I was trying to find out the GVWR for all 2500 4x4's with the overloads and without. And do you have a long bed or short bed? Trying to compare mine to others so I can find out if DC used more than one spring pack. I have no overloads and have yet to squat it down very much. Thanks for any input.

 

My 99 4x4 is 8800 lbs, short bed, has the helpers on it that contact the frame when loaded (and sometimes when boucing around over pot holes), if those are the overloads you are talking about.<br><br>Chris

 

Here's the info from my window sticker:<br><br>Payload: 2,410 lbs<br>GVWR: 8,800 lbs<br>Trailer weight: 13,450 lbs<br>GCWR: 20,000 lbs<br><br>Most truck details in sig. It does have the Camper Special Group and has the 3.55 rear axle. I've never seen mine look like it's squatting that much, either, even with about 1100-1200 lbs in the bed, which would have had my 1500 almost sitting on the bumpstops. Gotta find some heavier stuff to haul, I guess.

 

The wifeys 4x2 says 8800. She has had up to 2600# in the bed and believe me the 2500 will not squat like an f250 ;D<br>On my 3500, had one pallet of ceramic tile, setting behind the axle, and was just enough to make it ride smooth ;D

 

This is just what I thought. Like I said earlier, I have no overload springs (helper springs) and my GVWR is also 8800 lbs. This doesnt make any sense to me. Then what is the &quot;camper package&quot;? I would think the overloads would increase the weight rating or why have them? Does this mean that DC uses different spring packs for long beds / short beds / with overloads / without overloads? I am thinking about a fifth wheel or maybe one of those big campers for a 6ft bed but just want to know the true weight ratings so I can figure whats reasonable to haul. Anyways thanks for the responses.

 

I didn't think about it before, but I think I have the camper package on mine also. The only reason I say this is because I have the rear sway bar. I do not know if there is any difference in the springs though.<br><br><br>Chris

 

Yeah, I'm not sure why the overloads are there either, if they don't increase the GVWR. The sticker shows the Camper Special Package as being the rear sway bar and the rear auxiliary springs. Doesn't give any more detail than that.

 

The rear helper springs will help the effect of the rear sway bar by touching the frame when the vehicle is swaying more than a certain amount with the slide in camper on. If DC had made a stiffer sway bar it wouldn't be too much fun to drive. Also since the helper springs do come on at a certain compression only the ride empty is smoother than with a spring pack that is that hard all the time.<br>I think that GVW is governed by the tires and by the axle housing plus the brakes. <br>I think that the camper package is designed for the very high center of gravity of a slide-in compared to a load of bricks the same weight. <br><br>AlpineRAM

 

<br>That still doesnt explain why the GVWR isnt higher with the helper springs. That just means they work only when needed. <br><br><br>Then the springs have nothing to do with the GVWR?

 

KATOOM: I should have said that it seems to me that in this application tires brakes and axle housing stability are limiting the possible axle load to a lower value that the spring pack. <br>The camper package is a setup for a truck loaded to a very high center of gravity, having a big attack area for wind from the sides etc. <br>So the helper springs are designed to require much greater force to compress when banking the vehicle more than some degrees, helping it to go back to vertical much faster. This will only work if the helper springs do not get compressed with the vehicle sitting level. <br><br>AlpineRAM

 

AlpineRAM, I hear what your saying but I dont agree thats the reason. If the springs are there then the truck holds more weight, unless there are different spring packs for non-camper packages. <br>Has anyone removed the helper springs? Was there any noticeable difference in weight capacity?

 

The helpers are definitely not compressed when the truck is empty. They must hit their stops every once in a while on potholes, though; I see a shiny spot on them directly underneath the stop. The Dodge towing guide on their website says that the Camper package is &quot;recommended&quot; to achieve the 20,000 lb GCWR that I quoted from my window sticker. I'm not sure if that throws any fuel on the fire or not.

 

The 2002 and older Rams had 8800 GVWR for 2500 models with and without overload springs (camper package). The 8800 lbs is for regulations, licensing, and sales.

The 2003 models do not offer overloads or camper package for the 2500. You must buy a 3500 single wheel to get the overloads. The GVWR for 2003 models are: 2500 - 9000 lbs; 3500 single wheel - 9900 lbs; and 3500 dual wheel - 11500 lbs.

Thus, it appears that the overload springs add 900 to 1100 lbs capacity. Dodge never increased the 2500 GVWR as this would put the truck in the one ton licensing category (greater than 9000 lbs) in many states.

It appears that the older 2500 models with the overload springs are the functional (but not legal) equivalent of the 3500 single if you equip it with 3400 lb rating tires and wheels (265x75 R16 load range E). Another thing to recognize is that the brakes have been improved over the years, disc rears and larger discs on the 2003s.

 

[quote author=BoldtsWagon link=board=4;threadid=16596;start=0#156830 date=1057420669]
Thus, it appears that the overload springs add 900 to 1100 lbs capacity. Dodge never increased the 2500 GVWR as this would put the truck in the one ton licensing category (greater than 9000 lbs) in many states.
[/quote]
This pretty much never occurred to me. In MO, the plates are for a certain weight, regardless of the truck itself. I have 12,000 lb plates on my truck, which are adequate to cover anything I do with it right now. I transferred those plates from my 1500. You can also buy 6,000, 18,000, and 24,000 lb plates, and you can put those on any truck you want (assuming that they meet the min. weight of the truck itself in a legal sense, although I doubt they'd say anything if I asked for 6,000 lb plates for my 2500), even a wee little baby truck like a Tacoma if you feel like spending the money for them.

Anyone know where to buy some 3500 badges? ;D

 

Thanks jfpointer and Boldtswagon, thats kinda what I was looking for. It seems that the manufactures fudge some to bend the rules and thats what I was wondering.<br><br><br>I never understood why discs are supposed to be stronger but all semis and buses run huge drums? I never had any braking loss from rear drums. <br><br> <br>What are you talking about? What are plates? Why would this change the GVWR?