FastEagle
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2010
- Posts
- 647
longhaul said:One of my trucks is a '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins 3.73 NV5600 quad cab with a 13350 lb tow rating.
This truck was made before the useless yellow tire placard payload sticker became mandatory industry wide in '06 era.
It has a 6000 lb RAWR with a 2840 lb unladin rear axle weight....leaves the truck with around 3160 lb payload in the bed. I keep a scaled front and rear axle load ticket in all of my trucks. That way I know how much payload is available.
With my 11200 lb 5th wheel trailer and 2200-2280 lb pin weight leaves the trucks rear axle in 5100-5200 lb range. The front axle stays w/i 30 lbs or so with the trailer or empty.
Of course the Cummins has no problems easily pulling its max tow rating.
For some reason only known to Dodge , they didn't add a upper overload spring pack on the 3rd gen 2500 trucks. Add 1500 lbs of Redimix in the bed and it sags ....so instead of air bags I went with SuperSprings to help the rear spring pack carry the load LEVEL and still within its rating.
Many 4wd trucks sit level and start to sag when weight is added and doesn't mean the truck is overloaded.
If you like the truck and want to keep it then simply pay attention the trucks axle /tire load ratings.
Where is it written that it's OK to exceed the truck's GVWR? Excess axle capacity is just like excess tire capacity, it's LOAD CAPACITY RESERVES.