2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission '98 2500HD EarthRoamer truck with 7500lb rear GAWR: Is this right and what years HD?

[Coalsmoke]

I was reading one of my old TDR issues (Issue 32 pg. 54) where Bill Swails of the EarthRoamer truck talks about the differences between his 1998 quad cab 2500HD and the one ton dually. On pg. 54, Bill has a table that lists both his rear GAWR and the dually's rear GAWR at 7500lbs. Now, I have a 95 2500 regular cab and its rear axle rating is at/around 6080lbs (IIRC), and same with my father's 97 extended cab 2500, it has the same rear GAWR as mine. Up until reading this article, I had never heard of a 2500HD, let alone any 3/4 ton Dodge ram with the same rear axle rating as the dually. Is this a typo in his article (which I doubt because Bill makes his case parlty based on this 7500lb GAWR figure), or does this truck really exist from the factory? If this truck with the 7500lb rear axle does exist, for what year does it exist? I'm wondering if the HD ever existed as a 12valve or if it was a change made after the 24valve switch had been made



Thanks and have a good one,

Stephan







As a side note, I have noticed that Bill seems to have switched to the dark, dark side of the ford powerpoke, even after in his own column he stated,

"I could have bought a one-ton single rear-wheel Ford, but let's be serious, my job requires Cummins power!"

I wonder why EarthRoamer changed to a ford platform?

 

[Regcabguy]

I was reading one of my old TDR issues (Issue 32 pg. 54) where Bill Swails of the EarthRoamer truck talks about the differences between his 1998 quad cab 2500HD and the one ton dually. On pg. 54, Bill has a table that lists both his rear GAWR and the dually's rear GAWR at 7500lbs. Now, I have a 95 2500 regular cab and its rear axle rating is at/around 6080lbs (IIRC), and same with my father's 97 extended cab 2500, it has the same rear GAWR as mine. Up until reading this article, I had never heard of a 2500HD, let alone any 3/4 ton Dodge ram with the same rear axle rating as the dually. Is this a typo in his article (which I doubt because Bill makes his case parlty based on this 7500lb GAWR figure), or does this truck really exist from the factory? If this truck with the 7500lb rear axle does exist, for what year does it exist? I'm wondering if the HD ever existed as a 12valve or if it was a change made after the 24valve switch had been made



Thanks and have a good one,

Stephan







As a side note, I have noticed that Bill seems to have switched to the dark, dark side of the ford powerpoke, even after in his own column he stated, I wonder why EarthRoamer changed to a ford platform?

He needed a 4500-5500 platform. Dodge didn't offer it.

 

[Nate]

My 98 is a 2500HD

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Now that the 4500 & 5500s are coming soon maybe Bill will consider going back to Dodge. Nothing like throwing a quarter million dollars at a rig and having it powered by a Powerjoke

 

[Missouri Mule]

Did Bill have a manual or auto? I don't remember.

The manual's have the hybrid 80 Dana (96 to 2002) which would give it more weight capacity.

I believe all Cummins diesels and v-10s were 2500HD.

 

[SnoKing]

Was he talking about the Dodge rear GAWR or the manufactures rating of the axle its self. The Dodge rear GAWR was based on two tire 245 tires at 3042 each. That gave the 6084 rating. The Dana 70 is rated at something like 7500 or 8500 lbs and the 80 at a higher number than the 70. The new AM axle in 3rd gen's is rated at 11500, but Dodge gives it a number based on the tires.



Did Bill's body builder re-cert the rating?



SNOKING

 

[Coalsmoke]

Was he talking about the Dodge rear GAWR or the manufactures rating of the axle its self. The Dodge rear GAWR was based on two tire 245 tires at 3042 each. That gave the 6084 rating. The Dana 70 is rated at something like 7500 or 8500 lbs and the 80 at a higher number than the 70. The new AM axle in 3rd gen's is rated at 11500, but Dodge gives it a number based on the tires.



Did Bill's body builder re-cert the rating?



SNOKING

Snoking, that's a good question, and unfortunately I couldn't find anywhere that Bill specified whether or not it was original door sticker, or if he was just talking about the axle itself and not dodge's rating or if it was re-certified for a higher rating. That really is what I'm trying to find out, which of those 3 scenarios was he refering to. Does anyone here have a 2500 or 2500HD (is there a difference?) that has from the factory on the door tag a rear GAWR listed at 7500lbs instead of the 6084 I have so far seen?

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

No, noone will because as said above the GAWR is set at 6084 because the stock tires are rated at 3042 ea. All diesel 2500's are 2500hd's. What Bill must have been referring to is that he had a Dana 80 hybrid. I don't have the article in front of me but as I recall he went to 19. 5 tires and wheels which was the limiting factor in the factor GAWR rating. I don't believe he had anything recertified - he was just going from information gathered and what he was comfortable with.

 

[Coalsmoke]

No, noone will because as said above the GAWR is set at 6084 because the stock tires are rated at 3042 ea. All diesel 2500's are 2500hd's. What Bill must have been referring to is that he had a Dana 80 hybrid. I don't have the article in front of me but as I recall he went to 19. 5 tires and wheels which was the limiting factor in the factor GAWR rating. I don't believe he had anything recertified - he was just going from information gathered and what he was comfortable with.

Ok thanks for the info Steve. I was hoping that the 7500lb was an actual door sticker rating. Up here, DOT looks at axle ratings as per teh door sticker, not GVWRs, so if I were to find a single wheeled truck that had a rear GAWR of 7500lbs, that would mean that I could get an extended / quad cab. Right now I am about tapped out weight wise and have a reg cab. Oh well, I guess a dually is in the future whether I like it or not.



Thanks guys for the help and info.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I've read all Bill's articles and I'm certain he did not recertify the GAWR on his truck.