2500 vs 3500 - Handling the Load

Cummins12V98 wrote:
You already made your choice but for others deciding, a 3500 with factory bags is the way to go. Truck sits at the perfect ride height no matter the load right up to max RAWR.

Opinion only. I didn't want the bags and my truck rides and handles the loads applied to it effortlessly. And unloaded ride is outstanding IMO for a 1ton truck. And it's one less thing I have to worry about later down the road.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
You already made your choice but for others deciding, a 3500 with factory bags is the way to go. Truck sits at the perfect ride height no matter the load right up to max RAWR.

I'll second that, best thing since green grass and sliced bread. Betcha Ford and GM will be offering a similar system on their re-designed models.

The issue I found with my '15 3500 SRW with 3k+ isn't the ~2-3" drop but the headlights getting flicked at me at night... LOL Hence I put Timbrens on mine..

I basically did what you did: I traded my '13 2500 for a '15 3500 srw. There is less sag, but my impressions comparing the two is the stronger components of the '13+ 3500 make for a more confident tow. And strangely enough, even with identical tire pressures the 3500 "seems" to ride better even unloaded. Definitely worth the trade IMO..

You already made your choice but for others deciding, a 3500 with factory bags is the way to go. Truck sits at the perfect ride height no matter the load right up to max RAWR.

I've got a similar setup, a 2016 Ram 3500SRW, and a 2015 Sabre 33RETS. Your dry pin weight is about 100lbs more than mine, and your GVWR is about 1500lbs more than mine, so they're not ALL that far off on weight.

Mine settles just a bit hooked up. Levels it, basically. Doesn't sag at all. Never wallows or bounces. Tows perfectly. I wish it would settle just a tiny bit more, actually, as I'm just a hair nose-high on the fiver. Unless you somehow load yours to be obscenely nose heavy, I wouldn't expect you'll have any problems at all.

Congrats!!!

thirtydaZe wrote:
I traded tonight, wont get my new vehicle until tuesday or wednesday. Carrying the weight is most important to me. I let the airbags go.

My 2500 held it so well with very little air, im pretty confident the 3500 will hold fine in its stock stage.

New truck has the Aisin so im really anxious to see how it tows in comparison.

Thanks again all.

I have a 2015 3500 SRW and with my fiver (which is admittedly smaller than yours) my truck barely drops at all when hooked up. I've pulled a relatives Montana with it to which is much bigger (12,000 roughly) and it may have set it a couple inches at most. I don't think you need the bags either. Congrats on a beast of a truck!

I traded tonight, wont get my new vehicle until tuesday or wednesday. Carrying the weight is most important to me. I let the airbags go.

My 2500 held it so well with very little air, im pretty confident the 3500 will hold fine in its stock stage.

New truck has the Aisin so im really anxious to see how it tows in comparison.

Thanks again all.

The lower class TV will have better 'ride quality', but not carry as well as the higher class TV

The higher class TV will carry/handle/etc the weight better but have just a bit lower ride quality than the lower class TV

Decide which is more important...ride quality or towing ability...

thirtydaZe wrote:
I have a '13 Ram 2500, if things go decent tonight i might have a very similar vehicle in a '16 3500 variety. Both have leaf springs, but right now, my 2500 has airbags.

The payload in the 3500 is between 1300 and 1400 lb greater.

What's you opinion on the way the trucks will carry the weight?

I ask, because i have the opportunity to take my airbags along with me to the new vehicle if i want to pay to have it done. However, if the new truck will carry that weight more efficiently, i don't want to spend the money.