Over Weight?

Yes each trip were over on what the truck shows its rated for. But have more then enough tires. 7 years and not any issues yet.
Pete

fj12ryder wrote:

larry barnhart wrote:
Tell us why the 3.42 is better than the 4.10 for towing that amount of weight? I like to know stuff is the reason for asking.
chevman

FWIW 3.42 isn't "better" than the 4.10. The 4.10 isn't "better" than the 3.42. Different gears for different weights.

Hey, I'm not afraid to post that I constantly tow over my GCWR. I have the 3.55 gears and my combined weight is over the GCWR for the 3.55 gears. IMO the GCWR is for informational purposes only, i.e. "This combination of factors will perform best with this weight." If you tow at a different weight than recommended then performance will be different. The structural strength of the vehicle doesn't change from merely a gearing adjustment.

My owner's manual says that the 6-speed, 3.55 gear ratio GVWR is 20,000 lbs., but the 6-speed 4.10 gear ratio GVWR is 21,500. So I just pretend I have the 4.10 and everybody is happy. :) And Missouri only cares if I exceed my license rating, which is 25,000 lbs. I'm running about 1,000 lbs. over my GVWR for the 4.10 even, but, hey, who's counting. :)

All good points!

larry barnhart wrote:
Tell us why the 3.42 is better than the 4.10 for towing that amount of weight? I like to know stuff is the reason for asking.
chevman

FWIW 3.42 isn't "better" than the 4.10. The 4.10 isn't "better" than the 3.42. Different gears for different weights.

Hey, I'm not afraid to post that I constantly tow over my GCWR. I have the 3.55 gears and my combined weight is over the GCWR for the 3.55 gears. IMO the GCWR is for informational purposes only, i.e. "This combination of factors will perform best with this weight." If you tow at a different weight than recommended then performance will be different. The structural strength of the vehicle doesn't change from merely a gearing adjustment.

My owner's manual says that the 6-speed, 3.55 gear ratio GCWR is 20,000 lbs., but the 6-speed 4.10 gear ratio GCWR is 21,500. So I just pretend I have the 4.10 and everybody is happy. :) And Missouri only cares if I exceed my license rating, which is 25,000 lbs. I'm running about 1,000 lbs. over my GCWR for the 4.10 even, but, hey, who's counting. :)

joebedford wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

joebedford wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I think some commonsense needs to be involved.

Example, my GCVWR is only around 20K because I have 3:42 gears but the same exact truck is rated for 30K with 4:10 gears. My combined weight is 28,240# I am not being unsafe at all! I may wear out my drivetrain a bit sooner but I am just as safe as the 30K rated truck.

30K in a 2011? I don't think so. Please point me to the reference. I didn't buy a Ram in 2011 because it could not handle my rig. 2011 Chev does.

The '11 Dodge/Cummins has a tow rating up to 2270 lbs with a 30000 lb GCWR depending on truck models per '11 Dodge Body Builders Guide. http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2011/docs/ram/rammlup3500.pdf

My mistake. I wouldn't consider anything but crew cab, long box, auto, 4x4, dually and Laramie. That shows as GCWR 27,900 Maximum Trailer 19400.

I'm sure those ratings are higher than what was advertized when I was buying (but I've thrown out all my Ram literature so I can't check).

Odd that when I go to the 2013 Ramtrucks.com site the best I can find for that configuration is GCWR 25,000.

Like I said before you were looking at the early 2011 non HO.

larry barnhart wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

joebedford wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I think some commonsense needs to be involved.

Example, my GCVWR is only around 20K because I have 3:42 gears but the same exact truck is rated for 30K with 4:10 gears. My combined weight is 28,240# I am not being unsafe at all! I may wear out my drivetrain a bit sooner but I am just as safe as the 30K rated truck.

30K in a 2011? I don't think so. Please point me to the reference. I didn't buy a Ram in 2011 because it could not handle my rig. 2011 Chev does.

Max Tow 2011 HO 30K combined load.

You were looking at a early 11.

I am sure someone with better computer skills can post a link.

The above is fact!

On edit:

I see JIMNLIN already did post what I said.

So someone tell me I am not being safe.

Tell us why the 3.42 is better than the 4.10 for towing that amount of weight? I like to know stuff is the reason for asking.
chevman

Larry,

I have never said my HO 3:42 gearing was better than the the HO with 4:10 gears. I have only given mine as an example of how well it tows very heavy weight as a comparison. I have always said the 4:10 will do a better job. Also the 13's will do even better. But I am extremely impressed at what mine will do.

I even declined a $1,800 gear swap from the dealer.

joebedford wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

joebedford wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I think some commonsense needs to be involved.

