GVWR Exceded, Mechanical Issue?
AF 996 on 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab Edit by hanapaa13 Not Published Recently purchased a 2014 AF 996 at the recommendation of the AF Dealer. Was told by the dealer I would have no problems haul...
Forum Discussion
Here are some FACTS about your truck, not sticker numbers... On a 1 ton the sticker numbers aren't nearly as important as the parts used.
Front axle, 5,200lbs is as good as it gets but you probably won't have an issue there. I have gone as high as about 5,400 on mine and haven't worn anything out prematurely. I now run better BJ's and bearings thou.
Rear axle, same axle as used on a dually. DRW is rated at 9,350 by Dodge which is lower than DRW tires and AAM's axle rating. In other words the rear axle can support anything your tires can, end of story. Unless you do a DRW swap or 19.5's in LRG or higher then you will be limited by your tires.
Brakes.. same as a DRW, they will stop what you put on it.
Suspension. Your main leafs are only 7% less stiff than a DRW spring pack, and you have the same upper overloads..
GVWR.. the frame you have on your truck is the same frame that a 2500 Hemi would use, same cab/bed config, and the same one a DRW would use, again same cab/bed config. The highest it is rated is 12,200 from the factory.
So there are the important numbers. Based on your tires you can run 7,500 rear, and 5,200 front. That's 12,700 total, only 4% over the OEM's highest GVWR for your frame..
You will not have any issues loading up to 100% capacity of tires and front axle and hitting the roads... other than your rear tires will be at 100% capacity.
If you don't have a bunch of extra stuff in the truck you should have a curb weight around 7,500 with the diesel.. maybe 8,000 with the sway bar, camper mounts, suspension stuff, etc. Even at 8,000 you have 4,700lbs to play with. The hard part will be getting a full 5,200lbs on the front axle so I suspect that if you are at 7,500 on the rear you will be around 12,200 GVW.
You really need to hit a scale and see what you weigh.. your rear tire carrying capacity is not negotiable.. most of the other numbers on your door jam are.
I have the 2005 version of your truck, same frame/suspension/brakes.. probably different motor and trans. I don't haul a TC, but put 2 4wheelers above the bed rails and hook up a TT with 1,200lbs of TW... My last camping trip I came home at a GVW of 11,870 after I dropped my wife/dad/kids off (450lbs) and the trailer had no water/food/beer/gray/black (only 870 TW). I am sure I was all of 12,500 loaded. The rear axle was at 7,140 with the light TW.
The link in my sig has the full story, but the cliff notes are airbags (40psi), hellwig standard swaybar, 245/70R19.5 LRG tires at 95 psi, and Bilstein 5100 shocks. Truck handles the weight amazingly, it's a very easy setup to drive (which isn't bad for 50' and 20K lbs) so as long as you are not over on your rear tires I would hit the road and enjoy.
Oh yeah, my door sticker says 9,900lbs... oops :-)
Front axle, 5,200lbs is as good as it gets but you probably won't have an issue there. I have gone as high as about 5,400 on mine and haven't worn anything out prematurely. I now run better BJ's and bearings thou.
Rear axle, same axle as used on a dually. DRW is rated at 9,350 by Dodge which is lower than DRW tires and AAM's axle rating. In other words the rear axle can support anything your tires can, end of story. Unless you do a DRW swap or 19.5's in LRG or higher then you will be limited by your tires.
Brakes.. same as a DRW, they will stop what you put on it.
Suspension. Your main leafs are only 7% less stiff than a DRW spring pack, and you have the same upper overloads..
GVWR.. the frame you have on your truck is the same frame that a 2500 Hemi would use, same cab/bed config, and the same one a DRW would use, again same cab/bed config. The highest it is rated is 12,200 from the factory.
So there are the important numbers. Based on your tires you can run 7,500 rear, and 5,200 front. That's 12,700 total, only 4% over the OEM's highest GVWR for your frame..
You will not have any issues loading up to 100% capacity of tires and front axle and hitting the roads... other than your rear tires will be at 100% capacity.
If you don't have a bunch of extra stuff in the truck you should have a curb weight around 7,500 with the diesel.. maybe 8,000 with the sway bar, camper mounts, suspension stuff, etc. Even at 8,000 you have 4,700lbs to play with. The hard part will be getting a full 5,200lbs on the front axle so I suspect that if you are at 7,500 on the rear you will be around 12,200 GVW.
You really need to hit a scale and see what you weigh.. your rear tire carrying capacity is not negotiable.. most of the other numbers on your door jam are.
I have the 2005 version of your truck, same frame/suspension/brakes.. probably different motor and trans. I don't haul a TC, but put 2 4wheelers above the bed rails and hook up a TT with 1,200lbs of TW... My last camping trip I came home at a GVW of 11,870 after I dropped my wife/dad/kids off (450lbs) and the trailer had no water/food/beer/gray/black (only 870 TW). I am sure I was all of 12,500 loaded. The rear axle was at 7,140 with the light TW.
The link in my sig has the full story, but the cliff notes are airbags (40psi), hellwig standard swaybar, 245/70R19.5 LRG tires at 95 psi, and Bilstein 5100 shocks. Truck handles the weight amazingly, it's a very easy setup to drive (which isn't bad for 50' and 20K lbs) so as long as you are not over on your rear tires I would hit the road and enjoy.
Oh yeah, my door sticker says 9,900lbs... oops :-)
