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Old 06-23-2017, 06:41 AM   #1
jameswbarton
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Buy wisely for your Tow Vehicle!

Lesson learned the hard way!
I had an existing ¾ ton Dodge Ram 2500 V10 with a listed capacity of 19000 lbs GCWR
Specifications of the truck empty said it was 5000 lbs so I shopped and purchased the biggest I could tow thinking an empty curb weight of 12000lbs was the highest I could go.
Well I just went through and exercise of using a CAT Scale to verfy my minimum no load weights. I did have the truck full of gas with me in it and a minimum of stuff in the truck with bed empty. I had only the basic items in the RV of hoses, cords, air compressor, a few tools but no personal items of clothing groceries etc.
What I found yesterday was: I am overweight on GCWR by 840 lbs, on my truck axles specs I am under specs but my max Truck GAWR if 8,000 lbs and I am over max total weight by 1,080 lbs.
I was able to measure the actual height of the RV using the cat scale and find loaded it is 12’8 inches well above dealer spec. I am planning to program my GPS for 13’ 6 inches, as I do not want to strip my roof if the bride has been repaved.
So Lesson learned and published:
I tried to buy the biggest but lightest trailer my empty truck could pull knowing that I did not ever want to buy another RV. I thought the listed weight on the truck and RV were correct so I bought a RV weighing in by sticker of 12,000 lbs.
My truck was purchased used and thankfully has extra leaves in the rear axle springs but all the truck addons-towing baseplate, extra chrome, extra towing hitch and all the stuff added since it was new was not listed on the specs. Also the RV weight did not include the heavy bike rack, the weight of the slide covers and window awnings, and all the other accessories I had installed.
So I am very lucky in that I have not exceeded the truck axle weight limits but I am a thousand lbs overweight on the total truck weight with no passengers but me and my normal stuff I need to be in it. I am overweight on my total towing weight by 980 lbs with nothing in the RV but normal RV stuff.
So can I tow it? Yes but, I am lucky in that My old Dodge V10 drive train is the same used in the 1 ton truck of the same year. The Truck P.O. changed the factory gear ratios to higher ones than were available so I only get 9mpg truck empty on the freeway. So I now know I must use trailer towing mode on all but flat surfaces or downhill grades or I will wear out the Transmission and other components of the drive train. I must keep my speed at about 60-65 to keep the truck in its power curve. I certainly will strain its already strained condition by using it in the mountains or by loading it up to travel full time or extended trips. So I knew my old truck with only 70,000 miles could pull tit for a while. I am surprised and how much it weighs empty. I now must really think about adding an extra fuel tank or those two Honda generators in the back of the truck and a tool box. I need to keep all my tanks empty, and I will need a new Truck for when I am full timing. My transmission was just rebuilt before the purchase so it is in great condition but it will likely fail from overheating and too much total weight.
Be better than I on what you buy! I will be a few thousand lbs overweight until I get a new truck but I never intended to exceed my trucks GCWR when I bought the Montana HC 375 FL.
 
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Old 06-23-2017, 07:12 AM   #2
mlh
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My aluminum F150 is extended cabwith the 2.7 Ecoboost weighs over 4700 pounds and my 08 F250 with a 6.4 diesel checks in at over 8300 pounds.
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Old 06-23-2017, 07:48 AM   #3
jameswbarton
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My Dodge 2500 V10 HD weighs in at 6,720. When I thought is was 5,200.
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Old 06-23-2017, 12:39 PM   #4
twindman
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Don't do what I did. I thought a Chevy 2500 would about handle everything, but knew I might be over the total truck weight of 10,000. I thought a 3500 would cost thousands more. But it turns out you can get them for $1500-2000 more but the weight limit goes up almost 1500, I believe. The 3500 would have handled everything i have plus another 1000 lb.
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Old 06-23-2017, 03:05 PM   #5
bigred715
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That isn't true on the older model Chevy's. Mine is a 2007 3500 and I only have 9900# GVW. The 2500 Chevy had 9200# GVW. My the time you add the extra springs for the 3500 there isn't 700# difference from one to the other. These are SRW's, not duallies. I'm over about 400# on my 3000RK and it is one of the smaller trailers out there for 35.6' long. I went from a 2880 to a 3000RK and thought that the 3500 would do the job.
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Old 06-23-2017, 06:44 PM   #6
Bad Moon
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Old 06-23-2017, 06:58 PM   #7
mlh
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Bad Moon don't eat all the popcorn save me some.
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Old 06-24-2017, 10:47 AM   #8
jlb27537
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See my sig. All GAWR, GVWR, GCWR WITHIN specs.
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2012 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 4x4 3.73 Tow Max Pkg B&W Companion 60 gal RDS aux fuel tank. 2014 Montana 3150RL, 2 A/C's, Leather, 6 Point Jacks, Splendede WD2100XC, Mor/ryde X-Factor, Duravis 250 tires with TST 507RV monitors. 2 x Honda EU2000's
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Old 06-24-2017, 07:59 PM   #9
twindman
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BigRed,
YOu are right about the older models. My previous was a 2004 and my current one is 2012. But the newer (last couple of years I think) the weights I listed are correct, I believe.
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Old 07-06-2017, 08:50 AM   #10
dfb
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DO what I did!. Was over my rawr by 200 lbs. We finally found the truck we've been looking for for 2 years. We FINALLY FOUND A ram 3500 dually, AISIN, prep, auto level rear . This is a 2017 LONGHORN luxury brown and white gold. It was used 2017 with 1400 miles. MSRP was 77440. Dealer sold it to us for 61,000, 16000 off MSRP! Our trade, 2015 megacab Laramie megacab 3500 ,AISIN,prep, auto level... the kbb trade in was 53000. Dealer gave us 51000... I thought this was a very good deal!.
We looked at our local dealers for two years. Went to other deakerships. Just looked at Dave Smith in Idaho.. Out of 400 trucks not ONE DUALLY, AISIN, AUTO LEVEL, FACTORY FIFTH WHEEL PREP! They said they install the fiver prep for 1500, even tho the factory charges 445..
The Dealership we bought ours is in Nampa Idaho. Stampede Dodge Petersen motors... All the truck we've seen were marked about 16000 back of MSRP....very happy with the deal..
Don't even think of weight now, going to the scales would be a waste..14000 gvwr, 30k plus tow rating, 4:10s....
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Old 07-06-2017, 09:47 AM   #11
richfaa
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Lesson learned.
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