Increased GCWR on it's way ?

[Thumper7]

I'm waiting also. My '09 3500 SRW QC 4x4 w/3. 73's has a payload of 3100, GVWR 10100, FW tow rating 13900 and GCWR 21000. A new Chevy in nearly same configuration (CC instead of QC) has a payload of 4268, GVWR 11000, FW tow rating 16,800 and GCWR 24,500. I weighed my truck the other day with a full tank of fuel. The truck weighed 8140 lbs and I had at the most 400 lbs of payload. Take away the 400 lbs and my truck weighs 7740 lbs. Add 3100 lbs of payload to that and it's at 10840 lbs. I'm not sure how Dodge came up with the payload of 3100 lbs. I hope Ram steps it up.

 

[AH64ID]

I'm not sure how Dodge came up with the payload of 3100 lbs. I hope Ram steps it up.

Because Dodge says the curb weight on that truck is 6939 lbs, so add the 3161 lbs of payload and you get 10,100.

Its about how they all are. My truck weighs 8,000 without me in it (for what I consider "empty", tools, filters, etc) and the curb weight is 7259.

But I ignore GVWR, I use GAWR and tire ratings.

 

[domehead]

Have any of you have figure out what will happen to the MPG with all of this new power and weight.

 

[rrl989]

Since it's software changes that really regulate/control engine operation, I wonder why they don't offer some sort of a dual mode of operation, one selection for lower power/mpg economy, another for max HP/torque towing power. Something like flip a switch, restart/reboot PCM and go. Wishfull thinking I guess. Just figured we could put men on the moon 40+ years ago, how hard could it be for a dual mode.

 

[HBarlow]

I'm waiting also. My '09 3500 SRW QC 4x4 w/3. 73's has a payload of 3100, GVWR 10100, FW tow rating 13900 and GCWR 21000. A new Chevy in nearly same configuration (CC instead of QC) has a payload of 4268, GVWR 11000, FW tow rating 16,800 and GCWR 24,500. I weighed my truck the other day with a full tank of fuel. The truck weighed 8140 lbs and I had at the most 400 lbs of payload. Take away the 400 lbs and my truck weighs 7740 lbs. Add 3100 lbs of payload to that and it's at 10840 lbs. I'm not sure how Dodge came up with the payload of 3100 lbs. I hope Ram steps it up.

"Payloads" and "trailer towing weights" published in manufacturer's brochures are nothing more than wishful thinking. At best they are optimistic, in the real world they are false information.

NO truck weighs "shipping weight" and no RV whether slide-in truck camper, conventional travel trailer, or fifth wheel weighs "dry weight. " Those weights are acceptable industry wide lies.

The only weights that count are actual scale weights.

 

[HBarlow]

Since it's software changes that really regulate/control engine operation, I wonder why they don't offer some sort of a dual mode of operation, one selection for lower power/mpg economy, another for max HP/torque towing power. Something like flip a switch, restart/reboot PCM and go. Wishfull thinking I guess. Just figured we could put men on the moon 40+ years ago, how hard could it be for a dual mode.

Your dual mode idea would cost tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars for Cummins to develop and test and add $2500 or more to the cost of each new unit manufacturered. Most of us don't want to pay for it and few would actually have real interest or need for it.

 

[AH64ID]

"Payloads" and "trailer towing weights" published in manufacturer's brochures are nothing more than wishful thinking. At best they are optimistic, in the real world they are false information.

NO truck weighs "shipping weight" and no RV whether slide-in truck camper, conventional travel trailer, or fifth wheel weighs "dry weight. " Those weights are acceptable industry wide lies.

The only weights that count are actual scale weights.

Exactly. The cheapest way to get weighed is find out what local scales leave the scale on when they are closed, and roll thru. I have a couple around that are like this. I use them every time I drive by to check loading. I've even disconnected my trailer to check tongue weight.

Since it's software changes that really regulate/control engine operation, I wonder why they don't offer some sort of a dual mode of operation, one selection for lower power/mpg economy, another for max HP/torque towing power. Something like flip a switch, restart/reboot PCM and go. Wishfull thinking I guess. Just figured we could put men on the moon 40+ years ago, how hard could it be for a dual mode.

It still takes "x" hp to do 80 mph, so a 500 hp motor and a 200 hp motor are making the same power to push the truck 80, so detuning won't effect highway mileage and a 200hp tune vs a 500hp tune can get the same mileage in the city if you use your right foot accordingly, its the beauty of a diesel vs a gas rig. High hp rigs can be driven at low power very smoothly and effectively.

