Maybe go to the Chevy dealership on the lot and compare the 2500 to the 3500 - if they have the same rear axle and if they have the same frame height. If a 2500 with an unreduced rate has a GVWR of 10,450 and a 3500 has a GVWR of 11,550 and both have the same frames and axles, the difference may be the number/thickness of the leaves on the rear suspension and possibly the spring on the front suspension. It may be easier to upgrade the suspension than to replace the truck. The question remains whether you get a penalty for excessive axle load (if you do not exceed 26K GCWR) or whether it is just a good feeling that you are not overloading the truck (whose parameters may have been artificially lowered).
From what I understand the 3500 has a slightly different frame, a little beefier rear axle, and a little different suspension. If I get to the point where I’m towing on the heavier side all the time, I may look at beefing up the suspension a little. Right now it feels very stable and comfortable with the loads I’ve been pulling.
I have a 2024 3500 lt8 crew cab long bed. I have a 25ft gooseneck. The most i have pulled so far was 18000lbs. My trailer weights 6k the skid steer was 12k. I live in Pennsylvania in the mountains i was very surprised how well this truck work. I came from a 2012 dodge cummins
wow thats good to see... i also have a 3500 l8t. but not long bed, just standard. My plan is to eventually tow a 35-38 ft 5th wheel maybe in the 14k range. first im doing a cross country move though pulling about 10-11k about 2300 miles. im less worries by the day seeing everyone have great success towing with the l8t
@@vicenteochoa6498 yeah I wouldn't worry mine really works good this is my first gas powered truck I had all dodge diesels before for this. My last one I bought new was a 2012 before the def came out. That's the main reason I didn't buy another diesel. I was little nervous at first buying the gas because I didn't know how will it would pull my gooseneck. I only tow heavy a few times a year and it's usually around 18000lbs. I do have a 20ft enclosed snowmobile trailer I tow few times a year also.
so the gvwr of your truck right now is 8820 right? you got about 1,000lbs to play with. im thinking if you put a 6000lb load on the trailer. 1000 of it goes to the hitch/tongue (about 17%) then youre pretty close to 10k. is my math right here?
I think your math is right. I'm probably shooting for 15% tongue weight. and if I take the chains, binders out of the front toolbox and chain something down, I'm thinking I'll have right at 1100lbs to play with. A 7000lb load on the trailer with 15% added tongue weight would use up 1,050lbs of that. Interestingly enough, the axle rating for the rear axle is 6300lbs, which allows for more like 1800lbs of additional weight. I may have hurt myself getting the GVWR derated. I would have had another 850lbs of legal tongue weight to utilize by leaving it normal. I'm going to make another video on the findings after I do more research and a couple more tests.
@@JamesonsTractor well from my understanding the lower gvwr is so that you dont have to get a cdl since youre using it for business. which is another cost altogether. i think if you take out EVERYTHING you dont need from the truck you can add more load. doing some quick math it looks like for every 100lbs you take out of the truck you can add 566lb to whatever youre hauling. so take out 168lbs now you can pull 7000lb tractor instead of 6000lb.
@@vicenteochoa6498 You are correct in me wanting to stay out of CDL territory. Perhaps the better play would have been to get a standard GVWR truck (10,850) and then get a derated trailer (15,150). I would have been able to stay at 26k lbs, but perhaps I would be able to actually haul more legally. And yea, I think i can shed a few hundred lbs out of the truck if need be to increase the available payload. Thanks for the good conversation!
I think the best combo is a 3500 single rear wheel rated @ 11.5k and a 14k trailer. Although I have heard that anything over 10k needs to be registered as comerical if for profit?
@@timothydeshaies im not sure if that applies for every state. but definitely my state and the other 2 states where ive lived. so i think youre correct. if for personal use though, most states allow it. its when business comes in to play that laws get tricky.
The behind the scene stuff is interesting. Most folks have no idea what goes into moving machinery and all of the considerations. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Maybe go to the Chevy dealership on the lot and compare the 2500 to the 3500 - if they have the same rear axle and if they have the same frame height. If a 2500 with an unreduced rate has a GVWR of 10,450 and a 3500 has a GVWR of 11,550 and both have the same frames and axles, the difference may be the number/thickness of the leaves on the rear suspension and possibly the spring on the front suspension.
