Over Weight or not

[BDeMartile]

This is such a tough question to answer... In a word you will very likely be over GCVW. Axle for axle youll be ok if loaded properly. My opinion on 3. 73's vs. 4:10's I wouldn't change, youve got the ability to drop a gear if needed. If you tow 100% of the time then maybe change the ring and pinion. Legal issues who really knows I've heard lots of thoughts on the matter but not any hard facts. IMHO the bottom line is all about your comfort level and how safely you operate your rig. The most perfectly weight matched rig/truck combo(heavy) is a deadly weapon in the wrong hands and you can only anticipate and try to avoid the other "idiots" that you may encounter out there on the road. Drive safe and enjoy.

 

[Cummins724]

My brother just got weighed at the weigh station on I-68 in Maryland Friday. He had a 14k trailer, skidsteer, Auger attachment, bucket, tools & 2 guys in the truck with him. He weighed in @ 23,780#. Light turned green & said "Go". He about $#!! his pants when he got stopped to weigh in, but no problem from DOT. What are the 04. 5 CTD crew cab Duallies allowed to haul?

 

[Dieselnerd]

DOT legal generally means no axles or tires exceed their maximum rated load capacity. 23,780 is around the Dodge GCWR from the factory and the axles and tires probably are not even near their capacity at that weight.

 

[SAndreasen]

got 354s and auto wouldnt change to 410s for anybody! actually like to find an overdrive thats built to handle 30,000 plus gvw as gear vendors wont warranty theres over 26,000 i pull between 28,000 and 37,ooo gvw.

 

[Kirwin]

My 0.02

I have the same truck as you. I pull a 12,000 Holiday Rambler travel trailer (not 5th wheel). The 6 speed with the 3. 73 ratio will feel under powered at anything less that 2000 engine RPM. You can correct this with either a performamnce enhancement box, or you can go to 4. 10 gears to bump up engine RPM. I like to pull arund 62 MPH, at that speed the engine is only running at about 1850 RPM. This results in large throttle position excursions while using the cruise control to go over overpass type changes in elevation as the cruise control is always behind the ball.

If I can pull at 70 MPH safely, as can be done out in the western states, the truck is much happier. My truck and trailer combination weighes right at 24K. About 3K over my GVWR but no axle on either the truck or trailer is at its limit. The truck is stable but 5th gear is a little too low and 6th is a little to high at anyting less than 70 MPH with that kind of weight. The TST box I'm running helps by making the throttle excursions less (more power available) but, I can drive much more smoothly and get noticiably better miliage using my foot as I can anticipate the hills etc. These are my opnions. Take them for what there worth. Ken Irwin