2013 3500 14k GVW ?

[zb39]

I just picked up a 2013 Ram guide to camper applications. Looking thru the 70 pages there is a lot of info. They are listing crew cab long box 4x4 with GVW at 12,300 and 14,000. I didn't know they were going that high. My current 11 is only 12,300. They list the cc at 4708 lbs for the Long horn truck with the 14k GVW. The 12,300 truck has a cc of 3355lbs. I would love a 14k for my artic fox. Any thoughts or did I miss this in the write up.

 

[DAN V]

not much increase

That is not much of an increase over the 2nd gens. My truck has a GVW of 11,500 and a towing capacity of 15k. That is enough for me. Can't see myself buying a 4th gen or newer truck for quite some time. The truck I have is easier to work on and don't have to deal with all the EGR crap.

 

[EGroeneveld]

I'd love a much higher GVW too for my Arctic Fox 1150. Fully loaded up with truck camper, full water, etc... plus an enclosed trailer with a RZR and a Quad I am at 10K on the rear axle. Ram needs higher GVW AND rear axle ratings too. Rear axle rated at 9,250 is not enough for ME



With the whole payload and towing rating war really being right now RAM needs to keep up for guys that actually do use them heavily. Also I'm only interested in the ratings of CrewCab, diesel, 4*4 dually or SRW so max payload winner of a gas, regular cab 2*4 does me no good.

 

[zb39]

EG, what size trailer do you pull. I have been looking at enclosed trailers to pull. Your thoughts??

 

[HBarlow]

I haven't reviewed the GVWRs on the Ram builder's guide but a GVWR of 14k - 16k would normally be offered in the 4500 line.

A 4500 cab and chassis would make an ideal platform for the typical fully-equipped heavy slide-in campers common today.

 

[EGroeneveld]

EG, what size trailer do you pull. I have been looking at enclosed trailers to pull. Your thoughts??

My enclosed trailer is (box size) 20' long rated for 10k. With the camper on I use a Superhitch 48'' hitch extension system and only take two quads OR one quad plus RZR. Everything is towards the back to keep tongue weight light. 20' is a pretty normal standard for an enclosed car trailer. Stay away from the 7500 rated trailers. A little car or a couple of quads and they are overloaded or at max.



Two problems I have is we are wanting a new RZR (second) and the new RZR are getting taller so we'll have to order a new trailer that is taller with a taller rear door. And we'll also just get a 28' trailer. We'll likely put two RZRs in the new trailer (sand) and keep the two quads in the current trailer (for mud dirt trail riding). When we bought our current enclosed trailer their was really no side by sides like they have now. Amazing how things change.



And our trailer is a Pace Showdow GT but bummer Pace went bankrupts a couple years ago. They had a great product.



Also Friday or Saturday i am planning on purchasing weight distribution to take some weight of the rear axle of the truck.

 

[EGroeneveld]

I haven't reviewed the GVWRs on the Ram builder's guide but a GVWR of 14k - 16k would normally be offered in the 4500 line.



A 4500 cab and chassis would make an ideal platform for the typical fully-equipped heavy slide-in campers common today.

Yep I know. When i factory ordered our 2011 truck, we had been looking at Arctic Fox 990 and Lance 992? which are lighter. But then she stepped into the 1150 and said this one after we had recieved the truck I would love a flatbed with boxes for hauling the camper but I do need to drive my truck on daily basis for work too. Driving a flatbed would be a little interesting in my suit visiting clients and meeting with developers and attorneys... .



In a perfect world Ram will come out with a 4500/5500 with a factory normal pickup box like the Ford F450 that has a payload for us heavy camper guys that also tow heavy. But even if they do this in 2013 or 2014 my current setup is what I have for several more years.

 

[HBarlow]

I could certainly be entirely wrong but my guess is Ram probably doesn't have plans to offer a pickup bed for the cab and chassis platform. Ram sells pickups in high volume and a significant and growing number of cab and chassis trucks but I don't think the market for cab and chassis platforms w/pickup beds is large enough to ever justify the development and production expense.

I haven't paid attention to what has transpired so don't know but there are probably an aftermarket company or two that still modify the pickup beds to fit on the C&C frame.

 

[rwitt]

Yep I know. When i factory ordered our 2011 truck, we had been looking at Arctic Fox 990 and Lance 992? which are lighter. But then she stepped into the 1150 and said this one after we had recieved the truck I would love a flatbed with boxes for hauling the camper but I do need to drive my truck on daily basis for work too. Driving a flatbed would be a little interesting in my suit visiting clients and meeting with developers and attorneys... .

In a perfect world Ram will come out with a 4500/5500 with a factory normal pickup box like the Ford F450 that has a payload for us heavy camper guys that also tow heavy. But even if they do this in 2013 or 2014 my current setup is what I have for several more years.

The F450 Chassis Cab was never offered with a pickup bed from the factory. You could have an aftermarket upfitter install one. The current (2011 to 2013) F450 pickup is the same chassis as an F350, but with the wide trac front axle and 4. 30 gears. The GVWR is 13,300 and has a payload of approximately 5,000lbs. The 2008 to 2010 F450 pickup had a GVWR of 14,500, still based on the F350 pickup chassis, but had the heavier Dana 110 rear axle, larger brakes, and 19. 5 tires and wheels. The empty weight was approximately 9000lbs, so the available payload was around 5500lbs, and had a rear axle rating of 9500lbs. So the 2008 thru 2013 F450 pickup still wouldn't be enough to handle the weight you're hauling. The Ram 4500 or the F450 Chassis Cab with their 16,500 GVWR, and 12,000 rear axle weight rating would be the next step up with either a flat bed or upfitted pickup bed.
Rich

 

[rrl989]

Is this "2013 Ram guide to camper applications" available online ?

