My pappy just bought a 2001 2wd 3500. This truck has no overloads, or a rear sway bar. I find this hard to believe on a 3500. I thought they came standard on a 3500. The mounting location looks very clean, as if they have never been there.

 

The overloads & sway bar were the "Camper Special" option.

 

Yup Shovelheads right.
My buddy bought a 95 3500 and it came with no SB or overloads because he didnt order the camper package. You would think that wouldnt be a option in a 3500 dually
but it is. It was terrible with a 10' camper untill he put airbags in.

 

Man, he is gonna be p'od when he puts on his cabover that wieghs 3500lbs empty. I'll bet he will be looking at the junk yard for a pair of overloads..

He thinks that since they arent on there, that he must have a bigger axle to bear the brunt. But, I told him all 3500's have the dana 80. He disagrees.

Oh well. The proof is in the puddin.

 

It prob. don't have limited slip without the camper special either.

It could but would have to been ordered special that way.


: Eddie :

 

The limited slip was a seperate option. The only things included in the "camper special" as far as I remember are the overload spings and the rear sway bar.

From what I hear, he would probably be better off with air bags as opposed to the overload springs.

 

I dont have overloads either and I cant believe that the 2500's, with a manual tranny, are supposed to be the same springs and axle capacity as the 3500's. 1, it feels way to soft and 2, I have squated it down a few times. I know of a '89 Chevy dually that rides like a rock and will hold so much weight its crazy. Yes it does have overloads too, so I supposed that plays a role in its weight capacity.

 

my '97 2wd 2500 did not have overloads. you could squat it easy. I put air ride springs on it, and it was rough as a cobb when unloaded. It would jar the heck out of you going down the highway. anylittle bump you hit you would feel it. If you have a bad back, I would imagine you would not keeep that truck very long.

My 01 2500 4x4 has overloads, and the sway bar, and it will hold allot of wieght. Its not too bad running down the highway either.


If it was me, I would get the factory overloads. Because I have been to both sides, and I dont like my back hurting.

 

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Not sure on the air ride springs you used but the Firestone air bags I got are great. With 20psi you dont know they are there and when I load up 3300lbs of camper and put 100psi in then its still smooth. Every one I have talked to said air ride is the smothest.

 

Before I put on airbags on my non-camper special 2500 I couldn't drive at night with my 1800 lb camper on the back.
The headlights shot about ten feet higher than the road.

 

Well, I talked to him yesterday. He said the he called the dodge parts house to get a manual since the truck didnt have one, and he quized the parts guy about it.

The parts guy told him to check the sticker on the inside door panel on the drivers side, and that will tell you how much you can haul. Well, that amount on the 01 with no overloads is 10,500 lbs. And.......the sticker on the 98 with the overloads also says 10,500 lbs.

I guess the overloads dont affect this number. or do they?

Or, do the overloads just help the truck from squatting, and not increase your hauling capacitys?