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Goosenecks
Earthworks
Lifts raise the Center of Gravity of the vehicle doing the towing. A Gooseneck or a Fifth wheel carry about 20 - 30 percent of the total GTW (Gross trailer Weight) over the center of the axles of the truck. If the truck has been lifted and you add 3500 to 4000 pounds and even more to the top back of that truck. You are going to have unstability, big time and when you go around a corner and down hill it will be very dangerous.
Dualies are best designed for Goose necks and Fifth wheels, they have the EXTRA rubber on the road to support the added weight and to keep the truck in the direction of desired travel when cornering.
Lift kits and towing are a very bad mix.
It alsoshould be noted, that nobody I have eve known has gone to a set of CAT SCALES to see if they are properly loaded. Nope! they hook up their trailer and as long as that is with in the GTWR they feel fine, then they pack in the supplies, the wardrobes, the tools, the hay, the whatever and pile in the family. By te time they are done they are well over their Manufacturer GCVWR. Like te folks who put on a 2 -3 yard dump body on a 1 ton and then haul WET Soil.
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Goosenecks
Earthworks
How do you plan on mounting the 5th wheel to the frame if you are 3 inches higher? that will put the load bearing 3 inches higher as well.
As far as you and youru 03 QC, 2500, Diesel, Auto is concerned, you are a quite bit over loaded.
The MAXIUM Trailer weight for any of the 03 2500 Rams, Quad Cabs, Auto, Diesel, Long bed or short bed, is 13,150 lbs, so if your Bobcat wieghs 15000 lbs and you have not added in the trailer or the cargo on the trailer, you are several thousands pounds over the Max Limit and hope you don't need any warranty work on the suspension, bearings etc. If you also have an accident and you are overloaded, you may find the Insurance Company will NOT cover your loss.
I would suggest you trade in for a 3500 and be SAFE. If you have a passenger and they get hurt while you are OVERLOADED, the responsibility will levied onto you alone. Inusrance companies are lookinghard for reasons not for them to have to pay or settle. Good luck.
My reference is page 44 & 45 of the 2003 Dodge Truck Job Rating Charts. Printed by Dodge.
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Goosenecks
Earthworks
I wasn't trying to be a smartass, but if you are runningoverloaded, even a Service contract will NOT cover you when you have problems. You have a Business Link Account. Dodge will still keep the warranty if you hae the Sno-plow prep group and add a plow for work. They will not nor will anyone else warranty the vehicle if it is over loaded.
We had an instance here where a fellow bought a 3500 Dualie, put a refer box on the back and then filled it with frozen meat and started delivering, he went thru some bearings and other suspension breakage and Dodge went after him for misleading information for Warranty Service. Last Iknew he paod for all of his repairs and that insluded his first one. Once it was established he was overloaded with the truck, he became totally liable for any problems and Dodge was reimbursed for anything that they did under warranty related to suspension or drivetrain damage.
I job rate everyone leaving the dealership and I have them sign a piece of paper stating they understand the limitations. It keeps me out of the liable lawsuits.
I knew a guy who put a 10,000 pound piece of Marble in the back of a 2500 and drove 40 miles with it, to deliver. No Problems and that was 3 years ago. I told him when I found out that he was way above the payload capacity and that he was putting the truck in dire conditions. He laughed and promised he wouldn't do it again. If he has, he hasn't come to us for repairs.
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