Dec-31-2020 04:28 PM
Jan-03-2021 06:52 AM
Jan-03-2021 06:35 AM
JimK-NY wrote:mrgrim007 wrote:Kayteg1 wrote:mrgrim007 wrote:
So....get bigger wheels and tires?
When I was in this shoes, I read forum replies.
Several members reported that they spend couple thousands dollars on 19.5 wheels another thousand for air bags an compressor, another thousand for this and another thousand for that, finally coming to the point that it is hard to beat dually.
I used other's experience and come to the same conclusion without dropping thousand$$$$ into project.
I agree. I'm pretty much past the TC/TT combo. But I think we're still gonna see if we can make a TC work with our current truck. The one we're looking at says 4,700 wet, which I think we can make work...but we'll be looking at other, lighter options as well. Thanks for you help.
I don't get it. Did you skip grade school math or you just put wishful thinking ahead of the facts?
Your tires, wheels and the rated cargo capacity of the truck put you at about a total rear axle weight of 7200 to 7500. You have 3320 on the rear axle with an empty truck, leaving you 4300. You should not consider a camper with a wet weight that is already 400 over. You will also need to consider any accessories, bedding, clothing, food, kitchen items, etc, etc. Plan on at least 1000 for these items. Also look at the manufacturer's actual specs. That quoted wet weight may not include common accessories such as awnings, solar, microwave, oven, etc.
Yes you need to be looking at TCs that are lighter, much, much lighter. As an example, my Northstar Igloo started with a dry weight of 2300. A second battery, 2 solar panels, a generator, water/propane, awnings, tiedowns, mattress upgrade bumped the weight to about 3500. I travel pretty light but food, kitchen gear, clothing, a few tools and some personal items easily added another 1000. With a 3500 Ram, I am close to max'd out on tires and wheels. I had to add Timbrens and am considering adding Supersprings and upgrading to 19.5 wheels and tires. Remember almost every pound of a camper is going to end up on the rear axle.
Jan-03-2021 05:37 AM
mrgrim007 wrote:Kayteg1 wrote:mrgrim007 wrote:
So....get bigger wheels and tires?
When I was in this shoes, I read forum replies.
Several members reported that they spend couple thousands dollars on 19.5 wheels another thousand for air bags an compressor, another thousand for this and another thousand for that, finally coming to the point that it is hard to beat dually.
I used other's experience and come to the same conclusion without dropping thousand$$$$ into project.
I agree. I'm pretty much past the TC/TT combo. But I think we're still gonna see if we can make a TC work with our current truck. The one we're looking at says 4,700 wet, which I think we can make work...but we'll be looking at other, lighter options as well. Thanks for you help.
Jan-03-2021 04:46 AM
op wrote:
How do I figure out what the axle rating is?
Jan-02-2021 07:41 PM
Jan-02-2021 06:23 PM
Kayteg1 wrote:mrgrim007 wrote:
So....get bigger wheels and tires?
When I was in this shoes, I read forum replies.
Several members reported that they spend couple thousands dollars on 19.5 wheels another thousand for air bags an compressor, another thousand for this and another thousand for that, finally coming to the point that it is hard to beat dually.
I used other's experience and come to the same conclusion without dropping thousand$$$$ into project.
Jan-02-2021 06:19 PM
mrgrim007 wrote:
So....get bigger wheels and tires?
Jan-02-2021 02:51 PM
JimK-NY wrote:zcookiemonstar wrote:JimK-NY wrote:
...... minus 200 bed mat, tiedown brackets and fastguns. .....
200 lbs for a bed mat?
200# for bed mat, tiedown brackets and fastguns. I bet the weight would actually be considerably higher. Those horse mats are really heavy and Torqlift tiedown brackets are massive, especially the front brackets that fit my Ram 3500.
In any case it really makes no difference. The OP's plans would overload the truck by at least 2000# and that overload is mainly the excess that the wheels and tires are not rated to carry.
Jan-02-2021 02:15 PM
zcookiemonstar wrote:JimK-NY wrote:
...... minus 200 bed mat, tiedown brackets and fastguns. .....
200 lbs for a bed mat?
Jan-02-2021 01:34 PM
mrgrim007 wrote:Buzzcut1 wrote:JIMNLIN wrote:Do you think the TC alone (not towing a TT) is still too much for my truck? Assuming we try to keep the tanks empty and pack light.
What Kayteg1 has some good advice.
Simple numbers tells you 3320 lb rear axle minus 7000 rawr leaves 3680 lbs.
I wouldn't recommend driving 24/7 over axle/tire load ratings. Now if your just hauling 4k lbs of green wood or a load of RR ties from Lowes or a bed load of gravel for short run then you won't hurt the truck any.
That 7000 RAWR is based on the tires and wheels not what the axle is actually rated at (over 9000 by the MFG). Keep that in mind. Everyone will go off on the door tag. but all the DOT looks at is are you over the tire/wheel ratings and have you paid the proper weight fee. If you are close to the tire and wheel rating when you get the TC upgrade the tires and wheels to something like 19.5 vision wheels and 19.5 tires in a 245/70R19.5 those have load ratings of 4500 pounds.
Someone else mentioned that as well - upgrading the wheels/tires. That's definitely something I'm going to look at! Thanks! Gives me some hope for at least hauling the TC alone, haha.
Jan-02-2021 01:30 PM
zcookiemonstar wrote:mrgrim007 wrote:
Went to the scales today. My steer axle is 5,240 lbs and my drive axle is 3,320 lbs. Full tank of diesel. Gross 8,560 lbs. Definitely a good thing I went and now I understand the numbers a bit better.
Now I just need to find someone to trade their DRW for my SRW...
That seems heavy to me. My 03 dually weighs less and I am heavy myself.
Jan-02-2021 01:06 PM
Buzzcut1 wrote:JIMNLIN wrote:Do you think the TC alone (not towing a TT) is still too much for my truck? Assuming we try to keep the tanks empty and pack light.
What Kayteg1 has some good advice.
Simple numbers tells you 3320 lb rear axle minus 7000 rawr leaves 3680 lbs.
I wouldn't recommend driving 24/7 over axle/tire load ratings. Now if your just hauling 4k lbs of green wood or a load of RR ties from Lowes or a bed load of gravel for short run then you won't hurt the truck any.
That 7000 RAWR is based on the tires and wheels not what the axle is actually rated at (over 9000 by the MFG). Keep that in mind. Everyone will go off on the door tag. but all the DOT looks at is are you over the tire/wheel ratings and have you paid the proper weight fee. If you are close to the tire and wheel rating when you get the TC upgrade the tires and wheels to something like 19.5 vision wheels and 19.5 tires in a 245/70R19.5 those have load ratings of 4500 pounds.
Jan-02-2021 01:01 PM
JIMNLIN wrote:Do you think the TC alone (not towing a TT) is still too much for my truck? Assuming we try to keep the tanks empty and pack light.
What Kayteg1 has some good advice.
Simple numbers tells you 3320 lb rear axle minus 7000 rawr leaves 3680 lbs.
I wouldn't recommend driving 24/7 over axle/tire load ratings. Now if your just hauling 4k lbs of green wood or a load of RR ties from Lowes or a bed load of gravel for short run then you won't hurt the truck any.
Jan-02-2021 10:10 AM
Do you think the TC alone (not towing a TT) is still too much for my truck? Assuming we try to keep the tanks empty and pack light.