[QUOTE]Originally posted by rjohnson
[B]Question - The axles are the same on the Third Gen 2500 & 3500?? On 2nd Gen trucks they are very different! Dana 70 vs Dana 80 in the rear.


my 2500 second gen came with dana 80

 

If I recall correctly the 2nd gen 2500 auto came with the rear 70 and the manual trans came with the 80 but both have the same front 60. The 3500's same front 60 and both the manual and auto came with the same 80. I may be wrong going from my ever failing memory.

 

If you go buy the D.C ratings my truck has a similar Payload to my old F150

yeah right..............

 

Strick, check out my site - http://xj.cdevco.net/auto/dodgetowing/. The number that you need to worry about is your TIRE rating. Your tires are rated to 3145 per tire @ 80 PSI approx. So double that you get 6290. Now subtract the rear curb weight of the vehicle, probably about 3000 max. Leaves you 6290 - 3000# = 3290# of pin weight before you reach those limits. You are well witin your safety range. Don't forget a good brake controller and to inflate tires to 80 PSI.

FWIW rear axle limits are ridiculously underrated on our trucks, they are based on the tire ratings basically. The front axles are pretty close...

http://xj.cdevco.net/auto/pdfs/dana_axle_ratings.pdf
http://www.aam.com/

 

You forget what you are dealing with when it comes to the legal setup of the factories. For EPA and insurance purposes, they sell a 2500 as a 3/4 ton truck, that means the capability to haul 1500 pounds. The same for the one ton at 2000 pounds. When you are pulling a goosneck or fifth wheel the GVW goes out the window and is replaced by the GVCWR. Dot figures this by one of two systems depending on the state. Federal and some states is the GVW of the truck plus the weight of the trailer and any load theron. Other states have it as the GVW of the truck added to the GVW of the trailer. But then if you are plated for the weight that you are hauling, the state has given you license to haul the capacity of the plates and the only restriction is the capacity of the tires and the axles. They never check the axle capacity just the tires.

And yes, if you hit a school bus full of kids and kill a few, all bets are off and the prosecution will look for any way to get you illegal. The second gen handles mid thirtys with the stock suspension at 7000 pound rear axle weights with ease. I don't overload tires though, I like to live. I have had mine loaded to 6100 front, 7500 rear, with no problems.

On a DOT check, the inspector twice has taken all the info and when reading the 8800 pound GVW on mine while weighting 30,000, made some derogatory comment, but no citation or DOT gig on it. So far as will it take it, my 2500 is approching 300,000 while pulling the same trailer at these weights. Original bearings on all wheels, none loose. Did lose a carrier bearing, but replaced it and the rear is doing fine. Same for U joints and center bearing. It has had three sets of brakes on it. The mileage is 323k. Of course I baby it, never run much over 75...

 

Great "Real World" info!

RJ

 

One day when they are in a bad mood, either Tennessee or Florida will get you for overlength. If I remember right you have a flatbed on the truck. A pickup bed or flatbed makes your truck a "truck & trailer" These go by individual state laws instead of the federal minimum of 53 foot and any length tractor. That is why I have no bed on the truck and have it registered as a tractor in stead of a pickup. Unless Tennessee has gone for longer lengths lately, Florida is still short on truck and trailer. Yep it is done every day, but just something they can get you for if they want. I went with a friend and paid a Florida overlength citation, Tennessee has never put a tape on one that I have been in. Alabama has a 57 foot trailer length, love it. A car hauler here can go 75 feet long.

Another little tip that I learned the hard way, if you do run 14 ply rating tires with the 110 pound pressure in them, put the brass bolt in valve stems in the rims. The rubber stems will blow out. Been there.