Jumping ship and bought a Ford

[Red360]

6.0 junk? maybe

If I had my choice I would take the Cummins engine, Allison transmission, and Ford body... but I can't. I have been with Dodge/Cummins since birth... 1992. I have also been through all the crap with Dodge/Cummins too... hmm killer dowel pins, VP-44's, lift pumps, 5th gear nut, ball joints shot at 20K miles etc. I'm not asking for anyone's justification, just letting you guys/gals know that unfortunately Dodge doesn't build a truck for heavier loads and I didn't feel confident in the trucks suspension to handle a 15K fifth wheel. I'm sure there are just as many POS Chevy's as Dodge as Ford. My fingers are crossed.

 

[kbond]

If I had my choice I would take the Cummins engine, Allison transmission, and Ford body... but I can't. I have been with Dodge/Cummins since birth... 1992. I have also been through all the crap with Dodge/Cummins too... hmm killer dowel pins, VP-44's, lift pumps, 5th gear nut, ball joints shot at 20K miles etc. I'm not asking for anyone's justification, just letting you guys/gals know that unfortunately Dodge doesn't build a truck for heavier loads and I didn't feel confident in the trucks suspension to handle a 15K fifth wheel. I'm sure there are just as many POS Chevy's as Dodge as Ford. My fingers are crossed.

why even post when you know your going to take a beating on this topic. It's like a slap in our face for all owning dodges and you telling us Dodge doesn't build a truck for heavier loads. I think most of the replys where pretty decent. I guess we all should have left it @ "good luck with that".

 

[Red360]

why even post when you know your going to take a beating on this topic. It's like a slap in our face for all owning dodges and you telling us Dodge doesn't build a truck for heavier loads. I think most of the replys where pretty decent. I guess we all should have left it @ "good luck with that".

KBond,

I'm not upset... the board is being pretty darn nice... I'm being harder on me... I'm a MOPAR nut through and through... hech, I had to buy mama a new PT Cruiser, just so there is still a MOPAR in the family :-laf :-laf :-laf ... I guess my intent was taken the wrong way. .

 

[RustyJC]

I don't know about that. I'm pretty dam happy with my towing abilities with my 3500 srw mega. Not everyone is towing 20k down the road.

Did you miss the word heavy in my post? I have a 16K GVWR 5th wheel I need to pull. I can do that legally with a 13K GVWR/26K GCWR truck - like the Ford 3500 DRW Tow Boss. I can't with a 10. 5K GVWR truck - like the MegaCab 3500 DRW.



All I'm saying is that Dodge needs to build a crew cab truck to compete (ratings-wise) with the Ford. Otherwise, the man on the street is going to look at the numbers and say that the Dodge isn't rated to handle his requirements.



Rusty

 

[kbond]

Did you miss the word heavy in my post? I have a 16K GVWR 5th wheel I need to pull. I can do that legally with a 13K GVWR/26K GCWR truck - like the Ford 3500 DRW Tow Boss. I can't with a 10. 5K GVWR truck - like the MegaCab 3500 DRW.



All I'm saying is that Dodge needs to build a crew cab truck to compete (ratings-wise) with the Ford. Otherwise, the man on the street is going to look at the numbers and say that the Dodge isn't rated to handle his requirements.



Rusty

so the Quad Cab 3500 DRW doesn't meet your towing needs? You say a crew cab but that is really historically Chevy lingo right? If they made the Mega cab a LWB, it'd be close or over 23' in length. Must be a toy hauler with those GVWR. Empty it's probably 8500lb @ most right?

 

[BrianJ]

What you seemed to have missed kbond is that the original poster said the quad cab wouldn’t do it for him cab wise, he needed the size of true “crew cab”. While the mega cab would have met those needs it does come up short in the RV towing segment lacking the long bed (for 5th wheel) and “relatively” lower GVWR/payload rating.



I never saw him (or anyone else) post anything about the quad cab 3500DRW not meeting the payload or towing needs.



I don’t consider anything posted here derogatory to Dodge or the CTD at all. In fact, he indicated he hated to leave the CTD. And quite frankly, so what if it was, everyone takes the branding issue so dang personally when much of it is just personal preference.



The rest of it is just plain facts, the mega cab (even the MC dually) just doesn’t rate the same as any of the other 3500 “crew cab” or dodge quad cab 3500 dually long bed trucks.

 

[kbond]

What you seemed to have missed kbond is that the original poster said the quad cab wouldn’t do it for him cab wise, he needed the size of true “crew cab”. While the mega cab would have met those needs it does come up short in the RV towing segment lacking the long bed (for 5th wheel) and “relatively” lower GVWR/payload rating.



I never saw him (or anyone else) post anything about the quad cab 3500DRW not meeting the payload or towing needs.



