1500 conversion 2500

[RAMitorDODGEit]

Has anyone ever heard of this or done this? I was thinking about finding 2500 leaf springs in the junkyard for my 1500. I never thought i would tow as much as i am and i bottom that baby out. i think i bent my leafs also. Could it be this easy? Probably not but hey im up for the challenge. Im on a budget of little or no money for airbags or helpers thats why i didnt go that route.

[great dane]

Its not just the springs. the frame etc is also heavier, and the other problem is getting pulled over with more weight than the truck is licenced for. ugly fines can result. have an accident when you are overloaded and the fun will really start. my wife has a 1500 and it won't carry much. there is a reason some of us run 3500 duallies.

[RAMitorDODGEit]

i just pull a small 16 foot enclosed with dirtbikes and some tools i welded the the tow package to the frame and used heavier bolts. i got trailer brakes too (that are wired in). she just sags more then i like. i have load levelers too. i dont plan on pulling a backhoe or anything. im just lookin for something cheaper then helper airbags. i can get used leafs cheaper then bags

[07ramlover]

You shouldn't be having problems with what you are towing. I've towed a 25 ft travel trailer without the leveling bars on and it didn't sag the back end that badly. The truck sits level when the load levelers are on it. Probably over 700lb on the rear end.

[RAMitorDODGEit]

my stockers must be messed up then. i bought the truck used and the previous owner was a contractor and im still finding stone in weird places with nails too all in the bed. when the truck is without a load the leaf springs are flat. that cant be good. does anyone else's look that way. i know that they have a U shape. but like jeeps are flat so im lost.

[CTDreamin]

Take some pics. Pictures are worth a thousand words...

[JeffB2002]

Are you saying you added the receiver? If that is the case, then your truck did not come with the tow package. That could be part of your problem right there. What is the weight of the trailer you are pulling. Your truck is only rated at 6100lbs for towing capacity. IF you are over that, then you need a different truck. Also, the weight in the trailer might be too far forward causing you to have too much tongue weight. Ideally you should only have 10% of total trailer weight on the tongue, so no more than 610lbs. If you cannot move the weight around in the trailer, the you should look into getting a Weight Distribution hitch.

[bufordtpisser]

I pull a 21' Walk Around Cutty Cabin boat with my 1500 and it barely sags the springs. At times I almost forget that the boat is back there. I have pulled the boat with three small four wheelers in the bed, and that time it just squatted enough to level the back with the front. I think that your springs are shot from a previous owner overloading the truck. Without a load, my 1500 springs has a very pronounced arch. I do have the factory towing package.

[RAMitorDODGEit]

k i have no idea how to add a picture to here so i loaded them to my myspace and theses links should show you the leafs. now that im looking at them i feel stupid cause i see there messed up now

Dodge leaf (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=5886008&albumID=1339746&imageID=25638828)

i guess i gota spring for the new springs ha ha.. yea

[RAMitorDODGEit]

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=5886008&albumID=1339746&imageID=25638828

[great dane]

Count how many layers are in your truck spings and compare with others to see if some were taken out for a softer ride by a earlier owner.

[The_Bishop]

It sounds like you just need a new set of stock springs.

Also, you shouldn't have welded the hitch mount to the frame. If it ever gets damaged, you now can't easily remove it. You generally shouldn't weld anything to the frame; it causes weak spots if you don't know what you're doing.

Once you need to start 'cheating' to keep the truck at a level ride height when you're towing, it means your truck is too small for the job at hand. Also, without the trailer tow group and pulling an enclosed trailer, you're asking to burn your transmission. You need the HD cooling that is part of the tow package.

[07ramlover]

Since when are these trucks only rated to tow 6100 lbs? My dads 05 2WD was rated to tow 10000 lbs according to the manual I believe. My 07 4x4 is rated to tow 8200lbs. I've not seen any new style ram only rated to tow a measly 6100lbs. A lot of medium sized SUV's can tow about 5000lbs now, so for a 1/2 ton truck to only be able to tow 6100 lbs is not right.

The springs should have a defined arch though. And the trailer tow package doesn't change anything with the suspension, just adds the 7 pin connector, class 4 hitch, and HD tranny and engine cooling.

BTW, It doesn't matter what engine you have. The frame is still capable of the rated towing capacity, just the engine may not be able to handle it.

[one short of]

Replace your springs those look trashed lots of gaps where there should be none. Was this picture taken while the truck was loaded or empty?

[RAMitorDODGEit]

empty... and as for the 4.7 it gets the job done but i still love the hemi. i also heard from my local dealer that i was rated at around 8 or 9 too. i just know now my leafs are shot and its a dam good truck. Thanks for all the input.

[JeffB2002]

Here are the towing guides for your year trucks. Your 02 4.7 is rated at 6150lbs with 3.55 gears, why do I know this, I have the same truck. With 3.92 gears the rating is 7150lbs and if you have 20" wheels, then your rating is 6100lbs. Your 07 QC Hemi is rated for 7500lbs with 3.55 gears and 8500lbs with 3.92 gears. Just because you have a Class IV rated hitch the is rated UP TO 10,000lbs is not what your truck is rated to tow. Please do not be one of those guys out there that thinks it's OK to tow above your limits. It is not just you out there that can be killed when your rig gets away from you.

