TRUCKS

Why This Ram 3500 Broke in Half

A trip to Baja California for the owner of the 2020 3500 was cut short when it literally broke in half. He and the Eagle Cap 1165 camper have done a lot of miles together. So the result of this trip came as a surprise. “Not loaded,” he wrote, posting on Facebook pictures showing the truck leaning in the middle.

Did a Ram 3500 Owner Do His Homework Before Buying?

Broken 2020 Ram 3500 Camper Truck | Facebook

But there is more. The factory warranty will not cover the repair. The estimate is about $17,000. “I did a lot of research before buying the truck and wagon, and both the Ram dealer and the camper company we bought said it was the perfect truck,” said the owner.

, he is right. It lists the payload capacity at 7680 bs.

Why does the Ram Truck warranty not cover damage?

Ram 3500
Broken 2020 Ram 3500 Camper Truck | Facebook

But looking at the specs more closely, the payload number is not the same as a truck. It’s a regular cab with long bed, two-wheel drive and a 6.4-liter V8 engine. The truck in question is a crew cab featuring all-wheel drive and a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine. For this setup, RAM lists the payload at 5,850 pounds.

This is why the RAM warranty will not cover damage. The Eagle Cap 1165 camper van weighs 4,900 lbs empty. Once gear, clothes, full fuel tanks, and more are crammed inside, not to mention the driver and passenger, the total payload can easily exceed the Ram’s 5,850-pound rating. And the motorcycle hanging from the back of the camper doesn’t help. Unfortunately, the owner never weighed his loaded device.

Knowing he was inside the ballpark for the load limits, that might have been a good choice. But he’s been doing it for 25,000 miles, so it looks like the truck could handle the weight. Until it was not.

Why are there different payload ratings for Ram 3500 trucks?

Ram 3500
Broken 2020 Ram 3500 Camper Truck | Facebook
Related

Factors that separate a single cab model from the rig in question are additive factors, additional body weight, and frame length. These factors combine with the lowest payload capacities of any truck, not just the Ram 3500.

“Mopar denied the allegation, saying the truck was overloaded, which is not true,” says the owner. “I now have a claim with my insurance company and they are sending a corrector today. Renault Dodge has billed over $17,000 for repairs.”

As best we know the insurance company is still crunching the numbers, so there’s no word yet on whether a Ram owner will eventually have to pay out of pocket. If he decides to take the loss and find another truck to replace it, may we suggest the Ram 5500 this time?

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button