Payload Problem

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Picked up my Y2K last night after a long wait and the beast is awesome. It's a 2500 QC, LB with a 3. 54 camping and towing packages and all the other options. Anyway when I ordered it the dealer brochure said the maximum payload was 2980lbs. The window sticker says payload is 2290 lbs. My problem is the Camper Information sheet in the glove box reads Maximum Cargo weight 0887lbs. How is this possible. I bought the truck with every intention to use it for hauling a slide in camper. My 1995 ram 2500 had a Cargo weight of 1800lbs. Can this Camper Information sheet be wrong. Does anyone with a similar truck have the same cargo weight. Please help as I am extremely confused and I have to say not to happy if it is 0887lbs.


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Y2K, 2500, SLT, QC, LB, Cummins of course, 3. 54, driftwood, tow and camper, trip computer, sliding rear window, agate leather, and all the rest of the options I could fit, including auto (my wifes request)

 

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LouieM:
Your GVWR is 8800# no matter whether you have the camper package or not (the extra springs and torsion bar simply add stability due to the high center of gravity with campers). So, find yourself some scales (sometimes the weigh stations on the Interstate will still readout even if they're closed) and find out how much your rig weighs preferably with full fuel and typical passenger(s). It should be around 7100-7400#. Subtract that from 8800# and that's your authorized payload. I know that's not much and that many campers weigh a lot more than 1400# but for warranty purposes, that's what DC will authorize. It is for this very reason that the 3500 makes for a better camper rig. But take heart, the 2500 will usually TOW more than the 3500 (but not by much). Hope that helps.
Ron.

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'00 2500, 4x4, QC, Cummins ETC/6spd, 3. 54, Camper, Trailer, SLT, 4ABS, Flame Red/Silver, Agate

 

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Ron,your are correct. Believe or not my SWB 4x4 has a higher load capacity than a LWB 4x4. I still have the 8800lb max. Weight of my truck is 6950lb with me in it. This gives me a load of 1850. This holds true for actual trailer weights also. GCVW-Truckweight=actual towing capacity.

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1999 2500 Cummins w/4spd auto,Quad Cab,SWB,4x4,Flame red ,all options less leather and radio controls on steering wheel,OEM color matched runningboards,DeeZee bedrails painted black,Power Vision Mirrors,OEM ventshades,Oem sill covers,OEM underrail bedliner

 

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I have a 96 "camper special", and while I don't regret getting the package, I was ticked off to find out after buying the vehicle, that it had such a low payload capacity. The dealer had the ba**s to tell me that "There's not a camper it can't handle!" What a load of @#$%. 8800GVW-6950vehicle weight=1850lbs. The truck is a 6 seater, so deduct 6 x 150lbs=950lbs payload... . They can tow a lot but theoretically, you can't put a lot in the box! I have put over 2700lbs of gravel in the box and it does not even sag downwards, just levels out the truck, so, I know it can handle the weight, it's just not legal... Bottom line---when buying a truck, get it in writing what the vehicle is capable of carrying and don't listen to the "salesman story"... I believe this is true of any vehicle, as there is a GMC gasser in the family, and it is a camper special 3/4 ton, and it can only carry about 600lbs more than the Dodge, which I attribute to it's light weight power plant.

 

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I have to think that all ratings for load and towing are accurate. And I agree with Clacker that they can be misleading,especially by a good salesman. I speak from my own experience as well. The main reason I have a 99 Ram w/Cummins is I bought a 25ft trailer that a salesman said could be pulled by my 98 Ram w/360. That rig was traded in after only 8000mi and 7mo of ownership. The main thing that needs to be done is to educate truckowners. Thats one of the reasons I joined TDR. My formula should read as follows. 8800lb-6950lbtruckweight-passengers,baggage,water,propane=payload. And GCVW-6950lbtruckweight-passengers,hitch,water,propane,baggage=trailer weight. The window sticker on the 98 had the trailer rating listed. In real small print was the deductions that needed to be accounted for. The sales brochure has at the bottom ,where the ratings are listed,the same tiny print for deductions. I missed reading those and Im sure others have to.

