Hemi Vs Cummins for slide in camper

My wife and I purchased a slide in camper last year and I am looking to trade in my 15 Silverado 1500 for something more capable. I currently have 1713lbs payload capacity on my LTZ double cab. Camper dry weight is 1350, and wet weight is about 1600 or so. I figure another 600lbs in people, dogs, food and toys, so I am running about 2200lbs or so on any given trip. Obviously a bit above my stated capacity.

This is also my daily driver. ~90mi daily work commute, and a fair amount of going downtown, shopping, etc. as well as unloaded trips into the mountains for biking, skiing, hiking, etc.

I am looking at all options (Ram, Ford, GM). In a perfect world I would stay with a 1/2 ton truck given my daily driving needs, but it just doesn't seem realistic. Despite marketing claims made by all three about max payload on 1/2 ton being in the 2500-3000 range, in reality door stickers show much much lower. Ford f150 with hddp package will get you to 2400 or so but is only available on their lowest trim levels (no leather = deal breaker).

So, here I am looking at 3/4 ton - 1ton options. I would prefer to stay at 3/4 for comfort/ride quality/size/weight concerns (daily driver), and the Ram seems to offer the best option here.

Question 1:
I test drove a Cummins yesterday and it has a door sticker payload rating of only 2020lbs (only 300lbs more than my Silverado). The Hemi is getting MUCH higher payload capacity ratings (~800lbs) than the Cummins, but I cannot understand why. Cummins has like 500lbs more torque. Why is this?

Question 2:
I can build and price a 2500 with the 4.10 rear, but the guy at the dealership says they can only do 3.73 in the 2500, who is right?

Question 3:
I never tow anything, only interesting in hauling payload. What should I get? I live in CO, so lots of mountain driving. (I created a poll for this question)

Cummins is heavier and has more components. The added weight gets deducted reducing total payload

Payload is calculated by taking GVWR - curb weight. On a 2500 that would be 10,000 - 7027 (my 2500 Hemi) = 2973 payload. It isn't about the power, but rather the suspension, brakes, etc. And 10,000 is the limit. In my opinion a 2500 Cummins is out of the question. You will be very close to max. So either a 3500 Cummins or 2500 Hemi

Welcome to RamForum. For what it's worth, I agree with the two posts above.

Wouldn't the turbo be a lot better a mile high?

Concur with these guys.

You said it's also your daily driver. How much you use it loaded determines if you should go diesel. I part-time with my loads, so went 2500 Hemi 6.4. No regrets.

If I went full time or heavier loads, I would have gone 3500 diesel.

Pretty simple decision, actually, if you know how you plan to use it.

Just to add to my post above cause i was typing in a hurry...with a 2500 Cummins you will be real close to max. Maybe you are under but what if you decide down the road you need to tow a trailer on these trips? Firewood, ATV, etc? Now you will be overloaded with the added tongue weight. No sense in spending that kind of money then realizing a year later you need more truck because your needs changed. A 2500 Hemi will get you around 3000lbs payload which will be plenty based on what you mentioned and have room for small trailer, etc. A 3500 Cummins will also get you added payload but I do not know how much. Someone else will have to chime in on that

For reference...the two 3500 Limited with 6.7L had payload of 3800 - 4100 lbs

go to the dealer website, grab the VIN of the truck and put it in here...

Ram Towing Capacity | Towing & Payload Capacity Guide (ramtrucks.com)

click Look up my vehicle and drop in the VIN.

Get a good number for your payload and do the above and see what overhead you have, or how much over you will be

3500 DRW w/Cummins........more stable much more usable payload....increased options for very nice slide in camper.....no camper out of reach....

Truck camper questions always get my attention. We traveled using one for years. My comments don't apply to the truck so much as it does the camper.
You don't say if you already have it or not.
I was always amazed at the size and weight of truck campers I met while on the road.
Sooo many were way too much for the truck they were on. And, what amazes me further is the camper dealers who will gladly set their product on a truck that is not suitable. Some of the campers even have slides!! Translate that to added weight.
Unless your going for a light weight pop up IMO there is not any 1/2 ton truck that should be hauling a full size camper. I realize that is not what OP is attempting but just use it as an illustration.
In another thread people were talking of when hauling an RV trailer , relating it to having a huge sail behind them. That is a VERY big thing with truck campers. Plus you get the wind caught between the cab of the truck and the camper overhang. And don't forget all the "STUFF" you will add to the camper.
Point I am making is be very honest with yourself as to what you will need to meet your needs. With the diesel you will also get the engine brake. Braking seemed to be another area some of the truck campers i run across were oblivious too. Not to mention when you don't have any more room in the camper for the "STUFF". you will have the torque to tow a small cargo trailer to carry it all.
Now I will make one comment specific to the truck which will get me in trouble. Hold on a second while I put my flame suit on.
Whatever you get, make it 2WD unless you have a very big need for 4WD when not RV'ing.
If the camper is a monster 8 feet or over, I vote 3500, regular cab, 8 foot bed, 2WD Cummins.

