2004 Trailer weight rating

[Cliffman]

Has anybody noticed the difference in the trailer weight rating between the 2500 and the 3500? It’s 3000 LBS The 1 ton is rated at 16K and the 3/4 ton is rated at 13K. What's up with that? In the past the 1 ton and the 3/4 ton was very close and the 1 ton dually was actually a few hundred less because of the added weight of the duals. So what have they done to the 1 ton to give an extra 3K of pulling weight???

 

[klenger]

In the case of the configuration for my truck (see sig), my GCWR is 21,000. A similarly equipped 2500 is 20,000, so only 1000 difference. The link below will take you to the towing brochure from Dodge for the 2004 trucks.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/3rd-gen-reference/2004-ram-towing.pdf

 

[willyslover]

Hummmmmm ug me thinks it sounds like Cliffamn is looking at the new ones LOL

 

[RHARVEY]

He has to look at new ones... he will have a new motor and he needs to work it...





Rick

 

[Cliffman]

klenger, I'm looking at the towing brochure for the 04. 5 as I write this and it states...



Ram 3500: Quad Cab 4x4 5. 9 HO Diesel I-6: 16,000 lbs.

Ram 2500: Quad Cab 4x4 5. 9 HO Diesel I-6: 13,100 lbs.



Plain and simple.



Would anybody care to explain why that is. Do we have bigger brakes, better transmission, bigger cooling system etc...



willyslover, Traden in the Vette dude . Need another pull truck for the new boat Oo. Oo.

 

[Cliffman]

TTT

 

[JRMora]

Cliffman,



(using the 4x4 6 speed SLT LB as an example)



3500's with 4. 10's. = 15,250 - DRW, 15,550 - SRW

with 3. 73's = 13,250 - DRW, 13,550 - SRW.



2500s with 4. 10's = 12,550



I believe the 3500 has bigger brakes (caliper - not rotor) bu that may only apply to DRW's. I also think the 3500's have a higher spring rate on the rear end.



Mostly, it's probably a "liability" issue.



Honestly, with a 2500 pulling a 15000# 5'ver your going to exceed the truck's GVWR due to the pin weight of the trailer.



Anybody else?



Juan

 

[Cliffman]

Yah, the brochure that I'm looking at is just that, a brochure, a sales tool. The towing/trailer chart that klenger has supplied us is much more detailed. The brochure that I'm looking at doesn’t ever talk about diff ratio. I don't understand how DC can get away with that. Having said that, even klenger's chart shows a huge trailer weight difference between the 3500 and the 2500 all other things being the same. My whole point is this, I know with my 01, the trailer weight was Higher for the 2500 2wd standard cab ~V~ the 3500 quad cab 4wd. Mainly because of the additional weight of the truck. For some reason this rule does not apply with the 04's. Why is that?

 

[DPelletier]

FORGET THE TRAILER TOW RATINGS AND PAYLOAD RATINGS!



Those things are garbage. The only things that matter are the GVWR and GCVWR. As Ken said, take the GCVWR's of the two trucks and THAT is the difference in what they can tow (with the difference in the weight of the vehicles taken into consideration, of course). My truck is also rated at 21,000 lbs GCVWR and so if Ken's SRW is rated at the same there is NO difference in tow capacity except for the difference in vehicle weights.



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

Sorry,

I see my post is late and you've basically already come to that conclusion.



Dave

 

[Cliffman]

It doesn't matter how you do the math the end result is still the same. You guys are not understanding my question. They changed the rules! It used to be that the GCVWR on a 2500 would be the same as a 3500 with all other things being equal. I don't know about 02 and 03 but in 04 the GCVWR on the 3500 is 3k higher then a 2500. So far with other feed back on this question it turns out that the 3500 has a larger diff. What else have they changed?

 

[JRMora]

Originally posted by DPelletier

FORGET THE TRAILER TOW RATINGS AND PAYLOAD RATINGS!



Those things are garbage. The only things that matter are the GVWR and GCVWR. As Ken said, take the GCVWR's of the two trucks and THAT is the difference in what they can tow (with the difference in the weight of the vehicles taken into consideration, of course). My truck is also rated at 21,000 lbs GCVWR and so if Ken's SRW is rated at the same there is NO difference in tow capacity except for the difference in vehicle weights.



Dave

OK, maybe I'm asking for this...



If what Dave is saying is true, I take a GCVWR - GVWR (21,000-9000) = 12,000# OK.



Now a 5'ver has between 15-20% of the trailer weight on the kingpin (lets use 15%) 15% of 12,000# = 1,800#.



If your 2500 truck weighs 7000# EMPTY, you are at 8,800# now.



Add 154# (What DC calls an "average" driver (yeah, right)) you are at 8,954#. That leaves you at 46# for fuel, cargo, a cute partner, etc.



Now you are over the GVWR!



That's why I think the GCVWR is lower for the 2500!



OK, I knew I was asking for it...



Juan

 

[Cliffman]

Originally posted by JRMora



That's why I think the GCVWR is lower for the 2500!

JRMora, check the specs on an 01 and then compare that to an 04. You'll see what I'm talking about. With the 01's the 2500 could pull a heaver trailer because it's a lighter truck. That was there thinking back then but they have changed in 04.

 

[DPelletier]

JRMora,

Close, but no cigar! You have to take the GCVWR and subtract the actual vehicle weight, NOT the GVWR. For example, my truck is rated at 21,000 GCVWR and weighs 7,500 lbs, so my real trailer tow rating is 13,500 lbs.

Cliffman,

What you're saying is that in 2001 the GCVWR (forget the payload or trailer tow ratings) of your 2500 was the same as a 3500 DRW and now in 2004, they're not. So, if thats true, did they raise the GCVWR of the 3500 for the 3rd gens or lower the GCVWR of the 2500's? I don't have the info on the 2001's anymore and only remember mine used to be rated at 8800 GVWR, don't know what the GCVWR of a 2001 2500 is.



I suspect that if they raised the GCVWR of the 3500's and left the 2500's alone that it has to do with the GVWR vs. tongue/pin weight issue that JRMora mentions. That, and perhaps a little marketing.



Dave

 

[JRMora]

Originally posted by DPelletier

JRMora,

Close, but no cigar! You have to take the GCVWR and subtract the actual vehicle weight, NOT the GVWR.

Dave

Oops!



SO much for new math.



Dave is right, but the logic still holds true. Any heavy 5'ver will put you over the GVWR on the 2500 in a hurry. (9000-7500 = 1500#) Especially if you pack like we do!



Lets see, three boys, one big boy, toys, food, toys...



You get the picture!



Juan

 

[klenger]

One thing to keep in mind when comparing 2nd gen 2500 and 3500's is that they didn't make a SRW 3500 then, so the 3500's were quite a bit heavier than the 2500's with similar equipment. It is also possible that Dodge changed the way they calculate tow ratings on the 3rd gens. It's all pertty subjective anyway. Also, I think that the GCWR for the 2500 and 3500 SRW is pretty much useless anyway since you run out of GVWR before GCWR.