Dodge Ram Payload

[woodpidgeon]

I am looking to buy a Ram 2500 - 2006 Laramie. The only payload figures I can find put the weight at 1430#. This is about 800# less than other models including gas so I am hoping it is wrong. Can anyone who owns a similar model tell me if the info above is right - or where to look to find it. I want to tow a Rockwood 8285WS, GVWR 8400# with a pin Wt of ~1344#. Any help much appreciated.

[SaskCampers]

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2006/dr/drmo.pdf


You don't give us much info to help you with. Ie Quad cab, megacab. Hemi or diesel 3.73 or 4.10 gears as all that makes a huge difference but that being said. Use the link I put here and then pick your model. Then in the left pane pick your type (1500,2500 or 3500) then go to trailer towing should give you everything you need. Or look at the sticker in the drivers door frame as well.

[woodpidgeon]

Sorry.... Either Quad or Mega, probably quadcab 4x4 diesel auto. Most I have looked at seem to have the 3.73 diff. The TV is more negotiable than the trailer at this stage.

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by woodpidgeon

Sorry.... Either Quad or Mega, probably quadcab 4x4 diesel auto. Most I have looked at seem to have the 3.73 diff. The TV is more negotiable than the trailer at this stage.

A quab cab diesel 4x4 has abt a 2100lb payload and probably abt 1670 for the megacab. If you go manual you can up the payload abt 500lbs. Remember these are 2006 numbers and they change in 07 as they went to the 6.7 td which weighs a bit more.

[ependydad]

The Dodge MegaCabs are significantly limited in their payload capacities. I wanted one in the 3500/dually but it wouldn't support the pin weights that I wanted to be able to tow.

If you're looking at a specific truck, there is generally a sticker that will tell you how much carrying capacity (aka payload) is available. This assumes a full tank of fuel and a 150 pound passenger. Anything you add to the truck (the rest of your driver, passenger(s), hitch and any crap you in the cab or truck bed) all come off of that number. The left over is what you have available for pin weight. It'll look like this:


Keep in mind that a dry pin weight can be very misleading. It'll do nothing but go up.

[woodpidgeon]

As ever thanks all for the info above. I now have exactly the info I was looking for. We really like the Ram so it will remain as No 1 choice. I should be able to make a final decision in a few weeks.

[Dave_Monica]

I believe that the Ram 2500 diesels all have the same GVWR (or near the same) so the heaviest configuration, like a Laramie Mega Cab diesel will have the least amount of payload. Everything I've read indicates that the 2500 Mega cab payload is about the same as a 1/2 ton and too low to tow anything but a light 5ver.

Dave

[WolfWhistle]

Originally Posted by woodpidgeon

I am looking to buy a Ram 2500 - 2006 Laramie. The only payload figures I can find put the weight at 1430#. This is about 800# less than other models including gas so I am hoping it is wrong. Can anyone who owns a similar model tell me if the info above is right - or where to look to find it. I want to tow a Rockwood 8285WS, GVWR 8400# with a pin Wt of ~1344#. Any help much appreciated.

Accoring to a 2012 user guide (the manual is on disc)

All expressed in pounds -

2500 hemi, Powerwagon payload: 1780; towing 10,100
all other Hemi 2500s: payload 3120; towing 12,300

2500 6.7L manual, payload 2490; towing 13,500
3500 6.7L manual, payload 5050; towing 14,050

2500 6.7 Auto, payload 2580; towing 15,450
3500 6.7L Auto, payload 5130; towing 22,700

Highest rated 1500 payload is ST 2WD, 3.7L auto @ 1860 (towing 3750)
Highest rated 1500 towing is SLT/Outdrs/Sport @ 10,450 (payload 1670)
Bumper is rated at 5000 towing
as mentioned by others, the payload ratings are with a 150# driver and a full tank of fuel. Everything you add to it, reduces payload.

Based on a 2500 diesel auto, GAWR front 5000; GAWR rear 6000; GVWR 9000; GCWR 22,000; delivery weight on truck 6753: I am under the impression a 2500 is available in one with a 10,000 GVWR, but don't hold me to this.

Note: the loads should 80 to 85% below absolute limit(s) for safety IMHO.
A big TT pushes the GCVR over first and a 5er pushes the GVWR over first.

I 'built' a simple Excel tool (wanted to see if I still could) to calculate maximums based on assumed values! So, don't be too hard on me.

