I have a 2002 2500 Quad Cab 155" WB equipped with the camper package and All Season Tires (LT245/75R16E BSW). We put a 10' Alaskan Popup Camper on it that weighs 2126 lbs wet. The recommended payload for this truck is 2,040 and a GVWR rating of 8,800. When I add up all the weight that I think is in it plus the truck (we haven't weighed it yet) it's probably around 10,000 lbs total weight.

Two Questions: Is that too much for this truck with a camper package? Should we buy different tires..if so, what kind/size?

 

Are you sure your gvrw is only 8800#....an f150 has a higher rating than that.The tires are good for over 12,000# Cummulative. The front ends are usually around 4000 pounds. A set of rear helper air bags... firestones or air lifts would shift the weight around a bit to balance it between the front and rear. Your a little hefty in the rear. I'd go to a CAT private scale and find out your axle loads with the camper in. That would be your starting point. ks

 

You should be OK. What ABC said, get on a certified truck scale (they have these at many truck stops. Check www.catscale.com or www.flyingj.com and find out your front and rear axle weights when you are all loaded up with food, fuel, people, etc. My guess is that both are under 6084 lbs (the tire rating of 245/75/16E's). I would probably be running the tires at 80 PSI (max inflation) all the time though.

 

Weight shouldn't be a problem. Top heavy, and a air bag blowing out can cause problems. Timbrem's? sp might be a beter option to carry the weight. They are rubber springs that replace the overload bumpers.

 

The weakest link is the tires. Check the weight rating on the tires and don't exceed that. As mentioned, the capacity of a tire is at it's max inflation.

 

I have never seen or heard of any manufacturers 1/2 ton come factory rated with a 8800 lb or higher GVWR. That is definitely on the heavy side for a 1/2 ton!!

maggiemay,

Welcome to DTR!!

FWIW, the 8800 lb GVWR 2500 Ram even with the exceeded payload weight, will most likely still be under the front and rear GAWR's and tire capacities and with some type of additional aftermarket load control for the rear, will safely handle the extra weight. Of course, the only way to be certain that you are still under on the GAWR's is to actually weigh the truck but from my experience with hauling a 3500 lb slide-in with my 2500, you should be fine.

 

I have a 2500 with a large camper 11.6 full of water, fuel, 2 occupants I weigh 10,296 lbs. I have LT245/75R16E tires , air bags, and rancho 9000 shocks. I had my gvw bumped up to 11,000. I have had no problems with this set up. I run the tires at 80 psi, and the bags at 70 psi, the Ranchos on the second to last hard setting.I also run through a lot of hard mountain driving. One other thing you might want to consider is an exhaust brake.

 

maggiemay,

Your 2500 and the 3500 SRW are the same truck except for the overload springs. You are not going to break anything, but it will sag in the back. The timbrens, or air lifts or a set of overload springs may be in order. Also, a rear sway bar is a wonderful addition for high loads, like a big camper. I put one on my 1st gen and the handling was significantly improved with my camper. I'd stay with the load range E tires but next time maybe get the 265s instead of the 245s because they may have a slightly heavier max load rating. I think these trucks have a lot of reserve capacity beyond their rated load. They have a lot of power, excellent brakes, strong frames and very strong axles.

John

 

Your payload capability is actually above the 2040 lbs. That is the rating for the stock 2500 with CTD. Since you have the camper option you have 2 extra overload springs and the rear sway bar. Your suspension is the same as the 1T dually. In effect you have a 1T SRW. Notice in 2006 they 2500 no longer offers a "camper option" but they have a 3500 SRW and the only difference are the 2 overload springs.

When the CTD was added to the truck you got the 1T front end to handle the weight of the engine. It also gives a 7500# rear axle versus the std. 6500#. The camper option completes the 1t suspension.

According to the service mgr. at my Dodge dealer, the limitation on the rear end is the combined rating of the tires (axle can handle more than the tires). For load range E that will approx. 6800 lbs. He said that up until 2000/2001 when they put in the camper option they put a sticker under the hood that changed the GVWR but for some reason they stopped doing that.

I talked to the folks at the DOT scales in Trinidad, CO and they said if I was ever pulled in to be weighed they would check 2 things; tire inflation pressure and tire rating on both axles. He said I had better have those suckers at high enough psi to carry the load (55 psi front/ 80 psi rear). They have a load derating chart for under inflated tires.

I sold my 2001 a couple of weeks ago so can't check the owners manual but here is a link to the 2001 tow/load ratings which were identical to the 2002. Note the asterisk under CTD which shows the stronger rear end.

http://dodgeram.info/2001/towing-charts.html

 

Thanks for the advice guys..I'm new to the business and have lots to learn. I think I'll look into getting the 265 tires to be on the safe side. Anyone have a particular brand or type best to buy?

 

I personally like Michelins. I run those on my SUVs and did on the 01 CTD. They aren't cheap, but the wear very well and are quiet on the highway. They do fairly well in snow (I live in Colo and we get some of that).

 

As the others have said - the weak link is the tires. Go over a self-weigh and check where you're at - better you find out before someone else with a blue light tells you.
Have a look at my sig for suspension mods/tires - I have a heavy camper and sit level, and have gone over the self-weigh at 13,500#. Yes, it's a SRW. Depending on the state/province they treat you differently so just be aware of what the rules are where you travel. Some provinces check the tire rating and multiply by 4 while others (B.C.) can go strictly by the door sticker. In the US, I believe there is a way to reflect the mods by way of a new door sticker, but not up here. One of the keys is to sit level and "not look heavy"...some people insist on dragging their butt with lights pointing skyward hauling a heavy camper and then add a horse trailer on an extension...they're just asking for trouble, let alone being unsafe.