Help with Final Choice: Silverado or Ram 1500
Yesterday I posted on confusing towing numbers. Last week I purchased a 2015 Ram Big horn with 5.7 hem and 3.92 axle. Payload of 1390 (on the door post sticker) and max of 15,900. Towing a 7500 tr...
Forum Discussion
At the end of the day, it matters not what we think, but what you are comfortable with.
If you are searching for justification for a 3/4 ton, there are folks who can provide logical arguments for that.
If you are searching for justification for a 1/2 ton, there are folks who can give you ammo for that too.
If you want someone to confirm your decision to operate within a certain percentage (over or under) of a particular value, be it GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, that can be found too.
There are some who feel like exceeding the GVWR is okay, as long as you don't exceed the axle rating or the tire rating. That might be okay for them, and might be okay for you too. But, the GVWR takes into consideration more than the axle ratings.. takes into consideration braking, suspension etc... And yes, there is also the fact that there are probably millions of people that exceed GVWR daily with no mishaps.
And, of course, there are some who say the manufacturer (Dodge for example) underestimates their true capacities. Not sure how one could know or prove that, but there are folks that believe that too.
Look. At the end of the day you need to assess the risk yourself and decide how much margin you want or need, if any. You also have to decide if the drive-ability and comfort is worth more (or less) than the extra 300 lbs of payload.
Im on the side that would say don't trade one half ton, for another. But, if you can make the numbers work, and you are happy with that too, then by all means do what makes you happy and hook up and maybe we'll see you on the road.
Mike
If you are searching for justification for a 3/4 ton, there are folks who can provide logical arguments for that.
If you are searching for justification for a 1/2 ton, there are folks who can give you ammo for that too.
If you want someone to confirm your decision to operate within a certain percentage (over or under) of a particular value, be it GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, that can be found too.
There are some who feel like exceeding the GVWR is okay, as long as you don't exceed the axle rating or the tire rating. That might be okay for them, and might be okay for you too. But, the GVWR takes into consideration more than the axle ratings.. takes into consideration braking, suspension etc... And yes, there is also the fact that there are probably millions of people that exceed GVWR daily with no mishaps.
And, of course, there are some who say the manufacturer (Dodge for example) underestimates their true capacities. Not sure how one could know or prove that, but there are folks that believe that too.
Look. At the end of the day you need to assess the risk yourself and decide how much margin you want or need, if any. You also have to decide if the drive-ability and comfort is worth more (or less) than the extra 300 lbs of payload.
Im on the side that would say don't trade one half ton, for another. But, if you can make the numbers work, and you are happy with that too, then by all means do what makes you happy and hook up and maybe we'll see you on the road.
Mike
