Best 5th Wheel Hitch and Towing Capacity for 2016 Ram 2500 Long Bed

Question:

2016 Ram 2500 Crew Cab 4x2 Long Bed Hitch Weight Capacity Im trying to determine if this truck equipped with a 6.7 diesel and auto rear air suspension is capable of towing our Heartland Big Horn 3500 SE with GVWR of 16,000 and hitch weight of 2,385 lbs. Do we need to pass on this truck and look for a one ton? I would also like your recommendation on towing performance and convenience for a standard bed with an auto slide vs. long bed please. Thank you,

asked by: Keith L

Expert Reply:

I took a look at the online towing specs for your 2016 Ram 2500 4X2 Crew Cab with the long bed and 6.7L Diesel engine and it listed a maximum trailer weight of 16,300 to 17,370 pounds depending on the exact transmission setup (M6 MT-G56 or A6 68RFE). If this is correct then the truck is up to the task of pulling the Heartland Big Horn 3500. Also keep in mind that the 16,000 pound GVWR you mentioned is the most it can possibly weigh when fully loaded, so it's unlikely it will actually get to this number.

I do also highly recommend verifying these towing specs by either obtaining the owner's manual for the truck or talking with a Ram dealer.

Then for your actual hitch setup and determining bed length I definitely recommend going with a long bed truck. Auto-slide hitches do take the hassle out of manually leaving the cab to operate a sliding hitch during sharp turns but they still are quite a bit more expensive than fixed models and quite a bit heavier as well. A long bed eliminates any worry over cab clearance during turns so that a fixed hitch can be used, which will save both your wallet and your back.

Another factory feature you might consider is the 5th wheel rail kit, which are essentially mounting pucks built right into the truck bed that allow for easy installation and removal of certain hitches. If you decide to go this route for the 2016 Ram I highly recommend the Curt A25 # C16046 because of its superior interlocking 2-jaw system for a secure connection and a smooth ride. This hitch also features a fully articulating head to ease hookup and is designed to drop right into the factory pucks on a 2016 Ram 2500. Its 24,000 pound towing capacity gives you a healthy safety margin as well.

If you decide not to go with the factory rail kit then I recommend the Curt A25 designed for standard rails, part # C16180 along with the Custom Installation Kit # C16427-204.

I have attached a couple short video demonstration on these hitches that you can check out as well.