2018 Chevy 3500HD
Considering picking up a used 2018 Duramax/Alison, DRW, Long bed. I have never driven one, looking for comments on those who have/had one of comparable year. Supposedly they came out with a new/better motor for this year?
Forum Discussion
krsmitty wrote:
LIKE2BUILD wrote:
I like to play within the rules, but if you look closely at your Ram, the 10,000 GVWR is just a number so they can call it a 2500. On your door sticker you'll see FAWR is 5,750 and RAWR is 6,000. Combined you have "real" GVWR of 11,750. I know the weight police are preparing charges against me for say this, but your RAM only says 10K GVWR for the badge, not the real limit of the truck. What's interesting is my 2014 is even higher, I have a 6,000FAWR and 6,500RAWR :E
Your base rear axle weight is 2,900 and with a RAWR of 6,000 you actually have 3,100lbs of capacity and max trailer weight of 17,000lbs. If the 5er's you're considering exceed these values than that I'd say look into a dually. However, don't underestimate the capacity of your truck. If you like the current truck and find a 5er that matches the specs then I'd say keep the Ram. But, if you want to go bigger and need the dually capacity then by all means get the 3500HD to give you that safety factor.
Our previous 5er was 37' and about 12,500lbs fully loaded. The truck pulled that trailer just fine all through the Rockies, was very stable, I had plenty of power up the inclines, and the exhaust brake was AMAZING on the declines. I never measured the actual pin weight but calculating 25% I was about 3,100 lbs on the hitch. I never felt unsafe or over matched by the trailer. But again, if the specs of your (potential) trailers exceed the RAM then it's worth looking a higher capacity trucks.
KJ
I found this online: 2017 Ram towing guide
Page 3 is the specs for my truck.
According to the document PAYLOAD = GVWR - Base Weight. If I understand you correctly...F GAWR = 5,750 + R GAWR 6,000 = 11,750 is the actual GVWR? 11,750 - 7,617 = 4,133.
4,133 lbs would be my actual Payload?
No, No, No!
Your maximum payload is on the doors sticker you don’t seem to have. Based on the WEB like I provided earlier it is 2,170# or so. Even if you follow the bad advice of Like2Build and go by rear axle still a MAXIMUM of 3,100# assuming your current rear axle only really weighs 2,900# which I doubt.
If you want to full time in either a large 5er or large TT minimum requirement is a 350/3500 SRW, but will far more relaxing with a 350/3500 DRW diesel.
Take it from me with the old 2001 Ram 2500 diesel was under rear axle rating, but 1,700# over GVWR. To me it towed fine, no “White Knuckle” events, arrived mostly relaxed. Well got tired of being 1,700# overweight, bought a 2016 Ram 3500 Laramie Cummins HO, Aisin, and 3.73’s, it is a world of difference.LIKE2BUILD wrote:
I like to play within the rules, but if you look closely at your Ram, the 10,000 GVWR is just a number so they can call it a 2500. On your door sticker you'll see FAWR is 5,750 and RAWR is 6,000. Combined you have "real" GVWR of 11,750. I know the weight police are preparing charges against me for say this, but your RAM only says 10K GVWR for the badge, not the real limit of the truck. What's interesting is my 2014 is even higher, I have a 6,000FAWR and 6,500RAWR :E
Your base rear axle weight is 2,900 and with a RAWR of 6,000 you actually have 3,100lbs of capacity and max trailer weight of 17,000lbs. If the 5er's you're considering exceed these values than that I'd say look into a dually. However, don't underestimate the capacity of your truck. If you like the current truck and find a 5er that matches the specs then I'd say keep the Ram. But, if you want to go bigger and need the dually capacity then by all means get the 3500HD to give you that safety factor.
Our previous 5er was 37' and about 12,500lbs fully loaded. The truck pulled that trailer just fine all through the Rockies, was very stable, I had plenty of power up the inclines, and the exhaust brake was AMAZING on the declines. I never measured the actual pin weight but calculating 25% I was about 3,100 lbs on the hitch. I never felt unsafe or over matched by the trailer. But again, if the specs of your (potential) trailers exceed the RAM then it's worth looking a higher capacity trucks.
KJ
I found this online: 2017 Ram towing guide
Page 3 is the specs for my truck.
According to the document PAYLOAD = GVWR - Base Weight. If I understand you correctly...F GAWR = 5,750 + R GAWR 6,000 = 11,750 is the actual GVWR? 11,750 - 7,617 = 4,133.
4,133 lbs would be my actual Payload?LIKE2BUILD wrote:
krsmitty wrote:
Yes, I am looking at the Chevy for future possibilities. We have a TT now, but still consider going back to a 5er. When I bought my 2017 I didn't do as thorough research as I should have. My 2017 (SB, SRW, 4x4) only has 2,300 lbs cargo capacity, which limits the size of a 5er. I believe the Chevy has around 5,500.
I like to play within the rules, but if you look closely at your Ram, the 10,000 GVWR is just a number so they can call it a 2500. On your door sticker you'll see FAWR is 5,750 and RAWR is 6,000. Combined you have "real" GVWR of 11,750. I know the weight police are preparing charges against me for say this, but your RAM only says 10K GVWR for the badge, not the real limit of the truck. What's interesting is my 2014 is even higher, I have a 6,000FAWR and 6,500RAWR :E
Your base rear axle weight is 2,900 and with a RAWR of 6,000 you actually have 3,100lbs of capacity and max trailer weight of 17,000lbs. If the 5er's you're considering exceed these values than that I'd say look into a dually. However, don't underestimate the capacity of your truck. If you like the current truck and find a 5er that matches the specs then I'd say keep the Ram. But, if you want to go bigger and need the dually capacity then by all means get the 3500HD to give you that safety factor.
