payload upgrade needed?

[BIronside]

I have a 03 Dodge 250 4x4, 5. 9 S0, LB Quad Cab. The Dodge specifications says the payload is 2260 lbs. Now here is the question, when calculating the hitch, moma and myself am I overloaded? If I am, what can I do about it? I have heard that that there is a little give in the numbers. I also read that the SRW 250 is the same as the SRW350 minus an extra spring in back is this true is that the solution an extra spring? It came with a plow package, someone in a forum said this gives a little extra spring capacity in the front, is this true?



Max Payload 2260 lbs

*******

Dry Hitch weight 1686 lbs

Hitch 220 lbs

Moma et moi 360 lbs

*******

Overload? -6 lbs



Looking for info tinman.

 

[Dean Upson]

You can do all kinds of things to "beef up" your truck with springs, air-bags, etc. You cannot change the manufacturers GVW or GCVW to the best of my knowledge.



Dean

 

[BIronside]

Thanks Dean these are the specs:

The max weight of the TV 10,000 lbs, Dry weight is 8K

The GVCW is 20000 lbs for the truck.



Off the door:

The GVWR is 9000 lbs



Front axle 5200

Rear axle 6000

I will weigh the truck next week but have seen that the curb weight is around 6000 lbs

 

[DF5152]

from the dodge site

2003 Ram Truck 3500 Laramie, Quad Cab, 4x4, Short Bed, Automatic 4-Speed, 5. 9L 24V Turbo Diesel High Output engine:



With 3. 73 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 14000 lbs2

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9900 lbs

Payload = 3040 lbs1

Curb Weight = 6855 lbs

Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4078 / 2778 lbs

GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 / 6150 lbs

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 21000 lbs







MY TRUCK With 4. 1 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 16000 lbs2

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9900 lbs

Payload = 3040 lbs1

Curb Weight = 6855 lbs

Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4078 / 2778 lbs

GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 / 6150 lbs

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 23000



2003 Ram Truck 2500 SLT, Quad Cab, 4x4, Long Bed, Automatic 4-Speed, 5. 9L 24V Turbo Diesel engine:



With 3. 73 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 10900 lbs2

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9000 lbs

Payload = 2060 lbs1

Curb Weight = 6936 lbs

Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4271 / 2666 lbs

GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 / 6150 lbs

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 18000 lbs







With 4. 1 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 12900 lbs2

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9000 lbs

Payload = 2060 lbs1

Curb Weight = 6936 lbs

Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4271 / 2666 lbs

GAWR Front/Rear = 5200 / 6150 lbs

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 20000 lbs



If you have the HO I believe all the equipment will be the same except for the overload springs. If not the rear axles are different also

 

[DPelletier]

I think you'll find that the truck weighs closer to 7000 lbs. Forget about the factory payload rating, its not that accurate. Weigh the truck and then deduct that figure from the GVWR of 9,000 lbs. This will tell you what you can LEGALLY carry (hitch, driver, passengers, diesel, CD's, etc. etc)

As far as being over GVWR goes, I am not going to say its OK, but I wouldn't get overly concerned with a few pounds, myself. As Dean has stated, there are lots of ways to improve the load handling ability of your truck, but none of them change how much weight you're legally allowed to carry.



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

I believe that he has a 2500, not a 3500.



Dave

 

[klenger]

6 LBS? Go on a diet and you have it made.



Don't worry about it. If you follow the links in my sig, there is a page on my website on calculating towing weights.



http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/weight/index.html

 

[Dean Upson]

With that truck and trailer is sounds like you don't have much to worry about. Keep away from the eggnog and fruitcake .



Dean

 

[BIronside]

Anyone have a lighter 16k hitch to recomend so I can eat my cake?

 

[BIronside]

Got truck weighed 3450 kilograms hey it doesn't sound so bad in kilos

7590 lbs. with moma and I and a full tank of diesel.

1686 dry hitch weight

200 for the 16K Reese hitch



9476 lbs total well that is



476 over the gvwr

2500 under the gcvw



I don't get the TV till April/May at that time I will measure the axle loading.



What do you think?

 

[Dean Upson]

I wouldn't worry much about it.



Dean

 

[BIronside]

I heard that when the truck inpsection stations are closed that you can pull in and use the scale, they leave the indicator pointing out. You guys were right here are my weights!



Total 3450 kg= 7590 lbs

Rear 1310 kg= 2882 lbs

Front 2140 kg= 4708 lbs



My tires are rate for just over three thousand pounds a piece.

I am wondering about the difference between the 10. 5 and the 11. 5 rear ends?

 

[Prairie Dog]

That's true IF you can find one of the old analog style gages. They've changed them all to computerized digital readouts around here and they turn them off when they're closed.

 

[DPelletier]

They leave the digital readouts on here in B. C.

 

[BIronside]

That scale was just west of Perth on hwy 7. If you were looking to weigh in.