MY name is chisel I own a 2003 dodge ram 2500 4x4 quad cab long bed ,I have the calif cummins with 235 horse plant with 3:73 gears and a RE48 auto trans, the truck weight is 6950lbs +or- the truck has 68k original miles on it.
I just bought a 5th wheel 33 ft it weighs 10100lbs dry, prolly gonna weigh 12500lbs with gear. The GCVRW is 17000lbs for my truck
Do you think this is to much for my truck to tackle, we plan on touring the alot of the states, some advice and help would be greatly apprieciated.\
thanks

 

Im pretty sure the GCVWR is 21,000lbs on all 3rd gen trucks with the 3.73 gears.

Maybe they derated the California models...but i didn't think so.


You could probably buy a Smarty programmer and recover any lost power between the cali model and the 305/555 engines...and then some.

You shouldn't have any problem towing a trailer in that weight range with ease. Our trucks are WAY under rated by Dodge anyway. Happy Towing!

..

 

I got rid of my '03 with the 250hp motor and 48RE because it was too much to pull our toyhauler that weighed in at 6800 pounds empty.

If you decide to keep it then get the Smarty, but also get some tranny work done. I could feel mine slipping and we topped out at 52 MPH, so I traded it in for my '08. The only things I really miss about my '03 were the interior and it was paid off.




Kris

 

which smarty should i get for my truck? the regular or the smarty jr. i know one of them advances the timing maybe both, but i kinda feel C.A.R.B. had the timing retarded for emission reasons on the calif version so advancing the timing sounds good to me. is there any tranny mods you could recommend for my truck. I am not sure why dodge gives 17k lbs max for gcvwr if you have the 3:73 gear ratio and if you have the 4:10 it's 19klbs, however if you have the 610ft lbs engine it;s 20k lbs no matter which gear ration you have go figure here is the link to the dodge towing guide
http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicle_to_weight.jsp

 

The guide is for max trailer weight not the gcvwr (gross combined vehicle weight rating). My 03 gcvrw is 24,000 lbs.

You will have no trouble towing the trailer. The 48re was not available for the early HO engines and the 47re was put in the early '03 SO trucks. The 47re will handle the power of the SO engine but if added power is wanted then you will need to beef up the trans.

 

Smarty JR, PSM or home made airbox mod, intake horn, cool hose, all mods are relatively inexpensive and will help. Timbrens for your rear suspension too.

 

The Dodge Chassis Builders Guide recommends an exhaust brake for any trailer of 10k. It's on my short list before I buy another trailer. I strongly recommend a little research on this. Disc brake conversion for the trailer as well.

 

No one has mentioned rear axle weight. How much is your rear axle gonna weigh with the 5'er on it?
I ruined 2 sets of tires by overloading them. I had something like 8400 lbs on the rear axle, sitting on only 2 rear tires. Scary to think of going down a steep grade w/ curves and have a tire fail.
I finally went the dually route, though I didn't want to. Much safer. Be Careful.