ShinerBock wrote:
wanderingaimlessly wrote:
With the concept of the truck being a 10k lbs gvwr the engineers designed the springs for that weight. the springs are the same for either the CTD or a 5.7 gas, only the payload cap changes, because that is the stated goal of building a 10k lbs gvwr truck.
I gave my opinion, and stated why I dont think it's a good idea for the op's stated idea, if you want to suggest otherwise, feel free.
Yes, the brakes on the 2500 and SRW 3500 are exactly the same. The frames have the same ratings. The front suspension and front axle are the same, The rear axles are the same. The only difference is the rear suspension which is why a 3500's rear axle GAWR is 500 lbs more at 7,000 lbs while my 2500 is 6,500 lbs. Ram's (and most manufacturers) GAWR's are ratings of the whole axle system which includes brakes, tires, axles and suspension.
So if Ram designed my 2500 suspension around a 10k GVWR rating, then why did they give it a front GAWR of 6,000 lbs and the rear 6,500 lbs which is 12,500 lbs total. The 3500 of the same year has a front GAWR of 6,000 lbs and the rear of 7,000 lbs with is 13,000 lbs total.
In most cases, the answer to your question is that they saved money by using the same components as on another vehicle. Be it brakes, frame or whatever.
I could use your logic to likewise ask "why list the front axle higher than 5000 and the rear axle over 5000 since the total rig is rated for 10,000."
I can think of several scenarios where the weights could be a problem. As an example,,,
You are in a fairly new truck, under warranty, and experience a major breakdown. Get towed by a Ram dealer to their facility and they note that you were towing something which caused you to exceed their weight limits, (this would be my luck) and they void your warranty.
I have hauled gravel several times in my 2500 and had it at least 1000 pounds over the mfr's limit, but,,,
I was past my warranty,
I knew it was only a short distance on flat roads
and I knew the liklihood of a weight check was near nil.
All of that being said, I would not tell someone else to do it. I may tell them I have, but I decided to take the risk.