Question on Cargo Weight Ratings

[LVrooman]

I currently have a 96 Ram and looking to purchase a new left over 2008 or a new 2009. I have been looking at the cargo weight ratings of the vehicles because I haul a truck camper and tow a boat at the same time. What I can't figure out is the differences in the weight rating of the vehicles I have looked at. All of this is from the information on the "consumer information camper truck loading" sheet in the glove box of that vehicle. These are all 3500 SLT long Quad cab, dual wheel gvwr of 12,200. The only difference is the options and the year. The 2009 has more options and should have a lower CWR. Dealer can't explain difference as they state Dodge has made no changes that should effect this. I have also included the web site for window sticker of these vehicles for a comparison but you will not find the CWR weight there. I had to call the dealer and ask them to get the info from the glove box of that vehicle. Can anyone help explain what it going on?



Here is an example of 2-2008's and 1-2009.



2008 CWR 3392 lbs Website



Dodge - New Vehicle Inventory - Window Sticker



Dodge - New Vehicle Inventory - Window Sticker





2009 CWR 3576 lbs Website



Dodge - New Vehicle Inventory - Window Sticker

 

[Jim W]

I would look at the Gear ratio of the differential. Are the trucks 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive? Different options allow different mass that the truck can haul/tow. I know when I bought my 2008, 2500 Mega cab the differential gear ratio made a difference on what you could haul/tow. I have 3. 73's with the 6 speed auto and the weight that the truck can haul/tow is different then with 4. 10's. I would go back to the dealer and find out what the differential gear ratio is on the trucks. Read in the next threads on engine/transmission, there is an on going discussion on the difference of axle ratio's.

I hope this helps you?

 

[HBarlow]

I currently have a 96 Ram and looking to purchase a new left over 2008 or a new 2009. I have been looking at the cargo weight ratings of the vehicles because I haul a truck camper and tow a boat at the same time. What I can't figure out is the differences in the weight rating of the vehicles I have looked at. All of this is from the information on the "consumer information camper truck loading" sheet in the glove box of that vehicle. These are all 3500 SLT long Quad cab, dual wheel gvwr of 12,200. The only difference is the options and the year. The 2009 has more options and should have a lower CWR. Dealer can't explain difference as they state Dodge has made no changes that should effect this. I have also included the web site for window sticker of these vehicles for a comparison but you will not find the CWR weight there. I had to call the dealer and ask them to get the info from the glove box of that vehicle. Can anyone help explain what it going on?

Here is an example of 2-2008's and 1-2009.

2008 CWR 3392 lbs Website

Dodge - New Vehicle Inventory - Window Sticker

Dodge - New Vehicle Inventory - Window Sticker


2009 CWR 3576 lbs Website

Dodge - New Vehicle Inventory - Window Sticker

You may be spending a lot of your time chasing down information of questionable value. The numbers you are studying are probably not real numbers for a real truck sitting on the ground loaded with liquids, fuel, tools, driver, etc. anyway. Dodge used to publish literature with the shipping weights of the various truck models and the weight each available accessory will add to the actual truck but I can't remember where I have seen it. I don't think Dodge publishes the old sales manager's annual model year sales guide books any longer due to everything being available via internet so I don't know where you can find that info now. Few sales people are knowledgeable enough to be much help.

There are only two hard numbers of any value to you. The first number is the GVWR of the truck and the second is the ready to travel weight of that truck BEFORE loading your slide-in camper and dropping the tongue weight of a trailer on the ball.

I would borrow a truck you are seriously considering and drive it, with a salesman if necessary, to a truck stop or a public scale and pay for a weight slip to determine what the truck actually weighs. Subtract that number from GVWR and you'll know how much cargo carrying capacity you have available for your camper and trailer.

 

[LVrooman]

Jim W..... thought you might be onto something because I know there is a difference in the rear axle. I checked the Dodge website and found that the axle ratio does not affect the GVWR, curb weight or the payload but it does change the tow rating and the GCWR

 

[LVrooman]

HBarlow... . I got figures that are probably close to doing what you suggest on the 09. I saw the shipping weight and it was 7201 lbs now add to that 35 gallons of Diesel @ 7 lbs per gallon you end up with a curb weight of 7446. The dealers info on their website indicated 7444... . close enough. Take that and add 6 people @ 150 lbs each you come up with approx 8346 lbs for vehicle, fuel, and people. Subtract that from the GVWR of 12,200 you end up with a calculated CWR of 3854, but the sticker in the GB showed 3576. As stated the best way is to weight the vehicle with full fuel and people and figure from there. I just hate to go this way because my weights are going to be close. I may end up having to adjust by not taking water in the tanks, less propane or something. Maybe I should put a passenger in the cuddy cabin of the boat to ride since my towing weight will be under max!!!!

 

[HBarlow]

Lanny,

If you're concerned about overloading a dually p/up you can always step up to a 4500. You'd have cargo capacity to spare and great brakes for stopping all that weight. If you leave that big Lance slide-in on all the time a 4500 would be a great choice. It would ride and drive great and stop better than any 3500 dually.

I really admire the big brakes and carrying capacity of the new 4500/5500s, just didn't think I could endure driving one as a daily driver when not towing my fiver.