LOL! j/k!!

Just wanted to let WXBoy know I din't mean anything by my off comment to DOHC, it din't even involve him, and was tasteless of me, I also want to thank Chris for his enlightenment, as well as DOHC, for being a fight to the death adversary-good(me) vs. evil.........LOL.....jk!

 

Before this one gets the axe, I'll accept your gesture. Please be advised that regardless of personal feelings, if your house was on fire I'd still pull your "sweaty" behind out.

I'm glad you researched Ford's numbers. If you go waaay back you'll see both Pastmaster and I mentioned you needed 4.30's to get to the max GCVWR. with the V10

I won't pretend to know why Dodge rated theirs different. Did you check brake size? Clutch size?(stupid question) Front axle rates etc?

One observation on FTE's specs it does show the Ford full floater(Sterling 10.25) all the way down the 250/350 line including the 9xxx AWR. I didn't see the Dana 80 until the 450/550's. I may be reading it wrong but that could answer ALL questions to this debate.


If you click edit at the bottom of your post, it will give you an option to delete.

 

LOL...cool.

Anyway, I don't know about the systems used in the brakes whether they operate differently for DRW to SRW, but I know that the rotors themselves along with the pads are the same size.

The front axle is the same, Long/Short Arm type, w coil springs, they have a 4500lb capacity, and both models use rack and pinion steering for 2wd models.

Frames are the same as well, 36000 psi hydroformed with 9.5 center sections for both models.

Rear axles are 13,500lb capacity with 11.5" ring gear, for both models, manufactured by American Axle corporation.

It would seem the only difference between these two trucks would be the dual rear wheels and rear spring capacities.

I cannot find any curb weights, nor combination weight ratings for the 3rd gen models, but the GCWR for the 2nd gen 2500 model is 20,000 lbs.
If this is any indication of what we can expect to find in 3rd gen models, then I would suspect that dodge probably rated the 3500 somewhere in the neighborhood of about 23,000 lbs, thats adding the 2500 lb difference in trailer rating and the 500 or so punds in weight difference.

Thats my best guess as I don't have all the numbers, but as you can see this certainly offers some viable evidence of what I am talking about.
Why Ford does it the way they do, I do not know- but it's my belief that they should, because like Chris said-for me there was alot of difference in the way they carry loads, and pull trailers around.

Regards.

 

My only guess is Ford has a weak link in the 350 that Dodge doesn't. Ford may also want us to pony up to a 450/550 at those weights for liability reasons.

As I've said countless times, at 14, 16, 20,000 pounds you HAVE to have DRW, probably diesel and I also think Allison and above. At the GCVW's Ford uses on the 250/350 an 8-10K trailer is perfectly safe with SRW. (I know 'cause that's what I do)

One last comment(yea right) If you break ANYTHING in the driveline away from home and Ford in their infinite wisdom deceides you have exceeded the GCVWR, your warranty claim is DENIED!!!