My 34' Travel trailer has an empty weight of about 6800#, and a GVWR of 9500#. Packed and ready for a trip, it scales at 8500#. I agree with the poster that says you'd be surprised how the weight climbs. You're likely overloaded every way you can be: axles, tires, GAWR, GVWR, GCWR, etc.

 

OK guys let's pay more attention to what he is pulling with, a 96 2500 w/o the camper package. Let's face the facts, he is way over weight per manufactures specs. The hitch weight (dry)of the 5vr is 2740lbs and that by itself is over the payload weight of the truck, let alone the fact that the Dry weight of the 5vr is 9150lbs and wet weight is 15000lbs.

I drive the 3500 SRW SB and that's more than I can legally carry.
As far as tires yes he is over weight also, if I remember correctly those are D rated tires.

Get a smaller 5vr or a bigger truck to be SAFE.
Good luck and remember that air bags do NOT increase your load carring capability but help control the load you are carrying

 

I guess you need the contact type overload springs...

I carry a 4100 lb camper in the bed of my '01 2500, and it hits the contact overloads, which makes it ride completely level. The empty truck starts out with the rear end ~5 in. higher in the rear.

The contact overloads came with the "Camper Pkg", not the "Tow Pkg".

 

Foolish idea!

 

Ok. Towed the 5'er over 300 miles this past weekend. Weighed in at under 21k total weight. The Cruiser's engine sits over the top of the front axle. Seems to climb any pass with ease. Brakes on all three axles. "E" rated Goodyears on truck. Air bags work great with 60 psi. Truck and trailer stop great but the new Husky brake controller has got to go. Ordered a new Prodigy. I wil be upgrading tires soon. The new BF Goodrich All Terrains with increased carrying capacity are the choice. This is a sweet towing trailer. High wind areas do not seem to affect it.
to top it all off, all this was done with a 47RE with 195,000 original miles on it.
NV4500 will be installed soon.

 

Sounds good, Ram, but I hope you're going to upgrade that NV4500 and the prone-to-fail pilot shaft bearing before you do!

 

Ram of steel
I went through that with my 01 2500 I had. I up graded the tranny, added more power, added an exhaust brake with a controller to lock up the converter.I put on air bags & I had the tow package. Pulling my 32' 5vr I was 2350 pin wt. add that to my truck wt of 7400 that put me over my gvwr of 8800 by 950lbs. My gcwr of 18,000lbs was exceded by 1,350lbs because I was at 19,350lbs all loaded up.
I have since traded up to a new dually for saftey & piece of mind. Sure my 2500 pulled & stoped it just fine. But what you have to ask yourself is do you feel lucky enough that you will never be involved in an accident? Insurence co. finds out your over towing the very least they could cancel your ins. If you did get into a serious accident even if it wasn't your fault a smart attorney for the other side could own you. It has happened, there was a thread on here or TDR a year or so back where a guy was over towing & a fatality was involved & he not only lost the case, but did time, lost his house, payed big fine, then through all that his wife divorced him.

GOOD LUCK

 

What exactly did you you do on the tranny upgrade?

 

you'll be fine with your set-up.....i have 285's and they are 10plys rated too 3720 per tire! BTW, i have the factory overlaods, and dont even touch them with my 1700 pound hitch weight!