Is there a way to beef up power and load capacity?

[PNW Fireguy]

Originally Posted by vipermanden

My first attempt to look on line at the HDT RAMs, and all I saw were the trucks without beds in the back? Where do you see 4500 and 5500 RAMs with 8' beds on them? Do you have the link? I agree with ScottZ, that I need to relax and enjoy the ride more, just nervous how slow would it go with the heavier rig behind me? Also hoping i don't have to go over another 5 mile long 10% grade again like the Teton pass! :-)

You will have to get your own bed.
+1 on enjoying the ride/view.

For me if we go with the heavier 5er we are definitely going with the HDT. While it is nice to have ample power to maneuver the mountain passes in the west my main object is a heavier truck to offset the weight of the trailer. As a bonus the heavier truck just happens to come with twice as much engine.

[vipermanden]

How much HP do the 4500's and 5500's have compared to the 900 ft. lbs. of torque my 3500 came with? How much more weight can they carry?

[PNW Fireguy]

Originally Posted by vipermanden

How much HP do the 4500's and 5500's have compared to the 900 ft. lbs. of torque my 3500 came with? How much more weight can they carry?

https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/tow...wing_specs.pdf

Same 6.7 Cummins motor but tow specs and gvw are higher.

[TLightning]

There's a guy on another forum that tows a very heavy 5th wheel with a Freightliner Sport Chassis....slick looking truck.

http://www.sportchassis.com/

[topjustice]

Originally Posted by vipermanden

OK, I confess, my 3820FK is the heaviest Montana they make, and when I recently took it over the Teton Pass, and could only maintain 40 mph, I was somewhat OK with that, but the empty weight of the 3820 FK is 14,000 lbs. and the pin weight is 2,810. The 5th wheel I'm thinking of getting has an empty weight of 20,000 and a pin weight of 3,000 pounds, so I am just wondering if I ever have to go over Teton Pass again, how I will do it?

For what it's worth you don't need to go over Teton Pass. It's really not much out of the way to drive to nearby Alpine, Wy and on to Jackson Hole. Good roads all the way. We did it in July and it was a breeze. No sense putting that much strain on the TV when you don't have to.

[phillyg]

You might get some more opinions on the Escapees forum. Lots of HDT folks over there.

[vipermanden]

I was tip toeing around the DRV Elite Suites site today, and first of all the forum is about 1/20th what this forum is? I was surprised to see how little participation there is. But many of the topics were, am I overloaded with a Ford/Chevy/RAM 350/3500 dually pulling my DRV?

[Dam Worker]

My guess on the bigger trucks (F450-F550) (not sure on the Chevy or Dodge) you would get heavier duty running gear, bigger brakes probably a detuned version of the pickup engine and lower rearend gears to compensate for the higher towing rating and GVWR. As for the Freightliner and that class of vehicle I don't think any of them use the same engines that are available in pickup trucks. Start to lose 4x4 availability as you go bigger too.

Tom Marty

[Texan]

You will get less h.p. and less torque with the ram 4500 and 5500 but run lower gears. The rear end will be heavier also. The lower gears are because of the less h.p. and torque. If you can't pull over the Tetons with the ram then you wouldn't be able to with ford,chevy or anything else.I wouldn't think of taking a chance on giving up my warranty for a tuner or complete delete kit. As has been said, the high output ram is a beast. The 18 wheelers might have 450 to 500 hp and over 2,000 pounds of torque but they can't keep up with you up down or around the mountain so why would you think you need more power. If the current ram can't do it comfortably then nobody can.

[mazboy]

i only dream of that power. i have a '06 and it has half your power. why in the world would you want more power anyway?

[vipermanden]

I was thinking of upgrading to one of those triple axle 43-44' DRV's, but I'm not getting a warm and fuzzy about this, so I will probably trade my Montana in for a new one with the amenities we now realize we want after using the 2017 3820FK for 2 seasons, and I will spend money on upgrading the suspension and brakes. Those 43-44' DRV's are nice, but they weigh about 6k more than the heaviest Montanas, and has about 1,200 more pounds on the pin weight? Just seems like the tail wagging the dog, and i even see some single axle trucks pulling those rigs!!

[dfb]

Dually 3500 4:10s, AISIN, auto level....don't need a 4500 or 5500...over 31000 lbs tow capacity... if you need more, get an fl60....cheaper too..

[CaptnJohn]

I'm pulling 14K at 43' and would not want to pull over 16.5 +/-. 20K dry means about 23K loaded and is a heavy load no matter what you pull it with.

[speedster100]

Higher gear ratio = more torque for towing = less fuel mileage regardless of engine or HP or size of truck...

Getting everything sized where you are comfortable with towing is key, if you have the biggest baddest truck out there that will pull an apartment building but you can't afford the fuel to go anywhere is really kind of pointless in my honest opinion....

[richfaa]

Originally Posted by topjustice

For what it's worth you don't need to go over Teton Pass. It's really not much out of the way to drive to nearby Alpine, Wy and on to Jackson Hole. Good roads all the way. We did it in July and it was a breeze. No sense putting that much strain on the TV when you don't have to.

What he said.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by topjustice

For what it's worth you don't need to go over Teton Pass. It's really not much out of the way to drive to nearby Alpine, Wy and on to Jackson Hole. Good roads all the way. We did it in July and it was a breeze. No sense putting that much strain on the TV when you don't have to.

My wife said if I plan on Wolf Creek Pass again or anything similar she is getting out and walking to the nearest airport for a flight home.

[Beau2010]

We have the same truck and would not want or ever need any more power. Its been to both coasts and over a number of high passes w/o a care. Besides, when you break the 26,000 lbs mark in most states, you get into CDL territory as well as weight stations, etc. To each his own but I fail to see the need.

[dfb]

Originally Posted by vipermanden

I was thinking of upgrading to one of those triple axle 43-44' DRV's, but I'm not getting a warm and fuzzy about this, so I will probably trade my Montana in for a new one with the amenities we now realize we want after using the 2017 3820FK for 2 seasons, and I will spend money on upgrading the suspension and brakes. Those 43-44' DRV's are nice, but they weigh about 6k more than the heaviest Montanas, and has about 1,200 more pounds on the pin weight? Just seems like the tail wagging the dog, and i even see some single axle trucks pulling those rigs!!

Go to a mdt... fl70 or the like...

[mhs4771]

Those 30K plus tow numbers are useless. Granted the HP and Torque of the new 350/3500 Series Trucks could pull it no problem, but which of them can carry 6K plus of pin weight, additionally the typical fifthwheel hitch is generally rated for 5K to 5.5K max pin.
Most of these newer Duallies weigh 9K to 10K loaded to tow, so even with the 14K GVWR that only leaves 4K to 5K for the pin.
I just don't get where the get those numbers, when you can pull the Space Shuttle with a 1/2 ton.

[dfb]

You'll have to ask God...aka ram,,, that's the numbers meeting some j238s or whatever it is..