I figure loading of the truck like this: driver 220, passenger 150, 100 in the backseat (cooler, tools, whatever) 100 WDH hitch and anti-sway (TT): a TT with 10% on the tongue exceeds GCVW with a 14,650 trailer. I would say the maximum TT is 12,000, this could also depend on hitch, ball and even safety chains. 15% on the tongue really doesn't reduce the trailer you could (hypothetically) tow.

Using the same loading, except figuring a 5er hitch is 150, a 5er with 15% on the pin (probably lighter than most are) a 11,400 trailer causes the GVWR to be above its 9000# rating. 'Essentially the pin weight can not be more than 1717#. I would say, a 10,000 5er would be about it (@15%). If the 5er has slides over the pin, 25% is more like it, so at 25% on the pin, the 5er can only be 8950. So, something like 8000 to 8500 would be "it" for a 5er, in this hypothetical rig on my spreadsheet.

You must know the actual, going down the road, pin weight for the 5er, but as far as being safe is concerned, anything above about 1717, again, drive the GVWR over the limit. Never exceed the limit of any component and know your actual weights and ratings.

[JFM-jr]

Dodge Towing Guide - By Vehicle=

[Costalots]

Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

Accoring to a 2012 user guide (the manual is on disc)

All expressed in pounds -

2500 hemi, Powerwagon payload: 1780; towing 10,100
all other Hemi 2500s: payload 3120; towing 12,300

2500 6.7L manual, payload 2490; towing 13,500
3500 6.7L manual, payload 5050; towing 14,050

2500 6.7 Auto, payload 2580; towing 15,450
3500 6.7L Auto, payload 5130; towing 22,700

Highest rated 1500 payload is ST 2WD, 3.7L auto @ 1860 (towing 3750)
Highest rated 1500 towing is SLT/Outdrs/Sport @ 10,450 (payload 1670)
Bumper is rated at 5000 towing
as mentioned by others, the payload ratings are with a 150# driver and a full tank of fuel. Everything you add to it, reduces payload.

Based on a 2500 diesel auto, GAWR front 5000; GAWR rear 6000; GVWR 9000; GCWR 22,000; delivery weight on truck 6753: I am under the impression a 2500 is available in one with a 10,000 GVWR, but don't hold me to this.

Note: the loads should 80 to 85% below absolute limit(s) for safety IMHO.
A big TT pushes the GCVR over first and a 5er pushes the GVWR over first.

I 'built' a simple Excel tool (wanted to see if I still could) to calculate maximums based on assumed values! So, don't be too hard on me.

I figure loading of the truck like this: driver 220, passenger 150, 100 in the backseat (cooler, tools, whatever) 100 WDH hitch and anti-sway (TT): a TT with 10% on the tongue exceeds GCVW with a 14,650 trailer. I would say the maximum TT is 12,000, this could also depend on hitch, ball and even safety chains. 15% on the tongue really doesn't reduce the trailer you could (hypothetically) tow.

Using the same loading, except figuring a 5er hitch is 150, a 5er with 15% on the pin (probably lighter than most are) a 11,400 trailer causes the GVWR to be above its 9000# rating. 'Essentially the pin weight can not be more than 1717#. I would say, a 10,000 5er would be about it (@15%). If the 5er has slides over the pin, 25% is more like it, so at 25% on the pin, the 5er can only be 8950. So, something like 8000 to 8500 would be "it" for a 5er, in this hypothetical rig on my spreadsheet.

You must know the actual, going down the road, pin weight for the 5er, but as far as being safe is concerned, anything above about 1717, again, drive the GVWR over the limit. Never exceed the limit of any component and know your actual weights and ratings.

Hi Wolf Whistle, is this excel tool availabe? Would you want to email it to me?

regards

Costalots

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by Costalots

Hi Wolf Whistle, is this excel tool availabe? Would you want to email it to me?

regards

Costalots

There's a good calculator available online here:

Travel Trailer Weight Calculator

and if you need Ram specs, I use the ones from here:

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/year.pdf

[bignugget]

I am by no means telling you to ignore the weight ratings on the sticker of the truck. Some people will not go over the payload some people ignore that figure. It's up to you. I have a 2006 dodge 2500 diesel with Manuel transmission. I tow a sabre 33ckts 5th wheel. My loaded pin weight including the 5th wheel hitch is 2600lbs. I have towed several thousand miles thru Va, Nc, and Tn with zero problems. I do have air bags to level the load. The decision is yours.

[Costalots]

what is the difference in riding w/wo air bags? are these aftermarket installed?

