Payload numbers

[SOLER]

My truck is a 2500. Legal GVWR is 8800. My front axles are rated at 4500, or something close to that, and rear is rated at 7500, or something close (I'm shooting from the hip). However, the Dana 80 in my truck should be rated at 11000 just like the DRW. The only thing limiting it there are the tires. So, I should be able to put a lot more in this truck than is legal.



It seems stupid that we get these trucks because they should be able to carry a whole slew of stuff (large slide-ins for one thing), and of course the salesmen shoot smoke on a daily basis, and then get them only to find out that everything it is capable of hauling/towing is legally too heavy.



Two questions. 1st: What is the actual limiting factor in the low GVWR of these trucks besides the sticker on the door?



My 2nd question is this, since we can physically carry more, how can we legally register our trucks to carry more weight? One of my reasons for doing a conversion is so I can carry more. I plan on taking an old Chev dually crew cab and setting it on a 2 1/2 ton frame/axles. If I can do something esle with mine I will. I could just convert it to a dually. But even the dually's are under-rated.



Any thoughts?



Soler

 

[dresslered]

Usually it is the tires that are the limiting factor. I don't know any way aroung the sticker that is posted on your truck, but it seems that DC puts in a little margin for safety.

 

[klenger]

How much over are you thinking? I am over by a few hundred when towing my 5er, and don't worry about it at all, and it works fine. I wouldn't suggest going over by a 1000 though.



Here are the numbers for the 2001 trucks.



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

 

[rickhans]

Try searching the archives for this topic. We have had numerous discussions over the last 12 months and had a lot of good input. Just search for GCVW and various other combinations of the letters to find it. I tow a gooseneck rated at 16,000 pounds with a 13,500 pound diesel man-lift on it behind my 2500. I weighed on the scales around 24,500 pounds gross combined weight. The truck weighed in around 9,000 and my axle weight was under the limit. From everything I have read and researched, slightly over won't get you a ticket,but it is better to be right on it. In my case, putting the lift a little closer to the rear will easily take a few hundred pounds off of the axle.



However, it can affect the handling and may cause bounce depending on how your truck is sitting on the overload springs.



You don't have to have a CDL until you reach 25k pounds and supposedly don't have to stop at weigh stations unless you are commercial pulling a commercial load. However different states have different rules and don't necessarily follow the federal transportation rules. I don't think anyone looks at the Gross combined wt. even if you are getting weighed. Texas DPS only looks at the rating of the tow vehicle to be sure it is not over weight and they don't look at the tires. However, when I bought mine I learned that the tire on it did not come close to being able to carry the weight the trailer is rated for so I purchased some G rated tires (and wheels) to carry the load without having to worry abut having blow outs.



Apparently exceeding the GCVW would probably come in to play only if you damaged a component and tried to get it fixed under warranty and they found out you exceeded the GCVW, or if you had a wreck that is your fault and it was due to excessive weight, you might have insurance problems or get sued.



There are many 2500 and 3500 owners who report that they pull loads (commerecially rated) far in excess of the 24000 pounds GCW and have put multiple hundrend thousand miles on their diesel rams doing so.



This is a short summary of what I remember. Hope it helps.

 

[SOLER]

Thanks for the input

I have followed the posts simmilar to this one. But I have never seen any solution to it. My solution is to build my own truck.



I have hauled/towed over the legal limit myself with my RAM, and no problem. I know my truck willdo what I do with no sweat. My whole point is I don't like it. If I am in an accident, I don't want it to be caused by me being overweight, or be accused of such. I just want to be safe and sure.



I used to drive for a company that had these old POS trucks, and they weren't safe. DOT started hounding us (and for good cause) until the owner did something. I quit, and got rehired when he bought new trucks (Autocars with 425 horse CAT motors ARGH ARGH ARGH!!!).



I just wish I could legally change the tags to be legal to haul more weight. The tires aren't a concern for me, because if I can get the truck legal for more, I'd get heavier tires.



Thanks for the input so far. Keep it coming.

 

[JBlock]

Rerating? 3:54 Auto to 4:10 auto

You guy bring up and interesting question.



