Load Capacity Upgrades

[frank1]

Looking to do some up grades on my 03' dually. It bottoms out a lot when loaded with my Boss 9'-2" "V" plow, (about 950 pounds),two tons of rocksalt i the rear spreader (spreader is 9' long and weighs in at 900 pounds empty). Looking at the extreme duty hub conversion from EMS Offroad, to help aid with the added plow weight and also all the wear and tear front axle joints (replaced five, truck only has 42,000 miles on it!!! ). Also, looking at 19. 5" tires and wheels from Ricksons - a lot of money. The truck is also used as my fertilizer hauler, with atleast 80 fifty pound backs of fertilizer, 4,000 pounds plus pull my 10,00 pound equipment trailer. Just wondering on your thoughts on the upgrades and any other suggestions Maybe time to move up to a 4500 or 5500 CC ??? Just don't like the idea of new payments. Thanks, Frank

 

[HBarlow]

Frank,

It's fairly easy to improve the carrying capacity at the rear of our Rams with air bags, Timbrens, or an extra leaf or two in the rear springs but the heavy Cummins engine means there is usually not a lot of carrying capacity left over at the front.

Perhaps someone who lives in snow country and uses a plow can suggest a source for upgraded front suspension but I don't think stiffer springs would help you much without stressing other front end components.

It might be time for that Ram 4500/5500. It would be a tax deductible purchase for you.

 

[frank1]

Harvey,

Thanks for your quick reply. I do run air bags on my quad cab they do make a difference. I just don't want to stress out the axles and other components on the truck. The door stamp says 11,000 G. V. W.

I was just out in Harrisburg, PA at the sportsman show and they had three Ram Chassis on display, two with crew cabs and a regular cab, boy what nice looking trucks!!! I believe the regular cab had my name on it!!! I did pick up one of the booklets with all the specs. , very impressive as far as GVWR 16500 # with a 84" CA. , AND 26,000 #GCWR. Very impressive to say the least! Also, the front axles are rated at 7,000 # that would carry any plow without a problem! That's what started me thinking about upgrading the ol' 03' dually, would like the new purchase just don't know what this economy going to do -- not many calls coming in for new landscaping. I guess people here on the east coast are still recovering over all the snow we received and all the extra money they had to pay out to have driveways, parking lots ect... cleared out. Time will tell. Also, the Chassis trucks will not have the 800 # torque engines!!! I would think out of all the trucks Dodge has to offer they would also offer the 800# engine in the contractors truck (4500 & 5000CC) ?

 

[TCDiesel]

The rear No problem other then about $1200. 00 for added leafs. The front much more in-depth. . the trailing arms need to be upgraded, New heavier springs ,upgraded track bar. Now for the rest of the story, the hub will need replacing more often along with the complete steering replacement. The quick fix like air-bags will work as long as the bags fit inside the coil springs.



I would never recommend air Bags in rear, the geometry of springs are far more safer then bags.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey,
Thanks for your quick reply. I do run air bags on my quad cab they do make a difference. I just don't want to stress out the axles and other components on the truck. The door stamp says 11,000 G. V. W.
I was just out in Harrisburg, PA at the sportsman show and they had three Ram Chassis on display, two with crew cabs and a regular cab, boy what nice looking trucks!!! I believe the regular cab had my name on it!!! I did pick up one of the booklets with all the specs. , very impressive as far as GVWR 16500 # with a 84" CA. , AND 26,000 #GCWR. Very impressive to say the least! Also, the front axles are rated at 7,000 # that would carry any plow without a problem! That's what started me thinking about upgrading the ol' 03' dually, would like the new purchase just don't know what this economy going to do -- not many calls coming in for new landscaping. I guess people here on the east coast are still recovering over all the snow we received and all the extra money they had to pay out to have driveways, parking lots ect... cleared out. Time will tell. Also, the Chassis trucks will not have the 800 # torque engines!!! I would think out of all the trucks Dodge has to offer they would also offer the 800# engine in the contractors truck (4500 & 5000CC) ?

Frank,

I don't think most people who buy the C&Cs care about having more rated torque. The 610 ft. lbs. all the Gen III C&Cs have is plenty. I understand your worries about the economy but wouldn't let the torque issue influence the decision.

The only advantage the 800 ft. lb. rating would provide would be the ability to hit the tops of grades at 70 mph with 28k or 30k gross combined weights. I'm not in that big a hurry anymore.