[bignugget]

Yea these are aftermarket. They are the air lift load lifter 5000. With no load on the truck I let all the air out of them and the truck rides just like stock. With a load on the truck they smooth out the ride and take the bounce out of the suspension. I run around 50psi in them with my fifth wheel hooked up. If you put to much air in them it takes all the load off the rear springs and feels like you are sitting on a beach ball, real mushy. You just have to find out how much air to run to get the ride you want. The new air bags have the jounce bumpers built into them. Hope I answered your question.

[Costalots]

uhm, by the way, I got this fater market 5 yrs. ago for a tundra and it says, always keep while unloaded at least 10 psi in it in order not to quenche the airbags.....\regards Costalots

[bignugget]

Mine said the same thing but they ride to rough with 10 pounds of air in them. Never had a problem. The new ones with the jounce bumper in them would prevent that also. When you let the air out of them the are not compressed so you are just equalizing the pressure in them to the outside. But with the valve stems in place you cannot fully compress them because they will still build pressure inside as they are compressed.

[07 ThunderRoad]

I tow with the Air Lift 5000 and Helwig max tow sway bar on the rear end. The frame, engine/trans and drive line are the same as a 3500. The bags give your frame a third point of support, helping the leaf springs. Stay with in the max weight of the truck with the coach empty. The added equipment will take care of the extra weight. Always weigh your rig before a trip. The coach pin weight can be reduced by loading the rear of the coach. CHECK YOUR TIRE LOAD RATINGS!!!

The 2500 ram C.T.D. is the same truck as the 3500 C.T.D. EXCEPT for the over load spring leaf and frame brackets on the rear axle. As you can see in my sig, I have a similar setup with our Sanibel 3600. The needed changes to the truck are;
AirLift Ultimate 5000 air bags (I also installed the compressor kit )
Hellwig rear stabilizer bar for heavy towing (not the standard bar)
#74030017 AAM rear differential cover for the 11.5" axle
Trailer light circuit protector ( this is to protect the T.I.P.M. in your truck ) ( $2,000.00 repair to the truck if your trailer wiring shorts out )
Curt T-Connector ( so you can splice in the circuit protector to the T-Connector and then just plug in )CURT Manufacturing


2007 Dodge 2500 CTD 2W.D. short bed Weight
03/11/2013

Truck weighed with 250 lb driver, Hellwig rear sway kit, Air Lift kit, Super Glide #2900
hitch and bed rail kit, 34gal. of diesel in fuel tank, stock tires rated 3,195 lbs @ 80 psi. each.

Air bags at 10 psi. Truck has stock suspension.

Factory weight rating on the drivers door;
Front GAWR = 4,750 lbs @ 50 psi front tire pressure
Rear GAWR = 6,010 lbs @ 70 psi rear tire pressure
GVWR =9,000
GCWR = 20,000 lbs
Maximum combined weight rating = 2,472 lbs of cargo and passengers

Actual weight;

Front = 4,060 lbs
Rear = 3,220 lbs
Total = 7,280 lbs

The weight capacity left is

Front = 690 lbs.
Rear = 2,790 lbs

The rim rating on the rear is 3,005 lbs. ( this is calculated from the service manual statement that
the max tire pressure on the door is the max rim weight rating ) (the front tire rims and suspension will
have a greater side load on them in a turn then the rear tire rims thus reducing the front rims weight rating )
Increasing the tire pressure does NOT increase the rim or suspension weight capacity in a turn.
The rear axle rim rating on the 3500 SRW increases to 3,100 lbs @ 75 psi each. This matches the
industry standard light truck tire inflation table for the inflation pressure of a 265/70R 17E Single Tire.
The rim rating statement looks to be a legal "C.Y.A." rating so no one can claim that they were misled
to think the axle or rim rating is higher than the GAWR on the door sticker.

03/23/2013
Truck with Sanibel 3600 5th wheel coach, 2 men @ 250 lbs each and 28 gal. of fuel & 100 lbs of tools in back seat.
New Trail Air pin box installed, 1 full & one 1/4 - 30 lbs propane tanks and 300 lbs in front cargo hold of Sanibel.

Actual weight;

Front = 4,220
Rear = 6,120
Trailer x2 axles = 10,640

Actual GCWR = 20,980

At the wheel well lip;
With out Sanibel
The rear height = 38 1/2" @ 10 psi
The front height = 34 1/2"

With Sanibel
The rear height = 36" @ 40 psi.
The front height = 34"