Wildly conflicting cargo specs from Dodge

[spacecadet]

My vehicle is an 01.5 Ram 2500 diesel 4x4 auto with the factory camper package. The window sticker says the max payload is 2400 lbs and trailer weight 9450 lbs. An insert sheet
titled Consumer Information Truck Camper loading that came with the owner manual has my VIN printed on it along with a correct model number BE7L33. This sheet shows the
proper weight distribution for in-bed cargo and specifies 965 lbs as the cargo weight rating. That's pretty different from the 2400 lbs on the window sticker. What gives?

 

[Tractorat]

That is an interesting question. Its never been relevant to me since I am not in the construction business and just dont carry bit loads in my truck. But Ive always been under the impression that a 1/2 ton truck meant it could carry a half ton and a 3/4 ton truck (ram 2500) could carry 3/4 ton. Is that not (or no longer) correct ?

 

[jhenderson]

It's been a long time sense the term 1/2 , 3/4 or 1ton had any relevance. I'm going to jump to a conclusion here and say the insert refers to a slide in camper max wt due to the raised cg.

 

[Tractorat]

Guess I just dated myself :-laf

 

[BarryG]

My 01.5 2500 auto, 355 gears with camper package door jamb placard says gvwr 8800lbs Which tells me 8800lbs minus weight of truck equals cargo capacity. I didn't weigh it when it was new but have been weighed over the years at dumps, landscape material yards etc. The lowest weight I have seen with me in it is 7500ish lbs. Now I have a toolbox, a headache rack, aftermarket front bumper, compressor, air tank , nerf bars so I have probably added at least 500lbs. I don't recall what all I had on it at the time of that scale weight but certainly some of that. Which at that time left 1300lbs for cargo. Iirc correctly max gcwr was 16 or 17k. Max cargo weight is going to depend totally on weight of the vehicle as it was optioned 4x4 vs 2x4,355 vs 410 gears, auto vs manual, quad cab vs reg cab, long bed vs short if you look at the new specs there really is quite a range. Some of those items would raise the gcwr but didn't change the 8800b gvwr

 

[spacecadet]

Looks like I'll be well under GVWR with the slide-in I want

My GVWR is also 8800 lbs and the weight as equipped now is 6830 w/driver and passenger. Since I'm thinking about a 1400 lb slide in camper, I think that's plenty of margin. I have the larger MIchelin tires rated at 3400 lb per tire so those should be fine too. I've attached the Chrysler insert that I mentioned in my post - no idea what the 965 lb cargo weight
rating is about. It doesn't seem to be camper-specific. Thanks for all your responses.View attachment Chrysler Truck Loading insert.pdf

 

[spacecadet]

You don't suppose...

they mixed up kg and lbs on that insert? I notice that all the paperwork quotes lbs and kg except this insert. Considering the weight I've added (mostly a larger hitch and a
fiberglass shell) the as-delivered weight would have been about 6600 lbs. Add 965 kg to that and you get just about 8800 lbs.

 

[Road Dog]

A fully loaded truck can end up with a small cargo rating. 965# is like a 1500. The best way is to weigh each axle. A low cargo limit could be because of the rear axle rating. Back around 2000, a dealer friend was saying they were getting RAM diesels that were at the front GAWR from the factory. Make it tough to hang a plow and stay legal.

My dually is 3,500kg (7,700#) with me and a full tank. With my slide in camper, water, food & beer it's 2,000kg front and 3,000kg rear which matches my GVW of 5,000kg (11,000#). Then I add a trailer...