 

[RVTRKN]

frank1, obviously you have an extreme duty application in which a 4500 or 5000 will serve your needs better. The 5500 and 4500 have the same GAWR in the front, so I imagine your need, if costs and ride are a concern, would be a 4500. But the max capacity would be the 5500, but the question is, what would serve you better? The 3500 C&C's are not that much different than the regular pickup, as far as GVWR for the front and rear, but the stiffer suspension is better, and there is less squat in the rear springs. I ordered my 3500 C&C with the heavy duty front springs, so it rides nicer when its at the max weight, but it didn't change the GAWR in the front, just rides better.

 

[frank1]

Thanks for all your imput, may go out this coming week and "kick some tires" (go to a local dealership) and price out a 4500/5500 CC. I'am not to concered about the stiff ride, due to the fact the truck will loaded with product or materials needed to run my business most of the year. Also, most of my business accounts are within 30 miles of my shop and all trveled on local roads going 50 MPH at most. That's the big reason my 03' dually only has little over 40,000 miles on it! Not sure that's the best thing for a diesel, (short trips and start and restart about 20 times a day ), but so far so good. Frank

 

[AH64ID]

As many have stated the rear is easy to upgrade, the front on the other hand has the same rating on a 2500 as a 3500 DRW.



Other than a 4500/5500 your other option is to source a axle from a 2010+, it will give you an additional 300 lbs of capacity, I just don't know if that will be enought to avoid the rapid wear you are getting now.



19. 5's won't do it, as thats not where the issue is.



I would take your fully loaded truck by a scale and see where it sits as far as FAW and RAW.



Can you load the weight any further aft? I have noticed that I have to watch how I load my truck to keep from over loading the front axle, and even then I am normally at or just over the FAWR when I'm not loaded heavily. An empty truck is the worst, my TT does a good job from keeping the FAW from going over 5200#.



Dodge really needs to put a 6200# front axle in these trucks, it would solve most the BJ, and u-joint issues. The suspension is fine, just up the axle to hold the load.

 

[frank1]

AH64ID - I some answers to some of your questions. We had a small "snow event " here in Jersey, nothing plowable, however, I went out and salted my commercial accounts. Just looked at my salt invoice and it showed I was loaded with 2. 45 tons of salt. I had all the salt off or "laid down" in two hours. As far as loading further aft, you really cannot. The salt spreader is 10'. 5' long and 4' wide at the top and tapers down to 14". All of the salt spreader sits in the 8' bed with the engine, and sprocket hanging off the back of the truck. When you get loaded with salt operator " fills" your spreader and your gone. Also, when I know there is not enough snow to plow (as the case this morning ), I remove the plow to help keep any unnecessary load on the front suspension.

I agree a 6000 # front axle would be nice. Again I do not drive the truck fully loaded as mentioned above cross country or for 300 miles, maybe 20 miles total. It's just dissappointing.

 

[AH64ID]

Sounds like your doing all you can with your setup. Hitting the scales would tell you how far over you are, and would allow you to purchases a truck large enough the next go-round.

 

[WBacon]

2003-2011 Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 4wd - Firestone "Level-Rite" Air Springs + Shocks (Front)



This does not increase the capacity or save on the wear items but may help with the bottoming out.



Has anyone here used these? They look cool.

 

[RVTRKN]

AH64ID - I some answers to some of your questions. We had a small "snow event " here in Jersey, nothing plowable, however, I went out and salted my commercial accounts. Just looked at my salt invoice and it showed I was loaded with 2. 45 tons of salt. I had all the salt off or "laid down" in two hours. As far as loading further aft, you really cannot. The salt spreader is 10'. 5' long and 4' wide at the top and tapers down to 14". All of the salt spreader sits in the 8' bed with the engine, and sprocket hanging off the back of the truck. When you get loaded with salt operator " fills" your spreader and your gone. Also, when I know there is not enough snow to plow (as the case this morning ), I remove the plow to help keep any unnecessary load on the front suspension.

I agree a 6000 # front axle would be nice. Again I do not drive the truck fully loaded as mentioned above cross country or for 300 miles, maybe 20 miles total. It's just dissappointing.

Thats the best part of the 4500/5500, 7000 pound rating in the front. Also, being that your exposed to salt more so than others, can that be your problem as well?