It may be easier to upgrade the suspension than to replace the truck. The question remains whether you get a penalty for excessive axle load (if you do not exceed 26K GCWR) or whether it is just a good feeling that you are not overloading the truck (whose parameters may have been artificially lowered).
From what I understand the 3500 has a slightly different frame, a little beefier rear axle, and a little different suspension. If I get to the point where I’m towing on the heavier side all the time, I may look at beefing up the suspension a little. Right now it feels very stable and comfortable with the loads I’ve been pulling.
I have a 2024 3500 lt8 crew cab long bed. I have a 25ft gooseneck. The most i have pulled so far was 18000lbs. My trailer weights 6k the skid steer was 12k. I live in Pennsylvania in the mountains i was very surprised how well this truck work. I came from a 2012 dodge cummins
wow thats good to see... i also have a 3500 l8t. but not long bed, just standard. My plan is to eventually tow a 35-38 ft 5th wheel maybe in the 14k range. first im doing a cross country move though pulling about 10-11k about 2300 miles. im less worries by the day seeing everyone have great success towing with the l8t
@@vicenteochoa6498 yeah I wouldn't worry mine really works good this is my first gas powered truck I had all dodge diesels before for this. My last one I bought new was a 2012 before the def came out. That's the main reason I didn't buy another diesel. I was little nervous at first buying the gas because I didn't know how will it would pull my gooseneck. I only tow heavy a few times a year and it's usually around 18000lbs. I do have a 20ft enclosed snowmobile trailer I tow few times a year also.
I have been impressed with mine as well! It's not always going to be the fastest towing vehicle, but it's plenty capable.
how much does your truck by itself weigh
Truck is 7,650 (without me in it). That does include my toolbox and tools that are in it.
What kind of MPG do you get with and without a load?
Hey Bruce - I would say 8mpg loaded and probably 10mpg with the trailer empty. With no trailer I've been getting 13-15mpg.
so the gvwr of your truck right now is 8820 right? you got about 1,000lbs to play with. im thinking if you put a 6000lb load on the trailer. 1000 of it goes to the hitch/tongue (about 17%) then youre pretty close to 10k. is my math right here?
I think your math is right. I'm probably shooting for 15% tongue weight. and if I take the chains, binders out of the front toolbox and chain something down, I'm thinking I'll have right at 1100lbs to play with. A 7000lb load on the trailer with 15% added tongue weight would use up 1,050lbs of that. Interestingly enough, the axle rating for the rear axle is 6300lbs, which allows for more like 1800lbs of additional weight. I may have hurt myself getting the GVWR derated. I would have had another 850lbs of legal tongue weight to utilize by leaving it normal. I'm going to make another video on the findings after I do more research and a couple more tests.
@@JamesonsTractor well from my understanding the lower gvwr is so that you dont have to get a cdl since youre using it for business. which is another cost altogether. i think if you take out EVERYTHING you dont need from the truck you can add more load. doing some quick math it looks like for every 100lbs you take out of the truck you can add 566lb to whatever youre hauling. so take out 168lbs now you can pull 7000lb tractor instead of 6000lb.
@@vicenteochoa6498 You are correct in me wanting to stay out of CDL territory. Perhaps the better play would have been to get a standard GVWR truck (10,850) and then get a derated trailer (15,150). I would have been able to stay at 26k lbs, but perhaps I would be able to actually haul more legally. And yea, I think i can shed a few hundred lbs out of the truck if need be to increase the available payload. Thanks for the good conversation!
I think the best combo is a 3500 single rear wheel rated @ 11.5k and a 14k trailer. Although I have heard that anything over 10k needs to be registered as comerical if for profit?
@@timothydeshaies im not sure if that applies for every state. but definitely my state and the other 2 states where ive lived. so i think youre correct. if for personal use though, most states allow it. its when business comes in to play that laws get tricky.
Waste of time. Waited for you to go through the weight process.