Confused about weight ratings on 2500

[WLB]

Hi all,

My Ram 2500 6.4l shows a 10,000 GVWR, but has a front axle GAWR of 5500, and a rear axle GAWR of 6390. Why is the truck not rated for 5500 + 6390= 11,890?
I weighed it with my trailer yesterday and the front axle weighed 4320, and the rear weighed 6180 for a total of 10,500- which is 500 over the 10k listed GVWR. I'm confused!
Can anyone help a feeble-minded old guy understand this?

 

[Lonestar]

Because Ram doesn’t want to go over the 10k GVWR rating. Just don’t go over the axle ratings and you will be fine. On a side note, based on the above axle weights you provided, you need to move more weight back to the front axle.

 

[MarkCO1]

My Ram 2500 6.4l shows a 10,000 GVWR, but has a front axle GAWR of 5500, and a rear axle GAWR of 6390. Why is the truck not rated for 5500 + 6390= 11,890?
I weighed it with my trailer yesterday and the front axle weighed 4320, and the rear weighed 6180 for a total of 10,500- which is 500 over the 10k listed GVWR. I'm confused!
Can anyone help a feeble-minded old guy understand this?

For many reasons. The newer 2500s and 3500s SRW are built the same except for the rear springs. 10K GVWR saves some $ on registration and insurance for the owner and saves Ram from making two sets of things that are pretty close, dollar wise, at the manufacturer level. Ford has also done this.

 

[WLB]

Because Ram doesn’t want to go over the 10k GVWR rating. Just don’t go over the axle ratings and you will be fine. On a side note, based on the above axle weights you provided, you need to move more weight back to the front axle.

Not sure how to do that- I have a 5th wheel.

 

[CdnHO]

Not sure how to do that- I have a 5th wheel.

You can't change the pin position on a fifth wheel. Unfortunately, 2500s are very limited in payload, especially with diesel engines. Since you have gas, you are better off in terms of payload. The only way to determine what is sitting on the axles is to load the truck and trailer ready for your trip and take it to a truck scale and calculate the various weights. To determine your pin weight, weigh the truck separately, and subtract that weight from the two truck axle weights that you got with the trailer hooked up. Given your numbers you currently have, you should be fine since you are within both axle ratings. The reason the axle weights to add up to the GVWR is becaue the manufacturer has no control how you load the truck.

 

[Lonestar]

Not sure how to do that- I have a 5th wheel.

At the 6180 rear axle weight, is that loaded for camping or dry? If that is dry, I move to a 1 ton.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

10k is for registration only. Your weights are good nothing to worry about.

 

[AH64ID]

Not sure how to do that- I have a 5th wheel.

Depending on your hitch you could possibly move the weight forward a little, but the comment about weight was geared towards a bumper pull with a WDH. You're fine.

 

[Brutal_HO]

For many reasons. The newer 2500s and 3500s SRW are built the same except for the rear springs. 10K GVWR saves some $ on registration and insurance for the owner and saves Ram from making two sets of things that are pretty close, dollar wise, at the manufacturer level. Ford has also done this.

Actually, they are not. Different frame. SRW HO has bigger rear rotor/brakes.

Thread 'Interesting data showing frame differences 2500 vs 3500, aka they are "the same"'

Aug 21, 2024

2019 Through 2024 HD Truck Frame and Hitch Material Specs.pdf

• Brutal_HO
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Towing

• 
• 

 

[Brutal_HO]

You can't change the pin position on a fifth wheel. Unfortunately, 2500s are very limited in payload, especially with diesel engines. Since you have gas, you are better off in terms of payload. The only way to determine what is sitting on the axles is to load the truck and trailer ready for your trip and take it to a truck scale and calculate the various weights. To determine your pin weight, weigh the truck separately, and subtract that weight from the two truck axle weights that you got with the trailer hooked up. Given your numbers you currently have, you should be fine since you are within both axle ratings. The reason the axle weights to add up to the GVWR is becaue the manufacturer has no control how you load the truck.

Unless you have a B&W Companion. They are adjustable to some degree if you have a long bed or a slider.

Forward is slightly forward center, arms reversed is slightly rearward.

That said, I doubt there's any meaningful difference in RAWR.

 

[AH64ID]

That said, I doubt there's any meaningful difference in RAWR.

I don't think the difference on the RAW is a big deal, unless one is right at RAWR, but the potential difference in geometry and feel from weight behind the rear axle is a bigger concern. The truck will just handle better with the weight over or in front of the rear axle.

5" behind the rear axle will have a 3% reduction in weight on the front axle on a LWB truck.

 

[WLB]

At the 6180 rear axle weight, is that loaded for camping or dry? If that is dry, I move to a 1 ton.

That's loaded up after breaking camp where we stayed for six weeks, so that's likely heavier than it will normally be most of the time.

 

[WLB]

Unless you have a B&W Companion. They are adjustable to some degree if you have a long bed or a slider.

Forward is slightly forward center, arms reversed is slightly rearward.

That said, I doubt there's any meaningful difference in RAWR.

