Diff between 2001 2500 to 3500 SW

[MattChilds]

I have a 2001 Dodge Ext Cab with the CTD, 5 speed man, short bed, and camper package. The truck does have rear disc brakes. I have added the HD Bilstien shocks and a torklift superhitch with 24" extension other than that the truck is stock.



When I look at the sticker on the door this is what I find



GAWR Frt = 5200

GAWR Rear = 6084

GVWR = 8800

Tires max load 3415







I went to the scale the other day with my Truck Camper and found that I am at 9420 lbs GVWR and I have not added my trailer yet. The ticket shows 4140 on the front and 5280 on the rear. When loaded my Haulmark 14' dual wheel trailer weighs 3800 lbs. When I measure tongue weight with it loaded it is about 400 lbs. I went back without the camper and was as 7020 lbs full of fuel.



So I am going to end up very close to the GVWR for the 3500 SW truck and about 1000 lbs over my GVWR. I should be well under my GAWR and my tire weight ratings.



From reading this fourm and others I am thinking that the difference between the 2500 and 3500 is just the springs in the rear. Can someone confirm that?



If that is the case I will probably want to order springs for my 2500. I would like to have a recomendation on who to buy them from.



When I weigh the truck without the camper the front comes in at 4400 and with the camper it comes in at 4140. I can see that the truck is not all that level so should I get Air Bags to level the truck and move some of the weight up to the front wheels?



Thanks

Matt

 

[SRadke]

Airbags are a better option on an 01 than overload springs. They provide a totally adjustable load capacity without comprimising ride quality. I can't comment on the overall weight numbers and , as far as I know, they never made a SRW 3500 until 03



-Scott

 

[RustyJC]

There was no SRW 3500 2nd generation Ram. That model was introduced with the 3rd generation trucks in 2003.



Rusty

 

[DPelletier]

The difference between a 3rd gen 2500 and 3500 SRW is limited to the springs; cab lights and GVWR sticker. As Scott has stated, there is no 2nd gen 3500 SRW, nor can you magically increase your GVWR to 9900 lbs by adding overloads.

That having been stated, if you are looking for real world advice on how to best handle your load with the truck you got, I would suggest air bags since you are obviously unloading your front axle.

With my 2001. 5 LWB QC 4x4, putting the camper on added about 200 lbs to the front axle. In your case, it's probably due to your SWB. Is your camper a SWB model? Where is it's center of gravity? How long is it?



Dave

 

[MattChilds]

if you are looking for real world advice on how to best handle your load with the truck you got



Exactly what I need. Thanks



Is your camper a SWB model? Where is it's center of gravity? How long is it?



It is an 8 foot pop up camper made for a SWB truck. The extra 2' is out over the bumper and my guess is that is what is causing the weight transfer. I am not sure how to figure out where the CG is.





I am going to try the airbags and see how it goes. Looking at the GAWR and the tires I don't think I am pushing the truck too far over GVWR. I will pay a lot of attention to how the trailer gets loaded.



Thanks for the help

 

[DPelletier]

Matt,

Only one other quick thought;

- loading the trailer for less tongue weight can sometimes cause handling "issues". 10 - 15% is usually recommended. Although your trailer isn't too heavy, you might want to look into a light duty set of weight distributing bars as they will transfer some of you tongue weight (which will be magnified due to the extention) to the front axle on the truck. This works great on my setup although my tongue weight is more like 900 - 1000 lbs.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[SnoKing]

I was trying to confirm the spring difference between the 2001. 5 and 2002 2500/3500 just this week. My overload is 52106402 and main spring is 52106016AG. I just talked to a Dodge parts guy and the aux. spring is the same, but he was unable to confirm the main spring pack. Maybe someone will go look at the bottom rear of there 3500 main spring pack and get the number from it.



As for your camper/trailer situation with a Short Box truck. I think you are really asking for a handling problem. The 400 of tongue weight way back that far behind the rear axle is going to unload the front quite a bit.



Using diestribution bars on a extended receiver will also put a lot of load on the receiver hitch that it is not designed for. So do not try to transfer too much. SNOKING

 

[MattChilds]

Today I installed the Superhitch with 24" ext and the air bags.



The Superhitch and ext seem to be built very heavy. I guess I added 100 lbs to the truck weight with that.





I am going to take a sort trip and see how it goes. My plan is to lightly load the trailer with about 500 or 600 lbs. I am also going to drain the water and holding tanks on the camper and carry most everything in the trailer to save another 350 - 500 lbs +- on the truck axles. My best guess is I will be very close to GVWR but way under the axle ratings.



I will level the truck with the air bags and see how it goes. If all goes well I will keep adding weight to the camper until it starts to be a problem or I get all the stuff in it I want. I will continue to carry as much of the weight in the trailer as possible.



Thanks for all of the suggestions.

 

[MattChilds]

Saturday we did a bunch of tests with the camper and trailer. TMALSS it works pretty good with about 65 lbs in the air bags, 80 psi in the rear tires and 70 psi in the fronts. The trailer is stable and the truck tracks down the road very well. The only remaining problem is the height of the trailer. It needs to come up about an inch so I am going to have to buy a different ball mount with a little less drop.



Again thanks for the info.

 

[SnoKing]

I was trying to confirm the spring difference between the 2001. 5 and 2002 2500/3500 just this week. My overload is 52106402 and main spring is 52106016AG. I just talked to a Dodge parts guy and the aux. spring is the same, but he was unable to confirm the main spring pack. Maybe someone will go look at the bottom rear of there 3500 main spring pack and get the number from it.