UPDATE: Found it:
http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2013/docs/ram/hdramcg.pdf

 

[jwilliamson]

The 2013 Ford F350's are also 14000 gvw. Im thinking about a truck camper and new truck also. The news about Dodge also offering 14000 gvw is good news, now I dont have to look at just Ford's

 

[zb39]

EG, thanks for the info. That is what I want to do also. I am looking at a 20 ft with 5200lb axles. We will see. Guys, understand about cc having higher GVW. This guide, I believe says a 3500 pickup will have a gvw of 14k. I ddn't know that furd was already there. 14k would be great in my sig truck.

 

[HBarlow]

I just searched the Ram truck website. The highest GVWR in a Ram 3500 drw truck was 12,300 lbs.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/pdf/RAM.2500.3500.Towing.Specs.pdf

I seriously doubt the claim of 14k lbs. GVWR in a Ram 3500.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Is this "2013 Ram guide to camper applications" available online ?



UPDATE: Found it:

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2013/docs/ram/hdramcg.pdf

I looked at the link you posted and noticed two different codes with a GVWR rating listed as 12,300-lbs and 14,000-lbs with the same cab, bed, and engine combinations. I wonder why the difference? Could it be 6-speed manual vs. 6-speed automatic, gear ratios, different engine ratings, optional suspensions, etc?



Bill

 

[HBarlow]

Maybe the 14k will be offered for '13 but the written specs are not available yet? Federal truck classes rate trucks with 14k GVWR as Class 4, not Class 3.

 

[RustyJC]

When I go to the 2013 Ram Base Weights/GCW/Payload/Trailer Tow section of the link for the DRW 3500, it shows "Data will be posted soon. "



Rusty

 

[EGroeneveld]

Well for me and others hauling heavy truck campers. The higher RAM puts the rear axle and GVW limits the better. 14k or 13,995 would be great. Specially knowing that front and rear axle ratings added together are usually greater then the GVW rating. Though I'd love to have a 4500/5500 flatbed with boxes as my camper hauler I'd prefer to keep driving a ''normal dually'' pickup so I can use it on a daily basis. I would not be to interested in order a chassis cab and having an aftermarket truck box put on it. I also don't want to mess with any possible CDL or weigh station issues in any state we might travel to. If Ram would come out with a F450 Pickup (more like the orginal F450 pickups) that would be great for me. Maybe someday I'll have something else for work and run around town. But that kind of defeats the whole purpose of the truck camper, the flexibilty of unloading the camper for Monday mornings



I do see quite a few of the F450 pickups around. Many with truck campers on them, including one in my neighborhood. He did it for the payload rating, 19. 5 wheels, and larger everything then the F350. He has a large Host camper and loves the setup.



But no matter what I'm likely keeping what i have another 5 or 6 years yet. I'll likely get the best truck at that point in time. Hopefully its a RAM with Cummins again

 

[rrl989]

I looked at the link you posted and noticed two different codes with a GVWR rating listed as 12,300-lbs and 14,000-lbs with the same cab, bed, and engine combinations. I wonder why the difference? Could it be 6-speed manual vs. 6-speed automatic, gear ratios, different engine ratings, optional suspensions, etc?

Bill

There will be 3 powertrains (Hemi, & 2 versions of the CTD) available for the 13', that much we know. There are 3 GVWR's listed for the 3500 as well, similar to GM, depending on the configuration. I like the 17" duals and the 6000 lb front axle. Finally with some decent Cargo Weight Ratings too. Also, no mention of the Aisin? Hopefully the info is somewhat accurate, even if only preliminary.

 

[NIsaacs]

Since class 4 trucks start at 14,001, I think the big three will have to stop at 14,000, maybe they have finally maxed out their GVW wars on the 3500's, now they can start on a 4000 model and call it a class 3. 5

Nick

 

[Bill Stockard]

There will be 3 powertrains (Hemi, & 2 versions of the CTD) available for the 13', that much we know. There are 3 GVWR's listed for the 3500 as well, similar to GM, depending on the configuration. I like the 17" duals and the 6000 lb front axle. Finally with some decent Cargo Weight Ratings too. Also, no mention of the Aisin? Hopefully the info is somewhat accurate, even if only preliminary.

Another specification I noted is the location of the center of gravity figures in the Dimension A Camper Loading column. My Lance camper center of gravity is 59". Going to the chart and looking at a Longhorn Limited 4x4 Crew Cab 8' bed 6. 7L (second and third row from the bottom of the chart) it recommends the code Z8H012300 (Dimension A @ 70. 53" maximum) which I presume is 12,300-lbs GVWR. Code Z8M014000 (14,000-lbs GVWR?) Dimension A is limited to 47. 65" maximum. Why does the higher GVWR require the camper center of gravity further to the rear which translates to less loading of the front axle? Maybe when the full specifications are available, we'll get more answers.



Bill