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Ram 3500 SRW daily driver?

camp-n-family
Explorer
Explorer
Anybody using a Ram 3500 diesel that can shed some light on driving it as a daily driver? I have a 2500 hemi now that drives comfortably enough. As far as I know the only difference is the extra overload springs. They won't engage unless loaded so I'm assuming the unloaded ride should be similar as my current truck?

The dealers have been calling with trade offers which I usually ignore but the latest is an offer I'd be stupid to refuse. I was planning on another Ram 2500 as I don't need a 1 ton truck but when I price out the same truck in a 3500 series it is only $400 more. Seems crazy. What am I missing?
'17 Ram 2500 Crewcab Laramie CTD
'13 Keystone Bullet Premier 310BHPR
Hitched by Hensley
77 REPLIES 77

ib516
Explorer II
Explorer II
Bionic Man wrote:
You won't notice any difference from your 2500.

With all due respect, there's a big difference now after 2014 when the 2500 got the coil spring rear....like night and day difference between the two. The small bumps are way sharper/harsher in the 3500.
Prev: 2010 Cougar 322QBS (junk)
02 Dodge 2500 4x4 5.9L CTD 3.55
07 Dodge 3500 4x4 SRW Mega 5.9L CTD 3.73
14 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4L Hemi 4.10
06 Chevy 1500 4x4 E-Cab 3.73 5.3L
07 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi 3.55 / 2010 Jayco 17z
All above are sold, no longer own an RV

ib516
Explorer II
Explorer II
I had a 2014 2500 Hemi, good friend has a 2014 3500 SRW Cummins. Same trucks (4x4, crew cab, short bed), even had the same tires. The ride quality was very different. His was way more harsh.
Prev: 2010 Cougar 322QBS (junk)
02 Dodge 2500 4x4 5.9L CTD 3.55
07 Dodge 3500 4x4 SRW Mega 5.9L CTD 3.73
14 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4L Hemi 4.10
06 Chevy 1500 4x4 E-Cab 3.73 5.3L
07 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi 3.55 / 2010 Jayco 17z
All above are sold, no longer own an RV

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
donn0128 wrote:
Use the EB all the time, lock it out of OD in town and below about 45 MPH and it should work just fine.


Use TH to make EB work like it should.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

IdaD
Explorer
Explorer
camp-n-family wrote:
Greene728 wrote:
I drive a 2015 SRW 3500 Cummins as a DD. Difference is the 2500 has the coil set up and the 3500 still uses leaf springs.


Thanks for this. All I had in my head was the overload springs which is the case between most hd trucks. I had totally forgotten about my coil spring setup. The difference in ride must be noticeably different? Time for a test drive I thinks.


The coils ride and handle noticeably better, part of that is probably the sway bar. The tradeoff is 500 lbs less carrying capacity on the rear axle, unless you supplement with bags or timbrens.
2015 Cummins Ram 4wd CC/SB

spoon059
Explorer II
Explorer II
donn0128 wrote:
Use the EB all the time, lock it out of OD in town and below about 45 MPH and it should work just fine.
If you use T/H mode, it will refrain from lugging or trying to constantly shift up to 6th when you are putting along. Added benefit of more aggressive exhaust braking when you are trying to stop.
2015 Ram CTD
2015 Jayco 29QBS

408f150
Explorer
Explorer
If you're worried about the ride just get some Carli or Thuren springs, will make an enormous difference. They're just a bit softer so if you tow 8k+ you'd probably want airbags to compensate for the softer spring rate when you're towing
2016 Ram 3500 Outdoorsman 4x4 6.7 CTD
2016 Keystone Raptor 352TS

donn0128
Explorer II
Explorer II
Use the EB all the time, lock it out of OD in town and below about 45 MPH and it should work just fine.

camp-n-family
Explorer
Explorer
wing_zealot wrote:
Do you have to park in any parking decks?


Nope, live out in a small country community. Drive about 28kms each way to work. I don't think the 3500 is any taller than my 2500 is it?
'17 Ram 2500 Crewcab Laramie CTD
'13 Keystone Bullet Premier 310BHPR
Hitched by Hensley

camp-n-family
Explorer
Explorer
Greene728 wrote:
I drive a 2015 SRW 3500 Cummins as a DD. Difference is the 2500 has the coil set up and the 3500 still uses leaf springs.


Thanks for this. All I had in my head was the overload springs which is the case between most hd trucks. I had totally forgotten about my coil spring setup. The difference in ride must be noticeably different? Time for a test drive I thinks.
'17 Ram 2500 Crewcab Laramie CTD
'13 Keystone Bullet Premier 310BHPR
Hitched by Hensley

wing_zealot
Explorer
Explorer
Do you have to park in any parking decks?

Me_Again
Explorer II
Explorer II
The 3500 SRW RAM with Aisin is boss. Cruises bobtail at 80 MPH at 1750 RPM and pulls my 24500 combined weight extremely well. I have to use cruise control to keep from speeding, as it cruise along in quiet comfort without any feeling of pushing it to go fast.

Letting the rear tires down to 45ish makes in ride well empty.

Chris
2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021

Wild_Card
Explorer
Explorer
Get it with the factory air ride.

My 15 Dually is my DD
2015 Ram 3500 Dually
Sundowner 2286GM Pro-Grade Toyhauler

Bionic_Man
Explorer
Explorer
You won't notice any difference from your 2500.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Drive a 2007 3500 SRW Long Bed since Nov 2006

It is a 1 ton truck therefore it drives like a truck


Won't change a thing
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

Winnebago_Bob
Explorer
Explorer
Yes. 2015 SRW 3500 4X4 Supercab.
2017 Winnebago Aspect 27K