By comparison of the2500 vs 1500

Here is my comparison of the new 2016 Ram 2500 cc. towing my trailer vs my old 2015 Ram Hemi 5.7 1500 cc. Let me start: My 1500 had plenty of power to pull my trailer which weighed in at 7300 pounds loaded and 35 ' in total length. When I did pull the trailer, with the 1500, I was near the payload load limit, my rear axle limit and near the GCVR limit of 13800lbs. Once I was at 14200lbs carrying water in the tank. I did not feel comfortable going over 60 mph pulling my trailer with the 1500 and usually I stayed between 55 and 60. My mpg varied between 7.4 to 9 mpg. The RPMs on some hills and bridges jumped up to 3500 RPMs.
The 2500 with the Cummings engine also had plenty enough power. I was impressed that the RPMs even when climbing hills and bridges stayed below 2000 RPMs. It was no problem to drive 65 mph pulling this trailer with the 2500 and there were a few times when passing I hit 72 - 73 mph and never felt uncomfortable doing it. The mpg hovered around 12 mpg between 60 and 68 mph. The sweet spot was at 63 to 64 mph and I got 12.4 MPG. The route that I drove was from the Rio Grande Valley in Southeast Texas to Brunswick Georgia which is south east coastal Georgia.

Nice comparison !

Very informative. Thank you. Although I just got my 1500, I have a feeling that I'll be moving to a 2500 just for comfort level while pulling a load.


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Where in Brunswick? We will be staying at Coastal Georgia RV park on our way home from Florida in a couple weeks.

spoon059 said:

Where in Brunswick? We will be staying at Coastal Georgia RV park on our way home from Florida in a couple weeks.

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We are parked at our hime church for a few days. We will be headed back to Texas next week. Where is Coastal GA RV park? I know there is a campground on Blythe Island Island Georgia and and there was one on Jekyll Island Georgia

Good comparison

One item to note...your 2500 has a Cummins engine, not a Cummings

I forgot to mention the reason why I went with the Cummins instead of the 6.4 hemi was because my 1500 was my daily driver and now the 2500 is my daily driver so between pulling the trailer and driving daily the Cummins in the long run, I feel, would be the better value than the hemi 6.4. I get about the same mpg in the Cummins that I got in my hemi 5.7.

MADDOG said:

Good comparison

One item to note...your 2500 has a Cummins engine, not a Cummings

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I forgot to correct it when I checked over everything I am using voice activation software

TruckNoob said:

Very informative. Thank you. Although I just got my 1500, I have a feeling that I'll be moving to a 2500 just for comfort level while pulling a load.


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Yep, been there done that. Exactly what i just did with my 15, 1500 Silverado. My Chevy pulled my current tt just fine, but we're looking at bigger units, 7500 gvwr and over 29 feet long and i felt that would have been pushing the limits of my Silverado. The trade up to my 17, 2500hd was the best move for me. I love the 2500 and can tell it'll tow my current rig and planned next one very well

muzupan said:

Where is Coastal GA RV park? I know there is a campground on Blythe Island Island Georgia and and there was one on Jekyll Island Georgia

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It is literally right off of I95, I think at exit 29 in Georgia, right at Jekyll Island. We are going to Florida for vacation, but couldn't get an RV spot at our destination, so we are leaving the trailer in Brunswick for storage while we head further south. Coastal GA RV is literally right across the street from storage place, so we decided we would stay a night and explore Jekyll Island a little bit, then head to Charleston the next day.

spoon059 said:

It is literally right off of I95, I think at exit 29 in Georgia, right at Jekyll Island. We are going to Florida for vacation, but couldn't get an RV spot at our destination, so we are leaving the trailer in Brunswick for storage while we head further south. Coastal GA RV is literally right across the street from storage place, so we decided we would stay a night and explore Jekyll Island a little bit, then head to Charleston the next day.

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Ot has been a few years since I have been on Jekyll, millionaires village is there. Check out St. Simmons, too. There is a lot to see there. There is a lot in the Savannah area if tou have been there.

If you haven't replaced they stock tires on your trailer, they are rated for 65 mph. Every time you go over, you get them closer to being may-pops. A trailer tire blowout can cause lots of damage, and would probably get ugly in a rig that big.


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NewBlackDak said:

If you haven't replaced they stock tires on your trailer, they are rated for 65 mph. Every time you go over, you get them closer to being may-pops. A trailer tire blowout can cause lots of damage, and would probably get ugly in a rig that big.


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Believe it or not my stock tires on my travel trailer or rated for 75 mph. I will not travel that fast continually with them, I like to keep it about 65.

muzupan said:

Believe it or not my stock tires on my travel trailer or rated for 75 mph. I will not travel that fast continually with them, I like to keep it about 65.

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I look at the tires on my Denali and they are rated 75 mph also, I was very surprise.

Fellow RGV guy, good deal going to a 2500 from a 1500.

WAY better for towing.

Arctic-Rodz said:

Fellow RGV guy, good deal going to a 2500 from a 1500.

WAY better for towing.

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Hey RGV! I live in Willacy Co out side of Lyford what part of the valley are you in?

32' Kodiak tires are rated at 75mph also. looking to switch to a 2500 cummins in the near future

They probably got smart realizing most people do the speed they want not the speed the tires are rated for

Trailer tires have improved in the last few years for sure. My 1500 pulls my 24' 6000 lb trailer so perfectly, I couldn't imagine anything better. However, my next trailer will be larger. I think I can push it to about 30' and 7500 lbs and still be comfortable if I set my 1500 up right.

@BILLYW that much wait will cause some squat have you looked at the airlift 1000's?