I currently haul a 2005 lance 821 (around 4000lbs loaded) on a 2004 dodge 2500 short bed. I am thinking about upgrading to a 2016 or newer dodge and noticed that they went to a coil spring in the rear. Is anyone hauling this kind of weight on a newer dodge and if so what kind of mods have you added to your truck?

At minimum you're going to need airbags to help the soft springs. Whatever you do, none of it will increase the trucks ratings that you'll need to carry that weight. No 2500 has 4K payload. You'll also be exceeding the axle and likely tire ratings too.If your looking to buy, why not just get the 3500 and not worry about it? The price difference is minimal. I just factory built identically equipped 2500 and 3500 trucks and the difference was less than $300. No point in starting under equipped.

camp-n-family wrote:At minimum you're going to need airbags to help the soft springs. Whatever you do, none of it will increase the trucks ratings that you'll need to carry that weight. No 2500 has 4K payload. You'll also be exceeding the axle and likely tire ratings too.If your looking to buy, why not just get the 3500 and not worry about it? The price difference is minimal. I just factory built identically equipped 2500 and 3500 trucks and the difference was less than $300. No point in starting under equipped.X2 Go 3500. You will not regret it.

Go to this linkpick your new truck. click on base weights/GVW Payload/Trailer towon 2500's the highest payload is 3990 on a 4x2 reg cab long box gas engine truck.(and that 3990 has to include you and other passengers plus gear in truck. Highest 2500 GAWR rear is 6500now on 3500's, payload is still around 3930 on Single Rear wheel trucks with rear GAWR of 7000 lbs.move up to dually and your payload and rear axle weight jumps around 2500 lbs or more.click on Camper GuideThis will show you "remaining cargo" which is after the ram engineers deduct weight for what a max load of passengers would weight. Most of the 2500's are around 1500 lbs.even in the 3500's to see numbers of 4000 lbs your looking at GVWR of 14,000 or 13,300 which I have a feeling are both duallies.

My 2017 RAM 3500, Big Horn, Crew Cab, Long Bed, 4x4, Auto, SRW has a payload of 4358 per the door placard. Camping Family is right the price difference is so minimal it is more of why not question it was a no brainer for me to upgrade to the 3500 over the 2500. Also the 3500 uses leaf springs over the coil which may or may not be an advantage with the camper loaded on.

Unless he lives in a subdivision with an HOA that does not allow 3500 trucks whether they are DRW or not.

2016 Dodge 2500 | Good Sam Community

Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 05, 2017
12V Cummins wrote:
Coil suspension on the 2500s are not good for carrying Truck Campers

But I agree with this. Given the option. I'd go with a leaf spring truck if it was going to see a lot of heavier truck camper use.
If I already had one, I'd throw some air bags on it and go camping though!
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 05, 2017
camp-n-family wrote:
At minimum you're going to need airbags to help the soft springs. Whatever you do, none of it will increase the trucks ratings that you'll need to carry that weight. No 2500 has 4K payload. You'll also be exceeding the axle and likely tire ratings too.

If your looking to buy, why not just get the 3500 and not worry about it? The price difference is minimal. I just factory built identically equipped 2500 and 3500 trucks and the difference was less than $300. No point in starting under equipped.

Wow, I've never heard that before....lol.
kohldad
Explorer III
Apr 05, 2017
Coil suspension on the 2500s are not good for carrying Truck Campers

There is someone on here with a much lighter camper that purchased a 2500 with coils that had a lot of issues with sway though they were well under the GVWR of the truck. Folks don't realize it, but leaf springs are part shock absorbers due to the friction in the leaves as they flex.
csh_2088
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2017
I have worked with HOAs before and I have never heard of such a restriction. One home owner had one of those diesel monster trucks that you could hear coming from a mile away and no one said a thing.
Moose10
Explorer
Apr 04, 2017
mkirsch wrote:
Unless he lives in a subdivision with an HOA that does not allow 3500 trucks whether they are DRW or not.

I don't think i could live somewhere with restrictions like that!:E
DWeikert
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2017
Not to gang up on you but I agree with the others. You already know you're carrying 2 tons. Instead of going with a 2500 and asking what mods you'll need, go right to a 3500 and see if you need any mods.

That is unless there are reasons you can't go with a 3500.

My $0.02
work2much
Explorer
Apr 04, 2017
mkirsch wrote:
Unless he lives in a subdivision with an HOA that does not allow 3500 trucks whether they are DRW or not.

I suppose one could always re-badge their truck in this instance.
12V_Cummins
Explorer
Apr 04, 2017
Coil suspension on the 2500s are not good for carrying Truck Campers
mkirsch
Nomad II
Apr 04, 2017
Unless he lives in a subdivision with an HOA that does not allow 3500 trucks whether they are DRW or not.
BarryG20
Explorer
Apr 04, 2017
My 2017 RAM 3500, Big Horn, Crew Cab, Long Bed, 4x4, Auto, SRW has a payload of 4358 per the door placard.
Camping Family is right the price difference is so minimal it is more of why not question it was a no brainer for me to upgrade to the 3500 over the 2500. Also the 3500 uses leaf springs over the coil which may or may not be an advantage with the camper loaded on.