[07ramlover]

Well, I question how accurate those lists are. I tend to go by what my dealer says. The ONLY reason a truck would be different is because of the engine it has. As I said before, unless there is a change in the frame, it DOES NOT MATTER WHAT ENGINE YOU HAVE!!! Its all has to do with the frame. Yes, a long box will tow less than a short box, a quad cab will tow less than a regular cab, and a 4x4 will tow less than a 2wd, but thats all due to frame changes. Like said before, the engine may not be capable of towing the full rated load of the frame, but the frame can handle it.

BTW, you must replace those springs before they break even. The overload spring was well overused and bent backwards. That bottom overload spring should be flat.

[The_Bishop]

Well, here's a quick clue:

THE FRAME DOES NOT CONTROL YOUR TOWING CAPACITY ALL BY ITSELF.

The tire load rating, brakes, gearing, transmission, cooling capacity, wheel base, weight, distance of the hitch from the rear axle, axle weight capacity, load distributing hitch or straight hitch, all contribute to towing capacity.

All of those factors mean MORE THAN THE FRAME.

I've been a fireman for over 13 years, and involved in heavy rescue for most of 'em. I've helped pry out a few of you 'I know better then the factory' guys out of what's left of the overloaded truck when you lose it. I've also seen a good friend lose a brand new truck, race car, and trailer because he insisted his brand new 150 could tow his racecar. His insurance told him to 'go scratch' because he was towing nearly double of the rated capacity of his truck, *and* he didn't believe in load balancing hitches, either. And, FYI... He lost it on a long hill, where engine braking wasn't enough, and he cooked off his brakes. Guess what? The failure wasn't the frame... IT WAS THE BRAKES THAT WEREN'T UP TO THE TASK.

You guys scare the crap out of me when I see you on the highway; I give overloaded trucks a wide berth.

[JeffB2002]

Well, I question how accurate those lists are. I tend to go by what my dealer says. The ONLY reason a truck would be different is because of the engine it has. As I said before, unless there is a change in the frame, it DOES NOT MATTER WHAT ENGINE YOU HAVE!!! Its all has to do with the frame. Yes, a long box will tow less than a short box, a quad cab will tow less than a regular cab, and a 4x4 will tow less than a 2wd, but thats all due to frame changes. Like said before, the engine may not be capable of towing the full rated load of the frame, but the frame can handle it.

BTW, you must replace those springs before they break even. The overload spring was well overused and bent backwards. That bottom overload spring should be flat.
Dude....I am not going to get into a argument with you. You obviously do not know what the hell you are talking about and have no education regarding towing. Those towing guides are put out by TrailerLife Magazine. A leading towing and trailering magazine and they get their information directly from the manufacturers. It is not their "opinions" as to what they THINK that the vehicle will be able to handle.

You continue to believe what you want, and please please please do all us a favor that will be out on the road when you are towing....let us know. I surely do not want to be on the road when you are. Do some research.

[RAMitorDODGEit]

You guys are making this interesting. my trailer has brakes and i have no trouble stoping or starting. my leafs are obviously tweaked from the previous owner. my trailer i can pick up with my hands in the front and turn around if i had to. i know i cant pull a big rig trailer thats what i got the 3500 v10 for ha ha.

[dale3fan3]

Bottom line you tow out of the limits of your trucks ratings and you get pulled over you dont want to know what the fines are. I am not a sue happy person but I guarantee you that if someone is overload knowingly and hits me especially with my family in the car look out.

[great dane]

Another point about towing more than the truck is rated for is how expencive it can be to get caught. Here in B.C. the police will set up road checks and stop all trucks pulling a trailer and with portable scales. They will check to see if you are legal. If you are overweight they will force you to put the trailer on the side of the road and go get a bigger truck. I am not sure what the fines are but they are high. If you are local and just going to the dump or lake its not to big a deal, but if you are on holiday here and hundreds or thousands of miles from home you are *&^%$ out of luck. So even if your truck can "handle" a bigger trailer and you don't have an accident, you can still get hammered for it.

[tsharkie@optonl]

I have a 1999 Ram 1500 with the tow package and a 318 cdi. I just bought a 33 foot travel trailer with a GVW of 6600 pounds. I have a Reese weight distribution hitch as well as trailer breaks. I have been researching add a springs and airbags to cut down some of the sag in my rear. I drop about an inch or two when I hook up, this isn't an issue. I just don't want the sag. OCD I guess. I was told to use a Roadmaster Active Suspension. I was advised that it would bring my truck close to a 2500 seires rating.

[The_Bishop]

Again... You could replace your springs with solid steel blocks, and have *no* sag and technically unlimited weight capacity... You still wouldn't have the brakes, cooling, gearing, etc... to go with it.

[tsharkie@optonl]

As per my owners manual as well as Trailer Lifes tow chart I have a tow rating of 7700 lbs. I do have the cooling, trans, breaks as well as a new Jasper 318 with the larger oil galleys.

[RAMitorDODGEit]

ive been told that the 2500 springs do fit so im goin that route. that way i can still lifter up when i get the chance. i found a set in the junk yard for 20 bucks off a totaled 2500 hemi. nice right. to bad the motor was split in half.

[STL HEMI]

So you know 2500 springs are 3" wide and 1500's are 2 1/2" wide. Your gonna need shackles from the 2500 aswell. The 2500 leaf pack is taller aswell.