In the owners manual the increase in GVWR is substantial (to me anyway).
For ex: If I go to 4:10 from my current 3:55, I could gain 2000 lbs additional capacity.

My question being..... Is that truly the case or is there something else involved?

If memory serves me, with the 3:55 gears, I'm listed at 16,000 lbs. My truck with the 4:10 gears is listed at 18,000 lbs. I would love another 2000 lbs available to me...

 

i would guess, and this is only a guess, that it's because the 4.10's keep the engine's RPM's up and it won't lag as much as the 3.55's would under an equally heavy load.

i'm kind of in the same boat. i wish you were closer. i don't tow and don't want my 4.10's anymore.

 

Looks like a road trip to commie-sota then...

Thanks for the reply.

In theory and hopefully legally, I could bump my payload by 2000 lbs just by changing the gears. That just sounds toooooo easy. Off to the D.O.T. and see what they have to say. I'll let you know what I find out.

Thanks again.

 

if you're coming you better hurry because i don't have a garage and it's starting to colder out..


yeah post up what you find. i'm very interested in what they say.

 

DOT was no help whatsoever. Basically they told me that the placarded info stays. I said If I drop a 3500 frame and susp. under the truck, can I use the weight ratings from the 3500? She said I'd have to register as a modified vehicle and go about getting it certified that way.

It doesn't mean that much to me. Think I'll get the 4.10's at some point down the road and call it a day.

 

someone correct me if i'm wrong but the 3/4 and 1 ton frames are the same. springs too. i'm pretty sure the only difference is the the rear axle and front wheel adapters.

that sounds like a lot of paperwork bs for something so simple to do. well, atleast you got some kind of answer anyway.

 

yes........... ratings change with different gear ration...also its even highr payload yet with a 2wd vs. a 4x4


you can change gears but good luck getting any state to re-rate yer truck

a good set of 3500 badges will do yer truck good in most cases