1500 vs 2500

[jgraz82]

Within the next few months I will be in the market for a truck and I would like to get a Ram. I am a little torn however on which model to get. In the next few years I will be purchasing two horses and a camper(probably just a little popup). In terms of towing, would the 1500 be suffcient to tow these? I know they are grossed for a little over 10,000lbs with the 5.7. Just looking to pick some brains here and see what you guys have had issues with....

Thanks...

 

[Ratket]

in the end u will have to drive both and see witch one u like more. I love my 6.4 2500

 

[h2oman]

If you are going to have horses and do ranch style work you're gonna be glad you got a 2500. Really glad.

 

[mtofell]

If you have to ask you should get the 2500

I drove 1/2 tons for years and cringed every time I had to tow or haul something more than a mattress set. The pop-up would be fine with a 1/2 ton. Horses? I'm thinking that's 3/4 ton territory. It really just depends what you need the truck to do. One thing you'll never read on a message board is a guy complaining he had too much truck for a job.

The only downside with the 3/4 ton is the ride is noticeably more stiff/harsh. My 2500 with the coil springs rides the best of any 3/4 ton I've ever been in but it's still a lot rougher than a 1/2 ton.

 

[jgraz82]

Thanks for the info. The stiffness is something I've read about which is why Id be hesitant to buy the 2500. The horses will be stabled and they wouldnt be something I'd be towing daily. I guess it's a good tough decision to have. Haha

 

[Bigdaddy]

I agree with mtofell and others here, on the 1500 even thought it have the ability to tow 10,000 you will find that you will be over your payload before you will get to the towing rating. The coil spring is really not bad at all and I think that you need to go and test drive one. You can install airbag in but still you might be over your payload first. Welcome to RF.

 

[PippinAin'tEasy]

If I had the chance to do it again I'd go CC 2500 with the 5.7. Plenty of horses, plenty of spine. Welcome to RF and happy shopping.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk

 

[Andy578]

1500 will pull horses fine but you're really better off with a 2500 for that

 

[NYCruiser]

The problem in NY is they make me get commercial plates on a 2500 because of the GVWR otherwise I'd have one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[loveracing1988]

The problem in NY is they make me get commercial plates on a 2500 because of the GVWR otherwise I'd have one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

At what weight does that start?

 

[14hemiexpress]

I would love to have a 2500 I just don't need one. its hard to tell you one way or another because you don't really give a lot of specifics. Techiclly a smaller bumper pull 2 horse trailer is no more than 3k empty and a medium sized horse weighs 1200 ish so call is 2500lbs in horses your at 5500 lbs for gross weight Thats a 1500 in my mind. I see 1/2 all day long pulling 2 horse trailers here in Texas. More specifics will help anwser your question beter. What has already been stated but you really have to think about is what kind of payload do you need? That's were most mistakes are made. You get a half ton have a 700lb hitch weight and your family in the truck at 5-600lbs if your like me plus luggage throw some hay and stuff you need in the back and your over weight on the truck so fast it'll make your head spin. I like my 1500 it rides like a damn car and I can pull anything I need, once The wife and I can get our acreage and horses I will be investing in a 1ton at that point but that's just a distant dream right now.

Just to sum that up if you want the 2500 get it you won't regret it. If you don't want that much truck by picking the right trailer and being smart about how you load it you can make a 1500 work just fine.

 

[regularcab2500]

At what weight does that start?

I think it starts at 6000lbs because in ny a mega cab 1/2 ton needs commercial plates...my single cab is commercial

Im always one for overkill when it comes to truck stuff but regardless i think the horse trailer is more 2500 range simply because the payload on the 1500 will be eaten up with passengers and tongue weight so you wont have much room for anything else..not to mention it will be sagging...a lot...the 2500 does pretty good on gas and even my single cab rides pretty smooth for a HD with 3600# of payload plus you wont feel the trailers back there much if at all..

Happy shopping

 

[NYCruiser]

At what weight does that start?

I actually just checked the rules on the NY DMV web page, and it says a pickup can have passenger plates only if the Unladen Weight is under 5500lbs.

 

[jgraz82]

Thanks for the post. I would love to give more specifics however I don't have them. Ha. I am new to the truck and towing game so Im just here picking brains. I always have had cars and I know I'm a little hesitant to give up the comfort because like I said it will do more driving without towing than with. I just don't want to not have enough power when it comes time to tow. So if I am reading your post correct, (Again, new to towing) the biggest key to any towing is making sure that you have right kind of hitch setup? Also when towing do the numbers that are calculated on the total it can tow also include whatever you have in bed of truck along with the cab? Or is it just whats behind the truck? Thanks again guys...

