ton DRW with that rig. We were pulling our 3912 with the F350 4X4 DRW, OK on level ground but a bit dicy up in the mountains. Take a look at the B&W hitch.
1SG USA (RET)
Newmar Essex 4502
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JIMNLIN
Oklahoma
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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The Mega cab 2500/3500 Dodge comes with a short bed only so you will need a slider/sidewinder/etc of some type. Some of the newer trailers come with a front cornor profile that may eliminate the use of a sliding hitch. The trailer manufacture can help you there.
Your TH has a 18000 GVWR and more importantly shows a "dry" pin wight of 3250 lbs which as GeorgeW says is way more than any F250/2500 trucks rear axle/tires can carry safely. Actual "wet" pin weight may be 3500-3800 lbs or more.
The 2500 Mega will have approx 2500-2600 lbs of capacity for a wet pin weight.
The 3500 SRW has about another 500 lbs of axle capacity which figures around 3000-3100 lbs for wet pin weight.
The 3500 DRW has a huge 9350 RAWR for approx 5800 lbs of payload.
above numbers are a estimate. Actual rear axle payloads depends on the trucks actual scaled rear axle weights.
Dodge, as Ford and GM, rates the payload based on GVWR wich is well below axle/tire capacity payload figures.
Your in 3500 DRW territory with a 18k GVWR trailer. Dodge has come out with some new towing numbers but very little actual axle weight specs hasn't shown up yet. Your Dodge truck dealer may have more info on the new ratings.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
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MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
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Any of the newer DRW trucks will suffice. Don't go any smaller than that.
Mav
"A fifth wheel trailer is a bi-level towable mobile home."
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Reveye
Mayo, MD USA
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DRW wheel for sure. As for hitch, you will have the 8 foot bed so you should not need a slider. I don't have a slider and have no clearance issues. As for brand of hitch, any of the name brand hitches will work just fine. Choosing brands is like picking out brands of underwear, whatever you are comfortable with. I put a Reese 20K in mine and I love it's performance.
Rev
2011 Keystone Raptor 4014LEV-Velocity
2008 F450 King Ranch 4x4, w/4.88's
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nayther
Burbank, CA
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gotta say I agree, that big a trailer needs DRW. It WILL be a pain to drive around as a daily driver though. A buddy borrowed his dad's Mega Cab DRW 3500 and loved how it towed his Raptor, he says he's getting one now and he's always loved his Duramax.
DIRT BIKES RULE
'12 Duramax CC short bed
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rcpd34
MD
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I too think you would be better served with a DRW. No doubt the SRW would pull it and a set of air bags would keep it level, but you would be overweight and the DRW would offer more stability. You should only need a slider if you get a shortbed or put a toolbox or similar in your long bed. If you do opt for the slider the SuperGlide is the only way to go in my opinion.
Brian
2010 Forest River XLR 29CKV
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CC/SB 4X4 Duramax LMM/LTZ/Z71
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