looking for weight ratings and capacities

[toledoupsguy]

I am a long time Ford owner and this is my 1st RAM. I am actually thinking about getting rid of it already as I do not like the interior room I've lost with the ram CC compared to the ford CC. Also don't like the little amount of actual leather in the Laramie so am looking at a longhorn or limited mega cab.

Please forgive me if your a member of the other cummins forum since I posted the question there too. on the Ford website and brochures you could clearly see the differences between the f250 and f350s. You could also clearly see the actual weight ratings of the springs and axles.

Is there anywhere I can find those values and ratings for the RAM?

 

[Alphonse]

Forgive me but Ford's brochures are less than truthful. I am a former Ford owner and I learned the hard way. They are just as full of puffery as the next one. As a matter of fact it was Dodge customer service who helped me understand the regulatory tangle between payload capacity vs. cargo capacity. It sure wasn't Ford.

If you are interested in the actual numbers for your truck, look on the door jam. They are listed there on two stickers. You will find front and rear axle capacities as well as cargo capacity. If you want payload capacity look in the brochures but that is not your number.

Not sure why you felt compelled to open your query with a statement that you are going to get rid of it. Makes me wonder why you're worried about the numbers. Sell it and end your buyer's remorse. Sorry you've bought a truck you didn't want.

 

[RustyJC]

You can find more information than you'd probably ever want on the Ram Body Builder factory website.

Rusty

 

[Grizzly]

I dare to say that most Dodge/Ram owners are former Ford owners. You won't find many Ford owners that are former Dodge/Ram owners.

Once folks discover the awesome Cummins, there's no going back.

 

[toledoupsguy]

Forgive me but Ford's brochures are less than truthful. I am a former Ford owner and I learned the hard way. They are just as full of puffery as the next one. As a matter of fact it was Dodge customer service who helped me understand the regulatory tangle between payload capacity vs. cargo capacity. It sure wasn't Ford.

If you are interested in the actual numbers for your truck, look on the door jam. They are listed there on two stickers. You will find front and rear axle capacities as well as cargo capacity. If you want payload capacity look in the brochures but that is not your number.

Not sure why you felt compelled to open your query with a statement that you are going to get rid of it. Makes me wonder why you're worried about the numbers. Sell it and end your buyer's remorse. Sorry you've bought a truck you didn't want.

I am asking about the numbers as I am working on talking my wife into agreeing to order a 2016 mega cab longhorn or limited. I agree with you about ford and gm inflating their abilities in the glossy brochures. But ford does list what the actual weight capacity of the springs are. They also list what the weight capacity of the rear axle is. I am not asking about the listed rawr or the door stickers. I don't want to get into one of the debates on do I need a dually or not. I just want to see something that lists spring capacity and what American axle says their axle's weight rating is.

RustyJc, thanks for that suggest, it's one of the first places I looked.

Thanks for the replies

 

[spoon059]

I just want to see something that lists spring capacity and what American axle says their axle's weight rating is.

You aren't going to find that, and I highly doubt that Ford has published those ratings either.

Your rear axle rating is WAY more complicated than what the manufacturer rates the axle at, or the spring manufacturer rates the springs at. The rear axle rating is based upon the tire rating, wheel rating, spring rating, axle rating, brake rating, etc.

I have never seen any auto manufacturer actually list individual component ratings, nor failure ratings. Those are closely guarded specs known to the manufacturer, but never released to consumers, because everyone knows that the consumer would instantly test the engineered limits.

Ram rates their rear axle setup at 7000 lbs on the 3500, or 9750 for the 3500 DRW. https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2016_ram_3500_towing_charts.pdf These are the numbers that matter, these are the numbers you need to follow.

Sorry you don't like your truck. Sounds like you are going to learn an expensive lesson on the need to research BEFORE you buy. Personally, I knew all the specs BEFORE I bought my truck, I had sat inside all the vehicles BEFORE I bought it, compared the interior space BEFORE I bought it, compared the interior materials BEFORE I bought it. I bought my truck once, couldn't afford to buy it TWICE.

