Hoping someone here can help set me straight! Hours researching every online resource I could find, chat session with Dodge, and another 45 minutes on the phone with their Customer Service 800#, and I'm still not sure I really know what our pickup can tow! Shopping for 5er and trying to do all my research to be sure we're not looking at too much trailer for this truck. (5er we like best so far has a 10,700 GVWR.)
Problem is - specs don't seem to quite match up, leaving me guessing whether we're maxed out at around 10,000 or whether we truly have the 13,000 range to play with (ruling in, or out, the 5er we like!)
DH didn't save the window sticker, but here's what I know for sure:
2003 Dodge Ram SLT 2500 Quad Cab 4 WD shortbed with 5.9 Liter I-6 Cummins Turbo Diesel - High Output - 4 speed Auto transmission. Dodge rep tells me it's a 3.73 axle ratio, but I read that's the standard axle ratio and that the "ETH" 5.9L engine with 4-speed auto includes an "upgraded rear axle" - so I was expecting it to actually be 4.10. Not sure which it truly is (truck's not here now - is there a label or somewhere inside I can read to confirm the axle ratio once he's back with it?)
OK, so the trailerlife.net 03 towing guide (pg 7) leaves me guessing, as the only HO model they show indicates it's a 6-speed manual (maybe the 4spd auto option was added later?) At 13,450 - 500 since 4WD, this means 12,950 regardless of axle ratio. Cool. But if I play it safe and go with the 4 speed auto and 3.73 axle listing a few lines up, I get 11,650-500 = 11,150 (cutting it too close for that 5er.)
So then I found the Dodge Towing Guide site and punched everything in - managed to find out by VIN number that it's the "48RE" engine they list, but which one? One comes up with only 10,000 lbs (or 11,000 lbs?) for the 3.73 axle ratio, the other (which I assumed was the HO version) gives me 13,050 lbs (regardless of axle ratio) but threw me, as it differentiates this one as a "610 lb-ft". I am assuming that means torque - but the paperwork I have from KBB shows the HO model we thought we bought as having 305 HP and only 555 lb-ft torque - so maybe that's not the right one either??
SO CONFUSED - and Dodge has been less than helpful so far, anyone know for SURE how much this truck can really tow, or how else I can find out without a doubt? Thanks in advance for any help - about ready to call it quits on the 5er shopping altogether
Tara
Most manufacturers show a HIGHER tow rating for fivers vs TTs. Your biggest issue (if you intend to stay within specs) is going to be the pin weight you put on the hitch in the truck. A 10,000# fiver will load approx 2,000# on the hitch. This COULD overload the truck depending on whether its a Crew-cab, Long box, 4WD etc.
So check out your payload ratings as well as the towing capacity. Most RVrs max out the payload before they max out the towing rating (or GCWR - total weight of the entire rig).
Good luck with the numbers.
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors.
I have the truck your speaking of. With a 3.73 gear, 4x4, 6 speed man, 305 HP eng the tow rating is 13,700 lbs. It's 2k more with the 4:10's.
Inside the glove box will be an options sticker that will indicate the 4:10's if so equipped. If it has the 3:73's it will not specify any gear ratio (because the 4:10 is an option).
I reread your post, it has an auto which was not available with the HO version in 03. It has the SO eng - 250 HP and only the 47RE auto trans was avail at that point. Not sure about tow capacity with that eng but I think it was only slightly less.
On the front driver side of the eng there is a sticker mounted on the side of the timing cover. It has the HP rating and other vital eng info for ordering parts.
Also the Upgraded axle doesn't change the ratio, it increases the pinion gear from size from 10" TO 11.5". But, being a SO engine with an auto trans it will not have the upgraded rear end.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
Another "can my truck pull this thread"!
Look, look inside the drivers door pillar and read the manufacturers GVWR off the sticker.
Now, load up the truck like you would go camping and make a trip to the local scales and weigh yourself. Add 250 pounds for the hitch and subtract your total from the GVWR number you found on the door pillar. Now you have the net cargo carrying capacity (pin weight) you can load on. Pin weight is generally calculated as 20% of the trailers GVWR A little simple math and you have the max fifth wheel you can pull with your truck. This is not hard. Now if YOU choose to ignore the manufacturers ratings, then go ahead and hitch up what ever YOU choose.
Don, maybe I misunderstand your post? It sounds like your saying GVWR has something to do with tow capacity and at least in this case, it does not. In fact, some 3/4 tons have more tow capacity than 1 tons.
I'm concerned that this dealer is representing a truck that was never built (03, HO auto - no way) and is telling them whatever they want to hear.
ScottG wrote: Don, maybe I misunderstand your post? It sounds like your saying GVWR has something to do with tow capacity and at least in this case, it does not. In fact, some 3/4 tons have more tow capacity than 1 tons.
I'm concerned that this dealer is representing a truck that was never built (03, HO auto - no way) and is telling them whatever they want to hear.
But, he stated that he was interested in a fifth wheel and as such it has everything to do with what you can tow. Because pin weight is generally the limiting factor in all 1/2 ton and most 3/4 ton trucks. Like I said before if YOU choose to ignore the manufacturers GVWR ratings, that is YOUR choice. Personally I will never advocate doing so. I have been there, done that. I agree that if you are pulling a TT around then that is a different story, sort of. But you still have to concern yourself with tongue weights which add to the truck.
I totally agree, dealers, or should I say salespersons generally are interested in only one thing, making the sale. They have no interest in you getting the correct vehicle for your use.
Check this out. Should answer all your questions.
48RE is the transmission, not the engine.
I think you should be within the GCW limits but I wouldn't worry about that as long as you aren't over the axle weight limits.
This might help some, (if I remember right) this is going by the 03 3500 QC 4X4 dually with Cummins HO 305/555 3:73 gears, had a GCVWR of 21,000# truck weighted some 8,000# +/-, to give me about a 13,000# tow rating, with the 4:10 gears the GCVRW was 23,000#.
I believe the 2500 Dodge had the same rating as the 3500 for the 03 model year with the only difference being GVWR for them, also the rating of the all three motors 305/555 thru 325/610 was the same also.
To kaydeejay - regarding payload and pin weight:
Sorry if my questions are basic/ignorant, but I'm totally new to all of this, thanks for your patience... I was told by Dodge the truck has GVWR of 9000, Curb weight of 6785 and payload of 2215. Now if I'm understanding what you said correctly, that 5er with a 10,700 GVWR could put as much as 2140 lbs of pin weight on the truck (eating up that much payload), meaning we would need our 75 lb 6 YO son to do the driving while we stayed home - to stay within limits?? In other words - our truck can't handle anywhere near that big of a 5er fully loaded, when considering passenger/other cargo in the truck? Yikes. My DH will cry - he thought he was buying top of the line at the time... Thanks --
Tara
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generally are interested in only one thing, making the sale. They have no interest in you getting the correct vehicle for your use.
