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

As I expressed on an earlier topic, just had a friend who retired and also who I've told for years to get a 1 ton truck(and I do mean years) knowing that what he wanted in a fifth wheel there was no way he could handle it in a 3/4 ton. Long story short he drove up last week in his new 2018 3/4 ton Ram 4x4!!!! After looking at some 5'ers and seeing in person what he can do...I try not to say, I told you so because he and his wife have a hissie fit. They know what I'm thinking and their right, I'm thinking exactly that...dip $hit! His payload 2150...good luck with that on any decent built 35+ foot fiver!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.