2500 or 3500?

[Roadtech]

I plan on buying a new Chevy Duramax, crew cab, short bed, 4x4, either 2500 or 3500 truck. I will be towing a 10,000 lb GVWR travel trailer (bumper pull). I plan on installing a 50 gallon Transfer Flow in bed diesel fuel tank. Both trucks have conventional towing capacity of 13,000 lbs, but the 2500 payload is 2706 lbs and the 3500 is 4125 lbs. Do you think I would be ok with the 2500's capacity? Also, does the 3500 ride quality any different from the 2500?

[FLY_4_FUN]

I would suggest going right to the 3500 as it will give you the flexibility of carrying more payload (pin or tongue weight, tidy tank, firewood etc). Also the option to haul a larger rv later on without upgrading is a bonus. Just my .02

Daryll

[FLY_4_FUN]

I would suggest going right to the 3500 as it will give you the flexibility of carrying more payload (pin or tongue weight, tidy tank, firewood etc). Also the option to haul a larger rv later on without upgrading is a bonus. Just my .02

Daryll

[jus2shy]

bmanning wrote:


Thanks for the correction! I was off by a year, looks like it was the 2013MY in which the 1-ton and 3/4-ton ran different frames.

What makes you feel the 3500 SRW is much more capable than the 2500? Not saying you're incorrect, just curious as to what led you to that conclusion.

Well, I'm not the original poster that noted the 3500's being heavier duty than the 2500's, but I'll give answering a shot. The 2014 2500's have a completely different suspension setup compared to the 3500's. 2500's are now using a progressive steel coil-over setup (very bulky) that is designed to be more compliant with about the same amount of travel. There is also an option to replace the steel coils with airbags instead. So the 2500 is tuned to give a more pliant ride like the 1/2 tons with all the capacity a 3/4 is supposed to have.

The 1-ton RAMs still keep a leaf-sprung hotchkiss setup, only difference is there is now an option to get factory supplemental airbags. What they do in this case is reduce the spring pack down to a single spring and use the airbag to add any additional load leveling that's needed.

So in RAM's case, a 2500 is truly just a 2500. I believe Ford and GM may have almost all the same exact underpinnings between the 2500 and 3500 with only differences in spring packs. I really can't answer that in their case.

[RAS43]

Roadtech wrote:
I plan on buying a new Chevy Duramax, crew cab, short bed, 4x4, either 2500 or 3500 truck. I will be towing a 10,000 lb GVWR travel trailer (bumper pull). I plan on installing a 50 gallon Transfer Flow in bed diesel fuel tank. Both trucks have conventional towing capacity of 13,000 lbs, but the 2500 payload is 2706 lbs and the 3500 is 4125 lbs. Do you think I would be ok with the 2500's capacity? Also, does the 3500 ride quality any different from the 2500?

Since you plan on adding about 400lbs of fuel with the extra tank I'd recommend the 3500 with the extra load capacity. SRW should serve you well and I have never noticed any difference in ride quality between 2500 and 3500.

[FishOnOne]

whsk wrote:
my little yellow payload sticker says 5435 lbs.-nuff said!-whsk

I'm surprised... That's pretty weak!

[whsk]

my little yellow payload sticker says 5435 lbs.-nuff said!-whsk

[dave17352]

Roadtech wrote:

Road Runners wrote:
And, you don't have to haul around all those tires on the rear.

If I go with the 3500, I plan on going with single rear wheels.

My 3500 is a SRW.

[Randu]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
OP
just read my thread in General RVing Issues "how many rv's have you owned" and you will answer your own question.

Most everyone went bigger with each RV purchase. So save some money and look to the future. Don't settle for just good enough then be like so many when they get a larger RV and have to BandAid the truck so it "TOWS JUST FINE" !!!!!!!!

FishOnOne wrote:

Roadtech wrote:

Road Runners wrote:
And, you don't have to haul around all those tires on the rear.

If I go with the 3500, I plan on going with single rear wheels.

OP,
You may want to hang tight and wait for the '15 GM model availability.
Good luck...

2 very good points.
I had the right truck when purchased in 2004 and thought I had plenty of extra capacity for the next trailer. WRONG !
3 trailers later, I am in the "Band Aid" position and have made many modifications to get by. Need to get by 1 more year before the new 1 ton can be ordered. Get the 1 ton from the start and never look back. I drove a single rear wheel 3500 and it rode just like my 2500. Big difference is the big overload spring that is added to the 3500 but that makes no contact until load compresses normal springs about 1.5"

I think dealers are starting to take orders on the new GM body style 2015's
Not sure when actual production is scheduled to start but I think its in pre production now which is where they dial in all of the assembly stuff and make sure all fits as designed.
Why not order exactly what you want rather than be held hostage to what the dealer decided to stock based on a price point. Randu

[ScottG]

Beverley&Ken wrote:
And what is the price difference, $2-3000 on a $55000 vehicle, about 4%.

Beverley and Ken

I don't think it's even that much.

On my Dodge it was a $600 upgrade.

[FishOnOne]

Roadtech wrote:

Road Runners wrote:
And, you don't have to haul around all those tires on the rear.

If I go with the 3500, I plan on going with single rear wheels.

OP,
You may want to hang tight and wait for the '15 GM model availability.

Good luck...

[Beverley_Ken]

And what is the price difference, $2-3000 on a $55000 vehicle, about 4%.

Beverley and Ken

[whsk]

been down that road-traded a 3/4 ton for this 1 ton dually-peace of mind is priceless!-whsk

[Cummins12V98]

OP

just read my thread in General RVing Issues "how many rv's have you owned" and you will answer your own question.

Most everyone went bigger with each RV purchase. So save some money and look to the future. Don't settle for just good enough then be like so many when they get a larger RV and have to BandAid the truck so it "TOWS JUST FINE" !!!!!!!!

[bmanning]

goducks10 wrote:

bmanning wrote:

dave17352 wrote:

the bear II wrote:
3500 will be safer...bigger brakes, heavier drivetrain components.

Long bed will give you a better ride loaded or unloaded. I've always had longbeds and never ran into a situation where turning radius was a problem that couldn't be resolved.

Are not the brakes and drive train the same on the 2500 and 3500?

Very tempted to say yes, they are identical, but recent model years have seen more differences between 3/4 and 1-tons so the only way to accurately answer that is to research a particular model year and brand.

For example, IIRC a 2012 Ram 3500 SRW has a different frame than a 2012 2500. In 2013 the 2500 got the new frame, but it illustrates my point that it comes down to not only brand but model year.

3/4 and 1-tons used to share almost all hardware with very few exceptions but recent model years have seen more differences arise so it's case-by-case anymore.

I don't think that's quite right for Rams
IIRC the 12 2500-3500 are identical except for the rear spring pack.
I know that because I own a 12 2500 and the 12 is the same as the 3500, sans rear spring pack.
The 13 2500 is the same frame as the 12 except for spring upgrades and the 13 3500 got the new frame.
The 14 2500 got the new frame upgrade like the 3500. Not sure it's the same frame or not but an upgrade non the less.

But you are right in that the trucks aren't the same anymore like they used to be. The Ram 3500 is much more capable than the 2500.

Thanks for the correction! I was off by a year, looks like it was the 2013MY in which the 1-ton and 3/4-ton ran different frames.

What makes you feel the 3500 SRW is much more capable than the 2500? Not saying you're incorrect, just curious as to what led you to that conclusion.