Just picked up the brochures and I'm shopping on paper now...

Can anyone explain this to me? The MegaCab with the 4.10 has a CGVWR of 24,000 and towing of 16,500 - sounds good. But the GVWR is a piddly 10,500? and that gets stacked up against the 12,200 they rate a QC LB 4x4 and makes me wonder... what are they ADDING to the MC to get such a big tow rating but then what in the world did they TAKE OUT (vs QC LB) to gross 1700# less?

What am I missing? Do these numbers make no sense? How do the load carrying parts of the MC stack up against the QC and can I fix it after market (or should I overlook the inconsistencies).

Sorry if this has been discussed already - I was not really interested in the 6.7 when I heard about the fuel economy but now that I'm looking for more truck it's on the table again.

 

I am just guessing here, but does the MC have an exhaust brake? It probably has bigger brakes too. That will make it tow more weight but because of the mega cab space it will drop the GVWR.

 

I attached a couple of pics I kept from members here on the MegaCab Club.

I think these guys are running Toyos.

Anyway a pic is worth a thousand words. I wouldn't be afraid
to haul your trailer with my MegaCab providing I went with the Toyos.

Mike

 

The 6.7L auto option comes standard with an EB for all the models. I do not know if MC brakes are bigger than QC brakes.

I can understand how a heavier truck would have less payload - I do not understand how a heavier truck ends up with less Gross weight rating.

I'm trying to figure out if the comparison between MC and QC is like the comparison between my 2500 and an 04 3500. The 3500 had 10% more GVWR for no reason at all - Dodge just wrote it down that way.

 

Dave:

I beleive you are exactly right. There is no rime or reason to their ratings. Based upon my look at the towing brochure the dealer gives you, I think you can make a case that a 2500 MC can pull 16,500 pounds which would give you a GVWR of near 24000 lbs. so:

2500: 3500 SRW 3500 SRW
3.73 4.10
GVWR: 9000 10100 10100
GCVWR: 20000 21000 I forget
Payload: ~1600 ~2800 ~ 2800
RAWR: 6200 6200 6200
Tow: 12400 13500 16400

So my point is you can make a 2500 with the addition of airbags timbren, etc = 3500. so that gets your tow rating up to 13500 lbs and 2800 lbs on the pin.
Now the only difference to go to 16500 lbs is 4.10's? Give me a break.... Well that obviously is a performance difference. I would bet with either setup that Cummins will pull the trailer whether its 4.10's or 3.73's. Now you may cause the tranny to heat up more but it can be done.

Point is a 2008 MC can put about 2800 lbs on the pin stock and tow up to 16500 lbs stock. That's my opinion. Now some will tell you that you won't find a trailer that will tow 16500 and have that low of a pin weight. Wee that may be true. So the next step would be to get the higher load carrying weight of the toyo tires or ricksons. The stock rims probably need to changesd out too but the brakes in combination with the excellent exhaust brake on this truck makes the 2008 Dodge in my opinion the most capable tow vehicle, stock, on the market.

Mike

 

Add to this the fact I'm looking at duallies and the numbers get wackier! The dually gives you almost nothing in carrying or GVWR despite rating the rear axle much more for obvious reasons.

At this point I'm looking hard at putting Toyo's on my current ride and seeing if Dodge/Cummins comes up with better economy in 2009 or 2010.

 

The Megacabs are all based on a 2500 frame (no matter if it is a 1500, 2500, 3500, or 3500 DRW). That is the reason for the low 10,500# GVWR on the 3500 DRW. I have a 2007 3500 SRW coming to me in a few weeks, and it has a 10,100# GVWR.

 

So the frame on the MC is different than the QC? Or specifically per the quote.... a QC 2500 SRW frame is stronger than a MC dually 3500??????? Why bother to make a dually then (and don't even ask me what the 3500 badge means) I've spent enough time in the corporate world on the tech side to believe a marketing person would do such a boneheaded thing... but I sure hope it's not true.

Can anyone confirm this? What's not as strong in the MC and can it be retrofit?

The whole point of a dually is to carry load, so if the frame is weak it's a non-starter for me. One of the big attractions of a new ride is more cab space for the family when I tow...

 

My brother who is a certified heavy equipment cummins mechanics says he can tell no difference between his 2007 QC Long Bed CTD 5.9 and mine.

Frame is the same. I don't agree with ib516, there is no difference between the 2500, and 3500 frame regardless of cab size in the 2500 and 3500 models. There is a lot of difference between a 1500 and a 2500 CTD MegaCab. Check with your dealer and see.

Mike

 

if you are going to tow a heavy trailer in hilly or mountainous areas get the 4.10 . I had a 2005 3500 qc 4x4 5.9 with 8' bed and in the hills from a standing start it was a real strain on the drive train to get it to move. I traded up to a 5500 with 4.88 for towing my 14,000 trailer (bumper pull)

 

I would go a step further with this. If you are getting the 6spd auto I would really think about the 4;10's. I had 4;10's in my 99 5spd and they were horrible on the road unloaded. I now have the auto and think that this truck is too tall with the extra gear and would love to have the lower gears back. I drive in 5th gear alot now.

as far as the 2500-3500, except the extra leaf pack, who knows?? I do know that because my 3500 is 10100GVW I don't need to smog it

Chris

 

Chris:

Chris, I kind of agree around town the sixth gear seems a little tall but on the road it seems fine to me. Are you thinking its too tall empty or towing a trailer?

Mike

 

Empty at 70 it is great, towing it is worthless. I guess most of my issue is that towing over 60mph i get HORRIBLE milage so I keep it right at 60 and get about 11 average (10K trailer usually with 2 quads on the deck). Most in town driving even on 55mph highways 6th is too tall and kinda loads up the motor according to my Juice. If I shift down out of 6th my load % drops the egts go down and my boost drops a tick.

Chris

 

Dave:

I know I'm kinda hijacking here so if you are upset just say so.

Chris: Do you think the juice has helped the truck?

 

I love my Juice!! PIcked up about 1.5 -2 MPG with it and seeing what is going on is great!!
The only downfall is now I see how frickin often this pig is in regen!!! About every 30-40 milse in town and once an hour on the highway!!

Chris