Is it just me or does the Dodge line of trucks have the lowest payload rating? I've used the following sites to gather this information :

Dodge : http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/TowingGuide.jsp#
Ford : http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/2...eatures/specs/
GMC: http://www.gmc.com/sierra/2500HD/specsDimension.jsp

I compared equivalent 3/4 quad cab 4x4 diesel pickups w/ 3.73 gear ratio :

Dodge
GVWR : 9000
Curb Weight : 6832
Payload : 2168

GMC
GVWR : 9200
Curb Weight : 5659
Payload : 3541

Ford
GVWR : 10000
Curb Weight : None Listed, but should be 7200 if you do the math
Payload : 2800

There's a big difference between the Dodge truck and the GMC truck. Almost a 1373 lb difference!

The reason I started to research this is because I started to look at 5th wheels and the weight starts to add up quickly. Most of the 5ers have a Dry Hitch Weight of 1500 with several going into the low 2100. Lets assume the hitch in the bed of the truck weighs 200 and you take 4 people with a total weight of 600. For the Dodge, that leaves only 1368 lbs for everything else (2168 - 600 - 200 = 1368). I haven't even taken into account the cargo. I can't find many fifth wheels out there that have a dry hitch weight of less than 1300 lbs. This doesn't seem right for a 3/4 ton pickup.

If you do the math with a 2500HD GMC, you have more room to play with; 2741 lbs after hitch and 4 people compared to the 1368 lbs for the dodge. According to the websites, the 3/4 ton GMC has a higher payload capacity than the 1 ton Dodge Ram. Am I missing something here?

 

I think each and every manufacturer has their own way of rating / figuring the payload and none of them are on the same page.

 

should have bought a 1 ton. you dont really need to follow those rating's to closly unless for insurance reasons.

 

...or a 3/4 ton GMC according to those numbers.

 

The GMC is 1200#'s lighter than the dodge, they add that to their payload capacity. I dont even want to tkonw why it is so much lighter and I bet the GMC guys wouldnt like to hear it either!

 

Oh well, does it matter? Your dodge can out pull any of them, and out last them.

 

load each one with 4K of sand and see which one makes it up the 8% grade

 

I remember watchin some news special a while ago and was talkin about truck and thier rating and how each manufacturer had thier own formula to get the numbers... But i don't remember what the outcome was... just some of it was just a marketing thing...

 

I call it the margin of error that Dodge has built in to their tow rating. They know that everyone over loads their truck so they factor that in and also try to keep you safe and still have the truck hold up for X number of years of use. I think Ford use to and may still over rate their trucks and that is why you see many trucks with sagging springs and V bent back bumpers from being overloaded.

 

My 99 ford could not hold a candle tothe goatand the ford was chiped andthe goatisn't.