Long time viewer, first time poster.
I'd like to first say thanks for all the info you have already taught me about TCs. I knew nothing about them at all about 6 months ago(except I wanted one). I feel now with the help and info you guys shared here, I can almost make a purchase and feel confident about it. Except one thing.
The fam and I have been pulling a small pop-up for a few years. Good times had by all but I realy wanted to replace it with a TC, so I can haul the quads in a box trailer behind when needed.
My problem starts with my truck, an '07 Mega Cab(4wd, dsl). It was 7760# on the scale today, wow I had no idea it was that heavy I'm used to Toyotas. Thats just with 1/2 tank fuel and a Snug-Top cap on back(maybe 200#). Its only rated at 9000#. So any TC over 1240# would put me at my max. Not including people,fuel and gear. Even the light FWC stripped would max me out.
How is everyone putting 2500# TCs on SRW trucks? I know the full size truck have to be kind of close in weight?
What am I missing???
The MegaCab trucks have unusually low GVWR's, compared to the CrewCab, RegularCab and QuadCab Dodge pickups of similar years. I believe the lower GVWR is due to the softer rear springs they put on the MegaCab trucks.
To add insult to injury, the MegaCab trucks also weigh more than the other cab sizes. Low GVWR + extra heavy truck = low payload capacity.
The MegaCab trucks aren't really made for hauling a lot of weight in the bed. MegaCab trucks are made for hauling passengers in high comfort and happen to have a pickup bed on them that can also hold some light items when needed.
Welcome to the forum ! This is surely the place to get the info needed on setting up a TC, lots of very knowledgeable
and helpful members , and no more "Lurker Popup " if you sign in...
I know I'm new to the full size croud, but aren't all 2500/250 series trucks around 9000# GVWR. I've never heard Dodge putting softer springs in the Mega. I'm not sure what the unlaiden weights are of similar equipted F-250 or GM2500.
As for the; "MegaCab trucks are made for hauling passengers in high comfort and happen to have a pickup bed on them that can also hold some light items when needed". I'm not too sure I agree with you there.
SoCal has it correct. The Megacab when it came out was touted as being a comfortable people mover with enough rear seat room to lay back and lounge. That cost it the ability to CARRY anything substantial.
The 3/4T Dodges still are not rated to carry much with a 9000# GVWR. The SRW 1T is only about 900# better at 9900#. Unless you want to carry a pop up camper, I would not suggest anything for that truck. But even a standard 3/4T is better since it loses a lot of metal that the Megacab feature has.
Unless you have a plan to replace the truck or spend a lot of money trying to make it a 1T truck, I have no idea what more realistically you can carry in it. Good luck.
Frank
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
I think you are getting it, but not all SRWs are created equal. There are a lot of factors Crew Cab vs Extended Cab, Diesel vs Gas and brand and 1 ton vs 3/4 vs 1/2, and the type of tires, yields radically different payloads.
'06 F350 Lariat Supercab SRW, 6.0 PSD 4x4 Long Bed, Intake Elbow, Walker Big Truck Muffler. '06 Host Rainer 950 Double Slide, Fastguns. Firestone Air Bags, Rancho 9000s, Vision 19.5s with Hankook DH-01 245s, Energy Suspension bump stops.
I havent had a problem hauling my 830, there was a learning curve but you would be fine with something as heavy as mine. Stock suspension with airbags would be ok, upgrade your shocks,add springs if your uncomfortable. I didnt like supersprings but my application was for non stock springs. buy the highest e rated tire you can (ricksons were great but..)your truck will haul it fine..
MegaBlue, I think you may be confusing your weights. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)for your vehicle is What the vehicle will carry. There is another weight: Gross COMBINED vehicle weight Rating (GCVWR), which is the total weight of the tow vehicle and whatever it is towing. The tounge weight of the towed vehicle is added to the weight of the TV, while the rest of the weight of the towed vehicle is added to the GCVWR. Check your manuals for the GCVWR and you should find trailers that you can tow.
The people hauling larger campers on 3/4 and srw 1-ton trucks are going over their gvwr. They are the ones (and I am one of them) that ignore gvwr and focus on axle weights and/or tire ratings. Your Dodge (and mine) share identical axles as the single wheel 1 ton Rams. The axle manufacturers give their own weight ratings which are a whole lot higher than what Dodge or any other manufacturer will post. Your weakest link is in the leaf springs. Second, check your tire weight ratings. E rated tires are the way to go.
Is it legal? That depends on your state and I'm not familiar with NY. In Utah I am not held to register my truck with a gvw as some are. My only legal limitation is on tire rating... With my tires being rated at 3195ea, my truck could weigh out at 12780lbs with a 9k gvwr and nobody could tell me no. If I upgraded my tires to a heavier weight rating then I could carry more.
What does it mean? You need to check for what regulations you have in your state. Then you get to decide if you want to be limited to your gvwr or to your axle ratings. Others will our will not agree with me, may call it unsafe... That is a decision that you make.
2005 2500 Cummins/48RE/3.73, QCLB, 4wd, BigHorn, Edge Juice w/ CTS + Turbo Timer, ISSPro Oil and LP pressure gauges in cubby hole, GDP 20/2 filters on frame rail, Custom Diesel Steering Box Brace
'10 Forest River Shockwave Toy Hauler 21'
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