Great breakdown of tow vehicle towing capacity by make/model

cbshoestring wrote:

goducks10 wrote:

cbshoestring wrote:
Most interesting part to me was found in question #1 and answer #1.

A 2500 HD Diesel with 1200# of available payload (after subtracting driver & Passenger).

This is why I always laugh when the "get a 25/3500 HD diesel, if you want to haul that much weight" crowd speaks up.

Those 15/25/35 numbers USE to be a good indication of how much payload capacity a truck had---not anymore. Too many options, too many variations of engines/tranny/rear-end, etc, etc, etc...

My 1500 has more payload than that 2500.

Do NOT buy a truck based upon the advertised generic numbers...

DOOR STICKER, DOOR STICKER, DOOR STICKER

By the way....my RAM 1500 has 3.73 rear-end, how come it isn't offered on the 2500/3500? Maybe as rjstractor said...it ain't needed.

Unless you changed the gears in your 1500 Ram then you don't have 3.73s. You have 3.21, 3.55 or 3.92. Only the 2500-3500 gassers have the 3.73. Also you don't have more payload than a 2500 CTD. The most you have is a couple 100lbs less than 2000lbs. Most 2500 CTDs are right at 2000lbs.
I'd be interested to see your door sticker. From looking at Rams towing guide I just don't see any 1500 Tradesman 5.7 Hemi's with much more than 1710lbs. That's less than 2500 CTDs.

You are CORRECT...I have 3.92 gears ($50 option according to the sticker)...don't know why I was thinking 3.73 :S

You are INCORRECT about my statement concerning payload...:)

The question asked in the article mentioned a HD 2500 with 1200# of available payload after accounting for the driver and passenger. When I subtract myself and DW I still have 1300# of available payload (stickered at 1668#) . Therefore, I do in fact have more available payload than the HD 2500 mentioned in the article. Might not be more than the standard CTD's, but more than that 2500 HD mentioned.

The point being......check the door. Do NOT assume a 3500 hauls more than a 2500, which hauls more than a 1500. Should they? YES!!! However, with available options...the 15/25/35 numbers are not as cut and dry as it would appear. They are a starting point, but the door tells the tale.

Payload is a single thing to look at, and it happens to not mean a lot with diesel 3/4 tons (although I'd also point out that few have less than 2000 lbs of available "payload"). Fact is a current model 3/4 ton (gas or diesel) is identical to the SRW 3500 models aside from the rear suspension, which tends to run a little softer or lack an overload spring. The payload ratings on those trucks rare artificially low due to a high curb weight and a 10k GVWR class limit.

The typical 6500 lb RAWR on them is a more accurate indicator of what the trucks can handle, and even that's probably conservative. I would bet your truck's RAWR is more like 4000-4500 lbs. If you want to compare the two, that's a more accurate data point to look at. Or tow the same trailer back to back - the difference in towing/hauling capability is substantial.