Do I really need a 4500 for a 5,500 lb TC?

[Boj300]

Not another weight question.....

My 2008 Dodge 3500 dually is not handling my Arctic Fox 1140 well. Lots of sway. Per advice of the forum, I have Rancho 9000s on it along with a set of Super Springs on the stiffest setting. I finally weighed it and I am very close to my rear axle limit of 9350. Let's not even discuss GVWR, way over there.

So I went truck shopping today....While the new Dodge duallys have a much better GVWR, the rear axle only has a few hundred pound higher rating. Ford does not seem any better. I want to add a superhitch and small motorcycle trailer to my setup, so I think I need more rear axle.

Do I really need a 4500 to haul a 5500 pound(loaded) TC and a small motorcycle trailer with less than 300 pound tongue weight? That seems crazy...... What am I missing here?

[gitpicker2009]

I had an 07 Ram 3500 dually, 2 wheel drive. It handled my AF1150 well, but I had stabil loads, air bags, and rancho 9000xl adjustable shocks set for stiff.
As I mentioned- it handled it, but it was definitely at it's limit.

About a year ago I upgraded to an 08 Sterling 4500 (Ram) with 4 wheel drive.
GVWR jumped to 16000. Put the camper on it, with no mods, and it's amazing. It doesn't even notice it's there. Recovery from turns or bumps is instantaneous, no rocking.
One note: MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE BED LENGTH! Most 4500s and up are cab chasis types and the bed can be a foot longer (mine is 9 feet). That means there's about a 6 inch gap between the camper and the back of the cab. Can't get it all the way up against it or the tail lights will be smashed. I had to make some wooden stoppers to take up the distance.

[Jfet]

2014 RAM 4500 TRADESMAN CHASSIS CREW CAB 4X4 197.4" WB

Max Payload 8,726lbs

Sounds like a winner to me.

[tsetsaf]

If you are concerned about exceeding weights and do not want to install parts that make it safe to do so then yes you need a bigger truck.

[Boj300]

I thought everybody agreed not to exceed the axle rating? If I add a leaf or two (and remove the superspring) and the sway bar i can probably make it ride good but those additions alone will put me at the axle weight limit. Once I add a superhitch and tongue weight, I will be 400 lbs over.

Confused I am.

[3_tons]

In addition to tembrens, and sway stops to engage the overloads, I had a spring shop add two leafs (per side) to the rear of my 2007 Dodge 4x4 dually and am quite please with the outcome...Even with nearly 5k loaded lbs of TC, nary even a notice of the camper being aboard. Spring shop said that with the two extra leafs (installed in the main pack) springs now exceeded the capacity of a 4500 truck... In fact, I can hardly tell any difference whatsoever with or without 60 gal of water in fresh tank...

[JumboJet]

Boj300 wrote:
Not another weight question.....

My 2008 Dodge 3500 dually is not handling my Arctic Fox 1140 well. Lots of sway.

Have you added an anti-sway bar such as what Hellwig manufactures?

I had one on my 2008 SRW and it made a lot of difference. It is laying on my shop floor needing a home!

[Gripnriprod]

No struggles with our rig including alight boat.

[kerry4951]

I really think you can make your truck work. I have an 09 Chevy dually with the mods as listed in my signature. My truck handles the AF 1140 with absolutely no issues. I have over 30K miles on my set up and I would never of used it that much if I did not feel 100% comfortable. If you do trade up, any of the newer 350/3500 dually trucks have much higher payload capacities than the older ones.

[David_Okkema]

Look at a new chev...dually...there new box frame is great...go with an extended cab dually and get more weight over the front axle..