Making a 3500 DRW into a 5500

[CUMMINZ]

Before you go nuts listen to this idea... .



After modifying my 2500 with rear springs and sway bar I towed my 36' Cedar Creek to the west last year. My truck handled the load great but my 35"x17" BFGs were just a little (lets say a struggle). My wife talked me into a new 06' dually. We now tow a 37' Day Dreamer with absolutely no regrets. It so far has no weak points except that the reverse in the 48re is not low enough. I now backup into my camping havens in low 4x4. The weakest point in this truck to beef it up a little would be the 17" 10 plys. I am no where close to maxing out the rear end but the front end is boarder line at times.



IMO the new 06-07 DC duallies are capably right now to haul 4500-5500 loads if the following is done:



Upgrade the tires to 19. 5s of any size and add several springs to the rear end.



I am afraid that a 4500-5500 DC would be a very commericial ride either on the interstate or in town.



Until the powers to be actually puts a 5500 DC on the road and the 6. 7L is proven I think I am going to treat my 06" dually as if it were my last truck.



19. 5s, spare inbed fuel tank & heavier springs are in my future. :-laf

 

[mberry]

WHOA!!!!!!! Did I hear that right!? Your wife "talked you into" an '06 DRW? We need more women like that in the world I think! Can she give my wife lessons?



Seriously, I would think that a heavier rear axle would be needed to maintain reliability in the long term on top of the extras you already pointed out.

 

[jelag]

I own both an F550 and (3) 3500's... the F550 is in a class by itself... . other than engine problems, the F550 has and will out perform the 3500... . I believe that the F550 was my worst buying decision I've ever made and would never buy one again..... But it has bigger frame, brakes, transmission, rear end, suspension, and the list goes on and on... I'm waiting for the 5500 to come out... and I'm trading off the 3500's over the next 2 or 3 years and replacing them with the 5500's but I'd never try and make a 3500 do what the F550 can do... .



I do expect the 5500 to out perform the F550 in mileage, comfort of ride, and most of all cost of upkeep..... Just my thoughts...

 

[CUMMINZ]

jelag

That is the type of opinions I like to here.



Thanks a lot

 

[GAmes]

Go for it!

 

[Philip]

One thing to remember. Your truck came out as a 2500. If you ever have a run in with a DOT officer. He will go only by the orginal factory rating of the truck. No matter what you have done for higher loads. He will use the VIN to determine that.



If the 5500 ever comes out. If it has a B series in it. It will be under powered for the size and weight capicity of the truck.

 

[McCRam]

The B series is a medium duty engine and is offered as an option in the F650-F750. If the 6. 0 Powerstroke can move an F-550 around, I think the 5. 9 or the new 6. 7 will do just fine.

 

[GAmes]

One thing to remember. Your truck came out as a 2500. If you ever have a run in with a DOT officer. He will go only by the orginal factory rating of the truck. No matter what you have done for higher loads. He will use the VIN to determine that.

I wouldn't call it a run in, but when I was checked by a DOT officer he only looked at the data plate, which reads GVWR 10,500. That allows me to pull trailers up to 15,500 without a CDL, so having an 8800 or 9000 GVWR is even better.

 

[Philip]

Until the powers to be actually puts a 5500 DC on the road and the 6. 7L is proven

Proven for what. Its to small of a engine for the GVW of the truck.

The B series is a medium duty engine

McCram this is true. The medium duty part refers to cummins spec's of having a life time of around 300k miles or more. That is not the recommended truck size rating.



If the 5500 makes it to production. If the only engine listed is a 6. 7 . I wouldn't touch it.



I would look at a something with a at least a 8. 3 or larger engine. When you looking at a class 5 truck. Get a class 5 engine to go with it.