Pondering between Ram 2500 or 3500

[Smokey_Lew]

Hi guys and gals,

I've finally decided to trade in my 2011 Ram 1500 for either a 2500 or 3500. I have an older heavy TT that has a tongue weight of 1,050 lbs. When loaded, we have about 7,500 to 8,000 lbs. The TT has a GVWR of 10,000 and its UVW is 6,600.

We really like the TT but it's been a white knuckle ride pulling it with the 1/2 ton truck. The trucks payload is only 1354 and I'm afraid of breaking something on the truck if I continue pulling this load. With my wife, myself, two dogs, and all my junk in the back, I'v already gobbled up 800 lbs. of the payload before dropping the trailer on the hitch

Anyway, The 2500 has the same type of coil spring rear suspension as my current truck and I'm nervous about dropping 1,000 lbs on the back. The 3500 has leaf springs on the rear and it's much stiffer. The thing is with both trucks set up the same, the cost difference is only 300 bucks. Logic tells me to go with the 3500 but I'm wondering if I'm overlooking something about the two trucks that I should know before placing an order.

I'm going with the 6.4 HEMI and 4.10 axel ratio regardless of the truck I decide to go with. Can't afford the added cost of a diesel or the maintenance costs. Had no problem with power using the 5.7 HEMI in my 1500.

Any thoughts on this would be helpful. I'd like to place an order for my new truck in the next couple of days.

Thanks,
Smokeylew

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

Double post. It's too easy to do.

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

IdaD wrote:

djgodden wrote:
I am far from an expert here but I highly recommend you look at the differences between the RAM 2500 and 3500. Not just what the labels say but the actual physical differences in parts/wheels/tires. You'll find they are nearly identical but RAM has rated them very different in capabilities and capacities.

- A few base 2500s have 17" wheels with lower weight rated tires, and that lowers the RAWR. Nearly all 2500s have the same 18" or 20" wheels/tires as the 3500s, though.

- You have the option of the Aisin/HO CTD on the SRW 3500, which you can't get on the 2500. Those trucks have more power, the different transmission and an 11.8" rear end. This is an option on both SRW and DRW trucks, although from I saw when I was shopping it's much more common on the DRW models.

- The 2500 has rear coils and the SRW 3500 has rear leafs. Provided the 2500 doesn't have the rare 17" wheels, that results in a 500 lb RAWR difference between the 2500 and SRW 3500 (6500 vs 7000).

That's it. The trucks use the same chassis, axles (except larger optional rear end noted above), brakes, tires/wheels (except rare 17" wheels noted above), front suspensions, drive trains and etc. The big difference in payload rating is a function of high curb weight and the class restricted max 10k GVWR on the 2500 series. If you want to compare real world capability, look to the difference in the rear axle weight ratings. You don't get a big bump there until you add a set of extra tires and wheels and go DRW.

Sorry, that's incorrect. My 2016 6.4 3500 has a 7000 lb rear axle. That is the only rating for a 3500 SRW axle. The highest axle rating for a 2500 is 6500 as you said, but it's only in all the Mega cabs and crew cab 4x2 diesels. 6000 is far more common with a few in betweens. Wheels don't matter. It's configuration based. That's according to Ram's 2016 Vehicle Spec Sheets.

[Sport45]

Smokey Lew wrote:
The added cost of the diesel is the 8k pop over the cost of a HEMI. My wife and I are retired and we'll be stretching things as it is going with the gasser. Thanks for your suggestion.

Pick enough truck for your requirements and go with it. Consider used trucks for cost savings (not to get a bigger, badder truck for new truck pricing). If I was on a tight budget I'd rather have my retirement savings available for buying dinner than setting in a pretty truck parked outside.

[KKELLER14K]

Not related completely but a BIG piece of advice here. Never use aftermarket filters on a Cummins diesel engine ever! Always use the factory filter. You can blow up the #6 cylinder if you clog up the oil nozzle from debris. Goggle it if you don't believe me. It happened to me at 50,000 miles on my Ram 3500. Expensive lesson to say the least.

[Cummins12V98]

coolbreeze01 wrote:

schaf921 wrote:

372LOK
GVR 15500 lbs.
Hitch 2474 lbs.
UVW 12933 lbs.
CCC 2538 lbs.
Lwngth 41' 9"

You need a DRW at least and possibly a 4500 with that much trailer. Your dealer doesn't know what he is talking about.

