...is what the Dodge dealer told me when I told him what I wanted to tow. So I bought a brand new 2500 diesel megacab...
Awwwww you'll be fine... is what the RV dealer told me when I told him what I was driving and we talked about weight limits. So I bought a new Crossroads Elevation 3612.
No i'm not fine. Took it to the CAT scale and my GVWR is 9000, but my weight is 10,260, 1,260 pounds over. My truck did drop so I ordered a set of airbags and will put them on this weekend. A technical assistance guy at Crossroads suggested that lifting the truck back up to level might put more weight back on the trailer. I can only hope. I'll weigh again as soon as I get them added.
If I am still over what can I do? I've been told that the only difference between the 2500 and the 3500 is an additional leaf spring. Is adding that leaf spring a smart option? What kind of damage am I doing if I am over 9,000 pounds. So far we have taken 1 short trip and are going a little farther Memorial Day weekend. Sometime this summer we are planning on going up to Colorado.
Any ideas or suggestions.... or am I fine???
* This post was
edited 05/14/12 09:16am by BWS1105 *
I had that same truck and I was a bit dissapointed with the payload numbers. The problem is the megacab option adds 800lbs to the chassis. How did it tow? I miss my megacab, it pulled our large fifth wheel with ease, regardless of what the scale said.
Did exactly the same thing with almost identical weights. After 2-1/2 years my perfectly good 7500 mile truck went away in favor of a dually. Never looked back, and the only regret is I wish I had done my homework first.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
Resident Know It All
I had a 2001 Dodge 2500, CTD, A/T, 4x4, Club Cab for four years that I towed a 1995 33' Alpenlite 5th wheel (13,000 lbs) the entire length of Baja and all over the western US and it never so much as hiccuped other than the normal replacement of the injector & transfer pumps at around 120,000 miles. That had nothing to do with the towing load weights. At 169,000 miles I sold the combination to my son 2 years ago and he's still going strong with the rig.
If that trailer you have is a bumper pull you may have a different set of rules to think about, but I believe the truck is quite capable of pulling the weight and handlng it safely. If you only got a rear drop of a couple of inches I wouldn't worry about it.
Roger
1991 - 38" American Eagle - 8.3 Cummin's w/Allison 4spd
(Purchased 4-15-10 w/5,600 miles on it)
99 Dodge Durango/SLT 4X4 - Toad
Well this sounds encouraging thanks, everyone so far, for sharing!
It towed pretty good, there was some bounce on the back roads which I am hoping the air bags help out with, but highway was ok.
Stopping distance was increased, but that will take getting used to while towing anything. I turned up the gain on the electronic break to 5, and I might even take it up a little more next time.
Yeah I thought I did plenty of homework, but to be honest I never really understood what all of these numbers meant (must not have done enough) until I put it on the scale and started adding them up.
If your tires are Load Range D, replace them with Load Range E (as I did).
Tires are, IMO, the major load-limiting factor.
I encountered a similar problem with my truck when I was towing a fifth wheel, except that the rig was UNDER all the weight ratings except GCWR. It was 3,180 lbs. OVER the Gross Combined Weight Rating! However, byt the time I decided to weigh it, I had been towing it for full-time living for over 2 years, so I decided it wasn't worth worrying about.
Nothing on the truck (see sig) broke or bent.
Personally, if it was my rig, I wouldn't be too concerned. I would keep a close watch on the tires until I upgraded them, but other than that I would just go enjoy!
But, that's just the way I am.
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
fla-gypsy wrote: What about your rear axle weight compared to the RAWR? This is an important consideration. If you are exceeding the RAWR you are on dangerous ground IMO. Those who are telling you it's just fine, don't be concerned, have no stake in your families safety. Do the rest of your homework and then decide if you want to do it.
Please correct me if I am wrong! I am assuming RAWR is Rear Axle Weight Rating. The tag on the drivers door lists the GAWR as 6010, and I am at 5660. So, I think I am good there and am hoping to lower it somewhat by adding the bags to shift more of the weight to the RV axle.
Again, please correct me if I misunderstood what RAWR meant!
What about your rear axle weight compared to the RAWR? This is an important consideration. If you are exceeding the RAWR you are on dangerous ground IMO. Those who are telling you it's just fine, don't be concerned, have no stake in your families safety. Do the rest of your homework and then decide if you want to do it.
I doubt you will shift much weight back to the RV's axel with the bags, but you are OK legally being under the RAWR. It really matters how it tows, and how you feel about it. You will get a lot of people on this forum who will tell you different though.
Offline
