big L3830 now need more truck to tow???

[BWS]

i have a question?is it possible to convert a 2001 dodge ram 2500 qaud cab 4x4 diesel into a dually???what would it cost??has anyone done this before???we just need more load capacity??we love are truck it has 57k and has been perfect but we now need a dually for what we are doing??bws

 

[manganos]

www.tdr1.com or www.turbodieselregister.com Have fun /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Noland]

What do you hope to gain by adding the training wheels? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seriously, there is very little difference in capacities between the two. Look at the factory figures for maximum hauling and towing capacities and they are very, very similar.
I have owned both a '95 2500 and currently a '02 3500. I drive 1500+ towing miles per week and I don't think there is enough difference to matter in 99% of all circumstances.
I will give the advantage to the dually when towing a high profile bumper-pull trailer in a stiff wind.

I suspect that you will not think it a worthwhile conversion if you do it.

 

[BWS]

we are looking at a 3000 series bigfoot camper with slide a dually is a must.our 2500 ram with rs9000's,camper package,air bags still is not a dually and we tow alot.anybody with a membership to TDR??maybee drop a post for me??thanks bws

 

[Noland]

I wish you lived closer and I would let you take my dually for a drive with your trailer to see how you liked it.

 

[BWS]

I think our l3830hst with 723 and r4's filled must be a little over 5k pounds and our trailer is 3k maybee,hog+rake +1klbs[Lots of tounge weight]??the new camper we have in mind is 3800lb empty??kinda tired of fighting the steering with our current[10'10" northland polar]i know its big but its what weve been using[with a 4' extension for our hewscraft boat]we need a dually and i love this truck,the cummins has been great.bws

 

[Noland]

I think your truck will do fine with the RV. I haul RVs (among other things) for a living and many of our guys use the same truck you have and don't have any problems hauling bigger units.

For your tractor, is that a bumper trailer or a gooseneck? If it is a bumper then I can see a possible issue with excessive tongue weight.

 

[BWS]

bumper hitch yep,your saying your hauling 11ft campers on a 3/4 ton?????i know the dodges have stout suspensions but at 60k miles a few things loosen up just a bit,steering box,drag link,springs soften after lots of hauling/towing,we already blew the sidewalls out on some goodyear tires due to excesive weight[not pretty]discount warranteed these but we almost rolled our setup[camper/boat] in glacier park on a dirt road[60 mph].i am veeerrry careful on tire selection now as everybody should be if the haul/tow.we have pushed this trucks suspension to the limit.anybody drop a post on tdr for me[2500 into 3500]??bws

 

[TORQUIN]

The only advantage, and I have no first hand experience with this, is that the truck will feel more stable with a big load. You actually sacrifice some GCVW by the extra weight of the dual rear wheels. Yes, that's right, the 2500 and 3500 are rated for the same GCVW overall, but the load you are pulling must be lighter because the truck is heavier. This has changed with the third generation models, I think (2003 and up).
My 99 2500 has no problem with my Ford 4000D and the tiller, or whatever implement. The max weight, I think, is about 8,500 lbs. My friend, with a 2000 2500, has towed my truck on my trailer with no problem. That weight was at least 8,800 lbs.
Check out http://www.dieseltruckresource.com. Free sign up and there are a bunch of knowledgeable guys there.

Chris Stamey

 

[Noland]

I am sorry but I completely misunderstood what you were dealing with. I thought you were worried about a travel trailer that weighed less than 4k pounds, not a slide in camper. Thus my confusion about why a 2500 would not be enough truck

I have towed hundreds of fifth wheels and travel trailers, but I have never hauled a slide in. I have no knowledge at all in that area.
Sometimes I can't see the forrest for the trees.