3500 DRW Rear GAWR

Delta.Speed

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Mar 26, 2022
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Im curious to see how rear axle weight ratings changed over time on 3500 DRW trucks.

I currently have a 2002 SRW, and the door sticker says 6,084 lbs rear GAWR. Looked in a buddy's 2018 Ram 2500 Cummins SRW, and it reads 6,500 lbs rear GAWR. Little over 400 lbs of improvement for 16 years of difference seems like nothing, so now I'm wondering if Silverado/Sierra trucks are any different.

Is there much difference in axle weight rating between generations? What's your dually's year and rear GAWR?

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Ron Nielson

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Oct 11, 2009
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Think about where that 6084 weight rating comes from. It's the sum of the 2 tires mounted on the rear axle, each having 3042 lbs weight rating. If you have a dually, you have 4 tires (sorry, I don't know the individual tire rating for those) and that's what limits the weight rating for a dually. The rest of the rear end is actually stronger than either of those. And until very recently with the addition of a 12 " ring gear on the newer models, the rear ends were almost identical.
 

Delta.Speed

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Mar 26, 2022
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Think about where that 6084 weight rating comes from. It's the sum of the 2 tires mounted on the rear axle, each having 3042 lbs weight rating. If you have a dually, you have 4 tires (sorry, I don't know the individual tire rating for those) and that's what limits the weight rating for a dually. The rest of the rear end is actually stronger than either of those. And until very recently with the addition of a 12 " ring gear on the newer models, the rear ends were almost identical.
So from what you're saying, a 2005 3500 DRW and a 2015 3500 DRW should have very similar rear axle GAWR. Is that right?

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JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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We have a 2015 and a 2020 dually at the shop right now. The 2015 is rated at 9,375 and the 2020 is rated at 10,500 lbs. We have a 2003 and a 2009 dually here also, but their tags are unreadable. FWIW, Google shows a 2005 dually has a rear GAWR of 8550 lbs.
 

Bdsankey

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We have a 2015 and a 2020 dually at the shop right now. The 2015 is rated at 9,375 and the 2020 is rated at 10,500 lbs. We have a 2003 and a 2009 dually here also, but their tags are unreadable. FWIW, Google shows a 2005 dually has a rear GAWR of 8550 lbs.
This is what the 2002 CCLB DRW shows at our shop as well (8550lbs) for rear axle rating.
 

PureHybrid

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Feb 15, 2012
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I know you made a comment about the Ram rating so, not 100% if this influenced them but; 2014 or 2015 was when they moved to the 11.8" rear, and again around 2017 or 2018 the ring gear bolts increased from 12 to 16
 

Delta.Speed

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Mar 26, 2022
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We have a 2015 and a 2020 dually at the shop right now. The 2015 is rated at 9,375 and the 2020 is rated at 10,500 lbs. We have a 2003 and a 2009 dually here also, but their tags are unreadable. FWIW, Google shows a 2005 dually has a rear GAWR of 8550 lbs.
From the sounds of this, every chassis update got a bump in GAWR then.

So,

01-10 is 8550 probably.

11-13 I'm guessing was slightly higher since they had some chassis updates around this time I believe. Could be wrong.

14-19 is 9375

And the 2020+ are rated at 10,500.

Sound about right?

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Delta.Speed

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Mar 26, 2022
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We have a 2015 and a 2020 dually at the shop right now. The 2015 is rated at 9,375 and the 2020 is rated at 10,500 lbs. We have a 2003 and a 2009 dually here also, but their tags are unreadable. FWIW, Google shows a 2005 dually has a rear GAWR of 8550 lbs.
Yeah, Im doing similar research into the Rams. What I'm doing is trying to figure out what's the best weight rating per dollar brand and gen, but only between GM's and Rams, cause I HATE working on Powerstrokes.

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Bdsankey

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Wasn't Adams LMM like that. No bed and a 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch
Which Adam?

I've seen that exact config many times to save weight on the rear end. Only requirement (I believe) is must have working rear lights and fenders for road debris. It looks tacky but works very well to save weight mainly over the rear axle to squeeze in a few extra pounds.
 

2004LB7

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Which Adam?

I've seen that exact config many times to save weight on the rear end. Only requirement (I believe) is must have working rear lights and fenders for road debris. It looks tacky but works very well to save weight mainly over the rear axle to squeeze in a few extra pounds.
Sorry, Malibu795
 

JoshH

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In addition to extra weight capacity, I think a lot of hotshot guys remove the bed for trailer length restrictions. I can't find it, but I remember reading something a while back that a truck with a pickup bed requires the measurement to be taken from the front of the bed on a 5th wheel/goose neck style trailer or something like that. Didn't make any sense to me, but a lot of regulations from the government don't make much sense so par for the course.