2011 Cab and Chassis on Dodge Website

[FFeiller]

with the change out of the shocks, TBS, the edge was taken off of the ride in my 08 5500. it is my daily driver.

the one caution is check out the regs in your state for medium duty trucks,



i haven't driven a new '11 C & C 5500

 

[therabbittree]

what talk of regs for med duty trucks?. . what issues are you speaking of?... I would be having some weight added ie dumping flat bed, large under body winch, large front bumper with deer guard, central hydraulic system with cluthc pump, plow etc. . I'd love to get a air ride system that was beefy. . if a gearvendors or other od would fit between the trans and the transfercase that would really nice. . thenyou could keep the 4. 44 or 4. 88 gears. . and still be able to keep rpm down on the highway.

my regular daily driver is first gen w350 with a dumping flat etc. . it rides like a dream . . lol not. . ha

 

[HBarlow]

rabbittree,

I think FFeiller is speaking of the heavy-handed regulations dealing with registration, licensing, and probably even parking at his home in the socialist paradise of CA. Anything with a flatbed, even any light truck without a pickup bed in CA is considered a commercial truck subject to commercial registration, crossing scales, and other fun rules. Some cities in CA prohibit commercial vehicle parking as well.

From your want list above you may be the perfect candidate for a new Ram 4500 C&C. If you are okay with the stiff ride and 76 mph speed governor they are very nice trucks with lots of advantages and much cheaper than a true MDT. I was planning to buy one in late 2007 but couldn't get around either of those two limitations for my application. I wimped out and bought a 3500 instead.

Have you studied the Dodge commercial website and the body builder's section? Lots of great information.

 

[therabbittree]

thanks... ny is bad but not that bad. . all pickups over 5500 lbs are commercial plated in nys. . but thats not that big of a deal. . its funny my excursion weighs more then my w350 1 ton dodge but still has regular passenger plates. . ... yes I have checked out the 2011's on the ram site. . very nice. . just need to finacially figure it out ha. . lots of $$$ waiting on a retro active union settlement for my contract but a truck isn't best use of that 4 yet. . so we'll see. I'd like to keep a truck forever pending a wreck etc... . . The link mfg 4 ride looks really nice not sure on a price ?. .

 

[Barry]

Uncle Harvey,



Did you buy a C&C so you could get the Aisin or did you just want to use a hauler bed??

 

[RVTRKN]

I don't know if the rest of the Nation is the same as the SRC, but I was very lucky to get regular auto insurance, after I changed my 3500 C&C to non commercial use (you still have commercial plates, just registered for lighter GVW) and saved $1200. 00 a year. I was paying $2300. 00 a year for 26K GVW and $500,000. 00 liability . That is something I didn't think about when I bought my C&C. If I had to do it again, I might consider a reg 3500 and then have the bed installed so the VIN would come up as a reg pickup. AAA insurance reluctantly did insure it, but under the threat of pulling all of my insurances, which are a lot.

 

[HBarlow]

Uncle Harvey,

Did you buy a C&C so you could get the Aisin or did you just want to use a hauler bed??

Barry,

I wanted the Aisin transmission, the stack of many rear springs instead of the four (IIRC) large leaves on my previous '06 dually, the 52 gallon rear mounted fuel tank, and the body builder's wiring harness.

My experience with the '06 Ram dually was that the suspension was biased in favor of softer ride, better driver/passenger comfort, rather than real weight carrying capacity. I owned it when I was transporting and very quickly had to add Timbren donuts and new Bilsteins.

I guessed right. The springs on the C&C are stiffer and support the load better than my previous dually.

Bottom line: the cab and chassis is work oriented while the dually pickup is more of a compromise for everyday drivers as well as towing/hauling.

 

[HBarlow]

I don't know if the rest of the Nation is the same as the SRC, but I was very lucky to get regular auto insurance, after I changed my 3500 C&C to non commercial use (you still have commercial plates, just registered for lighter GVW) and saved $1200. 00 a year. I was paying $2300. 00 a year for 26K GVW and $500,000. 00 liability . That is something I didn't think about when I bought my C&C. If I had to do it again, I might consider a reg 3500 and then have the bed installed so the VIN would come up as a reg pickup. AAA insurance reluctantly did insure it, but under the threat of pulling all of my insurances, which are a lot.

I've been insured by USAA for 30+ years and accustomed to excellent service but was surprised when I called and insured the C&C. USAA had insured my previous two Ram duallies without ever asking a question but a few days after they insured my C&C they notified me they could not insure it because it was a commercial truck.

I spent some time and effort communicating with USAA and appealing the decision. What I learned was their computer had kicked it back based on the VIN being different. The underwriters I spoke with were explaining it was because of GVWR higher than 10k, iirc. I pointed out the lack of logic in their position, both of my previous trucks they had insured for years (w/o claims) also had GVWR in excess of 10k and all duallies they currently or previously insured also had GVWRs in excess of 10k.

Finally USAA agreed with me but had to submit a request to the State of Texas. Some regulatory agency oversees and licenses insurance companies and approves coverage categories.

Ultimately I was insured by USAA as a normal private vehicle policy at reasonable rates.

 

[Barry]

Wow Harvey,



Short of ordering one, I would be looking for a needle in a haystack. At this point in my life with my '06 almost paid for, I really don't want to go spend $50K on a new truck.



I was hoping to find a nice low mile pre owned one. Then swap all my equipment that would fit on to the new truck.



One of my dealers had an '08 dually with 32K I could have bought for $28K. It was BNIB.