 

[Mingoglia]

I am asking about the numbers as I am working on talking my wife into agreeing to order a 2016 mega cab longhorn or limited. I agree with you about ford and gm inflating their abilities in the glossy brochures. But ford does list what the actual weight capacity of the springs are. They also list what the weight capacity of the rear axle is. I am not asking about the listed rawr or the door stickers. I don't want to get into one of the debates on do I need a dually or not. I just want to see something that lists spring capacity and what American axle says their axle's weight rating is.

RustyJc, thanks for that suggest, it's one of the first places I looked.

Thanks for the replies

As you've found the CC is much smaller on the Ram than the Ford. The Mega Cab though is actually bigger than the Ford, if you can deal with a short bed. I have a MegaCab which is stretched for a long bed for the best of both worlds.

As for capacity, there is a video on youtube of a test that FORD set up comparing the Ram 3500 to the F450. The journalist asked Ford why they choice this match-up, and the Ford engineer said that they believed this match up was the closest in terms of capacities. This says something about the current 4th gen Rams. In this video, the Ford of course very slightly outpulled the Ram with both trucks towing close to capacity (trailers over 25k lbs). Funny thing is in this video the Ram is catching up to the Ford as they concluded the test. The journalist laughed and the Ford engineer laughed when he made a comment of the Ram catching up. It wasn't a fully apples to apples test as the F450 had 4.30 gears and the Ram had the 4.10 gears.

Anyway, I'm not at a point where I can find the chart which has capacities, but they're easily accessible on the Ram site. I know my 3500 (from memory) has a rear axle rating of 9,750lbs, a GVWR of 14,000lbs and a GCVWR of I believe ~38,000lbs. My max trailer rating on my '15 is 30k lbs, though it's slightly lower than that if you "properly" load the king pin since you'll exceed the GVWR due to how heavy my truck is as equipped. However, if you go by what the DOT says, my GVWR would be in the 16,000lb range (at F/R axle capacity).

Your truck limits will be less due to it being a 2500. Other factors limiting weight are if you have the Aisin or not, and the 4.10 gears or not.

Mike

 

[NIsaacs]

and what American axle says their axle's weight rating is.

This might help a little....

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0SO8yrvWLdW__sAyvxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByYnR1Zmd1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1454885231/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fGAWR/RK=0/RS=fD9_yOL7rBMTpcmWiLSHugP3.II-

Nick

 

[dfb]

Yes, I am a former Ford psd owner.. I'm not trying to bash Ford.. I have had a 95. 97, 2002. All lariats. All had oil galley plug leaks behind the head. The first 2 had glow plug and glo plug relay issues. Hp, pump leak into "Death Valley". But what really sent me into rage land was every few oil changes the little oil pan washer leaked! I'd rather see a rod come out of yhe block than an oil drip in my driveway. The 2002 truck was extremely nice and comfortable. I traded it in on an 04 Laramie dually cummins.. I loved the dodge. However at the time the dodge could not hold a candle to the Ford as far as interior and fit and finish. Today the Dodge is rated higher in all areas over gm and ford. What are you using the truck for... If you are going heavier the Inthe future, you may want a dually..I'm pulling a 38 foot Montana with a megacab SHORTBED.. This truck pulls so much better than the old dually!. All make nice trucks... Personal presence is Cummins...

 

[ScottW]

I found this helpful...

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/year.pdf

 

[Deleted member 995608]

All you need to know....

http://blog.caranddriver.com/towed-ya-so-ram-trucks-adopts-sae-tow-ratings-for-all-2015-pickups/

Excerpt:

"Both Ford and Chrysler had previously agreed to rate their 2015 light-duty trucks with the SAE stamp, but the latter is the first company to actually apply them to heavy-duty models. Last month, General Motors released SAE tow ratings for the 2015 Silverado and Sierra 1500s, with the effect being a decrease of several hundred pounds on most models."

