Actually, Motor Carrier Enforcement officers vary from state to state but they can inspect private vehicles. The main concern is the declared weight on your unit. Heavier rigs pay more in road taxes. If you have a declared weight of 10,000 pounds, and weigh 11,500, you'll get an over weight ticket. The fines for over gross can really add up. Indiana has raised the basic pickup weight from 7000 to 10,000 pounds. At one time, there was a 4000 pound plate but everybody ran them and would gross out at twice that.

The key here is to make sure the rig is stable. You can then raise your declared weight the next time you renew your plates.

 

The frame on my '01 Ram 2500 was substantially heavier than most pickup frames I've seen. More like a light cab and chassis used for box trucks. It's definitely heavier than a co-workers 2500 Cummins, however, his is a 2003 so the difference in years may make a difference.

 

its strictly enforced in BC Canada due to the mountainous terrain; rv's included. if over weight...you are stuck there until you get a truck that can tow the weight or you lighten the load so its in range.

to the op...dual rear wheels are a nice option when carrying a heavy slide in. a tire blow out on a single rear wheel truck is trouble.

 

lots of times brakes are a significant difference in towing capacity... vehicles rated with higher towing capacity have to be able to stop effectively with the additional weight...

pretty much nothing you can do will increase the legal towing capacity of your vehicle...

 

Yep, apples to oranges. Everything changed in 03 including frames, suspension, and axles. You answered yourself. But all 2nd gen 4x4 frames are the same, apparently.

 

Indeed. Compound that with my lift and tall sidewalls and it is a scary to think about about what happens at freeway speeds and there is a blowout. It's enough to convince a guy to spend more on tires than he might otherwise.

In this case my goals are being more offroad worthy and dual wheel axles kind of goes against that grain. I'm actually looking at downsizing the camper. I've been kicking around the idea of one of these offload friendly popups for a couple years , like maybe an Alaskan or something along those lines.

 

Hmmmm. Coincidentally I am just about done with my seemingly endless front axle swap to an AAM off an '01. Those have the dual piston calipers.....and it's really easy to upgrade to gen 3 brakes which have bigger everything.

I wonder if upgrading brakes would buy me anything. You know? Not with Johnny law but with the hypothetical insurance/court battle.

 

Once again, AAM axles didn't come on Rams until 2003. Axles in 2001 were still Dana.

 

Again? You said that earlier? Sorry.

The point is the bigger brakes....

 

Getting a 99-01 Dana 60 will get you the bigger dual piston calipers. You can also upgrade to the 3rd or 4th gen brakes. Will be a direct bolt it except the from u joint on the driveshaft. I seen the biggest difference switching to hydroboost