Department of Tranport Blue Boys

Summitric, what is the GVWR on an F250 compared to the F350? is the F350 considered a 1 ton? the 2500 series on a GM is 8600lb GVWR and the 2500HD is 9200lbs. what is the Dodge 3500 GVWR? the 2500 series crew cab GM's could not haul 2 sleds on a deck legally in BC, not sure about the HD series.

Hey Grd: The F350 Was A '04 6.0L PSTDiesel(200,000KMS) .... After About 160,000kms(when The Warranty Expires, Of Course) The Diesels Need Head Gaskets, Egr Cooler, Injectors Etc, If Not Already Done Before..... Got Way Too Expensive. Nice Truck, Just Not Reliable After 160,000kms.

Teeroy: The Gvwr Of The Dodge 3500 Megacab Diesel SRW Is 10,000lbs(DUALLIES MUCH MORE).... Sorry Can't Remember What The '04 F350 Crewcab Gvwr Was....

cool, those megacabs have a huge amount of room in the back seats. have you had a chance to load it up and run it across a scale yet?

Naw, Not Yet, But Pulled Our 27ft Holiday Trailer Loaded(truck & Trailer) With 5 People Inside, Around Bc, And It Was No Problem. Also Pulled A 30 Foot Arctic Fox(very Heavy Trailer) Travel Trailer Recently To Shuswap Falls And It Was Still An Okay Pull... Passed Lots Going Up Hills, Let Me Tell You. I Think "tekim" On The Site Here Has A Deck On His Megacab And He'll Have To Tell Us How That Handles With Sleds And Loaded Up...........

I'm totally not in favor of "big brother" stepping in, but I firmly believe that you should have to take another driver's license test if you plan to pull trailers. And you should have to take the test with a 12foot utility trailer, AND a 32foot holiday trailer. It bugs me to have to wait 1/2 an hour at a campground waiting for some guy in his rig rocket to try to back up his 30foot trailer into a space you could park 3 city busses and still have room to set up 4 tents and have a fire!!! As for being pulled over with your 1500, 2 quads/sleds on a deck, and a holiday trailer in tow. There is a reason the big 3 offer 2500 and 3500 chassis'. Barefooter's unit is awesome! Not only will the N-14 have enough power to pull whatever he wants, the brakes on that thing are WAY heavier than any pick-up truck for those time he needs to slow down on the hills when he's following the guys with their 1500's. Do it right, or don't do it!!!

I have to agree with you Kohnhead. but I gotta say that I am a 15yr heavy haul trucker that pulls up to 40 wheel combination trailers, with an extended length endorsement class one license....and I have to take a few stabs at it sometimes with my 2 place sled trailer. but it's funny to watch people that don't know how to use mirrors to back up.

I currently run a 01 Chev 2500 HD Long Box Ext. Cab. I have an aluminum deck and haul two sleds into BC every week without a problem! I am under the max by about 600kg's totally loaded including fuel.

I called the DOT boys in Cranbrook and they said unless they see something that it OBVIOUSLY over weight they don't bother with it. They are there to focus on the commercial transporters.

Keep in mind that the weight issue can become a factor in the event of a collision. The insurance company will start asking questions and you may not be covered if your rig is overweight.

Sled Trailer Axle Weight Ratings???

Here's One For You All. I've Been Lookin' For A 4 Place Enclosed Trailer. I Will Be Pulling With A 3500 Dodge Diesel, With A Few Mods.
Now The Problem: Checking With The Trailer Dealers, Several Of Them Recomended 5200lb Axles And The Others All Said The 3500lb Axles Were Good Enough. The 2 Dealers With The 5200lb Axles Had Some Good Points.

Eg:
Average Trailer Gvwr(3500 Lb Axles) = 7000lbs
Average Trailer Curb Weight = 3670lbs
Thus Maximum Payload Would Be = 3330lbs************
(can You See Where I'm Goin' With This?)

What The Payload Could Consist Of:
4 Sleds @ 600lbs Average(wet) = 2400lbs
Minimum 5 - 5gal Jerry Cans = 250lbs
Gear/clothes/helmets Etc For 4 = 300lbs(probably Low Est)
Tools, Boxes, Cupboards, Heater = 400lbs(again Low Est.)
_________
Total Payload = 3350lbs************

So, You Would Already Be Over The Payload, Without Even Putting The 5th Sled Inside The Trailer Plus Gear Etc.
What Are Your Thoughts On This?? 1 Dealer Says He Knows Several Guys That Were Pulled Over And Forced To Remove 1 Sled To Be Legal.... Now, Is Any Of That "payload" Applicable To The Tongue Weight/hitch Weight Of The Truck, Or Is Everything Inside The Trailer Considered Trailer Payload And Affect Axle Rating???
Anyone Know The Legal Aspects Of Axle Rating?? Several Of The Sled Manufacturers Won't Even Install A 5200lb Axle On Their Trailers...they Said It Doesn't Require Them??? That The 3500lb Axles Are Good Enough............ Arrrgggghhhhh???? I Am Confused.

The tongue is certianly going to take some of the weight. This will give you a little more room before being over weight.

As a 4 place enclosed owner, I would probably get the 5200 lb axles if I was buying again. Even if you don't need the extra gvw, larger bearings should last longer, imop.

What you need to consider in not only GVWR, but GAWR. Gross Axle Weight Rating. That is to say you may still be under your GVWR, but go over on an axle weight. For Example, my '96 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 with my quad in its deck, generator, spare fuel, firewood, chainsaw, me, etc is about 1400pounds under on the GVWR. Once I hook up my holiday trailer to it, I'm still about 600 pounds under the GVWR, but depending on how I arrange the stuff in my box, and how tight I set the equalizer bars - I get within 100pounds of the rear axle GAWR on the truck. When they run you over the scales, you are getting your axle weights. Your front axle weight, plus your rear axle weight give your GVW. Again, depending on load distribution - you can be under your GVWR, but still get a ticket for going over your GAWR. Sled decks on short box trucks are particularly bad for this since so much of the sled hangs off the rear end of the truck.
Short answer on the 3500lb axles or the 5200lb axles. I agree with "Snort", go with the bigger axles. the bearings and brakes will be heavier. Even if you would be OK (barely) with the 3500's, you should get better bearing and brake life with the 5200's. Plus, should help the resale.