2500 vs. 3500srw ride?

[snapper]

I have owned both vehicles you have mentioned. The 3500 does ride stiffer and is more noticeable over bumps and expansion stripes on the highway. This is when the truck is empty or little weight in the bed. If your 5th wheel has that much hitch weight you don’t have a pick. That weight is over the payload of a 2500 with a Diesel engine. A gas motor can carry more weight in payload based on the lighter motor and other diesel parts on the truck. I would say the 3500 ride quality is not as bad as one would think. Say safe and get the 3500 it does make a difference in driving comfort when towing and definitely does better with squat and sway control.

 

[calkid]

Went from a 2015 2500 4x4 Cummins to a 2021 3500 4x4 Cummins (H.O/Aisin). The ride of the 3500 is very comparable to the 2500, nothing else is near the same. The 2500 came with 3:42? gears and the 3500 has 3:73. The H.O. Cummins is a beast compared to the 800ft# 2500 and there really isn't a fair comparison. I got 220k out of the factory 68RFE on the 2500 with no issues. The Aisin is a different animal altogether, it's a true medium duty trans and drives accordingly. If you haven't driven anything with a similar trans it may take some getting used to. It has a very deep 1st gear and sometimes needs a second to decide which gear to give you during decelerate then accelerate at slower speeds. I'm an old truck guy and don't mind the workings of a HD trans, just think of the heat generated with all the shifting of a 10 speed trans. Happy to answer any questions not addressed above between the two trucks.

 

[yoda]

What kind of issues? The same as the ones before prior to the revised parts?

Yes, I think the valves in the compressor freeze.
In theory there should be no moisture in the system as they are filled with nitrogen. The dumb part is they will use outside air if the nitrogen level drops as in a slow leak.
I think they did this to reduce warranty expense to hide very small leaks. Most people are never the wiser, unless you live in a cold climate.
Or the extreme cold creates small leaks at plastic lines to oring connections. So system makes it up with outside air causing freeze up.
The revised compressors are supposed to have improved internals to reduce freeze ups but that doesn’t address how moisture is getting in the system to begin with.
I have added a couple ounces of air brake antifreeze when recharging when customers are out of warranty, seems to really help, but hard to know for sure.
I have no proof of all of this, just my theory

 

[yoda]

Also I use the A/C machine to evacuate the system and put a vacuum in the system to to help boil off any moisture in the system before recharging with 2 ounces of air break ant freeze and recharge with fresh nitrogen, the compressor supposedly has a desiccant in it to absorb moisture

 

[Moose2]

Has anyone owned both? I am very impressed with my 2500's coil spring ride & the ability to haul heavy loads. I have about 2,200lbs. of pin weight from my 5vr plus a good amount of wood in it & it takes it down about 2" in the back (basically level). I am thinking of upgrading to a 3500 HO srw. Am I going to hate the ride quality?

I have owned both as well as a 2001 3500 c&c. 17 2500 definitely rides better than the 21. 3500 cc,lb, dually with factory air. Interesting to note, the 01 rode better than both the newer ones, but that’s not really a fair comparison because the 01 has a 12’ stake bed on it and GVWR is 11k on it. Although the 17 was a 10k truck and the 21 is a 14k truck. That said, I bought a truck, knowing it was a truck and the ride is what it is. Speed bumps still are harsh, as well as potholes and such. I tow a 16k 5er, started with the 2500 with aftermarket bags and truck pulled it well, even with pin weight in neighborhood of 3100. I had upgraded tire on truck to give me a bigger margin of safety. Went to the 3500drw, because I found it and like the better manners of a drw towing vs any srw, when towing heavier stuff. 2500 cc so was way easier to find parking for, but oh well.