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1999 2500 Cummins w/4spd auto,Quad Cab,SWB,4x4,Flame red ,all options less leather and radio controls on steering wheel,OEM color matched runningboards,DeeZee bedrails painted black,Power Vision Mirrors,OEM ventshades,Oem sill covers,OEM underrail bedliner

 

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me2! I bought the truck and never looked at any payload specs. I used to laugh when I passed some old fuddy holding up traffic with a Good Sam sticker on the back of that thing that made the truck look like a praying mantis pulling a tarantula. Now I am one. I got the hots for a trailer and on my first trip to the trailer lot I just assumed I could pull anything that was made. WRONG! There isn't a 5er made with 3 slides that the Dodge A/T can pull. So I settled on a 26'TT with one slide. Not unhappy at all--just load shocked. I then went to the TDR last year in Minden and attended a seminar hosted by the Dodge OEM team. "The truck is designed for a specific maximum load. It's not just putting air bags on to level the load. EVERYTHING has a design spec. Axles, bearings, rear end gears, transmission, EVERYTHING. Oh sure, the truck will pull your overloads down the road, but you're accelerating the end of it's useful life. " I would venture that 80% of the trucks were overloaded. Who knows--I still am more comfortable being within specs than on the edge and I did pay attention to the specs when I bought my TT.

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99' Stock Quad 4x4 A/T LB 3. 54 20K Miles.
Did have both 18-11-99 & 18-08-99 TSB's performed.
Pull a 7000# Terry 26H TT over, around and thru the Cascades.

Enhancements: Blow-by bottle.

Founder/President of the: KISS MY DIESEL CLUB.

 

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I don't subscribe to the idea that the various maximum ratings - GVWR and GCWR - are correct as published by DC.

I have the 1999 and 2000 Ram Sales Brochures in front of me, both opened to the page 24-page 25 spread. These pages look similar in both brochures. However, a study of the tables reveals some major differences. I will limit my comments to the Ram 2500 Cummins diesel because that is where I have noticed major differences in the two brochures and also where the differences apply to me.

The 1999 brochure shows the GVWR/GCWR for manual 5-speeds as 8800/20000.
The 1999 brochure shows the GVWR/GCWR for auto 4-speed with 3:54 as 8800/16000.
The 1999 brochure shows the GVWR/GCWR for auto 4-speed with 4:10 as 8800/18000.

The 2000 brochure never mentions transmission types but does mention the following: axle ratios, regular cab vs. quad cab, and 4x2 vs. 4x4.
Regular cab and quad cab 4x2 3:54/4:10 is shown as 8800/20000.
Regular cab 4x4 3:54/4:10 is shown as 8800/20000.
Quad cab 4x4 4:10 is shown as 8800/18000.

The 2000 owners manual (you don't get this until you're a proud owner) shows the following GCWR's.

Regular cab and quad cab 4x2 and regular cab 4x4:
manual 5-spd or 6-spd is 20000.
auto with 3:54 is 16000.
auto with 4:10 is 18000.

Quad cab 4x4:
manual 5-spd with 3:54 is 16000. .
manual 5-spd with 4:10 is 18000.
manual 6-spd with 4:10 is 18000.
auto with 3:54 is 16000.
auto with 4:10 is 18000.

I ordered my model year 2000 Quad Cab Ram 2500 with manual 5-speed and 3:54 last August, before the current sales brochure was available. What a surprise to see that my GCWR is 16000. Can any of you see the logic in this?

Perhaps the advertising theme for 1999 - WE CHANGED THE RULES - would be more appropriate than 2000's Dodge-Different.

