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Cummins12V98 wrote:

dballentine wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
...

There should be some common sense used with these ratings.

Example my truck and trailer combined max rating is only around 18K with 3:42 gears. The exact same truck with 4:10's is rated combined at 30K. In my opinion all I am doing is possibly wearing out the drivetrain. My combo weighs 28K.

To be any use at all, standards have to be objective. Keep in mind that the standards have a number of criteria; the GCWR (and thus tow rating) is based on the lowest weight at which a particular truck will pass all the criteria.

So your truck with the 3.42 might meet all the criteria at a certain weight except for one; it fails at that weight. And close doesn't count. If the criteria is "Maintain 40mph up an 11 mile 7% grade" and the truck can only maintain 39mph, it hasn't passed.

Like I said I may damage the drivetrain (don't think so). But it is just as capable of getting the load down the road safely as the one with 4:10's.

My 15 RAM will have factory rear air ride and 4:10's.

My understanding is that GCWR differences due to different axle ratios is basically a question of performance and not drivetrain/frame/brake strength. Meaning acceleration and hill climbing ability with identical weight will be less with the 3.42 compared to the 4.10 ratio. And when exceeding GCWR, that level of performance is less than the target set by the manufacturer. Maybe there is a risk of accelerated ring and pinion wear, but otherwise if the owner can live with lower performance, then there may be no other issues with being over GCWR. Just what I've heard/read, as I've never been over GCWR.