Big Truck Big Decision

[mtnrider]

if staying with the gasser, you could carry more wt. but the 3500 is heavier but has the same motor so expect it to feel less powerful than the 2500. also ride a little stiffer.

While I don't have the exact truck weights in front of me the difference will be very minimal (if any at all) between an identically equipt 2500 - 3500. The only difference is one has rear coils the other leaf springs but everything else is the same.

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[mtnrider]

There it is. Thanks for that. I was thinking it would feel a bit less powerful with the added weight, but wasn’t sure based on tuning from the factory. Thanks again.

Fake news, read my reply to his post.

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[Firebird]

I just picked up a 3500 dually Cummins, and the ride quality is surprisingly good! Payload is almost 6000 pounds, and the stability towing is better than anything I have ever owned!

 

[GoBlueRAM]

While I don't have the exact truck weights in front of me the difference will be very minimal (if any at all) between an identically equipt 2500 - 3500. The only difference is one has rear coils the other leaf springs but everything else is the same.

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Interesting. I mean, it is a slightly heavier truck due to at least the rear end, so that has to account for something, right? My PW has a bit of pep as a big truck, I would assume the 3500 would have slightly less in feel, but hey, I could be wrong. Going to test drive one today so we shall see.

 

[GoBlueRAM]

I just picked up a 3500 dually Cummins, and the ride quality is surprisingly good! Payload is almost 6000 pounds, and the stability towing is better than anything I have ever owned!
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Nice. Do you have the auto leveling airbags? I know I'm not getting a dually, but it helps for someone to say that the dually ride is a bit comfy. Many say it's stiff. I remember my dads and uncles RAMS, Fords and GMC's when I was a kid...all of the trucks I've driven now are way more comfortable.

 

[mtnrider]

Interesting. I mean, it is a slightly heavier truck due to at least the rear end, so that has to account for something, right? My PW has a bit of pep as a big truck, I would assume the 3500 would have slightly less in feel, but hey, I could be wrong. Going to test drive one today so we shall see.

2500/3500 are the same frame, same axles, same body, same engines, same every thing except for coil vs leaf in the rear. Your talking ~100lbs difference. Now it may feel stiffer but it is not heavier by any means

Your PW has pep because it has a 4:56 (or 4:10?) rear axle

 

[JayLeonard]

Thanks for this! What al did you have loaded in your bed? What I’ve been thinking may seem like overkill. Again, we may never get a 5th wheel. I do just want to make sure I’m getting the best option for towing our long distances.

I wish the short beds had an option for larger gas tanks like they offer for diesel. That would make the decision so much easier. I’m sure I’ve been overthinking all this for the past few months.

I had probably 500-600 lbs of "stuff" in the bed. Plus the rear seats were filled with clothes, supplies and whatnot for a one month stay in an air B&B.

 

[CalDad14]

I'm in the "not enough payload" boat too!

How old are kids & dog? Not trying to be a downer! But eventually the dog will pass on. Kids will one day leave the nest! That frees up a few hundred pounds of payload!

My 2-cents, I'm out!

 

[GoBlueRAM]

2500/3500 are the same frame, same axles, same body, same engines, same every thing except for coil vs leaf in the rear. Your talking ~100lbs difference. Now it may feel stiffer but it is not heavier by any means

Your PW has pep because it has a 4:56 (or 4:10?) rear axle

4:10 in my rear axle. The 3500's rear axles are supposed to be much beefier according to Ramtrucks.com. Not sure how beefier, but everything even the calibers and breaks are larger as well.

At any rate, that does feel promising that the 3500 will not feel much different than the 2500. Thanks.

 

[GoBlueRAM]

I'm in the "not enough payload" boat too!

How old are kids & dog? Not trying to be a downer! But eventually the dog will pass on. Kids will one day leave the nest! That frees up a few hundred pounds of payload!

My 2-cents, I'm out!

Oh, absolutely. I have three girls, oldest is in 6th, middle is in 4th, and youngest is in 1st. My dog is 6 years old and around 65lbs. The girls aren't going anywhere fast and even when they do, I'll likely downgrade or upgrade trucks (however people like to think of it), but not ever going to a regular cab! LOL

Indeed, we are in this for the long haul, lol.

 

[mtnrider]

4:10 in my rear axle. The 3500's rear axles are supposed to be much beefier according to Ramtrucks.com. Not sure how beefier, but everything even the calibers and breaks are larger as well.

