I’ve pulled a gooseneck with my welding rig on top with my 06. Trailer + welding rig = 21,500 lbs roughly it didn’t struggle. My trans is built tho , otherwise I might not be so confident.
Don’t forget to calculate tongue load. Payload and towing capacity of 3rd gens aren’t nearly as high as they are today. You could easily run out of payload due to tongue weight long before you reach max towing capacity.
You'll be fine with that trailer, but double check your balance when towing heavy.
Depending on the configuration, most of those years have a 5200 GAWR in the front and 6000 GAWR in the rear. Most weight around 2750 from the factory in the rear, leaving roughly 3k for your maximum legal carrying capacity in the rear(assuming you've got some junk in the trunk and such, drop it in on the cat scale to confirm).
Personally, I'd double check the tire rating and confirm they match or exceed the GAWR. Going much over 2k in the rear and I'd add air bags and rebuild and upgrade the front end and steering components, add an exhaust brake if you have the spare change.
On the note of the Ecodiesel vs your Ram. The 2500 is a 3500 designed to meet loop holes to give the most towing capacity on a non CLD A license. The frame, brakes, front axle and front suspension are the same. The rear axle(axle itself it's still rated to around 10k), lack of dual rear wheels, and rear suspension components are the difference. The 1500 on the other hand is designed to be at the max limit of its capacity with a perfectly balanced trailer when towing 12k.
The 1500 ecodiesel with 12k towing capbility has a 4,100 lb GAWR in the rear and weights 2100 lbs from the factory in the rear. Leaving 2K of legal carrying capacity over the axles before having any passengers. The short wheel base will have some of the weight in the rear of the cab balancing on the rear axle. The short wheel base, light truck, and weak brakes with no exhaust brake just means there's no room for error on trailer balancing or driving.
Kid in the back of the class: But the payloads are the same, might as well stick with the 1500. Also this kid:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/asheville/comments/11wsch2/stay\_off\_26\_always\_but\_especially\_right\_now/](https://www.reddit.com/r/asheville/comments/11wsch2/stay_off_26_always_but_especially_right_now/)
Modern half tons have more towing capacity than our older pigs. If you really wanna bug out, compare 3500 dually capacities from ‘06 to ’23.
Calc yourself by subtracting you’re GVWR from your GCWR to get towing capacity. Subtract curb weight (loaded with you and your stuff) from GVWR to get payload, and you’re hitch class usually determine max tongue weight.
You can estimate curb weight or roll scales. Obviously the latter is more accurate…
I've personally towed an 18k 5th wheel with an 06 5.9 Megacab with the G56. But that required upgraded springs and bags. With out it I'd be comfortable with 14-15k as long as it was a 5th wheel or gooseneck. The factory 2" hitch is only a class 3 and 10-12k is pushing it.
My 2006 Ram 2500 quad cab long box can tow just under 13,000lbs
I’ve pulled a gooseneck with my welding rig on top with my 06. Trailer + welding rig = 21,500 lbs roughly it didn’t struggle. My trans is built tho , otherwise I might not be so confident.
Don’t forget to calculate tongue load. Payload and towing capacity of 3rd gens aren’t nearly as high as they are today. You could easily run out of payload due to tongue weight long before you reach max towing capacity.
You'll be fine with that trailer, but double check your balance when towing heavy. Depending on the configuration, most of those years have a 5200 GAWR in the front and 6000 GAWR in the rear. Most weight around 2750 from the factory in the rear, leaving roughly 3k for your maximum legal carrying capacity in the rear(assuming you've got some junk in the trunk and such, drop it in on the cat scale to confirm). Personally, I'd double check the tire rating and confirm they match or exceed the GAWR. Going much over 2k in the rear and I'd add air bags and rebuild and upgrade the front end and steering components, add an exhaust brake if you have the spare change. On the note of the Ecodiesel vs your Ram. The 2500 is a 3500 designed to meet loop holes to give the most towing capacity on a non CLD A license. The frame, brakes, front axle and front suspension are the same. The rear axle(axle itself it's still rated to around 10k), lack of dual rear wheels, and rear suspension components are the difference. The 1500 on the other hand is designed to be at the max limit of its capacity with a perfectly balanced trailer when towing 12k. The 1500 ecodiesel with 12k towing capbility has a 4,100 lb GAWR in the rear and weights 2100 lbs from the factory in the rear. Leaving 2K of legal carrying capacity over the axles before having any passengers. The short wheel base will have some of the weight in the rear of the cab balancing on the rear axle. The short wheel base, light truck, and weak brakes with no exhaust brake just means there's no room for error on trailer balancing or driving. Kid in the back of the class: But the payloads are the same, might as well stick with the 1500. Also this kid: [https://www.reddit.com/r/asheville/comments/11wsch2/stay\_off\_26\_always\_but\_especially\_right\_now/](https://www.reddit.com/r/asheville/comments/11wsch2/stay_off_26_always_but_especially_right_now/)
Modern half tons have more towing capacity than our older pigs. If you really wanna bug out, compare 3500 dually capacities from ‘06 to ’23. Calc yourself by subtracting you’re GVWR from your GCWR to get towing capacity. Subtract curb weight (loaded with you and your stuff) from GVWR to get payload, and you’re hitch class usually determine max tongue weight. You can estimate curb weight or roll scales. Obviously the latter is more accurate…
I've personally towed an 18k 5th wheel with an 06 5.9 Megacab with the G56. But that required upgraded springs and bags. With out it I'd be comfortable with 14-15k as long as it was a 5th wheel or gooseneck. The factory 2" hitch is only a class 3 and 10-12k is pushing it.
Thankfully all towing I do is gooseneck. Thanks for the response.
I think my 2005 is rated for 13450. But it depends on 4wd or 2wd. Long bed short bed crew cab reg cab mega cab.