I was reading the article on Kadell Suggs and his Mega Cab Longbed modification and started wondering. What does it take to modify a truck and have it considered safe. What did Mr. Suggs do to that truck not to raise the ire of Ken Freund (I think Ken is an excellent journalist and put a lot of stock in his experience and recommendations. When he says it is not safe, he says it for a very good reason). Even if you operate that vehicle within the weight parameters of CD as listed prior to the modification, is it really safe? These vehicles are marketed through a Dodge dealer, how does that work with CD? What would your insurance company say if you had an accident in one of these modified trucks?
I am one of the many who took a truck and added the necessary (In my opinion only) equipment to increase the towing capacity. I added the air bags, wheels, tires, exhaust brake and egt/boost gauge. Now I consider the vehicle sufficient to tow up to a combined weight of 23K.
On the surface, this sounds pretty stupid. Alas, it probably is, because it is completely outside the manufacturers specifications and published use. Now just maybe, if I chose to do this all with an engineers stamp and calculations; offered the vehicle as an aftermarket modification; and sold under my own badge. It would be considered suitable/appropriate for a higher GCVW.
If you look at the difference between my 2500 and a 3500 SRW, there is a very limited difference between the two vehicles. Primarily the difference in the number of leafs in the rear springs...and not a whole lot more. Oh I almost forgot, clearance lights on the cab. In comparison, my vehicle has a stabilized rear suspension (I can level it for optimum safety) and I have the added capability of a set of 14 ply tires all the way around (compliments of Rickson). Is my truck safe to tow to a GCVW of 23K like the 3500SRW? What would make it safe to tow up to a 26K weight (like the Chevy).
I am mostly just curious. I know I am over....it says so on my door jam. Am I unsafe? I guess it depends on your point of view. All the equipment on my truck meets or exceeds that of the 3500. If my company made wheel/tire and suspension changes, and sold the truck with a new 26K weight sticker, would it be safe then?
So, here is the obligatory disclaimer. Before anyone weighs in on many of the folks out there pulling huge loads with no mods (except for perhaps the bombed engines and gauges), I am speaking of well thought enhancements to the vehicle physical towing capability.
What do we kids have to do to make our underrated toys safe to pull loads they are not listed on the stickers to pull? I vote someone markets a kit that comes with all the cool upgrades and finally includes a better sticker for the door that is actually legal. Can this be done?
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