At any rate, that does feel promising that the 3500 will not feel much different than the 2500. Thanks.

They only get bigger on the Dual rear wheel 3500, SRW are the same as a 2500.

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[GoBlueRAM]

They only get bigger on the Dual rear wheel 3500, SRW are the same as a 2500.

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Not following. Where does the much higher payload come from in the 3500, if it has the same axle as the 2500? I'm only talking about and considering SRW, and this is the case.

 

[mtnrider]

Not following. Where does the much higher payload come from in the 3500, if it has the same axle as the 2500? I'm only talking about and considering SRW, and this is the case.

The leaf springs, that is all. I've been driving and owning HD ram trucks for years, they are the same same same except for the heavier duty springs.

Let me put it this way, a 2500 is nothing more then a de-rated 3500.

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[GoBlueRAM]

AHH, got it. Thanks for that clarity.

The leaf springs, that is all. I've been driving and owning HD ram trucks for years, they are the same same same except for the heavier duty springs.

Let me put it this way, a 2500 is nothing more then a de-rated 3500.

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Ahh, got it. Makes total sense why there’s only a few hundred bucks difference with all the same options. Thanks for that clarity.

 

[Firebird]

Nice. Do you have the auto leveling airbags? I know I'm not getting a dually, but it helps for someone to say that the dually ride is a bit comfy. Many say it's stiff. I remember my dads and uncles RAMS, Fords and GMC's when I was a kid...all of the trucks I've driven now are way more comfortable.

I do not have the airbags, but my GRAWR is almost 10,000 pounds, so she can handle decent weight. It handles my bumper pull like it's nothing! The dually is substantially more stable than all of the single wheel trucks I've owned.

 

[OC455]

Thanks! Yes I’ve been doing the searching and research for just over a solid month now. We may never get a 5th wheel. That’s why I’m thinking of just focusing on getting something that’ll tow our current trailer better, ultimately. If we did get one within a few years, it wouldn’t be a huge and heavy one at all.

How’s the mileage per tank for your Hemi? I know it’s different since you have a dually, but figured I’d ask.

On average 13 to 14 MPGs....just driving. I have a heavy foot, so...

 

[OC455]

Interesting. I mean, it is a slightly heavier truck due to at least the rear end, so that has to account for something, right? My PW has a bit of pep as a big truck, I would assume the 3500 would have slightly less in feel, but hey, I could be wrong. Going to test drive one today so we shall see.

Mine is almost 4 tons, and it has plenty of pep...

 

[OC455]

Also, looking at getting a light 5th wheel as well. Narrowed it down to two different models, almost the exact same floorplan aside from one having two slides and the other having one. 8300 dry weight for one and 8990 dry weight for the other. Well within my trucks limits. I have 3.73 gears.

 

[Irishthreeper]

I prefer a better truck than a good enough truck. I currently have a good enough truck if we aren’t loading up.

What year, trim, model do you have with that high payload number? I haven’t seen any crew cabs or mega cabs with that type of payload from trucks that are 2020, my own and above.

My ‘21 2500 is a crew cab, Tradesman with some nice factory upgrades. Has 4.10 rear end and was 5th wheel prepped.

I prefer a better truck than a good enough truck. I currently have a good enough truck if we aren’t loading up.

What year, trim, model do you have with that high payload number? I haven’t seen any crew cabs or mega cabs with that type of payload from trucks that are 2020, my own and above.

I have a ‘21 2500 6.4 Tradesman. 4x4 and 4.10 rear end, 6.4’ bed, crew cab.It came with some nice extras including 5th wheel prep. Ram charts and the data inside my door don’t match totally but are very close

 

[Elkman]

It costs roughly $500 to add a set of SuperSprings to the 2500 truck and turn it into a 3500 truck. In 2013 the 3500 had a stronger frame but in 2014 the 2500 frame was upgraded. I have hauled 4,000 lbs with my 2500 truck that came from the factory with a 2800 lb payload rating. It took one hour to install the double leaf set of SuperSprings and the ride was not changed and the truck was still level (with an without the 4,000 lbs in the bed). No need for airbags and a compressor and nothing to maintain or ever need to replace in the future.

Where a 3500 is better is with a greater than 4,000 lb load on the rear wheels as it is easier for the factory to put in a DRW axle and add two more wheels to gain 6,000 lbs in tire load capacity.