Looking at different 3/4 ton trucks and it seems like the 4x4 diesels payloads are going to range 2100 - 2400 ish. That's not much when it comes to covering myself for a possible 5th wheel upgrade down the road. Seems like a 1 ton would be the way to go but it will also be my daily driver to the tune of about 30,000 miles per year. How much of a difference is there in ride quality and fuel economy between the 3/4 tons and the 1 tons?

I'll jump in and be blunt: "ride quality," and "fuel mileage," really don't matter if the truck you buy isn't up to the task.Strongly suggest that you go 3500 - 350 if you are going to load it with most any 5th wheel.anyway, good luck with your choice.

your pretty close on cargo capacity with a 3/4ton especially a CC 4x4 SB and diesel. Drop the diesel and you'll pick up a noticeable increase in cargo capacity. Our duramax denali CC 4x4 has 2400lbs cargo capacity.Had I been able to find a 1 ton SRW short box with the options I wanted I would have gone for it. Having riden in a 1 ton SRW, I didn't notice a big difference in ride quality. This was comparing a GM 3/4 vs 1 ton SRW. Unloaded 3/4 or 1 ton can be stiff on rough roads, but on the highway not a lot of difference. And the SRW in theory picks up 1500 lbs in cargo capacity in a GM SRW. 10,000 vs 11,500 when we were looking. Problem I found was that while most 3/4 tons are short box, virtually all the 1 tons even SRW were long box. Price wise at least with GM, prices for similarly equipped 3/4 and 1 ton are virtually identical.For fuel economy I don't know, but with a SRW I wouldn't expect the difference to be noticeable, since empty weight is virtually the same.We don't pull a 5th wheel, but pulling our 9,000lb trailer with the truck bed loaded with our misc stuff and DW and grandkids going over the scale we are real close to 10K lbs. If it's me and dirt bike and gear in the back and no passengers, again near 10K.When you have 1400lbs tongue weight, and people and stuff in the bed it adds up quick.

SoonerWing03 wrote:Looking at different 3/4 ton trucks and it seems like the 4x4 diesels payloads are going to range 2100 - 2400 ish. That's not much when it comes to covering myself for a possible 5th wheel upgrade down the road. Seems like a 1 ton would be the way to go but it will also be my daily driver to the tune of about 30,000 miles per year. How much of a difference is there in ride quality and fuel economy between the 3/4 tons and the 1 tons?Ride quality can be improved by a great deal just by reducing air pressure in the rear tires when not towing. That said...If you buy a 2500 series you would probably want to add air bags to the rear. So now you have to reduce the pressure in those also to get a decent ride. If you go to the 3500 you only have to do the tires.My 2500 Ram has a light load setting that allows me to reduce the air pressure to 45 lbs in the rear when I am not hauling anything. I also reduce the pressure in my firestone airbags to 5 psi. There is a very noticeable difference in the ride when aired down.

SoonerWing03 wrote:Looking at different 3/4 ton trucks and it seems like the 4x4 diesels payloads are going to range 2100 - 2400 ish. That's not much when it comes to covering myself for a possible 5th wheel upgrade down the road. Seems like a 1 ton would be the way to go but it will also be my daily driver to the tune of about 30,000 miles per year. How much of a difference is there in ride quality and fuel economy between the 3/4 tons and the 1 tons?I went from a ‘15 250 to a ‘17 350, hardly any difference in rode or fuel economy. My payload went from 2250 to 3477. When people ask, I don’t even recommend the 250/2500 at all, always tell them to go straight to the 350/3500. The payload is the Achilles heel of the 250/2500’s to keep them in their weight class.

2100 isn't enough for my empty 5th wheel (and don't forget the weight of the hitch; mine is 180 pounds). I'd be overloaded before I even got in the truck. Get a 1 ton.

3/4 ton diesel's and payload / GVWR issues | Good Sam Community

Grit_dog
Navigator
May 15, 2019
IMO the only downside to a srw 1 ton vs 3/4 ton is availability if buying used or new, off the lot.
The up sides are a few.
Greater paper gvw if that bothers you like it appears to for some folks.
No TPMS that requires you to overinflate tires for empty or light load conditions.
Heavier rear springs from the factory, if you need them.
Differnet available options on “some” models. (Like RAm to get the new HO engine tuning and Aisin trans).

None of those reasons would make me turn down a better deal on a comparable 3/4 ton if the cost to make it suitable for the need was less than the cost of buying a 1 ton.
(And I don’t mean ordering new where you can outfit both models the same for essentially the same money)
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
May 15, 2019
Sooner...these are the holy grail weight specs from GM....Ford...Ram/Dodge trucks. Days of tech spec reading for those interested.

ford trucks
click on vehicle specs...

gm trucks
use GM weights calculator for actual truck weights for std packages and option added.

Dodge/Ram trucks
Dodge/Ram Body Builders Guide has all the weight specs packages that is available for the different models.
troubledwaters
Explorer III
May 15, 2019
spoon059 wrote:
twodownzero wrote:
Vs driving without a driver's license and risking an insurance exclusion? No thanks. Buy enough truck.

