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Good towing figures for 3500 - 06'

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Brake controllers ?

? = DOT towing mirrors

Gwb

Before I purchased my 06 dually--my wife and I studied long and hard about replacing my 315s with 19. 5x265s. I had added extra leafs to my rear springs and the 04. 5 was a great camper hauler. We just decided that an 06 with the 48re refinements and ebrake was the way to go for us. Your truck with 19. 5s will be an awesum truck. I saw a 350 ferd with solid white 19. 5 wheels on it in Charlotte today. It looked great.



CUMMINZ
 
Been there and done that. Had a 2500 and pulled my 37' Next Level with it. I was OK on axle weights, but 11,100 on the truck. That's way over the GVW. Because I was right at or slightly over the tire rating on the rear I went with 19. 5's. Pleanty of tire and pulled fine. Kept thinking that one day some State Patrol unit would see 2500 on the side of the truck and a triple axle trailer in tow. I doesn't take a rocket scientist to know I'm overloaded.



I finally broke down and got a 3500 DRW and have never regretted it. I does stop and handle better than the SRW. Also, I'm now legal on my truck GVWR. That's whats on the door, and that's what they will get you for. I'm a bit over on the CGVWR for the 3. 73 axle, but legal if I had 4. 10's. I feel fine now and no worries.
 
CUMMINZ said:
front axle 5080

rear axle 7080 Derr 5080 + 7080 = 12,160

RV axles 12,160

Total 24,320 So the truck and trailer weighed exactly 1/2 of each other?

Total pin load was 3460





Total rig GVW is 12,200 + 15,500 pounds= 27,700 pounds is 15,500 your trailers GVW or is this some # from dodge?Total recommended GCVW for 3500 DRW is 23,000 pounds



Where did you get these # from? I have never been able to find out what my 06 GCVWR is, only the GWR of 12,500 on the door.



QUOTE]





Im a little lost on your # and math, can you check them?



So here's the bigest Q of all..... What are you licensed for? as in weight?
 
Ma

I'll be glad to do this one more time. :-laf



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:-laf My truck weigh ticket dated 11-13-2006





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:-laf My truck/RV weigh ticket dated 11-12-2006

:-laf Truck total with kin pin of RV attached is total of 12,160 pounds. My truck GVW is 12,200 pounds.



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Now subtract total rig weight of 24,320 pounds from truck total of 12,160 pounds and you get 12,160 pounds. That gives you the RV axle weight.

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Now take 12,160 pounds the truck weighs and subtract the 8,400 mty truck weight and you get the RV PIN weight of 3,760 pounds.

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Add the 3,760 pin weight & 12,160 axle weight and you get total RV weight= 15,920 total for RV. Posted GVW on RV inside kitchen cabinet and outside left front corner of RV is 15,500 pound GVW.

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Posted GVW on truck is 12,200 on driver door

Posted GVW on RV is 15,500 on RV

Total GVW of entire rig is 27,700 pounds.


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DATA TAKEN STRAIGHT FROM DC WEBSITE.



Towing Capacity - Maximum (When Properly Equipped) [lb]o 15900 / 15400.



With 4. 10 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 15750 lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR)=12500

Payload=5375

Curb Weight=7125

Curb WeightFront/Rear=4361/2764

GAWRFront/Rear=5200/9350

:-laf Gross Combination Weight Rating(GCWR)=23000 :-laf :-laf This figure is for 2007 chassis cab but the figure is the same for a 2006 dually.



Look for the Equipment Identification Sticker to identify your vehicle's Axle Ratio. If you are unable to determine your vehicles axle ratio, assume you have the numerically lower ratio and can tow the lesser of these ratings.



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TAKEN STRAIGHT FROM FOREST RIVER/DAY DREAMER WEBSITE



Model 37RLTS

Exterior Length 39 ft. 0 in. (11. 89 m)

Exterior Height w/ AC 12 ft. 11 in. (3. 91 m)

Exterior Width 96 in. (2. 44 m)

Front Bedroom Int. Height 80 in. (2. 03 m)

Hitch Weight 2,480 lbs. (1125 kg)

Axle Dry Weight 10,361 lbs. (4700 kg)

Unloaded Vehicle Weight 12,841 lbs. (5825 kg)

GVWR 15,500 lbs. (7031 kg)

Gross Cargo Capacity 2,659 lbs. (1206 kg)

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I am NC licensed for 12,000 pounds.
 
