towing a 2011 raptor 361 LEV

[2joe12]

I bought a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 anticipating getting our new camper. After a season of towing my 2011 Raptor 361 LEV, I found I was 25,700lbs on the scale, and that was without any toys in the back. This truck was my dream truck, but my GCWR was only 21,000. I called Dodge, and they said I was sol. I went to my local GMC dealer and purchased a 2011 GMC 3500 Denali. The rating on this truck is 26,000, I'm legal now, just wanted to let every body know, buyer beware, because these camper dealers don't care as long as they sell a unit!

[f6bits]

What’s the weight of the trailer? Spec says 12,800. The truck is another 12K?

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by sdayman

What’s the weight of the trailer? Spec says 12,800. The truck is another 12K?

Dodge shows the 3500 to be somewhere right around 7,400# curb weight.

[2joe12]

The 25,700 lbs was loaded with 3 adults, 1 child, 35 gallons fuel and 110 gallons of fresh water. keep in mind, if an accident occurs or you pull on scales you must be below your GCWR rating, most people license their trucks lower to save on registration fees, I chose to be legal with a Pa. weight sticker of 8, and GCWR of 26,000, anything above that and a CDL is required.

[2011 keystone]

Better safe than sorry! congrats on the new truck. And WELCOME to the forum

[LittleJoe]

As long as you are not over any max axle or tire weight ratings and your license fees are for the GCWR you are at there is not an issue.
DOT only cares that an axle or tires are not overweight .

If you are pulling a non RV trailer then anything 10000lbs and over requires a class A license.

[mrxlh]

Originally Posted by LittleJoe

As long as you are not over any max axle or tire weight ratings and your license fees are for the GCWR you are at there is not an issue.
DOT only cares that an axle or tires are not overweight .

If you are pulling a non RV trailer then anything 10000lbs and over requires a class A license.

Bingo, in a court of law, the above is what is adheared to.

[2joe12]

So you are saying I was ok with the dodge? I called the state police and they said if im over 21,000k I am overweight, that's why I bought the GMC

[Festus2]

LittleJoe:
Don't forget that the licensing laws and other regulations concerning axle and/or weight limitations, vary from province to province and from state to state. So the rules and regulations that you referred to above in Ontario may not apply outside of that province. The requirements/limitations for pulling commercial trailers also vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. As an example, anyone - including recreational users - here in BC who has a GVWR of 10k lbs or more has to have a special endorsement on their driver's license which requires successful completion of both a written and road test. This requirement is not Canada-wide. It or variations thereof may or may not apply in other provinces or states.
Towing rules, limits and regulations are not the same everywhere. You need to know what they are in your state or province and adhere to them.
If 2joe12 was advised by his state authority that he would be overweight then that, in my opinion, is the advice he should be following.

[2joe12]

thanks for the info, thats why i traded to the GMC, I wish I would of done this forum sooner, it is very informative, and every body should check this site out before considering buying an RV because every body here is well informed!

[Bigpuddie]

I never weighed my setup....But I have the 2012 Raptor 365lev and the 3500 SRW with airbags. Pulls it no problem and doesnt look overloaded with the airbags at all....

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Bigpuddie

I never weighed my setup....But I have the 2012 Raptor 365lev and the 3500 SRW with airbags. Pulls it no problem and doesn't look overloaded with the airbags at all....

It sounds to me that you don't have any idea how much your truck/trailer weighs, and since it "doesn't look overloaded" it "must be OK" Airbags will "lift" the rear of a truck, but do not increase the load capacity.

I'd urge you to get your truck/trailer weighed and know where you stand, while you may be well within the engineered limits, you just may be well over the limits and putting your wife, the 6 kids, the bulldog and those who travel on the roads with you at risk.

Remember, knowledge is power for those who have it (and use it).

[Festus2]

While you may be within the safe towing limits, until you have weighed everything, you can't know for sure. When coupled together on a flat, level surface, the 3500 and the Raptor will look level because of the air bags whose function it is to provide a better ride and to level out the two units. They do not improve or increase the towing capacity of the truck. Not looking overloaded isn't the same thing as not being overloaded.