Example, my GCVWR is only around 20K because I have 3:42 gears but the same exact truck is rated for 30K with 4:10 gears. My combined weight is 28,240# I am not being unsafe at all! I may wear out my drivetrain a bit sooner but I am just as safe as the 30K rated truck.

30K in a 2011? I don't think so. Please point me to the reference. I didn't buy a Ram in 2011 because it could not handle my rig. 2011 Chev does.

The '11 Dodge/Cummins has a tow rating up to 2270 lbs with a 30000 lb GCWR depending on truck models per '11 Dodge Body Builders Guide. http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2011/docs/ram/rammlup3500.pdf

My mistake. I wouldn't consider anything but crew cab, long box, auto, 4x4, dually and Laramie. That shows as GCWR 27,900 Maximum Trailer 19400.

I'm sure those ratings are higher than what was advertized when I was buying (but I've thrown out all my Ram literature so I can't check).

Odd that when I go to the 2013 Ramtrucks.com site the best I can find for that configuration is GCWR 25,000.

CC 4x4 Longhorn long box DRW with 4.10 is 37,500 GCWR with the Aisan.
3.73 go down to 32,000. Also the 68RFE tranny is rated lower also since it has less HP/TQ. Here's the link I used, lots of different configurations with 3 tranny's and 3 different ratios.

LINK

JIMNLIN wrote:

joebedford wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I think some commonsense needs to be involved.

Example, my GCVWR is only around 20K because I have 3:42 gears but the same exact truck is rated for 30K with 4:10 gears. My combined weight is 28,240# I am not being unsafe at all! I may wear out my drivetrain a bit sooner but I am just as safe as the 30K rated truck.

30K in a 2011? I don't think so. Please point me to the reference. I didn't buy a Ram in 2011 because it could not handle my rig. 2011 Chev does.

The '11 Dodge/Cummins has a tow rating up to 2270 lbs with a 30000 lb GCWR depending on truck models per '11 Dodge Body Builders Guide. http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2011/docs/ram/rammlup3500.pdf

My mistake. I wouldn't consider anything but crew cab, long box, auto, 4x4, dually and Laramie. That shows as GCWR 27,900 Maximum Trailer 19400.

I'm sure those ratings are higher than what was advertized when I was buying (but I've thrown out all my Ram literature so I can't check).

Odd that when I go to the 2013 Ramtrucks.com site the best I can find for that configuration is GCWR 25,000.

donn0128 wrote:

transamz9 wrote:
Yes it should....... OP I run about 5,000# over on my GCVWR.

Do you mean GCWR?

No... he means Green Colored Volkswagen Rabbit... :D

wandering1 wrote:

lotus_eater wrote:
Just curious as to how many of you regularly tow your 5’er over GCVWR? I have a 5’er that’s a bit over my rigs GCVWR but the truck still pulls and stops it easily. I’ve been pulling it all over for a couple of years now without a problem, but I just had a guy say that if I get stopped I could get in to some serious trouble and it’s freaked me out a bit. I’ve actually been stopped a couple of times before but the officers never mentioned the weight.

Should I be worried and get another truck or 5’er that is “legal”? What have you guys found? Do the cops usually bother about a few hundred pounds over and I've just been very lucky so far?

Thanks for your help,

LE

You are legally responsible for having an adequate tow vehicle. One RVer had a wreck in Asheville on I 40 a couple of years ago and killed his daughter and maimed his son and ended up with felony charges filed against him for not having an adequate tow vehicle and causing the death of his daughter. Probably having a great time in prison.

In a case where the =empty= weight of a trailer would put the TV over limit, that's pretty easy to figure out, which is the only real way I could see that they could charge this. That, or hard evidence (pictures, weigh tickets, etc.) that showed that just having the trailer hitched was dangerous. Again, after a wreck, it's pretty hard to figure out the weight of the trailer from the wreckage. Not saying this didn't happen, but it would be interesting to know the details.

Lyle

B.O. Plenty wrote:
The difference between current 2500 and 3500 series trucks is in the rear springs, all else, tires, brakes, axles is the same. I have never heard of anyone being stopped because somebody thought their truck was too small for the trailer. How would they know? Same holds true for your insurance company. How do they know if you're a couple hundred pounds over or not? Have you weighed your rig so you know what they actual weights are?

B.O.

There are plenty of trucks around here that would be =way= overloaded...if anyone cared to check them. I see so many big-a** toyhaulers going down the road with the TV's headlights pointing to the moon that you =know= they're way, way overweight. No so many "regular" FW's as TH's, but still quite a number. If there were a CAT scale on NB I-17 N of PHX, I'd get weighed when we go camping. As it is, I'm not going to load up for a trip, then drive miles out of my way just to hit a scale.

Lyle

Lyle