[This message has been edited by Thomas (edited 11-17-1999). ]

 

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You are correct Thomas, the tow ratings listed in the brochure, owners manual and window sticker (if yours is listed) are incorrect for the Y2K 2500 4X4. You may wish to review the comments under “phord boy’s are killin’ us” for relevant discussion. In a nutshell, I had DC send me a letter acknowledging the correct ratings. It looks like all the 2500’s, Cummins with manual trannies are rated max trailer: 13,000+ and GCWR: 20,000, but call DC, give them your VIN and tell them to send you a letter with YOUR vehicles ratings. If enough people do this, they will hopefully come out with a TSB or something that corrects the Owners Manual numbers then everybody else will not have to do this.

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'00 2500, 4x4, QC, Cummins ETC/6spd, 3. 54, Camper, Trailer, SLT, 4ABS, Flame Red/Silver, Agate

[This message has been edited by rwv (edited 11-17-1999). ]

 

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Without getting into the politics of insurance, EPA, liability, warranty, and all that nightmare soup, I load 3,000 lbs of elevator test weights in my truck now and then for work and it carries it just fine. I have the camper package with auxiliary springs and sway bar. If I had a slide in to carry, I'd slide it in and enjoy the ride!

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Steve McDaniel,
98 CC 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10
97 Dodge Stratus
92 Harley Fatboy

 

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Just remember one thing, 3000 lbs. of weight low in the bed is not the same as a 3500 lb camper rising to 11 feet above the road. My "camper loading cert" calls for a max slide-on of 2850 lbs. within a specified center of gravity. My "window sticker" reads payload = 4300 lbs. After the scales real max payload is 3700 lbs. maximum. Even with the DRW's, the truck handles quite differently with the camper loaded.

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98 Dodge 3500 QC SLT 4x4, 12V, Auto 3. 54, LSD, Camper pkg, Running Brds, Tow hooks, Tonneau cover, Cobra / K40, Westach Boost / EGT / transmission Temp gauges, Valley Hitch, Hadley Dual Air Horns, Mopar Bedliner, RS 9000's, Air-Lift system, "Geno's" Cup Smoothie, Down 'N Out Exhaust Tip, & S/S Fender Trim.

99 Lance 1110 Truck Camper

 

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In a nutshell,the 2000 tow ratings should be ths same as the 99s. Im curious as to what the Cummins High output will be rated at. Also the Big Three manufacturers are getting together to standardize tow ratings and to simplify them.

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1999 2500 Cummins w/4spd auto,Quad Cab,SWB,4x4,Flame red ,all options less leather and radio controls on steering wheel,OEM color matched runningboards,DeeZee bedrails painted black,Power Vision Mirrors,OEM ventshades,Oem sill covers,OEM underrail bedliner

 

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I too believe that the tow ratings should be the same in 2000 as in 1999. I have a hard time believing that GCWR could go from 20000 to 16000 from one year to the next on identically equipped trucks, a decrease of 20%.
Having an owner's manual addendum, a TSB to receive a dealer-applied sticker, or a letter from DC-none of these will change the way that the truck pulls. My interest is with warranty and liability issues. I have been following the lead of rwv. I called DC customer service during my lunch hour each of the two past days. Tuesday I got nowhere. Yesterday I felt like I was getting somewhere but was then disconnected. I'll try again today.
There certainly must be more out here in addition to rwv and myself that are affected. I hope that any 2000 Ram owner with a GCWR less than the 1999 weights will call the DC customer service number.
I'll keep you posted.

 

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Ok, my . 02 worth..... When I got my y2k I noticed the difference in the rear spring weight - 99 was 7500# y2k is 6700#. Also noticed the BIG diff in the owners manual - dont have mine handy but the auto was listed in mine as 9900#,s tow ifn I recall (disclaimer - over 55).

Another note, Auges is planning another March event but no date yet (2nd Annunal ??).

\\BF//

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y2k SLT = Superior; Like Truck! 2500QC/SWB/5sp/3. 54LSD/SLT/Driftwood/Ultimate bed spray/camper @ tow pkgs/fogs as DRL's)/truck trunk bx/3rd Brake flasher/hr mtr/alternator isolator (150w diode)/storage/tinting/CB/fuzzbustr/brake ctrl/25. 5k hitch/etc.

Not Stroking, BUT, RAMming it Home! \\BF//