Dodge 2500 SLT

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by sideout1961

I'm still trying to find out what the GCVWR is for the truck. Can't find it on the sticker.

Mine is in my owners manual.

[sideout1961]

Originally Posted by transamz9

Mine is in my owners manual.

Yea we were looking at the dealer yesterday and it wasn't in there. Maybe it's on the CD that came with it.

[sideout1961]

Originally Posted by Oakman

Click on this link and look up the model of the truck you have.

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/201...ammlup2500.pdf

If I'm reading the chart correctly it looks like you will have a GCWR of 15,000 lbs. for a truck with a 3.73 rear end or 18,000 if you have a 4.10 rear end.

So I looked on the chart and am shocked! If I'm reading it correctly it show max trailer at 8500#. That's only 400 more that my 4.7 Tundra had! Granted my Tundra had the 4.10 rear end but I guess I though one day I could pull a 5'er with this guess I was wrong. I saw this on the Dodge web site and dealer said it was a typo. Guess I was duped

[whj77372]

My 2011 F250, CC, longbed, diesel, RWD has a 10,000 lb rating, combined 23,500 lbs and for a fiver 16,000 lbs. Truck loaded up and ready to go about 7,300 lbs with pin weight of about 2,100 lbs which is 9,400 lbs of the 10,000 lbs. My fiver is rated for 9,990 lbs so that I couldn't even come close to the 16,000 lbs or combined 23,500 lbs.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by sideout1961

I am looking at this truck from a local dealer and just for ha ha's I put the vin number into dodges web site and it's telling me 2489 payload and 8550 max tow! Does this sound right for a 2500? I called the dealer and claims it's a typo on their site. They say it's more 11500 for towing. Are they giving me a line of BS?

According to the 2011 Trailer Life Towing Guide, a 2011 RAM 2500 Crew Cab, Shortbed 4X4 with 5speed auto and 3.73 gears shows a max Trailer weight of 8,600 lbs. 4.10 gears would pull 11,600 lbs with NO other changes such as brakes, springs etc.

So, the only thing I see that would be affected if you wanted to tow heavier than 10,550 would be engine and transmission....maybe. Like, the trans may upshift and downshift more often and may run hotter on hills etc. because it's working a little harder to make up for the higher gear ratio of the rear end. But, with the newer 6 speed trannys, it should handle it alot better that my old 2001 Chevy 1500HD 6.0 gasser with the 4 speed overdrive w/3.73 gears.

I almost never could use overdrive while towing our 2011 Lacresse 303RLS which probably weight in at 9,000 lbs (give or take). I think my door sticker said the truck was rated at 8500 lbs trailer tow. Plus, I used to throw our 900 lb golf cart in the bed on top of it all for those long trips.

The old truck handled the weight it was carrying (golf cart + trailer tongue) without rear end sag and was a breeze to drive except for the constant shifting unless I took it out of overdrive. So, don't over analyze it, , and have a few

[rracer5]

Hate to say it, slidout but, the 2012 comes with a 6 speed auto which bumps the numbers to 10,550 with the 3.73 and all the way up to 13,550 with 4.10 gears.

[sideout1961]

Is it an expensive job to switch to 4.10 ratio? Or is there more involved? Right now the only thing I gained going from the tundra to the 2500 was 400 lbs more towing and more bed payload which is not a big deal cause I don't carry a lot of cargo in my bed.when we go camping.

[lbrjet]

You gained bigger brakes, a stronger frame, motor and transmission in a truck designed for doing work. You can haul a smaller fiver with that truck. If you wanted a big fiver you should have been looking at a 3500 model with a diesel.

[sideout1961]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

You gained bigger brakes, a stronger frame, motor and transmission in a truck designed for doing work. You can haul a smaller fiver with that truck. If you wanted a big fiver you should have been looking at a 3500 model with a diesel.

That was my plan was for a small lightweight 5'er. Something in the 29 ft range

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by sideout1961

Is it an expensive job to switch to 4.10 ratio? Or is there more involved? Right now the only thing I gained going from the tundra to the 2500 was 400 lbs more towing and more bed payload which is not a big deal cause I don't carry a lot of cargo in my bed.when we go camping.

Could be. A couple of ways you could go;

1-Replace the ring & pinion gear in BOTH the rear axle and front axle with 4.10 sets (that is if it can be done in the existing axle housings). It can also depend on if your truck has a Chrysler axle or a Dana axle. Locating a reputable truck customizing/modification shop and getting a "can we do this and how much" estimate should get you those answers.