Our previous 5er was 37' and about 12,500lbs fully loaded. The truck pulled that trailer just fine all through the Rockies, was very stable, I had plenty of power up the inclines, and the exhaust brake was AMAZING on the declines. I never measured the actual pin weight but calculating 25% I was about 3,100 lbs on the hitch. I never felt unsafe or over matched by the trailer. But again, if the specs of your (potential) trailers exceed the RAM then it's worth looking a higher capacity trucks.
KJ
Well a two part answer,
#1. KrSmitty, I assume that the GM 3500 is a DRW, up until 2020 or 2021 GM 3500 DRW’s topped out at 13,025 GVWR, Ford and Ram were 14,000#, that is as much as 975# more payload. If you want to step up, look for the new truck. Run searches on car Gurru, and auto trader, etc. Find the TV you want, not one that just pops up on a lot.
#2. Like2build, I ran that way going by GRWR, which was 6,084# on our 2001 Ram 2500, running that way I was 1,700# over GVWR. I worried about hungry lawyers, moved up to a
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW HO, Aisin, 3.73’s 5,411# payload, 25,024# pulling capacity.krsmitty wrote:
Yes, I am looking at the Chevy for future possibilities. We have a TT now, but still consider going back to a 5er. When I bought my 2017 I didn't do as thorough research as I should have. My 2017 (SB, SRW, 4x4) only has 2,300 lbs cargo capacity, which limits the size of a 5er. I believe the Chevy has around 5,500.
I like to play within the rules, but if you look closely at your Ram, the 10,000 GVWR is just a number so they can call it a 2500. On your door sticker you'll see FAWR is 5,750 and RAWR is 6,000. Combined you have "real" GVWR of 11,750. I know the weight police are preparing charges against me for say this, but your RAM only says 10K GVWR for the badge, not the real limit of the truck. What's interesting is my 2014 is even higher, I have a 6,000FAWR and 6,500RAWR :E
Your base rear axle weight is 2,900 and with a RAWR of 6,000 you actually have 3,100lbs of capacity and max trailer weight of 17,000lbs. If the 5er's you're considering exceed these values than that I'd say look into a dually. However, don't underestimate the capacity of your truck. If you like the current truck and find a 5er that matches the specs then I'd say keep the Ram. But, if you want to go bigger and need the dually capacity then by all means get the 3500HD to give you that safety factor.
Our previous 5er was 37' and about 12,500lbs fully loaded. The truck pulled that trailer just fine all through the Rockies, was very stable, I had plenty of power up the inclines, and the exhaust brake was AMAZING on the declines. I never measured the actual pin weight but calculating 25% I was about 3,100 lbs on the hitch. I never felt unsafe or over matched by the trailer. But again, if the specs of your (potential) trailers exceed the RAM then it's worth looking a higher capacity trucks.
KJkrsmitty wrote:
Yes, I am looking at the Chevy for future possibilities. We have a TT now, but still consider going back to a 5er. When I bought my 2017 I didn't do as thorough research as I should have. My 2017 (SB, SRW, 4x4) only has 2,300 lbs cargo capacity, which limits the size of a 5er. I believe the Chevy has around 5,500.
Mine has a GVWR of 13025, FAWR of 5600 & RAWR of 9375. Cargo rating 4802. 5500 would have to be for a regular cab, and likely a 6.0 gasser- Yes, I am looking at the Chevy for future possibilities. We have a TT now, but still consider going back to a 5er. When I bought my 2017 I didn't do as thorough research as I should have. My 2017 (SB, SRW, 4x4) only has 2,300 lbs cargo capacity, which limits the size of a 5er. I believe the Chevy has around 5,500.
- The motor is an Isuzu design ( Isuzu being largest diesel manufacturer in the world ) & the Allison transmission is without equal; just do recommend MAINTENANCE & you will be very satisfied with your decision...
krsmitty wrote:
Considering picking up a used 2018 Duramax/Alison, DRW, Long bed. I have never driven one, looking for comments on those who have/had one of comparable year. Supposedly they came out with a new/better motor for this year?
You are pulling a not heavy 10K TT, your Ram 2500 should be fine with it.
If looking at the 3500 for switching to a 5er, check the payload and GVWR. GM and Ford didn't step up there GVWR on SRW 3500 until 2020 or 2021 both had 11,500# max GVWR, Ram 3500 LB had a GVWR of 12,300# the short bed was at 11,700#. Something to think about if looking at a 5er, if that are the future plans.- They are a solid truck and powertrain and like Fish said it is a real bonus with no CP4 high pressure fuel pump. Curious why you are looking to replace your 2017 CTD though....:h
- L5P engine came out in 17, still in production. The 17-19 models have the 6 speed Alison 3.73 rear gear. 20 & 21 have the 10 speed 3.42 rear gear, new body & chassis.
We pull a 12K fifth wheel, truck pulls it without issue. Where the 05 would just maintain speed, the 18 will accelerate. Should pull your 10K TT like it’s not there. We could have gotten a SRW 3500 truck at our weight, but would have been close to max weight with the load we carry.
Check the block heater, there was a recall. And some had the cords cut at the dealer before delivery. I never plugged up the 05, don’t expect to plug this one up. You can see it thru the passenger fender well.
I would expect the Duramax to use more DEF than your Ram, and the under hood fill is a pain at best. Real pain to fill from jug, I fill at the truck stop. Most hoses will reach, if not go thru the lane the wrong way or backwards.
The steering wheel isn’t quite centered to the seat. Bothers some, but to me it’s no biggie. Same with the lack of low speed throttle response. They just don’t jam you back into the seat, but once rolling they will produce plenty of power.
Ride isn't bad, but it's a HD truck. You get used to the rear fenders, but it's not my daily driver. (I did drive my 05 DRW every day some, but now have a company F150)