 

[CFollett]

Just like a Chain

All three trucks are just like a chain. My point is any truck is only as good as the weakest link.

1. tires
2. wheels
3. brakes
4. axles
5. gear ratio
6. springs
7. transmission
8. u-joints

Each of the above has an engineered rating that effects all the rest, ergo my point about the chain. In todays world we really have to do our homework before we buy a truck. You have to select all of the components to achive the intented use. Changing any one changes all the rest. The tag on the door jam is the manufactures statement required by law, taking all the components for that truck.

If we talk about pulling a trailer there are many more factors evolved. Engine and transmission cooling, hitch type and rating, trailer axles, brakes, springs, wheels and tires are just a few that come to mind.

 

[tony1461571]

I am asking about the numbers as I am working on talking my wife into agreeing to order a 2016 mega cab longhorn or limited. I agree with you about ford and gm inflating their abilities in the glossy brochures. But ford does list what the actual weight capacity of the springs are. They also list what the weight capacity of the rear axle is. I am not asking about the listed rawr or the door stickers. I don't want to get into one of the debates on do I need a dually or not. I just want to see something that lists spring capacity and what American axle says their axle's weight rating is.

RustyJc, thanks for that suggest, it's one of the first places I looked.

Thanks for the replies

It will depend on what you want to do with it. I have the Laramie Longhorn Mega cab
I love it if you are pulling a 5th wheel I would go with the 3500 DRW.

 

[RVTRKN]

Only weak link on the SRW 3500 is the 3:42 rear diff , you will feel it pulling heavy on grades.

 

[tony1461571]

I do like having the 4:10 makes the truck a beast. I pull a 12k trailer get in the mountains no problem even with the cruise control on with tow/haul mode on never has to downshift to keep up speed. Pulling get the DRW.

 

[Alphonse]

All you need to know....

http://blog.caranddriver.com/towed-ya-so-ram-trucks-adopts-sae-tow-ratings-for-all-2015-pickups/

Excerpt:

"Both Ford and Chrysler had previously agreed to rate their 2015 light-duty trucks with the SAE stamp, but the latter is the first company to actually apply them to heavy-duty models. Last month, General Motors released SAE tow ratings for the 2015 Silverado and Sierra 1500s, with the effect being a decrease of several hundred pounds on most models."

Glad they have at least started a performance based standard but it is weak if you look at the details. Very, very high level stuff that doesn't prove much and it is about towing. Better than nothing but barely. SAE is a member run organization and guess who are the big dogs in the membership??

So yes, they now have a standard. Does it give any real design guidelines? No, just some high level performance parameters that really do nothing for definition of design of components, durability, maintenance, etc. When you look at its performance basis it is quite interesting that GM lost ground when they accepted it. That means they were grossly overstated.

 

[dfb]

Only weak link on the SRW 3500 is the 3:42 rear diff , you will feel it pulling heavy on grades.

I had an 04.5 dually with the nv5600 and 4:10s.. Now own a srw SHORTBED megacab with 3:42s.. Old truck pulled hill leaving town pulling the 5vr at 53 mph.. New truck pulls the same hill and Rv at 65 mph... Who can figure it?, I don't know...what was bad on the dually was tire time. My heart would pound out of my chest, and I would start to sweat!

 

[gsbrockman]

I'd rather see a rod come out of yhe block than an oil drip in my driveway

This mindset perfectly explains the reasoning behind some of your previous posts.... :-laf

 

[kthaxton]

Old truck pulled hill leaving town pulling the 5vr at 53 mph.. New truck pulls the same hill and Rv at 65 mph... Who can figure it?, I don't know...

You're new truck has a lot more torque and better transmission gear selections. No mystery to it.

 

[dfb]

This mindset perfectly explains the reasoning behind some of your previous posts.... :-laf

Very observant.. well, there ya go... good for you...