Payload for my Ram 3500 Truck
According to the stickers on my 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Heavy Duty long bed dually diesel the GVWR is 11,500 lbs. But, the GAWR front is 4750 lbs and the GAWR rear is 9350 lbs for a total of 14,100 lbs. I...
Forum Discussion
11,500 - 7,200 = 4,300 payload. However, where did you get the 7,200? If that's not from weighing the truck it's likely wrong. You need to load the truck with family pets, fuel, etc. then remove the tailgate, and weigh it.
What you will discover is that even a 3500 series truck can't really carry a very big truck camper and stay under the GVWR.
Most people carrying large hardside truck campers are over the GVWR. Most go by the axle and tire weights. When you weigh your truck get separate axle weights. I'll guess you've got around 3,500 pounds on your rear axle. Rear GAWR of 9,350 - aprox. 3,500 = aprox. 5,800 of additional rear axle capacity. This is the number many people, my self included, use for sizing the camper. My own TC on my Chevy dually weights about 13,100 with the family load in. The GVWR on the truck is only 11,400. I have thousands of trouble free miles this way.
By the way, it's not "illegal" as some will try to tell you to be over the GVWR. Any DOT officer is only concerned with your axle weights, tire weights, and tag weight. You will need to have tags on the truck good for the weight you are carrying. My dually is tagged for 14,000 pounds. If I were only running regular passenger car tags they are only good for 7,500 pounds (I think). Then, hauling the weight I am I would be overweight and given a ticket if stopped (which is rather unlikely anyway.)
What you will discover is that even a 3500 series truck can't really carry a very big truck camper and stay under the GVWR.
Most people carrying large hardside truck campers are over the GVWR. Most go by the axle and tire weights. When you weigh your truck get separate axle weights. I'll guess you've got around 3,500 pounds on your rear axle. Rear GAWR of 9,350 - aprox. 3,500 = aprox. 5,800 of additional rear axle capacity. This is the number many people, my self included, use for sizing the camper. My own TC on my Chevy dually weights about 13,100 with the family load in. The GVWR on the truck is only 11,400. I have thousands of trouble free miles this way.
By the way, it's not "illegal" as some will try to tell you to be over the GVWR. Any DOT officer is only concerned with your axle weights, tire weights, and tag weight. You will need to have tags on the truck good for the weight you are carrying. My dually is tagged for 14,000 pounds. If I were only running regular passenger car tags they are only good for 7,500 pounds (I think). Then, hauling the weight I am I would be overweight and given a ticket if stopped (which is rather unlikely anyway.)
