2500 vs 3500

[boingram]

Hi all...looking for new tv...besides the obvious payload and tow rating differences. ..I would appreciate some obsevations on the real world everyday ownership differences between a denali 2500 & 3500..2015...srw crew cab...thx...bo

[calewjohnson]

jus2shy wrote:
Well depends on which motor right? You know a 2500 will cap at 10,000 lbs GVWR regardless of motor. The SRW 3500 will vary a little bit with gas engines (getting something like 10,400 GVWR) while comparing diesels, they up the GVWR to something around 11,400 lbs or so.

So if you're going gas, you gain only a paltry 400 lbs or so in payload typically on 2500 vs 3500. While with diesels, you gain about 1,000 lbs more payload because of the higher rating. Not sure why GVWR's tend to be lower on gas motor'd trucks but it's just my off-the-cuff observation.

My F350 has a GVRW of 14,000...more CCC than an F450. I believe Dodge has an option for that also... I have the same 6.7 engine that the F250 has, just a different rear ratio. If he goes diesel, he can gain a whole heck of a lot more.

[kw_00]

Usually the payload on the gas engines are higher then the diesel just due to the weight of the engine. The Diesel engine weighs more and eats up payload. That's another reason I chose gas for the 3/4 ton. If I had to purchase another truck I would look for a SRW3500 for my needs. But in all reality my 2500hd is all I need right now, and no plans in changing campers..

[bmanning]

Grandpere wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:
One ton dually.

Much more stable.

X2

Get a Kenworth :W. 600hp Cummins, 18 speed Eaton-Fuller.

On here, towing anything more than a canoe requires a dually so do it once, do it right, yes?

[jus2shy]

Well depends on which motor right? You know a 2500 will cap at 10,000 lbs GVWR regardless of motor. The SRW 3500 will vary a little bit with gas engines (getting something like 10,400 GVWR) while comparing diesels, they up the GVWR to something around 11,400 lbs or so.

So if you're going gas, you gain only a paltry 400 lbs or so in payload typically on 2500 vs 3500. While with diesels, you gain about 1,000 lbs more payload because of the higher rating. Not sure why GVWR's tend to be lower on gas motor'd trucks but it's just my off-the-cuff observation.

[christopherglen]

There are very few places a 2500 can get that a dually with the same body and bed cannot. The tow mirrors (on both) are wider then the dually fenders.

[Norskeman]

2500HD - 10,000lb GVWR
3500HD - 11,600lb GVWR

Go for the 3500HD - gives you more options on what you can tow.

[john_bet]

IdaD wrote:
Dually's are horrible offroad if that's a consideration. Not that any 8000 lb HD truck is a jeep or anything, but the dually really screws up your ability to get over rough terrain and down narrow roads.

I drive an 8' wide, 36'long,11'high, 28,000# dully down narrow country roads every day. I even met one going the opposite direction and we do just fine rain,shine or snow.

[TXiceman]

I went to Ford as it had a much better ride than did the Chevy. Might wantt o try a Ford F350.

Ken

[Need-A-Vacation]

From what I have found on the GM Twins is the 2500 gassers get the 10.5" axle, while the 2500 Dmax and 3500 Dmax and gassers get the 11.5" axle. This is from the most recent chassis run '11- current.

It looks like the brakes are almost identical, though a different part # for them from my research. Only the 2500's are ( may have changed, last I knew though through '14) could get the 20" rims, while all 3500's could only get the 18".

[JIMNLIN]

boingram wrote:
Hi all...looking for new tv...besides the obvious payload and tow rating differences. ..I would appreciate some obsevations on the real world everyday ownership differences between a denali 2500 & 3500..2015...srw crew cab...thx...bo

Don't know what differences your interested in but.....
My son has a new '15 2500 chevy Dmax/A crew cab 4x4 Z71 with just about every option chevy offers.
My neighbor has a '14 3500 SRW chevy 2wd Dmax/A crew cab LTZ package.

Having driven/ridden both on county roads and interstate hiways when empty the 2500 rides much smoother especially on the rough county roads. Now when pulling/carrying a RV I have no idea how they ride.

[wintersun]

It is not as simple as that. My 2011 GM 2500HD truck has a higher payload rating than any of the SRW 3500 trucks. Only by going to DRW would I get a higher payload rating.

With my truck the only difference between the 2500 and 3500 versions was the extra set of leaf springs on the 3500 and that the 2500 was available with the extended cab which was not the case with the 3500 and the 3500 could be bought with DRW. This is true for current trucks from GM/Chevy and from Ram but not with the Ford trucks where the F-350 is in a different class that includes the F-450 and F-550 trucks.

And with Ford their F-350 pickup has a higher load capacity than their F-450 pickup truck. One needs to buy the F-450 Chassis Cab version to get a greater payload.

On dealers' lots I found in my area that most of the 3500 trucks had regular cabs and 2WD and DRW. With the GM 3500 my options were a crew cab or a regular cab, neither of which I wanted.

[Dog_Folks]

IdaD wrote:
Dually's are horrible offroad if that's a consideration. Not that any 8000 lb HD truck is a jeep or anything, but the dually really screws up your ability to get over rough terrain and down narrow roads.

Good point. Final use should be considered.

I forget that not everyone tows or drives on asphalt only.

If it is dirt we don't go. But that is just us.

[donn0128]

N-Trouble wrote:
3500 = little stiffer ride
2500 = little softer ride

That pretty much sums it up... The only diff is in the rear leaf springs

But, go drive both would be my recommendation. Pin weight will determine which one you'll need.

Did you forget wheels and tires???

[spoon059]

The Denali is a pretty loaded truck, which will eat into your payload. If it were me and I was buying new, I would spend a tiny bit more money and get the 3500.

Just double check your state's registration fees and make sure they aren't ridiculously high for over 10,001 lbs.