Ok. Why is it that the Dodge website lists that on a 2005 Dodge 3500 with 4:10's can tow 2000 more pounds then the 3:73 gears? If you do a search on here 99 percent of all responses concerning towing is don't go over the weights GCVW and so on. BUT if this is such a major deal why can I change gears and nothing else and gain 2000 pounds in manufacture towing capacity.

Don't get me wrong I am all about being safe. But this makes absolutely no sense to me.

Chris

 

the lower the rear axle the more towing capacity. the engine and drive train take less abuse with a lower rear axle rating.
to determine GCVWR the vehicle is tested with increasing amounts of weight on mountains in the desert at a given speed. when the load shows that it is exerting too much stress on the drive train, i.e. parts overheating; that is what the vehicle is determined to be able to contineously haul without compromising the service life of the vehicle.

 

changing gears, all else being the same, makes sense to me.

 

I'll try...Equate lower gearing to the principle of the lever...The longer the lever (or the lower the gearing), the more weight can be moved...Archimedes said if you gave him a lever long enough, he could move the world...Truckimedes says if you give me gearing low enough, a sewing machine motor can move a freight train...

But getting back to the practical side of trucking, don't forget you have to be able to stop whatever you've set in motion so don't overload your brakes......Ben

 

But how long will it take to get there! What you said is true enough Ben.

To explain further.

The gearing allows the engine to operate at its optimal torque peak but at the cost of speed.

i.e. When I am doing 60 MPH with my truck the RPM are 1400 ish which is well below the torque peak. If I had 4.10 gearing and ran 60 my RPM would be closer to 1800 which is where it should be to be at the torque peak.

This is also why you need to be aware of your tire size, when you go really big you push the gearing the opposite direction and you actually lose some of your towing potential.

 

Thanks guys. Guess I get aggrevated at my self for not doing more research before buying a 2500 v/s 3500. My 5er make me about 1600 over GCVW. The 3500 springs get me to 700. Nobodys fault but my own............. Thanks again.

 

The 4.10s also put the trans gears closer together so accelerating up thru the gears is much easier on everything. Craig

 

Actually the difference comes in "lifting the Load" from a dead stop ie; Overdrive transmission vs a direct drive with identical ratios combined. The unit with the lower rearend gears will "lift" the load from a stop easier however 30,000 ft lbs torque at 30 mph is the same whether it comes from a tall or a short set of gears once moving. Eg; RTO 13 spd with 4.11 gears vs RT 13 spd with 3.70 gears.

 

Plus there's those other pesky things to overcome, such as the effects of tension, friction and gravity...Truckimedes now defers questions to Sir Isaac Newton for the remainder of the lecture......Ben

 

Don't get all worked up over the GCWR. It is an arbitrary number with no industry standard. I think of it as a number imposed by bean counters to keep warranty claims to a minimum. I have read that sometime in the future there will be a standard for GCWR just as there is currently a standard for GVWR, but until then it is just a bragging rights contest between manufacturers.

 

Everybody is answering the question which is good but...... According to your sig you own a 2500. The same formulas DO NOT APPLY! The biggest factor you're not accounting for here is tires, single verses dually. The additional pair account for a portion of the increased capacity, as well as braking traction. You cannot assume a gear and spring change on a 2500 will net you the same results as it would on a 3500. You will overload the tires.

 

I concur. HOWEVER, My understanding is that with the addition of springs I am at that of a 3500 SRW. Dodge's website does not indicate that the 3500 specs I spoke of were that of a DRW. I understand your point though.

 

Cool. Would you mind posting your link to the specs on the Dodge site?

 

I haven't looked at a P/U brochure for many years. Is the gcvw of a drw higher than a srw and if so, how much? You can add OLs or airbags and super singles or a drw kit. Craig

 

The GCWR is nothing but a warranty rating by the mfg,it assures limited claims if the truck is used at the mfgs rating or a way out of paying a warranty claim if wts are exceeded.