3500 srw gvw. S/B vs L/B

[dward]

I'm looking at a 13 0r 14 3500 qc, 4x4 with the Aisin.
I will eventually tow a 36' Toyhauler 5th wheel. I prefer a s/b, but not sure if the s/b has the same 12,300 gvw as the l/b?
A local dealer is advertising $9k off a new 14. Thats without negotiating.
I know a drw would be a better tow veh for a large TH, but I have a drw now and want something better for a daily driver.
Also, I'm reading that the 3:42 seems to be adequate for towing. Any thoughts?
What is the tow rating for a 3500 4x4, s/b with Aisin and the 3:42s.
Thanks
I havent driven a 13 yet, but I'm assuming it will be a little nicer than my 03.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

It will be way nicer. SRW 3500s are rated to tow about 17,000 lb. with their 3.42 ratio. 6' bed crew cabs are gvw 11,700, 8' are 12,300. If you find a leftover 13 that you like, you will save even more. I have made up several lists for prospective buyers with different desires.

 

[dward]

Thanks Joseph
Thats a pretty good tow rating. Probably not enough difference in gvw to worry about getting the s/b. I'm looking at a pin weight around 3k lbs.
I wouldn't mind a 13, but i can't seem to find many in So Cal with the Aisin.
What do you think the discount would be on a 13.
A local dealer is giving a $6k dealer discount plus the $2500 Ram and a $500 military rebate off a 14 Longhorn or Laramie. Not sure if the leather is worth over $5k. Also, they are both long beds.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have found plenty of 13s with Aisin. YOu should get at least 2k, maybe 4k more discount on a 13. If you want me to look around, and would be willing to travel some, contact me at -- email address removed --

 

[Jeff Knight]

Keene Dodge in MD has 4 leftover 13's with discounts of $15K.

 

[PC12Driver]

The trailer tow rating isn't much of a concern, but that pin weight will be. The 3500 srws only have a little over 3k left to give on the rear axle, and then you're overloading the rear tires. If your 3k pin weight is the factory advertised dry pin weight, then assume you'll be a few hundred pounds over that when you're ready to go. Odds are you'll be solidly past the weight rating of your tires.

 

[Dieselnerd]

The trailer tow rating isn't much of a concern, but that pin weight will be. The 3500 srws only have a little over 3k left to give on the rear axle, and then you're overloading the rear tires. If your 3k pin weight is the factory advertised dry pin weight, then assume you'll be a few hundred pounds over that when you're ready to go. Odds are you'll be solidly past the weight rating of your tires.

I agree, pin weight is the main concern with a SRW. That's the main reason I went with a DRW this time. I got tired of always putting the heavy stuff behind the axles for travel in my 5th wheel. I always had plenty of towing power but I was very careful with weight distribution. I did manage to keep the weight on my truck rear axle 250 pounds under the maximum tire load rating.

I was also going deep into the RAM truck site tow ratings by truck model (Laramie, Big Horn, etc.) and was surprised to find that with 2 passengers and a 4:10 axle, the real tow rating of my Laramie DRW is not 29K but instead just over 23,000 pounds. Changing gear ratios to 3:73 lowered the rating to 21K and when I plugged in 3:42 for my truck, it lowered the tow rating to just over 12K, not nearly good enough for my current trailer. So, all the talk about a 17K tow rating for the 3:42 only takes into account the lightest truck available, not the actual model being driven. You can look up your specific truck after you play around on this site for awhile. The specifics are well hidden but for most trucks, SRW or DRW, the REAL manufacturer tow rating for a 3:42 rear axle is just over 12,000 pounds after you add 2 passengers.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/tow_chart/

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I just checked the Keene website; they have two Longhorn SRW and two Longhorn duallies, $51k and 53K, all with Aisin. WOW, great prices.

 

[KL7J]

I agree, pin weight is the main concern with a SRW. That's the main reason I went with a DRW this time. I got tired of always putting the heavy stuff behind the axles for travel in my 5th wheel. I always had plenty of towing power but I was very careful with weight distribution. I did manage to keep the weight on my truck rear axle 250 pounds under the maximum tire load rating.

I was also going deep into the RAM truck site tow ratings by truck model (Laramie, Big Horn, etc.) and was surprised to find that with 2 passengers and a 4:10 axle, the real tow rating of my Laramie DRW is not 29K but instead just over 23,000 pounds. Changing gear ratios to 3:73 lowered the rating to 21K and when I plugged in 3:42 for my truck, it lowered the tow rating to just over 12K, not nearly good enough for my current trailer. So, all the talk about a 17K tow rating for the 3:42 only takes into account the lightest truck available, not the actual model being driven. You can look up your specific truck after you play around on this site for awhile. The specifics are well hidden but for most trucks, SRW or DRW, the REAL manufacturer tow rating for a 3:42 rear axle is just over 12,000 pounds after you add 2 passengers.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/tow_chart/

Depends on body configuration, engine and transmission.

I have SRW 3500 CC 4x4 LB Longhorn Cummins/Aisin and it is rated tow 16650 and pay load 4120 lbs

This pdf link allows easy comparsions:

http://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2014_RAM.3500.Towing.Specs.pdf

 

[Dieselnerd]

So which chart should we believe? Both from Chrysler but different results.
If you go to http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/tow_chart/ and look at the right side of the page you will see "Look up my vehicle".
Plug in your body style etc. and you will come up with a trailer weight that is your maximum. It isn't the same as the pdf. Or if you have the truck, put in your VIN.

Then, make sure you click on the slider itself and the actual maximum trailer weight will show.

In the pdf my truck shows 28890 as a maximum trailer weight but entering my VIN as described above shows a maximum towing weight of 23450.

 

[Jim W]

I always use the Ram Body Builder.com web sire for my towing information on any year truck from 2004-2014. The later years have more information than the earlier years. But I think it has more complete for all of the required information on the various models of the Ram trucks.

For 2014 you would click on the MY and then the model you than get an informational screen and under technical information the heading of Base Weight/GCW/Payload/Trailer Tow, then click 2500 or 3500. Under this heading you can search for the trim level and style of truck say 4X2 or4X4, also if it is a Canadian truck only.


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

Jim W.