As for your camper/trailer situation with a Short Box truck. I think you are really asking for a handling problem. The 400 of tongue weight way back that far behind the rear axle is going to unload the front quite a bit.



Using diestribution bars on a extended receiver will also put a lot of load on the receiver hitch that it is not designed for. So do not try to transfer too much. SNOKING

3500 is 52106017AG. SNOKING

 

[NIsaacs]

Matt, sounds like you are very conscientious, with lotsa common sense. You will be fine with your combo.



The air bags will help a lot, however they will not transfer any weight to the front axle. Also with your hitch extention, you will remove even more weight off the front. A standard bumper hitch is about 4. 5 feet behind the rear axle, you will be about 6. 5 feet. Depending on the wheel base, most bumper hitches will remove about 20-30 percent of the weight on the ball, off the front. With an equalizer hitch, you can put some of that back. Keep in mind that the 20-30 percent that you take off the front, will go on the rear axle, this is in addition to the weight on the ball.



See my post in this section, under "overoaded tires".





"NICK"

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Put it this way. As a *baseline* for safety...



5280 is your WET rear end weight?



3415 * 2 = 6830# rear tire rating - 5280 rear end weight = 1550# till you hit the ratings.



Does the trailer have trailer brakes on both axles?

 

[SnoKing]

Rear axle is only rated to 2x3042 or 6084. Which is the standard size 245 tires. Dodge really dropped the ball on adjusting the door sticker on these trucks. SNOKING

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Rear axle is only rated to 2x3042 or 6084. Which is the standard size 245 tires. Dodge really dropped the ball on adjusting the door sticker on these trucks. SNOKING

Snoking, The GAWR is 6084 on all 2500's? I honestly have never looked at mine. However, the Dana70 is rated to something around 9000#, and the Dana80 is of course more. The brakes are the same as those on a 3500, I beleive. So what you're looking at (as far as I know) in terms of differences is one thing - tires. Get bigger/better tires and you can in theory increase your load... of course this is in theory. Practicality might be different and legally, don't even think about it. I know they make 3715# 285/xx/16's... I wouldn't want to be using those tires to put a 7400# load on my rear axle that's for sure.

 

[SnoKing]

Well I tow my 5th at over GVWR for the truck, but under on front and rear axle ratings. I just have to live with it that way, as I can not get a new truck. The truck without the camper package (rear overloads and sway bar) and stock 245 tires is rated at 8800 lbs just like the ones (most of them) that came with the 265's and camper option. Go figure, Dodge could have easily rated these trucks at 9200 like GM did with the HD2500. SNOKING

 

[RGH43]

This is my first time, I have read the replys/questions for some time. We are planning on full timing. Reading all the info, I'm still wondering what hitch is I should get. Looking at Husky, BW or Hi Jacker all 18K & above. I want to take it out if needed. Brake Controller: Brakesmart, Prodigy & Jordan Ultima 2020. Exhaust brake looks like B/D. Do I need airbags? Stock Tires OK or do I need to change them?

I "plan" on towing something like a Hitch Hiker 35ft, 13,740 dry, 16,500 GVWR

2600 hitch or

Alpenlite 36', 12,762 dry, 16,000 GVWR 2603 hitch.

Am I trying to pull something to big?? Did I forget to ask anything?

All your help is greatly appreciated. I only have a little over 5000k on this truck, I need to get it movin to get it broke in.



SOLD 1998. 5 24V2500 Quad 4X4 Auto, Pac brake 4. 10, to get the new 2003 as this one could only pull 11,600 according to the weight charts.



NEW TRUCK Patroit Blue 2003. 5 3rd gen, Quad cab, 3500 dually, 2WD, LB, 6spd w/3. 73's

 

[SnoKing]

This is my first time, I have read the replys/questions for some time. We are planning on full timing. Reading all the info, I'm still wondering what hitch is I should get. Looking at Husky, BW or Hi Jacker all 18K & above. I want to take it out if needed. Brake Controller: Brakesmart, Prodigy & Jordan Ultima 2020. Exhaust brake looks like B/D. Do I need airbags? Stock Tires OK or do I need to change them?

I "plan" on towing something like a Hitch Hiker 35ft, 13,740 dry, 16,500 GVWR

2600 hitch or

Alpenlite 36', 12,762 dry, 16,000 GVWR 2603 hitch.

Am I trying to pull something to big?? Did I forget to ask anything?

All your help is greatly appreciated. I only have a little over 5000k on this truck, I need to get it movin to get it broke in.



SOLD 1998. 5 24V2500 Quad 4X4 Auto, Pac brake 4. 10, to get the new 2003 as this one could only pull 11,600 according to the weight charts.



NEW TRUCK Patroit Blue 2003. 5 3rd gen, Quad cab, 3500 dually, 2WD, LB, 6spd w/3. 73's

Wow! 5000K that is 5 million miles. Other then it being a little worn out with that may miles, put the exhaust brake on it and get going. Should handle either trailer fine. SNOKING

 

[RGH43]

Correction, I stand corrected. That could be a mis-type on my part, it's 5000mi period.

 

[SnoKing]

Correction, I stand corrected. That could be a mis-type on my part, it's 5000mi period.

I think we knew that! Check with the PacBrake guy in Spokane, he has good prices. SNOKING

 

[PatrickCampbell]

rgh43 I think your truck will be perfect for what you're doing...