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I would think that other than being a few hundred pounds over on your trailer, you should be perfectly legal. Every state is so different in how they judge this. For example, PA only registers the truck GVW. When it comes to GCVW the state only requires that you are below 26001, your pin weigth is within GVW of the truck, and that you are within the wieght rating for the trailer or you need a CDL. In PA, the manufactures suggested combined weight rating means nothing. It is listed no where on the vehicle and no where on the registration. I'm not for overloading your truck, but I have towed over 24,000lbs and been completely legal within my state both on GVW of the truck and GCVW of the trailer. There real problem is that there is no uniform laws through out the country.
 
So far all the discussion has been directed at pulling a 5er. What about some people hauling very large cab-over-camper on a 2500 SRW. This last weekend I sold my 11' 3" Lance camper to a couple with a 2002 CTD, DRW, 2WD. Prior to that I had a good offer from a man with a F250 Ford. I discouraged him from buying it because he didn't have enough truck to haul it. Some people think that all they have to do to there 3/4 ton truck is add air bags and there good to go with the big campers.
 
Come on, we all know a 2500 or SRW 3500 is just slightly more capable than a Dakota :-laf :-laf , but if you have a 3500 DRW well there is nothng you cant haul or tow :-laf :-laf :-laf skys the limit
 
Bertram65 said:
Come on, we all know a 2500 or SRW 3500 is just slightly more capable than a Dakota :-laf :-laf , but if you have a 3500 DRW well there is nothng you cant haul or tow :-laf :-laf :-laf skys the limit



I don't know about a Dakota, I think all you can haul with one is flowers to a funeral. :-laf :-laf :-laf

All I'm saying is that you can haul more weight with a 3500 DRW then with a 2500 or a 3500 SRW and the load will be more stable for something as top heavy as a camper. I don't mean to make a 3500 DRW to be "the sky's the limit" truck.
 
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Bertram65 said:
Come on, we all know a 2500 or SRW 3500 is just slightly more capable than a Dakota :-laf :-laf , but if you have a 3500 DRW well there is nothng you cant haul or tow :-laf :-laf :-laf skys the limit

Does anyone know exactly what the difference is between the 2500 (heavy) 3500 SRW and 3500 DRW is? I was under the impression that they ran the same drive train, brakes and even shared the same frame. The DRW does have two extra wheels and the parts to accommodate them. The 3500 SRW has additional leafs in the springs but not much more. Unfortunately, I cannot find any literature to confirm this. I suppose a parts listing might. Any ideas. I would like to know how these trucks stack up to each other.
 
DPeltonen said:
Does anyone know exactly what the difference is between the 2500 (heavy) 3500 SRW and 3500 DRW is? I was under the impression that they ran the same drive train, brakes and even shared the same frame. The DRW does have two extra wheels and the parts to accommodate them. The 3500 SRW has additional leafs in the springs but not much more. Unfortunately, I cannot find any literature to confirm this. I suppose a parts listing might. Any ideas. I would like to know how these trucks stack up to each other.

Supposedly the difference between the 2500 and 3500 srw is that the 3500 has overload springs factory installed and the weight rating sticker is different. Everything else the same. For the drw 3500, add 2 more tires and wheels and another different weight rating sticker.
 
TA Diff. 2500 & 3500

Let me tell you the real difference between late model 2500s/3500s. If you look at both my websites in my sig. you will see the additions I made to my 04. 5 2500 SRW. I added two full length leaf springs and rear sway bar. I run 315s x 8 ply. I was considering 19. 5s which would have made that truck an absolute perfect SRW towing truck. My wife and I towed 15k from NC to CO. last August and had a perfect time except for one emergency stop when a dumb cement hauler pulled out in front of us. This truck carried the load in the box just as well as does my 06 DRW. It actually rode smoother than does my 06 DRW.



If you don't have the right tires with ANY SRW you are asking for trouble. Going down I-70 thru Kansas @ 75mph with little traffic the 2500 did absolutly great but was a little squirrelly if you moved the wheel a little back and forth. This will be a disaster if you have to make an extreme move. Picture below and pictures on my website for 04 show how truck rode under load.



This picture is 3500 pounds of mulch.

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These photos with 2" front lift kit with no load & RV.