So a "mileage" switch would have to completely re-tune the timing, turbo, and duration curve to get better economy and that would mean the truck wouldn't meet modern emissions. Dodge/Cummins have already done the tuning to be as efficient as possible, within the confines of the blasted EPA.

In fact a higher hp tune may actually get better mileage at steady speeds as it can retain higher gears longer, similar to how auto trucks running the Smarty Jr (and others I presume) get the best mileage on the highest setting. Its not as relevant in a manual truck as we can hold gears much longer than the computer would. So really the 800 tq tune may get better mileage than the 650 tq tune, in those instances where the auto would come out of 6th and now it can hold 6th.

 

[CUMMINZ]

It would not suprise me if DC required a new gear set of 444 or 456 with 30k package.

 

[AH64ID]

It would not suprise me if DC required a new gear set of 444 or 456 with 30k package.

They have already stated it's only offered with 4. 10's.

 

[Maverick50]

What has Dodge done to increase Tow Limit

2010 3500 CrewCab Long Bed DRW 2WD 4. 10 from 18,050

to

2012 3500 CrewCab Long Bed DRW 2WD 4. 10 to 22,700?

Have they change the math?

 

[AH64ID]

What has Dodge done to increase Tow Limit

2010 3500 CrewCab Long Bed DRW 2WD 4. 10 from 18,050

to

2012 3500 CrewCab Long Bed DRW 2WD 4. 10 to 22,700?

Have they change the math?

They call it the "Max Tow" package.



Really they are just admitting what Ram owners have known for years. . the Ram is severely under rated.



There are several changes for it thou. The 2010 offered 650 ft/lbs of tq and the 2012 offers 800 ft/lbs, this is accompanied by tq converter and harmonic dampner upgrades.



The only other hard part change is the rear axle has some parts that are designed to improve the durability of the AAM 11. 5" axle, thou based on it's service record I am not sure they were needed.

 

[SRay]

Hello everyone, I'm sure that we all know Ford and Gm are locked in a horsepower, torque and tow ratings war that was started by non other than Ford being @SS holes over the commercials on tv, ads, etc. Non-stop bragging by Ford and Gm had finally had enough.



They put Ford in a hurt locker by bettering Ford in just about everything. GM specifically went right for the throat and hastily changed everything specifically to beat Ford.



Now I'm sure that everyone wants the tow ratings, hp and torque in the Dodge to match or better the v8 rivals, but I'm sure and I've been told by people with knowledge by ram engineers that Chrysler does not want a power war. They can raise everything and Ford and Gm will just raise their ratings even more. It cost money to change ratings, submit to the EPA etc. Chrysler has better things to do right now than blowing their money away because Ford and Gm are stupid and always have been. We should see what the SAE says about the load ratings after they've all been tested. Should be interesting.



Chrysler knows well that there are a lot of people out there that like or love their products and those that hate them. It's personal preference.



Also Chrysler won't say so, but they know very well their Ram trucks can easily last past 500,000miles before a major overhaul instead of the normal 350,000 miles and haul well in excess of their weight ratings.



Many people have easily overloaded the Dodges by a lot, including myself (with a NV4500 transmission), without any trouble. Also the very fact that we see so many of them hauling upwards of 45,000-50,000 gross combined weight with their 3500 Dodges is often enough to get people to look towards Chrysler vehicles than Ford or Gm. I've seen a lot of Dodges pulling these big trailers that should be behind a medium duty truck or class 8 trucks. Word of mouth go slowly while Ford and Gm splatter lies quickly with ads, youtube, everything that people will see. They're basically holding the candy in front of people to lead them over to the v8 crowd. Real truckers know better.



A 2009 Ram 3500 with g56 was seen hauling a 32,000lb excavator that was flexing the trailer in the center and no programmers for power. It was working like a real class 8 truck, slow and grunting between gears. Another load was 6 steel barrels with 6,000lbs of steel pieces in each. This truck is amazingly reliable with 260,000kms on everything but the factory dual mass flywheel and clutch. He installed a 3250 dd SBC clutch and flywheel and now a 80 hp Smarty programmer to help lug the load better. This truck has been operating the way all Cummins should've been operating and all emission equipment still on there. No turbo failures, no emission system failures, etc. And no urea as he is not using a chassis cab truck, so one less thing to go wrong.



While I would love to see Ram splatter Ford and Gm, Chrysler is being more realistic while Ford and Gm bully each other and spending loads of money out the window.



That day will come when Chrysler will rise up and be truthfully better than Ford and Gm. They already have a few times. Chrysler is already the best selling Ram 1500 trucks in Canada.



Shawn