I tow 32,500 # combined. Under on front rear and combined weights. 3500 Ram Dually Aisin 4.10's. Tows 23k MobileSuites VERY well.

[IdaD]

thecdnmole wrote:

IdaD wrote:
The trucks use the same chassis,...

I thought the same, but I looked at a Ram 3500 to see where my 5th wheel hitch mounts would go and the frame is different! Possibly because of the difference from coils to leafs? Material and strength are probably the same.

The frame looks identical in the pictures I've found online and all the literature I can find say they're the same frame. Maybe the hitch mount points are slightly different because they need to work around different spring hangers or associated suspension hardware between the two setups.

[thecdnmole]

IdaD wrote:
The trucks use the same chassis,...

I thought the same, but I looked at a Ram 3500 to see where my 5th wheel hitch mounts would go and the frame is different! Possibly because of the difference from coils to leafs? Material and strength are probably the same.

[IdaD]

djgodden wrote:
I am far from an expert here but I highly recommend you look at the differences between the RAM 2500 and 3500. Not just what the labels say but the actual physical differences in parts/wheels/tires. You'll find they are nearly identical but RAM has rated them very different in capabilities and capacities.

- A few base 2500s have 17" wheels with lower weight rated tires, and that lowers the RAWR. Nearly all 2500s have the same 18" or 20" wheels/tires as the 3500s, though.

- You have the option of the Aisin/HO CTD on the SRW 3500, which you can't get on the 2500. Those trucks have more power, the different transmission and an 11.8" rear end. This is an option on both SRW and DRW trucks, although from I saw when I was shopping it's much more common on the DRW models.

- The 2500 has rear coils and the SRW 3500 has rear leafs. Provided the 2500 doesn't have the rare 17" wheels, that results in a 500 lb RAWR difference between the 2500 and SRW 3500 (6500 vs 7000).

That's it. The trucks use the same chassis, axles (except larger optional rear end noted above), brakes, tires/wheels (except rare 17" wheels noted above), front suspensions, drive trains and etc. The big difference in payload rating is a function of high curb weight and the class restricted max 10k GVWR on the 2500 series. If you want to compare real world capability, look to the difference in the rear axle weight ratings. You don't get a big bump there until you add a set of extra tires and wheels and go DRW.

[djgodden]

I am far from an expert here but I highly recommend you look at the differences between the RAM 2500 and 3500. Not just what the labels say but the actual physical differences in parts/wheels/tires. You'll find they are nearly identical but RAM has rated them very different in capabilities and capacities.

[schaf921]

TY - and I apologize if thread hijacked - i did a search and saw poster as 2012 - assumed that was when post started - stupid me. But thanks for feedback, I figured that wasthe correctanswer

[coolbreeze01]

schaf921 wrote:

372LOK
GVR 15500 lbs.
Hitch 2474 lbs.
UVW 12933 lbs.
CCC 2538 lbs.
Lwngth 41' 9"

You need a DRW at least and possibly a 4500 with that much trailer. Your dealer doesn't know what he is talking about.

[IdaD]

schaf921 wrote:
sorry to reask but I cant quite get the responses into my exact configuration. Dealer has told me a new 2500 will be better (or the same) as a 2014 DRW 3500. I would like to get a much of a 'street style' truck as this will be my only vehicle. Will be pulling the following - is it really 50/50 on the used 2500 or mne 2500?

372LOK
GVR 15500 lbs.
Hitch 2474 lbs.
UVW 12933 lbs.
CCC 2538 lbs.
Lwngth 41' 9"

In my mind the three primary categories of consumer pickups are the following:

- Half ton
- SRW "heavy duty"
- DRW "heavy duty"

Then you have your MDT and above. I do not agree with your dealer that a new 2500 is the same as a 2014 DRW 3500. The extra tires come with a step up in capability, albeit with compromises. For a 15k lb 42' fifth wheel I think I'd want a DRW truck.

[JIMNLIN]

You may want to start your own thread to keep from hijacking the OP questions.

[schaf921]

sorry to reask but I cant quite get the responses into my exact configuration. Dealer has told me a new 2500 will be better (or the same) as a 2014 DRW 3500. I would like to get a much of a 'street style' truck as this will be my only vehicle. Will be pulling the following - is it really 50/50 on the used 2500 or mne 2500?

372LOK
GVR 15500 lbs.
Hitch 2474 lbs.
UVW 12933 lbs.
CCC 2538 lbs.
Lwngth 41' 9"