2-Searching salvage yards for 4.10 low mileage front and rear axles is another way. Even if you find axles with higher mileage, you can get them rebuilt with new bearings, seals and in some cases new gears depending how much wear they show.

3-There are many large refurbishing/rebuilder companies that stock all types of running gear assemblies all ready to go.

And then.......you'll need to get your trucks PCM recalibrated to account for the changes (speedometer, trans shift points and possibly other drivability issues).

Good luch with your research and keep us posted.

[GearHd6]

I wouldn't get too worried about the 3.73 gears. That truck still has the same suspension and brakes as the truck with the 4.10's so only the transmission and engine will feel the difference in gears. When the 4.10 equipped truck is in 3rd gear yours might be in 2nd. It's still going to get the unit rolling fine, my old Cummins Dodge had 3.55's in it. Yeah it has a Cummins but that doesn't change the amount of force on the transmission that it took to take the truck to get rolling. My dad had the same equipped Dodge and he was towing a 12,000 lbs Aplinelite 5th wheel. Get what trailer you want within reason and monitor your transmission temp which you should be doing with any tow vehicle.

[sideout1961]

Originally Posted by GearHd6

I wouldn't get too worried about the 3.73 gears. That truck still has the same suspension and brakes as the truck with the 4.10's so only the transmission and engine will feel the difference in gears. When the 4.10 equipped truck is in 3rd gear yours might be in 2nd. It's still going to get the unit rolling fine, my old Cummins Dodge had 3.55's in it. Yeah it has a Cummins but that doesn't change the amount of force on the transmission that it took to take the truck to get rolling. My dad had the same equipped Dodge and he was towing a 12,000 lbs Aplinelite 5th wheel. Get what trailer you want within reason and monitor your transmission temp which you should be doing with any tow vehicle.

Thanks for the advise makes me feel a lit better about my purchase

[BigBaron]

Just shift manually on hills. Enjoy your new toy, er, truck!

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by sideout1961

Is it an expensive job to switch to 4.10 ratio? Or is there more involved? Right now the only thing I gained going from the tundra to the 2500 was 400 lbs more towing and more bed payload which is not a big deal cause I don't carry a lot of cargo in my bed.when we go camping.

Sorry, didn't mean to scare you by suggesting you would have to make a bunch of mods to your new truck. I agree with GearHd6. Just choose what you're comfortable with and have lots of family fun.

[MikeRP]

My advice is to go to your dodge dealer. A 2500 is the same as a 3500 minus a set of rear leaf springs. Talk to them and get them to do the 2500-3500 mods whatever they are. I don't think it will cost much. Then you can see what the ratings are for a 3500 configured like your truck with 3.73 rear end. If that's not enough then you may have to go to 4.11's but that would be an expensive last resort. A good dodge dealer that moves a lot a heavy trucks will understand this. You can get the truck rated to a 3500 pretty easily.

Now everyone knows the legendary power of he cummins power plant. The truck won't have the raw towing power of a diesel 3500. If your towing heavy though you will actually have more payload capability than a cummins equipped similar vehicle. That doesn't mean it will tow as powerfully the same load but you will get there just slower.

The hemi is a great engine.

[GearHd6]

I believe you'll find that the 2500 and 3500 are equipped the same when it comes to engine, transmission and all cooling items. You'll find the difference is only in the axles, springs and brake size. I still don't think 4:10's are necessary.

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by GearHd6

I believe you'll find that the 2500 and 3500 are equipped the same when it comes to engine, transmission and all cooling items. You'll find the difference is only in the axles, springs and brake size. I still don't think 4:10's are necessary.

The axles and brakes are the same.

[MikeRP]

Agreed there is no difference between the 2500 and 3500 trucks except and extra set of leaf springs in the rear. No difference in brakes, axles, shocks. Nothing expect that little sticker on the door. That's why you go to the dealer have him put on the rear springs and verify the new payload capacity, gcvwr, gvwr etc so that you have the record.

Major difference for a set of leaf springs.

[GearHd6]

Huh, back in the day the 3500 got you bigger Dana axles than the 2500. Times have changed I guess.

[RKR]

Originally Posted by GearHd6

Huh, back in the day the 3500 got you bigger Dana axles than the 2500. Times have changed I guess.

I believe you are correct. I think the 3/4 tons had Dana 44's and the 1 ton had 60's if I'm not mistaken.