Towing capacity 3. 54 auto 9400

Towing capacity 4. 10 auto 11400



I can change the rear end gears, and the owner manual indicates the new rating is at 11,400 on the trailer. but the sticker tag will still slow 16,000 GCVW not the 18,ooo pound legal GCVW for a 2500 with a 4. 10 rear end.



Can one get a new tag from Dodge, I do not think so, any suggestions, can one get aletter indicating that with rear gears



Joe



Next truck will be a 3500 SRW 2004.

 

[BigMike]

JBlock, I called DC several months ago, gave them my VIN and they told me my GCVWR was 20,000 lbs, not the 16,000 on the sticker. I asked if they would send that to me in writing. They said they would, but I never got anything. My GCVW is 19700lbs. I know I'm over my GVW by quite a bit, but my truck handles it just fine. I put on airbags and check my tire pressures carefully. I just quit worrying about it.

 

[Mniver]

BigMike, really liked ur info cause I'm planning on gettin a new 5'er to replace my old TT, Looking at a Cardinal 33 rts, GVW rating of 14,200. Allready planning to replace tran w/DTT to help with the EZ Comp pwr. Also expect to add a Eng Brake and 4" exahust as the cash flow improves. Do you think my truck will handle it?

 

[BigMike]

Mnriver, I have the 5spd manual and don't know a whole lot about the auto like you have. I think I've seen some posts that indicate there may be a problem with an auto and an exhaust brake. I'm sure someone will weigh in on that. Otherwise, I don't think you should have a problem. Even though the Cardinal is rated at 14. 2k, I've never had mine that heavy. I'm 10. 8k dry and maximum I've weighed loaded is 13k. I always tow with my tanks empty, other than a little water. We love our Cardinal. Bought it new in April and have used it extensively this summer. I have several minor warranty work items I'll have taken care of at the end of the season. We're going full time in a couple of years, and I think I have the perfect combination to do that.



Good luck and see ya down the road.

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Mniver

BigMike, really liked ur info cause I'm planning on gettin a new 5'er to replace my old TT, Looking at a Cardinal 33 rts, GVW rating of 14,200.

We tow a Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS - 36' triple slide - with a 13,500 lb GVWR. Loaded and ready to hit the road, our GVW is 10,380 lbs (10,500 lb GVWR) and GCW is 21,180 lbs (21,500 lb GCWR). In other words, we're maxing out a 3500 with this 5ver.



Are you seriously considering towing a 5ver that could be 700 lbs heavier than ours with a 2500? You could easily be 1700-2000 lbs over your GVWR and 1800 lbs over your GCWR, even if you get it raised to 20,000 lbs. - if you don't, you would be 5800 lbs over a 16,000 lb GCWR. I would suggest that you carefully consider the potential legal consequences (e. g. , civil or "tort" lawsuits) should you be involved in an accident, regardless of fault, while knowingly running substantially over the manufacturer's ratings.



Rusty

 

[rickhans]

It is my understanding that the GCVW is more of an arbitrary number set by Chrysler rather than a scientificly calculated number. From what I have read that number has been increased significantly in later models of the 2500 and 3500 although there have not been any significant change in the suspension.



From everything I have read I understand that the 2500 has virtually the same suspension and weight capacity as the 3500, the primary difference being that the rear axle capacity is greater on the 3500 because of the heavier duty axle and 4 wheels instead of 2. Yet, the 3500 weighs more which can reduce the weight that you can tow if you are close to the legal max. that requires a CDL.



I believe that there are many knowledgable individuals towing with both 2500 and 3500 over the GCVWR safely. There are many that are licensed for commercial hauling and legally pulling loads above 25000 combined pounds safely. Those doing it legally have registered their truck at a higher GVW (re-rated) than what is on the door plate, so I have been told.



I have never owned a dually and don't really want one. I have towed for many years with 1/2 T vehicles (although I never exceeded 10k pound load) and for the last 4 years with my 2500 RAM. I have had many blowouts at high speeds over the years with trailer attached (although none yet on my RAM), and never had a problem controlling the truck.