Question about front GAWR

[mberkin]

I was reading the latest TDR mag where Jim Anderson is dicussing towing with your dodge. Based on the numbers in the article there was ~300 lbs of weight that could be added before reaching dodge's recommended GAWR for the front.



My question is that if this is the case why would dodge offer a snow plow prep kit, knowing that the plow on the front end is easily going over the GAWR of the front?



Wouldn't this put us at risk of not receiving warranty work because we are over the GAWR?



The article discusses accident and being overweight, does this put people with a snow plow at risk in an accident? (i. e. no insurance coverage because of being over GAWR in the front?)



Or is Dodge saying you can only plow with a gasser 2500?

 

[klenger]

I have no idea where he was getting those numbers. For my truck (see sig), the front axle curb weight is 3,999 and the GAWR is 5,200 lbs. This is from the 2001 Dodge towing guide. My front axle weight on a CAT scale with the fiver connected is 4,320 lbs. I'm still 900 lbs under the GAWR, and that's with the 5er pin 3" forward of the rear axle.

 

[Bigramguy]

On the older trucks Dodge did not offer a snow plow prep for that reason,I guess they felt too many people would be running over.



My 97 has a 4850 lb front axle and with a 9 ft western plow it was just slightly over. By building a rear bumper for ballast,and loading the rear of the bed with salt,I can now run a 12 ft plow,and I'm just under the front GAWR. Problem is now I'm awfully close to my GVWR.



DC was sticky regarding my plow install and I had to scale it to prove it. They were saying that because DC did not offer plow prep on my 97,that they were deneying my warranty due to the plow install. I had to get a district manager involved,and prove to him that the my truck was just as capable as a gasser (it does have heavy duty service,and a trans cooler),and did not excede front GAWR. Once this was proven there was nothing they could do.



This is also why so many plow manufactures refuse to sell and install larger blades for our trucks. It's all about liability.