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

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
May 15, 2019
I just can’t make the math work on a 5th wheel of that size. Even using 20% of the 5th wheels GVWR for the hitch weight consumes nearly 100% of the payload. I guess it becomes a matter of believing/knowing the vehicle can handle it versus being within specs?

Gvwr and gvwr based payloads aren't used to determine how much weight a truck can safely/legally carry/stop/start. Gvwr and its payload are more of a marketing thing and not a good indication of a safe trucks load limits.
Example a Ram Body builder website shows 2500 Ram 6.4 hemi crew cab tradesman with 6000 rawr has a 3530 lb payload. This trucks rear axle can weigh in the 3000 lb range...now add the 3530 payload = 6530 lbs for a 500 lb overload on 17" wheels and tires.

Same Ram body builders guide shows a 3500 SRW crew cab tradesman 7000 rawr has a 4530 payload. A 3500 srw rear axle can weigh in the 3200 lb range...now add 4530 = 7730 lbs for a overload.

Ford and GM also have the same issues with certain high gvwr/high gvwr payloads trucks and their rawr numbers.

And lets not forget Fords F350 srw with a 10000 gvwr or a 11500 gvwr for the same "identical truck" with different gvwr payloads.

My numbers and examples are just to show the OP (or anyone) how really silly the gvwr game is played...and one reason using the trucks rawr will keep us safe...no over weight tickets....no civil lawsuits we read so much about on rv websites.

Just stay under the trucks (any LDT) gawrs ratings and you won't have any issues.
SoonerWing03
Explorer
May 14, 2019
Jjsimon111 wrote:
We are full-time rver's for over 3 year's and we own a 3/4 ton Ram with the Cummins and have no problem towing our 38ft 5 wheel. Everyone wants a 40 footer or bigger and that's why you would need a 1ton. We have towed so far over 15,000 miles and have had no issues with our setup.

I just can’t make the math work on a 5th wheel of that size. Even using 20% of the 5th wheels GVWR for the hitch weight consumes nearly 100% of the payload. I guess it becomes a matter of believing/knowing the vehicle can handle it versus being within specs?
Jjsimon111
Explorer
May 14, 2019
We are full-time rver's for over 3 year's and we own a 3/4 ton Ram with the Cummins and have no problem towing our 38ft 5 wheel. Everyone wants a 40 footer or bigger and that's why you would need a 1ton. We have towed so far over 15,000 miles and have had no issues with our setup.
spoon059
Explorer II
May 14, 2019
SoonerWing03 wrote:
How much of a difference is there in ride quality and fuel economy between the 3/4 tons and the 1 tons?

Almost nothing. GM and Ford are almost identical trucks, with the addition of an overload spring on the rear. That overload spring only comes into play with weight in the bed, so driving around town will feel the exact same. Ram uses coils on the 3/4 and springs on the 1 ton, so they will ride slightly different. You can also buy the Ram with factory air ride that rides much more gently than a regular HD pickup.
Atlee
Explorer II
May 14, 2019
To OP,

If you're considering a diesel engine, go straight to 350/3500 country. An 250/2500 3/4 ton truck carries nearly a 900# cargo penalty just due to the weight of the diesel engine compared to the gas engine in the 3/4 ton trucks.

If my current F150 with the HDPP (2286# cargo capacity) were totaled, and I wasn't, I'd think strongly of replacing it with a F250 gasser. I'd pick up nearly a thousand pounds of cargo capacity.

However, if I were to consider a diesel engine, I'd go straight to the F350.
mtofell1
Explorer
May 14, 2019
1500 to 2500 is night and day. 2500 to 3500 is like 1AM to 3AM. Ram 2500 coils vs. 3500 leaf springs are the most noticeable in the HD truck world.
KD4UPL
Explorer
May 14, 2019
I don't see how the fuel economy could be different between the two; the drivetrain is the same. As for the ride, it's a truck.
I'm personally done buying anything in the 1500 series. A 2500 is a bare minimum for my uses towing a hauling. If I want to tow or haul anything heavy then a 3500 is needed.
KD4UPL
Explorer
May 14, 2019
I don't see how the fuel economy could be different between the two; the drivetrain is the same. As for the ride, it's a truck.
I'm personally done buying anything in the 1500 series. A 2500 is a bare minimum for my uses towing a hauling. If I want to tow or haul anything heavy then a 3500 is needed.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 13, 2019
50 first dates.....
ib516
Explorer II
May 13, 2019
Fuel mileage will be the same unless you're talking about a dually.

Ride will be similar, but in the Ram trucks, the 2500 rides significantly better in my experience. It has rear coil springs and the 3500 (SRW or DRW) has leaf springs. In the Chevy/GMC and Ford, I don't think the difference in ride is as much as it is with Ram, but I am far less familiar with them. I have been in a Ram 2500 and 3500 back to back (both crew cab 4x4s).

A buddy of mine has a 2014 3500 SRW 4x4 diesel Ram. His payload is right around 4000#. My truck was a 2500 Hemi, and the payload was right around 3000#.

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

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