I would love to have a 2500 I just don't need one. its hard to tell you one way or another because you don't really give a lot of specifics. Techiclly a smaller bumper pull 2 horse trailer is no more than 3k empty and a medium sized horse weighs 1200 ish so call is 2500lbs in horses your at 5500 lbs for gross weight Thats a 1500 in my mind. I see 1/2 all day long pulling 2 horse trailers here in Texas. More specifics will help anwser your question beter. What has already been stated but you really have to think about is what kind of payload do you need? That's were most mistakes are made. You get a half ton have a 700lb hitch weight and your family in the truck at 5-600lbs if your like me plus luggage throw some hay and stuff you need in the back and your over weight on the truck so fast it'll make your head spin. I like my 1500 it rides like a damn car and I can pull anything I need, once The wife and I can get our acreage and horses I will be investing in a 1ton at that point but that's just a distant dream right now.

Just to sum that up if you want the 2500 get it you won't regret it. If you don't want that much truck by picking the right trailer and being smart about how you load it you can make a 1500 work just fine.

 

[regularcab2500]

Payload is the number you should worry about. A trucks tow rating is pretty much an imaginary made up number to represent what a company thinks their truck is capable of towing safely at most..but the payload is hindered by passengers, any gear and tounge weight of the trailer. Thats why several have suggested the 3/4 ton because it will easily handle what you need it to and durability will not be a factor. Sure a 1500 can tow 10k# but things like headwind and sidewind could make things sketchy..

 

[14hemiexpress]

Thanks for the post. I would love to give more specifics however I don't have them. Ha. I am new to the truck and towing game so Im just here picking brains. I always have had cars and I know I'm a little hesitant to give up the comfort because like I said it will do more driving without towing than with. I just don't want to not have enough power when it comes time to tow. So if I am reading your post correct, (Again, new to towing) the biggest key to any towing is making sure that you have right kind of hitch setup? Also when towing do the numbers that are calculated on the total it can tow also include whatever you have in bed of truck along with the cab? Or is it just whats behind the truck? Thanks again guys...

Basically. The 5.7 will be plenty of power to pull your setup. What you have to watch for will be the payload capacity. Payload will be the difference in what your truck weighs vs the gvw. Normaly the 1500 will have 14-1600lbs worth of payload capacity depending on the model and 2wd vs 4wd. The payload is everything you put in your truck not just in the bed, so you have to include people, tools, dogs, luggage and the weight that the trailer adds known as hitch weight. The 2500 trucks with the gas engine has around 34-3500 lbs of payload witch is a lot more making it over kill witch is nice not to have to worry if your over loading your truck. With a 17-18ft 2 horse trailer your looking at no more than 7000lbs. Just from a guessing aspect you'll have 6-700 lbs hitch weight leaving you with 7-800lbs worth of cargo in a 1/2 ton witch seems like a lot but it goes away fast ( 4 grown men at 200lbs each is 800) but is completely doable. The biggest key to wether or not a half ton will work for you is what will the hitch weight be. It's hard to calculated on a live stock trailer because the animals move always changing the weight.

Edit: I will add any truck you buy do yourself a favor and get the oem electric brake controller thrown in.

 

[jgraz82]

Solid info guys....Thank you.

 

[DannyMK2]

I actually just checked the rules on the NY DMV web page, and it says a pickup can have passenger plates only if the Unladen Weight is under 5500lbs.

if you have a cover on the bed, you can have passenger plates as well.


trying to figure out whether you need a 1500 or 2500 when you dont know exactly what you will be towing is going to be difficult. there are plenty of 2 horse trailers what are well within the weight limits of a 1500 truck. but there are also other factors to consider such as is your truck going to be fully loaded with people and gear as well? that could easily put you over your limits. its always better to have more truck and not need it then to have too small of a truck. but if your years away from actually needing it and have no other use for a 2500, i would buy the 1500. who knows, by the time you need it you might want a newer truck anyway.

 

[NYCruiser]

if you have a cover on the bed, you can have passenger plates as well.

That's the way it used to be, but not anymore. You don't need a cover on the bed to get passenger plates as long as the unladen weight is under 5,500. If the truck weighs over 5,500 unladen, having a cap doesn't matter anymore.

http://dmv.ny.gov/registration/register-pick-truck-passenger-class-vehicle

 

[14hemiexpress]

That's the way it used to be, but not anymore. You don't need a cover on the bed to get passenger plates as long as the unladen weight is under 5,500. If the truck weighs over 5,500 unladen, having a cap doesn't matter anymore.

That's crazy... A 1/2 crew cab 4wd almost 5500lbs...