I don’t consider anything posted here derogatory to Dodge or the CTD at all. In fact, he indicated he hated to leave the CTD. And quite frankly, so what if it was, everyone takes the branding issue so dang personally when much of it is just personal preference.



The rest of it is just plain facts, the mega cab (even the MC dually) just doesn’t rate the same as any of the other 3500 “crew cab” or dodge quad cab 3500 dually long bed trucks.

And what you missed BrianJ is I am replying to RustyJC's post so I am referring to him w/ my comment on the 3500 Quad. also just a comment the are options for 5th wheels on the shortbeds. thanks

 

[kbond]

Did you miss the word heavy in my post? I have a 16K GVWR 5th wheel I need to pull. I can do that legally with a 13K GVWR/26K GCWR truck - like the Ford 3500 DRW Tow Boss. I can't with a 10. 5K GVWR truck - like the MegaCab 3500 DRW.



All I'm saying is that Dodge needs to build a crew cab truck to compete (ratings-wise) with the Ford. Otherwise, the man on the street is going to look at the numbers and say that the Dodge isn't rated to handle his requirements.



Rusty

You got me curious so I double checked the specs on my SRW 3500. My truck is rated for a combined 23,000 lbs w the 9,900lb rating which you stated which allows for 2,840 payload. Am I wrong or would you miss your weight requirment by 200lbs? I don't have the DRW Mega cab specs handy but I would imagine they are higher. thanks.

 

[jnelson]

Good luck on your Ford. I like Fords, but not enough to buy one.



As far as towing heavy, I have towed between 30-34,000 a whole bunch. My insurance company has no problem with it. Heck, my gooseneck empty is 8,000 lbs. Stack on 10-14,000lbs of oilfield equipment and you got a good load. A set of Firestone Air Bags help wuite a bit.

 

[COBRAJET]

Your insurance may not have an issue, but when you hit someone hauling a gross of twice what your rig is rated the other party is going to have a huge problem with it. ALL insurance fine print reads that they do not INSURE or admit fault if YOU are using the vehicle in a manner it was not designed for. Do not take the reps opinion to heart as you put money in his pocket... GET IT IN WRITING. He won't do that.

 

[Silver600]

Does anybody actually know of people being sued or denied insurance coverage over a pick-up trucks GVWR? You guys throw that out all the time but is it a REAL problem or just a potential problem?



When I look at what people pull through my little tourist town all summer long, I would bet 75% of them are out of bounds for weight in some respect.

When I insured my truck I was asked if I planned on towing with it, I was then warned by USAA that if I towed something that exceeded my trucks axle capacity then my coverage would be denied. Seeing as how they used the term axle capacity rather than maximum trailer weight rating I would assume that this isn't the first time they have dealt with it. This is actually the first time I have pointed it out, I was sceptical too until USAA questioned me about it.

I would also be the first to agree that many people pull overloaded, I have heard that CHP is cracking down on that (but it seems like they just focus on large 5th wheels). I just wish they would go after people towing large travel trailers and full size ski boats with small SUVs; I have responded to quite a few wrecks due to that and it never gets a second thought.

 

[COBRAJET]

The Mega cab is great for a city truck or towing a boat around, but a poor platform for towing a heavy fiver. Sliding hitches are expensive and take up the entire bed leaving no room for ice chests or spares tires. I must see 10 F350 SRW crewcab longbeds to one Dodge. I can drive all week and not see a GM in this configuration although they make it. I prefer the Dodge, but must have an 8 foot bed for work so I am forced to compromise on the cab size... . like a lot of other Cummins owners. That is why I go back and forth between the Cummins or PSD in a crewcab. My kids are getting tall, but do not go as much as my wife and I with the 14. 5K gross fiver anymore so the Dodge is acceptable for now.



A 9900lb GVW is not enough for large trailers. All 6 of my Fords or Dodge trucks have been 8 foot bed 4X4'swith the largest cab available. They have all weighed 8100-8500lbs with passengers, fuel, hitch and other crap. The trailers pin weight is 2400lbs which has the GVW busted. The Ford GVW and combined GVW's went up in 2005. A SRW F350 has about the same GVW as a DRW Cummins. It is time for some beefier GVW's and a long bed Megacab. The Ford F350 CC longbed is 10 inches longer than the Megacab.

 

[COBRAJET]

FYI I am also insured by USAA and have read my policy. It is very clear that they will NOT pay if the vehicle is operated out of its design criteria. Plain and simple black and white. I know for a fact that SAFECO's reads the same. I use them to insure comapny owned vehicles.

 

[DPelletier]

You got me curious so I double checked the specs on my SRW 3500. My truck is rated for a combined 23,000 lbs w the 9,900lb rating which you stated which allows for 2,840 payload. Am I wrong or would you miss your weight requirment by 200lbs? I don't have the DRW Mega cab specs handy but I would imagine they are higher. thanks.