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:-laf :-laf



My 06 3500 DRW has just a tad bit longer wheelbase and overload springs from DC and when I tow my Day Dreamer there is absolutely NONONONO sway in the tires when I do the jiggle with the steering wheel. You would most likely get this same solid ride with a SRW with 19. 5s. :-laf



You just have the added security with a dually.



No squat with the dually. It is riding level. :-laf I have 12,000 pounds worth of tires on the rear and gross about 7200 pounds on rear axle.



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Gvw

Is there anybody who has actually been pulled over, had their manufacturer rated GCWR or GVWR checked, weighed and ticketed or warned that they are over weight? Have they ever pulled you over and weighed you, looked at your tire rating and said uh oh you are over 650 lbs per tire? They are concerned with the big trucks, thats where the revenue is for them. Unless you do something stupid to get their attention they will never even notice you. What will get you noticed are things like hangin 7 bicycles off the ladder and securing them with one bungie, not moving over when they have somebody parked on the shoulder, having that deer in the headlight look when the PA cops are set up in the rest area. The various state agencies concerned with vehcile enforcment could care less about you and your 5er unless you are for hire and have DOT #'s and a GVW listed. Ask me how I know. There is absolutely no unifrom law for the US on the weight you can gross with your truck and trailer and be legal. Common sense are tire ratings are the biggest factors. The GVW GCWR or GVWR the manufacturer gives you is garbage. In the heavy haul business we buy overweight permits all the time. CO will give you 50k lbs on a tandem on certain routes. I have taken my 85 Pete with 38k lb rears across the scale, did they come open the door to see what the GWR of my drives were. NO. The only state I have ever heard of even asking what the ratings of the various axle are is CT. I think some people just need something to worry about or and excuse to buy a bigger truck. Just my . 02
 
weight law

Just for clarification. There is no uniform law for those of you traveling that are not for hire. For hire is a different set of rules. Actually even for hire there are variations except the tried and true 80k GVW for a 5 axle semi. Not trying to start a war just wondering what all the fuss is about.
 
JDHenning said:
Is there anybody who has actually been pulled over, had their manufacturer rated GCWR or GVWR checked, weighed and ticketed or warned that they are over weight?



I have been told by multiple CHP officers that GCWR is not on the door plate of the truck so it can not be legally enforced. CHP stated that GVWR and GAWR are both on the door plate so they are enforced as is the tire rating stamped on the sidewall of the tire. My insurance company on the other hand did inform me that my insurance would be void if I were involved in a collision and I was exceeding my GVWR or GAWR. They (USAA) actually asked what my intended usage was when I insured my 3500 DRW.
 
Thats interesting about the insurance. The only thing I ever figured they might look at would be tire ratings. Sounds like we fall back to the under-rated Dodge eh? Cool I'm still interested to hear if people out having a good time are persued as much as I am making a living.
 
tire ratings

The 10 ply tires that came on my 06 are rated at 80psi but on the door of my truck DC suggests 65psi.



CUMMINZ
 
CUMMINZ said:
The 10 ply tires that came on my 06 are rated at 80psi but on the door of my truck DC suggests 65psi.



CUMMINZ



That is because at 80 psi the load rating of the 4 tires greatly exceeds that of the axle so by running 65 psi you will get a smoother ride and still be able to carry what the axle is rated for.
 
600

That is a good thought except for the front axle with only 2 tires. I could see certain applications pushing the limit of 65#s.
 
Tire Pressure

My 2006 2500 shows 50psi front for light and heavy loads and 40psi for light loads on the back and 70psi for heavy loads. The sticker is titled supplemental tire information. The tires are the Michelin E rated that came on the truck. Its interesting that the axle ratings on the sticker add up to more than the GVWR of the truck hmmmm. 9000 GVWR axles add up to 10,760 lbs. Tires are rated for 3195 @ 80 psi 12,780#. I wonder how much the capacity drops with pressure. I noticed that the tires already had small cracks in the sidewall around the bead. The things only got 3100 miles on it I wonder how long it sat around the lot. I dont anticipate the cracks causing any problems. When the Smarty gets here I'll wear em down pretty quick.
 
CUMMINZ said:
That is a good thought except for the front axle with only 2 tires. I could see certain applications pushing the limit of 65#s.



The door plate on my dually shows the GAWRs with the front tires at 80 psi and the rear at 65 psi.
 
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