#1 what does truck size have to do with a drivers license?
#2 insurance exclusion? For what? Insurance covers a drunk driver, you don't think it would cover an "overloaded" truck?
He still buys into internet myths. Only thing he forgot was
#3. You're going to kill the wife and kids.
spoon059
Explorer II
May 15, 2019
twodownzero wrote:
Vs driving without a driver's license and risking an insurance exclusion? No thanks. Buy enough truck.

#1 what does truck size have to do with a drivers license?
#2 insurance exclusion? For what? Insurance covers a drunk driver, you don't think it would cover an "overloaded" truck?
ib516
Explorer II
May 15, 2019
SoonerWing03 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
SoonerWing03 wrote:
I guess it becomes a matter of believing/knowing the vehicle can handle it versus being within specs?

Yes sir it does. 100%.
A person's level of understanding or mechanical aptitude, combined with experience and risk tolerance all factor in, in some way.

Let me ask this then. What are the downside of going with a 1 ton over the 3/4 ton? I’m sure that I am overlooking some.

1. 1 tons are harder to find.
2. 1 tons have a smaller resell market so potentially more difficult to sell.
3. 1 tons are considered commercial vehicles in some states reducing the recreational market.

4. Minor penalty in empty ride quality.

And I'd have to say #3 is debatable.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
May 15, 2019
op wrote:
Let me ask this then. What are the downside of going with a 1 ton over the 3/4 ton? I’m sure that I am overlooking some.

1 tons are harder to find.
1 tons have a smaller resell market so potentially more difficult to sell.
1 tons are considered commercial vehicles in some states reducing the recreational market.

Their basically the same truck so they both ride the same if all the cab/bed/drive train selections are the same.
If your looking at a F250 and it has the camper package or heavy service package option it has the same front and rear suspension as the F350 srw.

You may already know this but being from Oklahoma myself we have no worries with commercial registration for these size trucks. We also have no weight for registering our non commercial trucks.
IMO we don't have any issues selling a one ton srw or a 3/4 ton truck.

I come from the commercial side of LTL trucking (3/4 and one ton trucks/trailers) where the trucks GVWR/GVWR based payload stickers aren't used to determine a over weight vehicle. We also don't face lawsuits or insurance issues like we read about on rv websites for exceeding the truck makers GVWR or its payload....just like a non commercial registered truck. Internet myth at play.
twodownzero
Explorer
May 15, 2019
SoonerWing03 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
SoonerWing03 wrote:
I guess it becomes a matter of believing/knowing the vehicle can handle it versus being within specs?

Yes sir it does. 100%.
A person's level of understanding or mechanical aptitude, combined with experience and risk tolerance all factor in, in some way.

Let me ask this then. What are the downside of going with a 1 ton over the 3/4 ton? I’m sure that I am overlooking some.

1 tons are harder to find.
1 tons have a smaller resell market so potentially more difficult to sell.
1 tons are considered commercial vehicles in some states reducing the recreational market.

Vs driving without a driver's license and risking an insurance exclusion? No thanks. Buy enough truck.
SoonerWing03
Explorer
May 15, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
SoonerWing03 wrote:
I guess it becomes a matter of believing/knowing the vehicle can handle it versus being within specs?

Yes sir it does. 100%.
A person's level of understanding or mechanical aptitude, combined with experience and risk tolerance all factor in, in some way.

Let me ask this then. What are the downside of going with a 1 ton over the 3/4 ton? I’m sure that I am overlooking some.

1 tons are harder to find.
1 tons have a smaller resell market so potentially more difficult to sell.
1 tons are considered commercial vehicles in some states reducing the recreational market.
rhagfo
Explorer III
May 15, 2019
SoonerWing03 wrote:
Looking at different 3/4 ton trucks and it seems like the 4x4 diesels payloads are going to range 2100 - 2400 ish. That's not much when it comes to covering myself for a possible 5th wheel upgrade down the road. Seems like a 1 ton would be the way to go but it will also be my daily driver to the tune of about 30,000 miles per year.

How much of a difference is there in ride quality and fuel economy between the 3/4 tons and the 1 tons?

Well depends on the 5er you might upgrade to much larger than 10K 5er will take you over the Payload and GVWR of a 2500.
The question is are you comfortable doing that and possible legal issues if involved an accident?

I towed over GVWR for years, in the end I was 1,700# over GVWR. The truck and 5er towed well, but I am retired and didn't want to give a hungry lawyer and open invitation to sue me.

Decided to step up to a 3500 DRW!
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 15, 2019
SoonerWing03 wrote:
I guess it becomes a matter of believing/knowing the vehicle can handle it versus being within specs?

Yes sir it does. 100%.
A person's level of understanding or mechanical aptitude, combined with experience and risk tolerance all factor in, in some way.

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3/4 ton diesel's and payload / GVWR issues

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