6.7L Cummins Forum

Back in November 2007 I purchased a 2500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 5.9-L w/ a 4-speed automatic trans. short bed. The reason why I purchased this and not the new 6.7 was my friend new the fleet manager, at the dodge dealer, and I was able to get this truck for 38k out the door.
I currently tow a 28ft. Toy Hauler w/ GVWR of 13k from the bumper. When I'm loaded and ready to go out I'm only weighing 10,800. My question to everyone is, I want to buy a 5th wheel toy hauler that has a GVWR of 17k. The dry weight is 11,750. When I add water, my quads, and all the other stuff I usually take it should end up around 14,500 +/- 500lbs.
I plan on adding to my truck the extra leaf spring (over leaf) which will be the same has a 3500. Maybe changing the rear tires to handle the weight and possibly adding firestone airbags. I also want to add the intake and exhaust system by Banks to help out with power and fuel milage. The only thing I'm worried about is the transmission I have. (4-speed). I do have the "tow mode" and over drive.
What do you guys think of what I'm trying to do ? Can you please give me some suggestions....

Thank you for your help and advise.

Hey Alex check out this PDF. 2007_Ram_Truck_Guide[1].pdf

It has all the truck configurations along with what they can tow.

According to page 8, 13,650 LBS is the max for the Dodge 2500 and the 5.9L Cummins no matter what the transmission or rear end gear.

The 5.9L Cummins DRW 3500 with the Auto 4 and 3.73 rear end can tow 14,200 LBS and with the 4.10 rear end 2000 LBS more at 16,200 LBS. The same 5.9L Cummins 3500 with a Manual 6 speed and 3.73 gears can tow 50 LBS less at 16,150 LBS max weight.

Evidently you couldn't get a manual 6 speed with 4.10 rear gear.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

Hey squid thank you for the chart, that helps alot but I still have more questions. Those number are for towing from the bumper ? I'm trying to tow a 5th wheel and as you know that will be hooked up to the bed of the truck. I went to the dealer and they informed me that I can tow up to 16k if I add the over leaf to the rear suspension. I was happy to hear that but I'm still not statisfied by what someone tells me. Common sense would tell me I would also be limited by what my rear axels are rated at. (which I have to verify), tires, etc...

I went and looked at the Fords and Chevy's and they have the same chart but they show what each model can tow from the bumper and as a 5th wheel. I was alittle shocked at the numbers. They are ALOT higher than the dodges. I know the cummins is a great and strong engine but I was alittle confused at why they can tow so much more. The only thing I can think of is they have stronger chasis which are capable of more weight.

what do you think ? do you know anyone in your area that really tows alot and might give some advice ?

With a 5th wheel you're looking at the weight of the pin which will determine if you can legally pull it. Do you know what the pin weight is? If so, find out how much the your truck weighs, then subtract that from the GVWR to find out how much weight you can haul, ie.. pin weight. Then find out what the GCWR is, (Looks like 20k). Then find out what the 5th wheel weighs and how much weight is on the pin. If the 5th wheel weight exceeds the load capacity of your 2500............well all I can say is you're going to have to make a decision.

This is why I bought my 3500 with the 4,10 limited slip rear end.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

ok Squid you lost me alittle here, I'm going to give you some numbers and see if we can make some sence of this.
Truck info as follows:
GAWR front 5200
GAWR rear 6010
GVWR 9000
total = 20210

5th wheel trailer as follows
GVWR 17200
gross dry weight 11750
hitch dry weight 2220 (pin weight)

My truck also has limited slip rear end and I will be adding the extra leaf spring to it next week. I was at the dodge dealership today to make sure the only difference between the 2500 and 3500 was the extra leaf spring and I was correct.

Now, I was doing the math like you said and I think I'm right on the edge, but please verify for me. Always good to have someone double check...

5200+6010(front/rear axles weight) + 9000 (GVWR) = 20210 gross

20210-9000=2210(pin weight I can do?)

pin weight for 5th wheel = 2220.

Alex I agree that my post left a lot to be desired so I searched through my closet and found the article from Trailer life magizine that helped me understand how all this works and I've submitted the following word for word from the article. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me because it really is confusing.........at least it was to me.

Quote:

The following is how to calculate the realistic towing capacity of the vehicle that interests you. For example: Consider a fictional one-ton longbed, diesel, extended cab, 2WD, single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing. We’ll arbitrarily assign it a gvwr of 9,900 pounds, a front gawr of 5,000 pounds, a rear gawr of 6,824 pounds, a gcwr of 23,000 pounds and a quoted maximum tow rating of 17,000 pounds. As is often the case in single-rear-wheel trucks, the rear axle’s gawr on this truck is derived from each tire’s maximum load of 3,412 pounds. Pickups such as this normally start at more than 6,000 pounds, and with a diesel, automatic and nice trim, figure that with a full tank of fuel and hitch, this unit weighs 7,000 pounds. If we add two “standard-size” people (154 pounds each), a few tools and some cargo, it weighs 7,500 pounds. That is split to 4,000 pounds on the front axle, and 3,500 pounds on the rear axle. The first thing you should have noticed is that the maximum tow rating cannot apply with the truck fully loaded because gcwr (23,000) minus gvwr (9,900) leaves 13,100 pounds -- about two tons less than quoted towing ability. After adding options and people to the example truck, and subtracting that value (7,500) from gcwr (23,000), the effective working tow rating of the truck becomes 15,500 pounds, about 1,500 pounds less than the truck’s quoted maximum towing rating. However, you have yet to check all the numbers and verify that a 15,500-pound trailer will work. If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20 percent of its weight on the pin, that adds 3,100 pounds to the back of the truck. This would make the truck overweight -- its 7,500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3,100 pounds on the pin equals 10,600 pounds -- 700 pounds more than the truck’s gvwr, and just 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of 6,824 pounds.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

Thanks Squid, there's the formula I was looking for. Now I just have to plug in the numbers and figure out I have to buy a bigger truck !!! lol great...

Based on the fivers GVWR in real life you will have a pin weight right around 3400 pounds. That is WAY into dually country. There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING you can do or add that will make a 3/4 ton haul that much and not be into really scary territory.

I know Donn, I'm trying to get a 3500 right now, I'm just trying to see how much i can get for my 2500. It's BRAND new w/ 4k miles. I've been looking at the XLR's toyhauler and there GVWR is 18k, I'll be around 15,500 or 16k fully loaded. I hope a 3500 dually is enough...

I wondered where you'd run off to? Thought maybe you'd bought a powerstroke?

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10