diesel "upgrades"

[Diamondpilot]

As stated previously I have a 2003 Chev D/max. You are wrong, gross is 9200, listed payload is I believe 3300 lbs. I have had 2 ton in it on more than one occassion and it handled the weight just fine. I also have a 2700 lb empty, as in no water, etc, 11 1/2 foot truck camper which it also handles fine. I did put on airbags to help with the camper and a rear swaybar because the weight is up high, but it handles it very well.

You obviously do no care for GM and that is fine, we all have our preferences, but your statement about a 1400 lb payload is completely incorrect and the comments on the tranny are also not accurate. The allison is without a doubt the BEST tranny in a diesel pu, just like the cummins is the BEST engine.

I know 2 people with GM 2500 Dmax series trucks. One is a 05 and the other is a 06 and both clearly state the GVWR oh the door sticker and its 8,800#. My 05 GM 3500 Dmax was 9,900#.

After 07.5 they upped the GVWR but I have never seen a pre 07 with more than 8,800# GVWR.

There is no way a GM 2500 Dmax weighs 5,900# like your math says. That is what my 08 Nissan Titan weighs, actually 5,680# but close enough. Any diesel truck is going to push 7,200# minimum. Most are right at 7,500# with the Fords being the heaviest. The manufactures play with the numbers. Ford included. When they state max payload its a gas truck with the heaviest suspension and the least options. IE: a Plain Jane work truck with a regular cab and long bed. Then that truck would be about 5,500# giving you a 3,300# with its 8,800# GVWR.


I tell all my customers to weight the truck they are going to use with them in it and 3/4 tank of fuel. That will give you a accurate reading since most leave with a full tank and stop at about 1/4 tank. Take this number and deduct it from the GVWR on the drivers door sticker. This will give you the max payload.

I do not doubt you had them much weight on yours. I have had 1,700# on a Ranger and nearly 2,800# on a 5' bed Super Crew F-150. We have all overloaded them.


Chris

 

[Storm56]

I know 2 people with GM 2500 Dmax series trucks. One is a 05 and the other is a 06 and both clearly state the GVWR oh the door sticker and its 8,800#. My 05 GM 3500 Dmax was 9,900#.

After 07.5 they upped the GVWR but I have never seen a pre 07 with more than 8,800# GVWR.




Chris

Attached is a pic of the GVW off the door of my 03 truck, sure looks like 9200 GVW to me. Also I do not have access to the gross payload data, but I will tomorrow and I will attach a pic of that too.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I see yours is clearly 9,200#. I never said it was not, just never seen one over 8,800# prior to 07.5 The curb weight on a 2011 is listed at 7,387# with no fuel or passengers. It list the GVWR of 10,000# so lets say the truck with fuel and driver is at 7,700# it would allow for a max payload on a new one of 2,300#

I know the 05 and 06 weighs about the same and the one's I am familiar with has a 8,800# GVWR so that would allow for 1,400# payload.

GM has done a lot of work on this new truck. I have stated before that I am really impressed with the leaps forward they have made to keep up with the competition. They always had a good power-train but lacked in the brakes and chassis dept.

Anyway, back to the original topic. I would pass on any truck by any manufacture with any aftermarket stuff. This is coming from a guy who has run chips, large exhaust, and aftermarket intakes for over 10 years now with no issues what so ever. You just never know what its been put though prior to you buying it. I would not worry about the engine nearly as much as the tranny slipping from the extra power. Its well know that the Allison is at the top of its class but the 2 things it does not like is heat and extra power. They can lead to expensive repairs.

Chris

 

[Highbeam]

I'll go further and say that it is foolish to caculate payload capacity any way other than by weighing the empty truck and subtracting that from the GVWR on the sticker. Your little "payload rating" from a brochure is not on the sticker because it is not a legal rating, just like the "tow capacity". Those two figures are marketing numbers that are not real, legal, or applicable when towing or hauling.

My F350 has an actual legal payload capacity of 2400#. Hauling a big slide in camper is almost always illegal on a SRW truck. You can of course choose to exceed your ratings and roll the dice but don't come onto a site where people know what they are talking about and say that the stickered ratings are superceded by mumbo jumbo marketing brochures.

 

[Storm56]

I'll go further and say that it is foolish to caculate payload capacity any way other than by weighing the empty truck and subtracting that from the GVWR on the sticker. Your little "payload rating" from a brochure is not on the sticker because it is not a legal rating, just like the "tow capacity". Those two figures are marketing numbers that are not real, legal, or applicable when towing or hauling.

My F350 has an actual legal payload capacity of 2400#. Hauling a big slide in camper is almost always illegal on a SRW truck. You can of course choose to exceed your ratings and roll the dice but don't come onto a site where people know what they are talking about and say that the stickered ratings are superceded by mumbo jumbo marketing brochures.

My father was a truck driver most of his life, never had a chargeable accident. He taught me safety. I have driven heavy duty trucks and been pulling trailers since I was 16. I am 53 now and I never had an accident while towing or driving heavy loads, so I do not need to be counciled on safety.

