2013 3500 14k GVW ?

[HBarlow]

Just a guess but apparently Ram will increase the spring rates only on the rear springs for the 14k GVWR. Front suspension will remain the same and cannot tolerate additional weight.

I wonder if GVWR of the 3500 C&C will increase to 14k of if this increase will be a bandaid increase for the pickup only?

Edit: Well maybe not. Is dimension A forward of the rear azle or rear of? If it is forward of the axle my guess could not be correct.

 

[RustyJC]

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

If Dodge even noticed that a GVWR war was going on, they've only been armed with a peashooter up to this point. I'm glad they finally decided to get competitive.



Rusty

 

[EGroeneveld]

I don't need more front axle rating for my 12' heavy camper. The camper loaded basically goes 100% onto the rear axle. My front axle weight goes up or down less then 100 pounds depending on passangers and if we have the water tank full or not (this is without any trailer attached).



So is going over 14K a big deal for GVW pickup truck ratings? For a guy hauling an RV, ie 100% personal use would they still be able to avoid all the CDL/DOT issues? And running empty in a 15K rated pickup for personal use be okay too? I know every state is differnt, bla bla bla.....



Because of Oregon requirements for trailers rated over 8,000 pounds I'm already T plated and pay $764 a year to be registered at 26,000 pounds, truck, camper, and non RV trailers rated over 8,000.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Just a guess but apparently Ram will increase the spring rates only on the rear springs for the 14k GVWR. Front suspension will remain the same and cannot tolerate additional weight.



I wonder if GVWR of the 3500 C&C will increase to 14k of if this increase will be a bandaid increase for the pickup only?



Edit: Well maybe not. Is dimension A forward of the rear azle or rear of? If it is forward of the axle my guess could not be correct.

"Dimension A" is the maximum distance forward for the slide in truck camper's center of gravity. It's measured from the rear of the truck bed forward.



Bill

 

[Bill Stockard]

If Dodge even noticed that a GVWR war was going on, they've only been armed with a peashooter up to this point. I'm glad they finally decided to get competitive.



Rusty

Yep, I agree... it's about time!



Bill

 

[Cummins12V98]

With 4,500# of pin weight from the Mobile Suites less than 100# goes to the front axle. My B&W hitch is full forward. So for a 5er there is no reason to increase the capacity of the front axle.

 

[HBarlow]

If Dodge even noticed that a GVWR war was going on, they've only been armed with a peashooter up to this point. I'm glad they finally decided to get competitive.

Rusty

Rusty,

I believe and I suspect you do also that Dodge has built a superior light truck for many years but the truck division has simply refused to compete in the numbers game in the brochures. I see merit in their approach. Those of us who understand the fundamental issues have always been satisfied that Dodge-Cummins would do a better job for us and have paid no attention to Ferd and GM's false claims.

 

[HBarlow]

I don't need more front axle rating for my 12' heavy camper. The camper loaded basically goes 100% onto the rear axle. My front axle weight goes up or down less then 100 pounds depending on passangers and if we have the water tank full or not (this is without any trailer attached).

So is going over 14K a big deal for GVW pickup truck ratings? For a guy hauling an RV, ie 100% personal use would they still be able to avoid all the CDL/DOT issues? And running empty in a 15K rated pickup for personal use be okay too? I know every state is differnt, bla bla bla.....

Because of Oregon requirements for trailers rated over 8,000 pounds I'm already T plated and pay $764 a year to be registered at 26,000 pounds, truck, camper, and non RV trailers rated over 8,000.

That is the issue and was my unstated question. My answer is I don't know but believe it would in some states. It would not make a difference with federal DOT for issues like CDL requirements because the owner/driver is private and not engaged in commercial activity.

It would make a difference to a driver who is hauling commercially with an ordinary driver's license because he is limited to 26,000 lbs. GCWR. The higher rated truck GVWR would mean he could not pull a trailer with a GVWR greater than 12k lbs. That is serious and is enforced.

It might require a private RV hauler like yourself to go across highway scales in some jurisdictions because of the antiquated but still enforced rules and signage. Some states have signs like "All Trucks Weighing Over 10,000 lbs. Must Enter Scales. " They usually don't mean private haulers but the sign doesn't differentiate.

Some states might consider the higher GVWR puts the truck in a higher weight class and and triggers unforeseen licensing and or insurance requirements.

I had a battle with my insurance company when I bought the Ram 3500 cab and chassis in early '08. I had owned and the same company had insured two previous Ram duallies for seven years at that time but when their underwriters noticed I had a C&C they cancelled my policy because I was, in their bean counter minds, "commercial. " I was able to persuade them but USAA had to seek approval from the Texas Insurance Commission. They had not realized unti I told the underwriters that they had been ensuring trucks with GVWR greater than 10k lbs. for many years. Most insurance underwriters and lower level state bureaucrats know little or nothing about trucks and RVs and obscure changes sometimes create unimaginable hurdles to jump over.