Edit: Sorry my bad! You did give the weight of your camper.
I still like the idea of the Cummins though.

Thanks for the rapid feedback everyone.

Some clarifications:

• Yep, already have the camper, its a very lightweight (all things considered) hard side made by Travel Lite. Done 6 or so big trips with it already. Fits in my 6.5' bed with the tailgate closed.
• My 1500 does surprisingly well with it, even being over 600lbs above stated capacity. I put the Roadmaster active suspension on and it is a game changer. I am very aware this is a recipe for disaster long term though, hence the shopping.
• DWR is a no go, no way I'm going around town in that beast
• I have a friend in a 3500 cummins SWR with a huge (~3500lb?) slide in camper and it handles it like a champ. He is in the process of adding an $8k suspension upgrade though due to harsh ride quality unloaded. not really what i want to do after spending $80k on a truck. Also not his daily driver so he can manage living in town with it.
• We do 6-12 camping trips a year ranging from a single overnight to a week longs. Lots of trips to Moab and such so a good deal of off roading involved here as well. I do about 23k a year, and I would say 4k of that is camping trips. so vast majority is unloaded miles.

@Farmer Fran Thanks for that, I have been doing exactly what you recommended, and that's what prompted my initial questions - just couldn't understand why the diesel with sooo much more torque had way less payload capacity.

So, it's looking like 2500 Hemi for me. Everyone says not to focus on MPG, but it will hurt going from 19 on average (tracked over 93k miles) to 12-15 as is reported often on the Hemi helluva lot more truck tho

Sounds to me like you are on the borderline between gas & diesel.

How many miles you put on a year? Last time I calculated diesel cost premium payback (from purely financial perspective) it was app. 150,000 miles. May be even higher now with all the exhaust emission crap on it.

HEMIMANN said:

Sounds to me like you are on the borderline between gas & diesel.

How many miles you put on a year? Last time I calculated diesel cost premium payback (from purely financial perspective) it was app. 150,000 miles. May be even higher now with all the exhaust emission crap on it.

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~23k

For a slide in camper you need a 3500. A 2500 with coil springs regardless of engine is going to have too much body roll.

As far as engine choice, either will work and each has it pro's and cons, Gas will be the answer on this forum but if you are interested in a Diesel go to a cummins forum and ask your questions on that engine there (not here)

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mtnrider said:

For a slide in camper you need a 3500. A 2500 with coil springs regardless of engine is going to have too much body roll.

As far as engine choice, either will work and each has it pro's and cons, Gas will be the answer on this forum but if you are interested in a Diesel go to a cummins forum and ask your questions on that engine there (not here)

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Yes. This. I went through this with mine. Although, after installing air bags and stiffer shocks it hauls great but before that it was nothing short of terrifying. If you go 2500 be ready to upgrade your suspension. If you look at my posts you'll see a big write up I did on my experiences.

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Just to clarify what they just said above, 2500 has coil spring rear suspension and 3500 has leaf spring.

As you can tell in my little avatar, I have a dually (6.4L Hemi)...and for a 1Ton it isn't that bad of a ride empty. With your camper in it, it would ride like a dream.

I had to get building supplies for the homestead, 12 sheets of 8ft drywall, 20 2x4's and some other odds and ends, and that "little" bit of weight made my truck ride real smooth. Don't disregard a 3500. Yes, their ride is not as nice as a 1500, but it isn't bad. It's not as harsh as you would think.

I have both a camper (dry weight around 1900 lbs), and a 3500 SRW Hemi on order. Really wanted to get by with a 2500, but after much research, including the rear springs vs leaf springs, I decided to play it safe and go with the 3500.I plan on keeping my car when my new truck arrives though, so don't plan on it being my daily driver.

6.4LMegaMan said:

Yes. This. I went through this with mine. Although, after installing air bags and stiffer shocks it hauls great but before that it was nothing short of terrifying. If you go 2500 be ready to upgrade your suspension. If you look at my posts you'll see a big write up I did on my experiences.

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I am fully expecting to add airbags or some other solution, probably even if I got 3500. I have the Roadmaster on my Silverado and it's awesome but obviously not an option with rear coils. I read through your posts, and it seems like the Timber Grove bags did the trick? still happy with them? What PSI you running when empty?

I was also considering the Fox or Bilstein shock upgrades for my 1500 but now looking for whole new truck . from my research Bilstein is better than Fox for our needs. If i got a PW then maybe Fox, but for payload/towing Bilsteins. You happy with them still?

Just get the 3500 SWD with the Hemi and 4.10s. Payload will be above 3k and should handle it fine.