2017 Ram 2500 or 3500 CTD

IF you are going to get a 5th wheel just get the 3500 and be done with it

We tow a small fiver with a 2500 ctd, we are more than happy with it. However, 10,000 lb which is the maximum allowed on my class 5 is the realistic limit for the truck. If your future fifth wheel is much over that loaded definitely go with the 3500. Is the 30 bucks a year a deal breaker?

10,000 lb is the realistic limit for a 2500 ctd? Huh?

10,000 lb is the realistic limit for a 2500 ctd? Huh? Maybe those are Canadian pounds, lol.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
IF you are going to get a 5th wheel just get the 3500 and be done with it

X2.

blofgren wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
IF you are going to get a 5th wheel just get the 3500 and be done with it

X2.

X3

Old-Biscuit wrote:
IF you are going to get a 5th wheel just get the 3500 and be done with it

X4

azdryheat wrote:
10,000 lb is the realistic limit for a 2500 ctd? Huh? Maybe those are Canadian pounds, lol.

Romore was talking GVWR in which case he is correct. 10,000 pounds is 10,000 pounds no matter where you are.

Chase_WV wrote:

...
I don't have an issue with the 3500 except the yearly registration fee of 60 versus the current 30. (Going up if the governor gets his way). Hopefully this topic has not beaten to death somewhere else.
...

Ah well, let me dash your hopes. This is a recurring and hotly debated topic on this and many other forums.

Many 2500 owners go by the GAWRs rather than the GVWR because, as you have discovered, the 10000 GVWR is primarily an administrative limitation that reduces your fees.

Going by the GAWR should account for any differences in suspension. And for the newer RAMs at least there are no other differences, AFAIK.

In the RAM, the single rear wheel 3500 rear GAWR is 500# higher than the 2500's with 18"wheels.
IIRC the front GAWRs are the same.

Jeez...... my old '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO NV5600 quad cab 3.73 gears 2wd short bed pulls my 11200 lb 5er ....and a 14k tandem and a 16k GN tri axle trailer with no issues....and has done so for over 300k miles now.

MFG payloads are a GVWR based payload and are not a good indicator of how much any truck can safely carry.

My gen truck has a 6000 rawr which leave it with around 3200 lbs for a payload in the bed.
The new gen 2500 Rams have 6000/6200/6500 RAWR so it makes a difference in payload in the bed such as a GN or 5th wheel or some type of bumper mounted hitch.

A 3500 SRW has a 7000 rawr and is good for around 3600-4000 lbs in the bed depending on truck selections.

I would suggest the white one.