 

[RustyJC]

Rusty,



I believe and I suspect you do also that Dodge has built a superior light truck for many years but the truck division has simply refused to compete in the numbers game in the brochures. I see merit in their approach. Those of us who understand the fundamental issues have always been satisfied that Dodge-Cummins would do a better job for us and have paid no attention to Ferd and GM's false claims.

Harvey,



If I didn't believe in the Dodge/Cummins package, I wouldn't be driving one. I'm just tired of being at or over the borderline on GVWR every time I buy a truck to pull a 5th wheel, and I've towed with nothing but Dodge 3500s since 1996.



Example - when I ordered this truck, I speced it out with the highest GVWR and GCWR I could get on a 3500 4x2 dually, and that got me a GVWR of 11,500 lbs. For comparison, my RVing friend's 2012 Ford F-350 4x2 dually has a GVWR of 13,300 lbs. Thus my point that, if there's been a GVWR war going on, I don't think Dodge has even noticed. Obviously, they haven't been competitive in the GVWR they're quoting.



Rusty

 

[HBarlow]

Rusty,

You're correct of course and I understand your reasoning but if you and your Ferd RVing buddy do enough hard mountain towing you'll have to take your fifthwheel on to the next RV park and drop it to return to him and pull his Ferd in to the closest Ferd dealer where they have a lift to remove the cab.

Numbers do have meaning but real capability matters even more.

 

[rrl989]

My thought is I read somewhere that the 3500 DRW High GVWR will only be available with the 385/850 CTD/Aisin? Maybe the DRW that gets the 350/800 CTD/68RE combo (Less $$ ?) has the 12300 GVWR as that rating is not just about payload. For COG, as a TC hauler, I know that my previous 11' Lance had the COG behind the rear axle and the combo drove poorly. My AF COG is just in front of the rear axle, and adds 160 Lbs to the front axle and drives great.

 

[NIsaacs]

It looks like the 2500 might get a max GVW of 10,000# the top of class 2 pickups.

Nick

 

[Bill Stockard]

My thought is I read somewhere that the 3500 DRW High GVWR will only be available with the 385/850 CTD/Aisin? Maybe the DRW that gets the 350/800 CTD/68RE combo (Less $$ ?) has the 12300 GVWR as that rating is not just about payload. For COG, as a TC hauler, I know that my previous 11' Lance had the COG behind the rear axle and the combo drove poorly. My AF COG is just in front of the rear axle, and adds 160 Lbs to the front axle and drives great.

Yep, I wouldn't buy a slide in truck camper that had a COG behind the rear axle; however, loading the camper with supplies and personal belongings will affect the COG somewhat. I'm wondering, if in addition to the 385/850 CTD/Aisin combination, also includes 19. 5" wheels and tires to obtain the 14,000-lbs GVWR.



Bill

 

[HBarlow]

19. 5" wheels and tires were OEM on the Ferd F-450 of a few years ago iirc. That would make the new Ram a popular package if the 14k package does become a reality.

 

[jgillott]

19. 5" wheels and tires were OEM on the Ferd F-450 of a few years ago iirc. That would make the new Ram a popular package if the 14k package does become a reality.

I know that they had 19. 5's for a number of years on the F-450 pickup. But, I was beside a new one out east the other day that was wearing 17's again. Did they go back again on the '11's or '12's? I don't follow the Fords close enough to keep up with all the changes.

 

[RustyJC]

I know that they had 19. 5's for a number of years on the F-450 pickup. But, I was beside a new one out east the other day that was wearing 17's again. Did they go back again on the '11's or '12's? I don't follow the Fords close enough to keep up with all the changes.

Yep, they went back to the 17" wheels, smaller brakes, and generally cheapened the F-450 pickup a few model years ago. I don't recall exactly which year.



Rusty

 

[Bill Stockard]

Yep, they went back to the 17" wheels, smaller brakes, and generally cheapened the F-450 pickup a few model years ago. I don't recall exactly which year.



Rusty

Rusty,



The term I use for the changes made to the late model F450 is "neutered". :-laf



Bill

 

[rwitt]

Yep, they went back to the 17" wheels, smaller brakes, and generally cheapened the F-450 pickup a few model years ago. I don't recall exactly which year.

Rusty

See post # 9.

 

[HBarlow]

So what does the Ferd F-450 retain . . . the name badge on the fender?

 

[Cummins12V98]

So what does the Ferd F-450 retain . . . the name badge on the fender?

All it needs to have on it is "SUPER DUTY" and people just keep buying them even though the truck is from the last century. They just keep upping the specs and applying lipstick!