leagally raising GVWR on a 2500?

[CumminsPower98]

My cousin needs to know if there is a way to legally raise the GVWR on a 2500 to over 10k so he can get legal for the car hauling he is doing. Basically we need to convert it to a 3500 by changing out the rear axle and changing the rating in the V. I. N. and paper work. Does anyone know if this has been done and if so how to go about it? He has done some searches on the net and didn't find much. I also searched on here and found nothing.



Thanks,

Mark

 

[dflack]

I think not. I am seeing all sorts of red flags and red tape. Especially in re-registering (re-titling) a vehicle to different Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (GCVWR). and insuring it for commerical liability... good luck! Just ask your underwriter and see his/her face go blank.

 

[jrandol]

Dont think that can happen. I used to work for a heavy duty trailer manufacturer and i had customers all the time wanting to rerate or derate trailers we manufactured. No can do per the FMCA. I am pretty darn sure Dodge will do the same. However, you can show the manufacturer the specs of what you changed, etc. and they may write you a letter stating new weight ratings with such equipment at certain speeds, this satisfies some states and doesnt others. Overall, you would be much better off investing in the truck that is right for the job.

 

[TowPro]

I guess I don't understand. the truck might have a GVWR of 8800 lbs. Now you said "car hauling". I would guess he is hauling them on a trailer. You have a CGVW (combination Gross Vehicial Weight) of 20K lbs or so. Thats over 12K lbs for the trailer and cars on it.



When you get a trailer like that you can "tag" some weight on the trailer, if you get pulled over, your truck and trailer tag weights better equle or excede the your CGVW.

Originally posted by CumminsPower98

My cousin needs to know if there is a way to legally raise the GVWR on a 2500 to over 10k so he can get legal for the car hauling he is doing. Basically we need to convert it to a 3500 by changing out the rear axle and changing the rating in the V. I. N. and paper work. Does anyone know if this has been done and if so how to go about it? He has done some searches on the net and didn't find much. I also searched on here and found nothing.



Thanks,

Mark

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

i have talked with DOT about this. they said they could care less what the sticker says in your truck. they go buy tire size, and rating. on my 2500 with 285's they said i could legally run 10k, 5k per axle.





jim

 

[RBachant]

I agree with CUMMINTSTRKN, here in Nevada at least they are more worried about tire rating rather than axel rating.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Here in Washington State they will ticket you at any of the numerous weigh stations and even portable stations they set up on the side of the road. The fines are hefty too!

 

[Prostock]

When you get a trailer like that you can "tag" some weight on the trailer, if you get pulled over, your truck and trailer tag weights better equle or excede the your CGVW.

In PA if that trailer is over 10,001gvw, your truck plate must cover both the truck AND trailer "in combination" no matter what state it's registered in. Hefty fines if you get caught without it.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by Prostock

In PA if that trailer is over 10,001gvw, your truck plate must cover both the truck AND trailer "in combination" no matter what state it's registered in. Hefty fines if you get caught without it.

If you are out of state and they are doing that to you they can't. They have to go buy the rules in the state you are registered in. I talk to the state of Wisconsin about this for some time, it is not even possible to register your truck to include the trailer weight here.

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Re: leagally raising GVWR on a 2500?

Originally posted by TowPro

I guess I don't understand. the truck might have a GVWR of 8800 lbs. Now you said "car hauling". I would guess he is hauling them on a trailer. You have a CGVW (combination Gross Vehicial Weight) of 20K lbs or so. Thats over 12K lbs for the trailer and cars on it.



When you get a trailer like that you can "tag" some weight on the trailer, if you get pulled over, your truck and trailer tag weights better equle or excede the your CGVW.

Towpro makes sense and here in Missouri the top pickup truck tag is for over 8800 lbs. I would just add a set of 19. 5 wheels with some 12 or 14 ply tires and you should be set. JMO

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

guys next time you buy tags fro your rig, license it for 30k and do the same for any trailer you have. we have been doing this for years and it saves a lot of money. 30k is the lowest rating for commerical vehicles here so the fee is the least amount of $. on our 30' gooseneck with a gvw of 24k the tags were $250, when we upped the gvw to 30k it dropped to $24. we also did the same with a 18' open trailer. it was around $125 for 12k, or $24 for 30k.



but don't think this will help you with the dot, they still only care about tire size and ratings.



jim

 

[Wiredawg]

Tough Subject.

Gents:



Trade for a 3500! I had a 2000 QC 4X4 2500 I added airbags, heavy duty rear anti-sway bar etc. I tow a 16K lb 5th wheel w/ 3. 4K lb hitch weight. My 2500 weighed 8,860 lbs with full tank fuel and my accessories. I needed to upgrade the brakes and put 19. 5s on to bring everything up to necessary limits and costing around $4K.



Well, I traded it for a 2002 3500 4X4 QC. BTW, everything, including exhaust, I swapped into my 3500 from my 2500.



IMPORTANT NOTE: When I was removing airbags off of my 2500, I found the lower bolts on the mounting brackets had sheared into on both sides. I really believe this could have been a disaster waiting to happen. My 3500 doesn't need airbags.



Upgrade to a 3500!



Wiredawg

 

[mbaston]

lower brackets? the one that mount to the stock spring assembly? Which bolts? the u bolts? I need to check mine I guess.

 

[Wiredawg]

MBaston:



No, they were the ones on the upper brackets that bolt to the frame and attach to the top of the airbag. There are four bolts (two on top and two on bottom). They were the bottom rear bolts on each side. All was properly torqued when I installed them. They had preasure on them so they never lossened or appeared anything wrong. Also, my fender liner covered them up as well.



I figure there was lots of weight on them and several times I travled with my 5th wheel on very rough interstate. Texas and Arkansas have some of the worst roads I've seen. I believe I was a train wreck waiting to happen.



I would check them often, especially if I travaled heavy on rough roads a lot.



Be careful out there, Wiredawg

 

[cscott]

Can anyone tell me where I can look up the load and towing capacities on my truck?



How do I find out what the CGVW is?



Thanks



Craig

 

[Wiredawg]

CSCOTT: Yep! It's located in your owner's manual. There's a tag inside your door jam that gives the GVWR and GW for each axle. TDR issue 35 has a chart as well.



GVWR = 10,500 lbs

Curb Weight = 6,407 lbs

GCVWR = 16,000 lbs

GAWR F/R Axles = 4,500/7,500





There ya go! Hope this helps,



Wiredawg

 

[CumminsPower98]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

 

[klenger]

cscott



Towing and weight charts for 2001 trucks.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/towing-charts.html

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by klenger

cscott



Towing and weight charts for 2001 trucks.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/towing-charts.html

Did this change any for 2002?



Thanks