Rusty's right. Even if your truck only weighs 7060 lbs all loaded up with a full tank of diesel (unlikely), a big 5th wheel will have well over 2840 lbs in pin weight. SRW and short boxes are OK for some things, but not ideal for towing heavy fifth wheel trailers.



The Mega-cab SB dually, misses the mark as a HD tow vehicle. Personally, my next truck will either be a 4500 Dodge 6. 7 Quad Cab long box or (if they don't build it) a F450 Ford, but I'm not brave enough to get a 6. 0PSD so it'd end up being a gasser



Dave

 

[mlewis73]

What's a 14 year old doing pulling a 15,000 pound RV anyway?



Aren'tcha a bit young for that?!?!?

 

[COBRAJET]

My guess he means since Dodge and Cummins got together... but that was 1989 not 1992??

 

[kbond]

The Mega cab is great for a city truck or towing a boat around, but a poor platform for towing a heavy fiver. Sliding hitches are expensive and take up the entire bed leaving no room for ice chests or spares tires. I must see 10 F350 SRW crewcab longbeds to one Dodge. I can drive all week and not see a GM in this configuration although they make it. I prefer the Dodge, but must have an 8 foot bed for work so I am forced to compromise on the cab size... . like a lot of other Cummins owners. That is why I go back and forth between the Cummins or PSD in a crewcab. My kids are getting tall, but do not go as much as my wife and I with the 14. 5K gross fiver anymore so the Dodge is acceptable for now.

A 9900lb GVW is not enough for large trailers. All 6 of my Fords or Dodge trucks have been 8 foot bed 4X4'swith the largest cab available. They have all weighed 8100-8500lbs with passengers, fuel, hitch and other crap. The trailers pin weight is 2400lbs which has the GVW busted. The Ford GVW and combined GVW's went up in 2005. A SRW F350 has about the same GVW as a DRW Cummins. It is time for some beefier GVW's and a long bed Megacab. The Ford F350 CC longbed is 10 inches longer than the Megacab.

Hahhahaha... . A city truck. Now that's funny. Aren't all these City trucks? I mean come on man its not like the Ford is that much better. For the amount of weight you all are talking about, none of these light duty rigs "make the mark". You also left out goose neck which is what I'd tow with an offset hitch. That doesn't take up much room at all. Did anyone ever think the Dodges are way underrated or maybe the Ford are way overrated?? Aren't the axles the same? Tell me what Ford did that is so much beefier on the thier F250-350 lineup to state those numbers for towing? Yeah from an insurance perspective it may make you feel safer but I can tell you for sure it doesn't matter if you are in your stated GVW's. You'd better have a dam good Attorney.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

FYI I am also insured by USAA and have read my policy. It is very clear that they will NOT pay if the vehicle is operated out of its design criteria. Plain and simple black and white. I know for a fact that SAFECO's reads the same. I use them to insure comapny owned vehicles.

I really doubt that either of those clauses would stand up in court. They pay your claim if you get into an accident when your drunk, wouldn't that clearly be operating the vehicle "out of the design criteria"?



Also, I would suggest that you check the weight of those "large fifth wheels" by putting it on a scale. I'd bet money that most don't reach that 2800 pound pin weight - my 31' has about 1900 pounds.

 

[COBRAJET]

So now we are going to lawyer up with some more money out of pocket?? I would not consider the cases the same at all. It would be very easy for an attorney to sway 12 jurors that you deserved to have your assets taken from you for plowing a GROSSLY overweight truck and trailer into some innocent victims. My guess is your insurance company would gladly pay the max coverage you were paying for... not near enough and walk away. You would lose everything in the civil or criminal case... since stupidity played a large role in this premeditated act.



Now if you just ran it off the road and totaled the entire package the outcome is different. They will pay when you win in court spending your money. They already have the attorneys on staff and will gladly put them to work.



Your 29FRB is 29 feet long... a short and light fiver. They are set up for 15-20% of gross on the kingpin. My 36foot 3 slider puts down a weighed 2400lbs on the kingpin with a gross of 14,720. The larger high end ones easily go up to 3K. The 2880lbs is way more than a normally loaded and fuel truck can put on the bed anyway... closer to 2K most of the time

 

[Silver600]

Also, I would suggest that you check the weight of those "large fifth wheels" by putting it on a scale. I'd bet money that most don't reach that 2800 pound pin weight - my 31' has about 1900 pounds.

I put mine on a scale with my SRW, thats why I now own the DRW. Mine was just under 3700 pin weight, but it is a toyhauler and I only had two 350lb quads (700 total) behind the axles. It also has a bedroom slideout over the truck bed. Once I build my sandrail it will lighten the pin up a little.