Higher GVWR Due to Upgrades?

[Stref]

My 1999 TD Ram (see profile) has a GCWR of 16000lbs. I have upgraded the Transmission and torque converter with an ATS stage IV, and I will be adding an EZ box for an extra 65 bhp and 180 ft lbs of torque. Being aware of the many things that are taken into consideration (brakes, Suspension, rear end, etc. ) to arrive at the GCWR, will these upgrades increase the GCWR: if so, by approximately how much?

 

[DPelletier]

Unfortunately nothing will change the door tag. The changes you made will help you tow and will improve the performance of your truck, but you'll still be illegal at 16,001 lbs.



Dave

 

[SnoKing]

Unfortunately nothing will change the door tag. The changes you made will help you tow and will improve the performance of your truck, but you'll still be illegal at 16,001 lbs.



Dave

The GCWR is not included on the door tag. It is in the owners manual though. Not sure that anyone could hold you to that number. At any rate the GVWR is exceeded very easily on 2500's with a 5th wheel on any size.



It is going to be interesting to watch Dodge and GM respond to Ford new much higher ratings for the 250 and 350's. SNOKING

 

[Stref]

Thanks for the replies. What is the cheapest upgrade to increase the GCWR - change to a 4. 11 rear end? If I were to do this what else would have to be changed - ECM flash?

 

[DPelletier]

The GCWR is not included on the door tag. It is in the owners manual though. Not sure that anyone could hold you to that number. At any rate the GVWR is exceeded very easily on 2500's with a 5th wheel on any size.



It is going to be interesting to watch Dodge and GM respond to Ford new much higher ratings for the 250 and 350's. SNOKING

You're right, only the GVWR and GAWR on the door tag. Any 5er that would put him over 16,000 lbs will also likely put him over the GVWR as well.





Dave

 

[SnoKing]

Stref, in 1999 were the 4:10 rated for more than 16,000 with a 2500???? SNOKING

 

[Stref]

Snoking,

For 1999 the 4. 10 for my truck was rated at 18000 lbs GCWR.

 

[Thomas]

FWIW, the 1999 slick sales brochure shows all Dodge/Cummins with:



Manual Transmission - GCWR = 20,000 lbs.



Automatic Transmission + 3. 54 - GCWR = 16,000 lbs.



Automatic Transmission + 4. 10 - GCWR = 18,000 lbs.

 

[SnoKing]

I am towing right at 18K combined with my 2001. 5 Auto and 4:10s, and I am happy with the performance.



Want an exhaust brake though. Just starting to looking around to them. Will most likely get another PacBrake, the transmission lockup controller is an issue that I am looking at right now.



SNOKING

 

[Snow man]

according to dodge the D70's limit is 18000. I got this figure but process of elimination. So id say the D70 is your weak link. My 2000 w 4. 10 auto is rated for 18000GCWR,my dads 01 3500 4. 10 auto is 19000,the only difference between his driveline and mine is his D80 rear. And since 2500 manuals were rated at 20000 at the same time, it isnt the single rear wheels or 8800 gvwr thats the problem,since the auto is at 19000 in a 3500,it has to be the D70. So form that i gather the limit of the 47RE (as delivered) is 19000. Of course this is all just speculation .

 

[Stref]

The exhaust brake is on my list, but I'm trying to upgrade in the proper order. Along with the ATS upgrade I got their electronic module to control lock-up. At that time I also had a deep transmission pan added. Then came the boost, pyro, and transmission gauges. Yesterday I installed a Westach fuel pressure gauge to benchmark before adding the EZ module. Once I add it I will monitor the pressure and pyro. If needed I'll add an air box and if that is not enough I'll go to a 4" exhaust system. Then I'll add a PacBrake. I like my truck and only have 53,000 on it, so why spend the money for a new one when all of these upgrades will cost less then the first year's depreciation on a new truck. An unknown that I am concerned about is the possible performance hit caused by the exhaust restriction of the "open" butterfly valve in the PacBrake.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I don't think that anything you do will increase your "legal" weights (GVWR, GAWR, GCVWR, etc) including changing your gears to 4. 10's. You may be able to get an lawyer to argue the case that since you changed your rear end gears to 4. 10's (along with doing the necessary research to prove in a court of law that there are no other changes made for trucks with the higher weights) that you were legal - but I'd hate to have to pay that bill. Outside of that absolutely nothing that you do to your truck in any way will change the legal gross weights it's rated for - even if you do a custom suspension, brakes, change the tires and wheels to 19. 5's, etc. What's "legal" and the true weight capability are two different things (unforetunately).

 

[Ron Bissett]

There is no restriction due to a small increase of the ID of the exhaust elbeo that take care of any restriction . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY

 

[juicedcummins]

My 99 only shows the gcwr in the manual . If Chrysler wanted it to be truely the max it would be on the door-jam like the gvw and axle weights but it is not. In my line of work I cross the paths of many dots and they all say the same. [if it is not tagged we can not enforce anything but the truck axles over the tag. ]

 

[klenger]

I don't think that the GCWR for the new trucks is listed in the owner's manual. You have to get the towing guide (which is not easy to find) to get the info. As far as I'm concerned, GCWR is total BS. There is no way that changing the axle ratio makes a vehicle tow any safer; GCWR is about warranty. The only thing that matters is the GVWR and GAWR.