There is a difference between advertised payload by any mfg and the gvw. If any of the heavy duty trucks were rated on gvw for what they are capable of, only commercial people would buy them because of the license cost and the fact that most insurance companies would not insure them as private passenger vehicles. Most insurers in PA anyway, limit a PPA to 10,000 gvw. Anything over that must go commercial. Would definitely affect sales, and we cannot have that.

If the mfg advertises that the payload is 3500 lb, then that vehicle is capable of handling a 3500 lb payload. Now I guarantee you that will not mean squat if you get pulled over and are overweight by the law enforcement establishment. I fully understand that on "paper" there is not for instance, 3500 lb available when the truck is weighed and subtracted from the gvw. That does not mean the vehicle is not capable of handling the load.

And by the way I do know what I am talking about and I will gladly debate this issue. So if you wish to use the gvw rating and stay within legal registered wight limits, you are correct. But on the other hand, if the mfg states in their brochure that the vehicle can handle for example say a 3500 lb payload, they must stand behind it. As stated earlier, it may exceed the gvw and you will be fined, if caught and weighed, but the vehicle is safe to carry that load.

 

[Highbeam]

So you choose to roll the dice, hoping that it is safe and defying the ratings of the vehicle. It's a personal decision for sure. Like drinking and driving I suppose.

Do you know who writes those shiney sales brochures? Do you think those marketing people know what is "safe"? Before depending on the shiny sales brochure, be sure to read the very very fine print. There will most likely be some sort of asterisk leading to a catch all that says the 3500lb payload, for example, is a maximum depending on configuration.

 

[Soundguy]

I bet int he case of an accident, and a lawyer got ahold of the idea that the truck was over legal load.. then thet might be a bad thing for the driver.. even if they did have a glossy sales brochure... ( might be a seperate legal issue too! )

soundguy

So you choose to roll the dice, hoping that it is safe and defying the ratings of the vehicle. It's a personal decision for sure. Like drinking and driving I suppose.

Do you know who writes those shiney sales brochures? Do you think those marketing people know what is "safe"? Before depending on the shiny sales brochure, be sure to read the very very fine print. There will most likely be some sort of asterisk leading to a catch all that says the 3500lb payload, for example, is a maximum depending on configuration.

 

[Storm56]

All I have to do to be "safe" then is register my vehicle for a higher gvw. All it takes is a few minutes, one form, and some more cash for my license. Then I am "safe". If the state allows me to simply raise my gvw by paying them more, and it does, what are the happy lawyers going to do now? Sue the state for allowing me to raise the gvw so I was not over weight?

You guys have obviously not figured out that it is all about the money. Opinions vary, I could go on but I see no point in it. What I can tell you with certainty is that my truck has NO problem with the loads that I carry, no driving problems and no stopping problems, and if I pay the state higher license fees no legal problems either. It is NOT "rolling the dice".

That said I realize that everything has its limits. I can assure you my truck does not have problems with 3500 lb payloads, which is within the mfg specs. 5000 lbs may be another matter.

 

[Highbeam]

Ah, you are mistaken again storm. You can not change the stickered GVWR of your truck. You can change the registered weight as you describe by paying for it. No amount of modifications or payment will relieve you from the responsibilities of that door jamb sticker. It is tied to your VIN.

Sheesh. I'm not perfect either. I take a risk and exceed the GVWR on occasion but I know the risk and don't recommend others do the same without also knowing the risks. My truck, like yours, seems very capable of slight overloading. It IS rolling the dice, make no mistake.

Oh yes, you have it stuck in your head that 3500 is within the manufacturer's specs. Is that the glossy brochure with the disclaimers or is that on the actual door jamb sticker?

Good discussion though. I'm glad you brought up the registered GVWR as it has fooled more than one person. My old half ton chevy was registered for 10,000# GVWR when I got it and the F350 I now drive was only at 8000# GVWR when I bought it. It is important for folks to make sure that the registered GVWR to be at least as high as the rated GVWR.

 

[Storm56]

Ah, you are mistaken again storm. You can not change the stickered GVWR of your truck. You can change the registered weight as you describe by paying for it. No amount of modifications or payment will relieve you from the responsibilities of that door jamb sticker. It is tied to your VIN.

Sheesh. I'm not perfect either. I take a risk and exceed the GVWR on occasion but I know the risk and don't recommend others do the same without also knowing the risks. My truck, like yours, seems very capable of slight overloading. It IS rolling the dice, make no mistake.

Oh yes, you have it stuck in your head that 3500 is within the manufacturer's specs. Is that the glossy brochure with the disclaimers or is that on the actual door jamb sticker?

Good discussion though. I'm glad you brought up the registered GVWR as it has fooled more than one person. My old half ton chevy was registered for 10,000# GVWR when I got it and the F350 I now drive was only at 8000# GVWR when I bought it. It is important for folks to make sure that the registered GVWR to be at least as high as the rated GVWR.

I positively am NOT mistaken. PA allows you to jump the weight of your truck one step. So I can go from 9200 gvw to 9900 gvw. One form and about $80. Have several friends that use their trucks commercially and did just that to avoid any overweight fines if they get stopped.

When are you going to understand the gvw on the heavy duty pickups is set at a licensing and price point? The trucks WILL handle the stated payloads in the glossy brochures.

The only thing I am "rolling the dice" on is getting caught over weight.

As I stated - Opinions vary