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Old 05-24-2006, 08:28 AM   #1
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I was looking and comparing Dodge 1500/2500. They use the same engine, rear end & transmission, the only difference that I can find is the leafsprings and brakes. The dodge 1500 has a tow package with 20in wheels that has larger brakes like the 2500 and a beefer set of springs. The tow rating was only off about a 1000lbs. I purchased the 1500 to tow a 8000lbs 31' 5ver. The trip home was ok. Control and braking was comfortable but the acceleration was slow. I am new to towing, had a 34' class A. Ihave seen lots of dicussion on this topic in the last couple of days( just found the site) but no one has addressed the differences in the two series. Am I missing something in the two trucks?
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Old 05-24-2006, 08:28 AM   #2
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I was looking and comparing Dodge 1500/2500. They use the same engine, rear end & transmission, the only difference that I can find is the leafsprings and brakes. The dodge 1500 has a tow package with 20in wheels that has larger brakes like the 2500 and a beefer set of springs. The tow rating was only off about a 1000lbs. I purchased the 1500 to tow a 8000lbs 31' 5ver. The trip home was ok. Control and braking was comfortable but the acceleration was slow. I am new to towing, had a 34' class A. Ihave seen lots of dicussion on this topic in the last couple of days( just found the site) but no one has addressed the differences in the two series. Am I missing something in the two trucks?
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Old 05-24-2006, 10:10 AM   #3
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The 2500 will have heavier componets. You will get a floating rear axle, heavier transfer case, heavier frame, oil cooler, transmission cooler, leaf springs, shocks, wheels, tires etc..

The tow ratings on a 2006 2500 and 1500 are quite different:

Gross Combined Tow: 12,500 versus 15,000
Tow: 7,350 versus 8,850
Gross Weight Rating: 6,350 versus 8,800
Payload: 1,356 versus 2,695

Numbers are based on a 2006 1500/2500 4x2

Curb wieght of a 1500 is 5,014
Your Trailer: 8,000
Total 13,014 (over the 12,500 GCWR Rating)

And remember, those number don't include passenger, cargo, etc in the truck. I personally would not tow a trailer with these numbers.
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Old 05-24-2006, 11:11 AM   #4
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Jeff

yep big difference in the 1500 and 2500
its that way with all three
1500 arent bad tow rigs, they are just not set up to be towing serious loads like.

brakes, springs and cooling are a big factor,
is that 8k lbs empty????
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Old 05-24-2006, 11:28 AM   #5
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The short answer is that you're overweight on the 1500 and you should have some capacity to play with on the 2500. You need to look at all of the numbers. For example, the 2500 has nearly double the payload capacity. The weight on your 5th wheel hitch should be 15%-25% of the trailer weight. In theory you might be able to achieve 15% (1200 lb) payload. In reality, this is unlikely. You still have the problem of being over the GCWR as stated. Check out THIS forum discussion for more info. The link in Ken Lenger's signature is definitely worth checking out.
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Old 05-24-2006, 12:00 PM   #6
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Well of course the salesman at both the RV lot and Car lot did the math and we should be ok? The truck has a extra oil and transmission cooler, heavier shocks( only sets down about 5" with 5th on it - makes it ride level). I have a local rock yard that has scales, I will stop by and have it wieghed on the way out Friday. We only go short distances so hopefully we can go slow and be careful until I can talk the boss into upgrading my daily car for a 3500 diesel!!!!

Thanks for the info. I wonder if someone could make the car and RV dealers pay for damages for lying to buyers?
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Old 05-24-2006, 12:13 PM   #7
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If you let me know what year model your truck is, the engine size and what your rear end gear ratio is, I can't point you to the towing numbers specific to your truck
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Old 05-24-2006, 12:31 PM   #8
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jeff Giannina:
If you let me know what year model your truck is, the engine size and what your rear end gear ratio is, I can point you to the towing numbers specific to your truck </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Of course, the critical numbers are the laden curb weight (LCW) of the truck with driver, passengers, cargo, full fuel tank, etc. that he will have to get at the scales, the GVWR and the GCWR. The manufacturer's trailer tow rating is a marketing hype number computed by subtracting from the GCWR the weight of a base truck (no options or accessories) with only a 150 lb driver. Furthermore, the manufacturer's trailer tow rating doesn't take into account the 5th wheel pin weight carried by the truck where it counts against the truck's GVWR.

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Old 05-25-2006, 10:18 PM   #9
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I have a local rock yard that has scales, I will stop by and have it wieghed on the way out Friday. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
That's a great idea. One critical item that hasn't been addressed is tire maximum load rating. The 2500 will come with tires that are E load rated. These tires should be rated for approximately 3000 lbs at 80 PSI. I think the 20" OE tires on a 2005 1500 are rated at 2400 lbs at 44 psi. If your tires are at 35 psi then they would have a lower load rating. To verify the load rating, check the tire's sidewall. You can then check to see if your tires are overloaded from the scale results. Michelin's website has an RV Tire Guide and Load Inflation Tables here that you might find useful but they don't specifically address your 20" tires.
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Old 05-26-2006, 01:16 PM   #10
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Well of course the salesman at both the RV lot and Car lot did the math and we should be ok? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


You'll be ok as far as he's concearned. He's allready got his commision. Too late now, but NEVER buy till you know the numbers. You might have to put the tv up for sale and go back for a 2500.
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Old 05-27-2006, 01:41 PM   #11
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It is very sad, but the case with most RV dealers and Truck sales men is they will say what ever it takes to make a sale.

I have had them tell me that a 3500 was over kill for my RV. Yet even after I did the math and proved to the sales man the 2500 would be over its GVWR but under the GCWR he still said the 2500 was enough truck.

Had an RV dealer try to sell me a 40 foot triple slide that was 16,000 pounds dry. At that time my 96 GMC 3500 was rated for a 20,000 combination and the truck was 6500 pounds empy. I would have been overloaded by 2500 pounds with nobody in the truck and the trailer empty.
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Old 06-03-2006, 08:06 PM   #12
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Heavier components, Yes! They are made differently also. The rear axles on a 1500 (1/2T) pickup are made and attached in a way that allows the wheel assembly to come off if the axle breaks. The 2500 (3/4T), and larger trucks have "floating" axles , that is, they do not support the weight of the truck. The wheel assembly is bolted to the rear axle housing and carries the weight. This also means if the axle breaks the wheel assembly stays attached to, and still carries the weight of, the truck.
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