Dodge Ram payload vs Ford

Huntindog wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

salem wrote:
Cummins12v98: Can you post what your towing capabilities are now with your new rug and save us a lot of research?:) I would personally be interested in how much pin wt. you have and how big a 5er it's rated for. Thanks, and enjoy that new toy.

Well I have had the truck since 9/11. With the 3:42 gears the combined weight rating is somewhere around 18K. The same exact truck with 4:10's is rated at near 30K.

My pin weight is 4,500# the weight on the rear duals is 8,780#. The rear axle is rated at 9,350#. The 4 rear tires will carry 11,340#.

My front axle weighs 5,180# and is rated for 5,500#.

Some may say I am over loaded. I disagree because the only difference in my truck and the one rated higher is the gears. Disagree all you want. The gears MATTER. A lower gearset in the axles not only makes for easier starts from a stop, but it is easier on the tranny in EVERY gear. The u joints will live longer and so will the brakes due to the increased effectiveness of the exhaust brake. There are very good reasons why Dodge rates the lower geared trucks higher. I have 6 speeds I use 6th on flat to hilly terrain and on a 6% grade I am in 3rd going no less than 55mph border to border on I-5.

The only problem is starting on very steep grades. Only one time did feel like it may be too much strain on a steep hill so to be safe I took off in 4 low. So how did you switch into high range once you got it rolling? Every 4x4 I have ever had required stopping to switch transfer case ranges.
You can go from 2hi to 4hi, but not from 4lo to 4hi. It may have been fine to just floor it but I did not.

I could have swapped to 4:10's for $1,500 but I have been happy with the performance so I did not do it.

Now my 14 or 15 RAM will have 4:10's, factory air ride rear suspension, Aisin Trans, 385hp and 850tq.

You are not telling me something I don't already know.

I stopped about 100 yards after I got past the steep part and put it in 2 HI.

My point I should have made more clear is my truck can tow safely just as much weight as the same exact truck with 4:10's.

I think 55mph or more 28K combined border to border along I-5 is impressive and 9.5 average mpg hand calc.

I also made it clear my next truck will have the 4:10's.