View attachment 76762

I have the Andersen Ultimate hitch with the B&K turnover ball. My truck is a short bed, so I don't think I could move it up.

 

[WLB]

Thanks for all the input, guys! It feels fine towing, so with that and your answers I think I'm good. Will probably add airbags for the little bit of rear sag, but it's really not much.

 

[Iggy]

Thanks for all the input, guys! It feels fine towing, so with that and your answers I think I'm good. Will probably add airbags for the little bit of rear sag, but it's really not much.

So, even if everyone stays within reason, to the numbers on door of truck, here in Canada the max weight anyone can tow with whatever truck they have is 10,200 lbs on a class 5, standard drivers license. If you go over 10,200 lbs you would need a class 3 with endorsements. This was law for a lot of years and they started enforcing it this year do to the fact that just because your truck can pull something does not mean it can safely avoid, brake in time or emergency brake under control. Because of all the accidents involving Travel Trailers and 5th'es, even though most were caused by being cut off or slammed into be jerks. It was enforced heavy this passed summer in Nova Scotia. Our friend with a 5th got 3 fines for being overweight. Just an old fellow talking. So I tow a 30ft PUMA XLE 24fbc TOY HAULER fully loaded ATV included with a 21 HD Ram 6.4 4x4 bighorn CC long box 4:10 gears
with a softopper and a husky center pull hitch. Stay safe people. OH, I love this truck and our Malinois X has the hole back with seats folded up to herself.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

, here in Canada the max weight anyone can tow with whatever truck they have is 10,200 lbs on a class 5, standard drivers license. If you go over 10,200 lbs you would need a class 3 with endorsements.

this is NOT true in all of canada such as Ontario RV’s and recreational use are exempt from that towing limit. And we also don't use those classes. Here you also cant tandem tow without an A licence unless its a recreational vehicle train


Side note any RV with trailer brakes the trailer brakes should be stoping the RV not the truck towing it if this is not the case the trailers brakes need to be adjusted/ repaired

 

[Lonestar]

So, even if everyone stays within reason, to the numbers on door of truck, here in Canada the max weight anyone can tow with whatever truck they have is 10,200 lbs on a class 5, standard drivers license. If you go over 10,200 lbs you would need a class 3 with endorsements. This was law for a lot of years and they started enforcing it this year do to the fact that just because your truck can pull something does not mean it can safely avoid, brake in time or emergency brake under control. Because of all the accidents involving Travel Trailers and 5th'es, even though most were caused by being cut off or slammed into be jerks. It was enforced heavy this passed summer in Nova Scotia. Our friend with a 5th got 3 fines for being overweight. Just an old fellow talking. So I tow a 30ft PUMA XLT 24fbc TOY HAULER fully loaded ATV included with a 21 HD Ram 6.4 4x4 bighorn CC long box 4:10 gears
with a softopper and a husky center pull hitch. Stay safe people. OH, I love this truck and our Malinois X has the hole back with seats folded up to herself.

We have 2 Husky/Belgian Malinois mixes. Great dogs!

 

[Iggy]

this is NOT true in all of canada such as Ontario RV’s and recreational use are exempt from that towing limit. And we also don't use those classes. Here you also cant tandem tow without an A licence unless its a recreational vehicle train

Thanks for the info. It was explained the my friend and I that a regular license to drive a car or truck can't tow over 10,040 but they rounded to 10,200. The second fine was just outside Brampton Ont. and he is fighting all three fines. Other fines were in NB and NS. Only going with what happened to him. He has a 22 ram 3500 and 5th is 11,100lbs. I didn't have any issues. I will call him tomorrow morning to let him know. I get and know about the trailer brakes and have been tow tt's for 45 yrs. was not arguing the points was just talking about what happened to him this summer and a truck that is overloaded is NOT going to emergency brake and avoid properly is what I was talking about

 

[Iggy]

We have 2 Husky/Belgian Malinois mixes. Great dogs!

Both myself and she are retired military. she is from dde line german shepheard mother and bn line belgian malinois father. My wife get ptsd from both of us hahaha .Hope you have fun with the dogs.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Thanks for the info. It was explained the my friend and I that a regular license to drive a car or truck can't tow over 10,040 but they rounded to 10,200. The second fine was just outside Brampton Ont. and he is fighting all three fines. Other fines were in NB and NS. Only going with what happened to him. He has a 22 ram 3500 and 5th is 11,100lbs. I didn't have any issues. I will call him tomorrow morning to let him know. I get and know about the trailer brakes and have been tow tt's for 45 yrs. was not arguing the points was just talking about what happened to him this summer and a truck that is overloaded is NOT going to emergency brake and avoid properly is what I was talking about

Yea the G,D,E,F,and B licence can tow up to 4600KG but with a RV it can be up to 24,000lbs combined weight anything past that requires at least an A restricted or a full A licence. Its a really stupid licensing system. Especially since now you need to do an 8 week 10,000$ course to get an A licence. I hope its better out in Nova Scotia for licensing


Send this to your buddy, it’s right from the ontario site.