Kennedycamper
Algoa, Texas
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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I have an 01 Dodge CTD, with the factory overloads, swaybars, & Timbrins. I tow a 32 foot fifth wheel. I don't think I would want to go any bigger or heavier on a SRW setup. I'm over the factory GVWR when towing. My truck weighs 7200 lbs full of fuel. Your truck probably weighs simular. It's not that it won't pull it, but you will probably be over on your rear gross axel rating. That's a deal breaker.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Nobody really KNOWS that "the only difference is overload springs."
You're going to be 200lbs over GVWR on the truck without putting a single thing in the trailer. You're already nervous just based on that.
If being 200lbs over on an EMPTY trailer makes you nervous, then how are you going to feel once you load the trailer up with your stuff?
Safe or not from a ratings standpoint, you will never be comfortable driving the rig. THAT is unsafe.
Get a smaller trailer.
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steelpony5555
Copperas Cove Texas
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Joined: 10/26/2007
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Look at my sig ---my total weight going down the road is 19000 lbs. The 5er weighs around 12500. Set the cruise at 65mph and she hums down the road with no shifting around unless it is a long grade or fairly steep. Just got back from a Texas to Pa. trip and even in the mountains of WV and Pa. she had no problems on any of some of the steep grades. Oh and she stops with no problems so it is safe. Matter fact it feels and handles safer then my old TT which was 7000 lbs. I was like you when I bought my 5er, scared to death I could not tow it. But when I pulled out of the lot onto the Interstate I had a big smile on my face. I have seen some of these trucks down here hauling trailers a heck of a lot bigger then ours. I had a set of super springs put on but dont think it needed it. Oh and the only difference in a 3500 is 2 leaf springs and 2 more tires. Get a good brake controller and make sure your tires are E rated and you will be good. If you want more umpf then get it chipped, but you wont need it. These trucks handle a lot more the the door rating and will do it safely.
03 Alpenlite Valhalla
07 Dodge 2500 Lone Star Edition 5.9 diesel
07 Honda Goldwing Burnt orange of course! (My new Baby)
06 Chrysler 300 Touring
Texas Boomers---Stop by for a Margie some time!
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bdougt
Now Louisiana, Eventually Michigan
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Joined: 04/05/2007
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nolra wrote:My next tire change (very soon) will be to the NITTO tires
Interesting - I was contemplating new tires and wheels - probably Rickson - Nitto is a great option to explore.
My initial question is the factory wheels and their ability to handle a higher load (not higher PSI) of the Nitto tires.
My setup - see sig - is similar and my experince is that the 2500 is up to the task.
Brian, Donna, and Ted the dog.
2006 Dodge MegaCab 2500 Laramie 4x2 CTD 48RE 3.73 gears
Firestone AirBags - 16K Reese with Slider
2006 River Canyon 34KSTSO - TrailAir Pin - XPS RIBS 245/75/16
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RamTX
Houston Area.
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Joined: 06/16/2006
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I have a 2005 Dodge truck likes yours. The actual scale weight of the truck with full load of fuel, two persons in truck, hitch installed and light amount of cargo is 7040 lbs. So, as others have said, your estimated truck weight is probably low and you in all likelihood will be over the GVWR.
2005 Dodge 2500 CTD ShortBed Quad Cab
08 Jayco Eagle Superlite 31.5FBHS
Line X
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larry barnhart
wenatchee. wa usa
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From what I see in the very large rv park we stay in the winter your setup won't be as bad as most that tow large fifthwheels.
chevman
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy
easyrider/reese airhitch
trailair center point suspension
JT Strong Arm Stabilizers
KSH 55 inbed fuel tank
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ib516
Up here!
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Joined: 04/18/2003
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I can confirm without a doubt that the only mechanical differences between a 2500 and a 3500 SRW like mine ARE the overload springs in the rear and their frame mounted perches. My GAWR, GVWR, and GCWR specs are in my sig. My BIL has a 2004 2500 4x4 with a 9000# GVWR, 5200# FAWR and a 6000# RAWR. My trucks GVWR increases by 1100# by adding the rear overload spings and the rear GAWR is 6200#. The brakes, trans, engine, cooling, rotors, etc, are all the same.
Whether or not you want to tow that RV is up to you, but adding airbags to a 2500 makes it very similar to a 3500 SRW mechanically.
BTW, my 3500 SRW Megacab weighed in at 7270# without the topper. A 2500 quad cab similarly equipped is 150# lighter according to the Dodge towing guide.
To sum it up:
- 2500 truck, 5200# FAWR, 6000# RAWR, 9000# GVWR, 20,000# GCWR (3.73)
- 3500 SRW truck, 5200# FAWR, 6200# RAWR, 10,100# GVWR, 21,000# GCWR (3.73) with the addition of the rear overload springs.
2010 Cougar 322QBS 5er
2007 Dodge 3500 Megacab, 4x4, 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel, 3.73, 48RE auto
Hypertech Max Energy 
PICTURES
Prev Trucks:
2002 Dodge 2500, 4x4, Cummins Turbo Diesel, 3.55, 47RE auto
2001 Dodge 2500, 4x4, 360 gasser, 4.10, 46RE auto
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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So, are you really confused yet?
Take it from someone who has BT,DT you will exceed all of the numbers on the truck by a significant amount. You will not he a happy camper at all. I used to pull a lot smaller Cedar Creek with my Chevy 2500HD D/A and I ran that truck loaded ready to camp with the trailer attached across the scales several times. 10,500 pounds is way too much for any bodies brand of "3/4 ton" truck. The Cedar Creeks are really nice trailers, however the weight numbers as given in the brochures are grossly under estimated. My trailer has a listed pin weight of 1750 pounds and it actually scales at 3000 pounds. Be prepared to drink a lot of adult beverages after you get to your destination every time to try and come down from all the stress of pulling so overloaded.
Donn
Finally able to camp again after a two year hiatus.
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nolra
Houston
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Joined: 01/13/2009
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randyb wrote:I've heard the only difference between the 2500 and 3500 are the overload springs. The manual says the 3500 4X2 payload is 3270. I don't think the gear ratio would affect payload just the trailer towing weight. So by adding overload springs I may be able to increase my payload and GVWR by approximately 730 lbs. if I'm thinking correctly. (The GVWR is 9,900 lbs. for the 3500. That's a 900 lb. difference from mine...not sure what happened to the 170 lb. difference.)
It's your tires that are limiting, not the springs. You already said you have 3195 lb tires. How does adding 760 lbs of extra spring increase your tire's weight load capacity?
That's why a 2500 and 3500 have the same payload. It not the truck that limiting the payload, it's the tires!
03 Dodge 2500 Cummins SB Quad (ATTA 45g aux. fuel tank, Dr. Performance module, 4" MBRP, Ride-Rite)
08 Cougar 276RLS with 16" BFG E rated LT's
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ghhensley
Fort Worth,Tx
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Joined: 12/09/2007
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I also had a similar situation, I had an extra leaf spring added to each spring stack at "Fort Worth Champion Spring Service" in Fort Worth, Tx, they told me it would add about 900lbs to my carry capacity, cost me around $350.00. They gave me a certificate with vin# and added capacity info. for the glove box if needed. I took off my Firestone air bags. The only draw back is when driving unloaded it will rattle your teeth on every bump. When hooked up to RV it rides smooth especially over bridges.
05 Dodge Cummins 4-Door Long Bed
06 HitchHiker II LS 32.5 UKTG
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