stronger rear end
if i was to beef up my leafs (possibly 2500) and replace my shocks with towing shocks, will this increase the lbs i can tow?
Forum Discussion
Why worry about the tow rating?
When you are talking about a 6,500 pound factory rating, and you might go over that by 1000 pounds?
You should still be well within your axle and tire weight ratings if you would be using a 2500 series truck. However if you are using a 1500 truck, you might have problems, in part because they come with passenger tires, and are not as strong as a 3/4 ton truck.
Many who buy a 3/4 ton truck then start thinking about getting a fifth wheel suddenly realize that the 3/4 ton truck that the GM or Dodge dealer says can tow anything really can not carry the weight that a 15,000 pound fifth wheel will put in the back of the truck.
You are talking about a travel trailer, and normally they will add 10% - 15% of the trailer weight on the truck. This is insignificant with a 3/4 ton truck. Even 1,000 pounds hitch weight with a 10,000 pound trailer is not a significant load on a 2500 series truck. Change those to a 15,000 pound fifth wheel and 2,500 - 3,000 pounds hitch weight, and it will significantly overload a 2500 series truck. Many fifth wheels can have 4,000 pounds of hitch weight. Most 2500 trucks can only carry from 1,500 - 3,000 pounds. Some 1 ton dually trucks from the 80's only had a 10,000 GVWR and 3,500 pound cargo rating.
So collect current information, get a towing guide for the vehicle in question, and go from there.
Changing the springs to those used on a 1 ton vehicle will not change your truck's ability. It is the "Total Package". So in 2004 Ford upgraded it's trucks from 8,800 GVWR to 10,000 for the F-250. This included larger disk brakes, 17" or 18" tires rated at more weight, slightly wider and thicker springs, among other things. Even the radiator has to be larger due to higher HP requirements to move all that weight, and the engine puts out more heat with each additional HP that is run full time.
Sure a 1500 series truck can make 300 HP for the time it takes to get the 7,000 pound truck from 0 - 70 MPH and not overheat. Now change that to pulling a total of 14,000 pounds up a 6% grade in 95F day and the light duty truck might not have a large enough radiator to keep making 300 HP all the way up the hill without overheating. While a 2500 or 3500 truck with the same engine and larger radiator, it will go up the same hill at a lower engine temperature, due to the larger radiator and many times larger fan blade.
Fred.
When you are talking about a 6,500 pound factory rating, and you might go over that by 1000 pounds?
You should still be well within your axle and tire weight ratings if you would be using a 2500 series truck. However if you are using a 1500 truck, you might have problems, in part because they come with passenger tires, and are not as strong as a 3/4 ton truck.
Many who buy a 3/4 ton truck then start thinking about getting a fifth wheel suddenly realize that the 3/4 ton truck that the GM or Dodge dealer says can tow anything really can not carry the weight that a 15,000 pound fifth wheel will put in the back of the truck.
You are talking about a travel trailer, and normally they will add 10% - 15% of the trailer weight on the truck. This is insignificant with a 3/4 ton truck. Even 1,000 pounds hitch weight with a 10,000 pound trailer is not a significant load on a 2500 series truck. Change those to a 15,000 pound fifth wheel and 2,500 - 3,000 pounds hitch weight, and it will significantly overload a 2500 series truck. Many fifth wheels can have 4,000 pounds of hitch weight. Most 2500 trucks can only carry from 1,500 - 3,000 pounds. Some 1 ton dually trucks from the 80's only had a 10,000 GVWR and 3,500 pound cargo rating.
So collect current information, get a towing guide for the vehicle in question, and go from there.
Changing the springs to those used on a 1 ton vehicle will not change your truck's ability. It is the "Total Package". So in 2004 Ford upgraded it's trucks from 8,800 GVWR to 10,000 for the F-250. This included larger disk brakes, 17" or 18" tires rated at more weight, slightly wider and thicker springs, among other things. Even the radiator has to be larger due to higher HP requirements to move all that weight, and the engine puts out more heat with each additional HP that is run full time.
Sure a 1500 series truck can make 300 HP for the time it takes to get the 7,000 pound truck from 0 - 70 MPH and not overheat. Now change that to pulling a total of 14,000 pounds up a 6% grade in 95F day and the light duty truck might not have a large enough radiator to keep making 300 HP all the way up the hill without overheating. While a 2500 or 3500 truck with the same engine and larger radiator, it will go up the same hill at a lower engine temperature, due to the larger radiator and many times larger fan blade.
Fred.
