Moving up to a Ram 2500.. but have some weight questions..

2012Coleman wrote:

OP wrote:
We don't want a dually, and we have a family of five. We're looking at a 2500 Crew Cab.

So just for grins and giggles, redo your calculations using a SRW (single Rear Wheel) 3500.

Just remember - posts on this and other forums you read are people's opinions - take them as such.

Oooo, good idea 2012Coleman. Thanks. I'll do that here...

same calculations using 3500

gcwr is (still) totally fine: 3500 tv curb weight (7,918) + rv gvwr (10,995) = 19,813.... stillWAY under the 3500's gcwr of 25,000; Also, rv gvwr (10,995) is also way under 3500's max tow capacity (16,910).

family+in-cab stuffs: 600lb for axle calculations, or 450lb (600-150) for payload calculations (b/c http://www.rambodybuilder.com specifically says the 2014 Ram 3500 payload number includes a 150lb driver)

5th wheel hitch: ~150lb

using payload method: 4,380 - 450 - 150 = 3780lb
using combined axle rating method: 5,080 - 600 - 150 = 4330lb

** certainly works with both calculations; but, as mentioned elsewhere, it depends on if you believe the payload limits are due to "towing class" delineation for sales and model differentiation, or due to some other inherent limitation of the vehicle from a safety and/or capability perspective (which still falls back to safety, I suppose).

The numbers above are much closer, and much more "in agreement" with each other. which would seem to tell me that payload and axle ratings here are more 'real.' WIth the 2500 version of the same vehicle, something is "off." Either it's the payload, or it's the axle ratings.

All other things being equal, if they artificially raised the axle ratings (but payload is "real"), they're hurting for a lawsuit. If they artificially lowered the payload rating (but axle rating is "real"), then they're only hurting sales of that vehicle --> unless they have another vehicle to fill the "heavier than heavy-duty" gap between the limit they (artificially) set and the actual limits imposed by the ("real") axle ratings. In my mind, that's what it seems to come down to.

It's easier to believe the latter (limitation for "class" differentiation) than the former.

cheers,
..dane