I have been reading some posts about 2500 v.s. 3500 and looking for the answer to this question my fishing bud and I are throwing back and forth. To solve some time, I will paste some info from this forum into my question and wait for your answers. Hope you guys can settle this arguement for us once and for all.

Here’s the deal...we have a long on-going arguement about a 3/4 ton v.s. 1 ton Dodge diesel. (2500 v.s. 3500)

Say you need to pull more weight with a Dodge 2500 Cummins. So why should you buy the 3500 diesel instead of just modifying a 2500?


Some info:
The 2500 and the 3500 are identical mechanically, except the 3500 has the two overload springs on the rear. Same axles, same springs, same shocks, same engine, same transmission.

The 3500 duallys have the two extra rear wheels which increases their GVWR up to 12,200 lbs. because of the extra tire capacity. It has nothing to do with the truck frame or springs.

The GVWR on the SWR 2500 is 9000 lbs. The SWR 3500 is increased up to 9,900 lbs. due to the two extra overload springs.

All the trucks are RATED to pull the same weight (GCWR) based on the axle gear ratio. It is 21,000 lbs. for the 3:73 gears and 23,000 lbs. for the 4:10 gears. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dually, 2500, or whatever. That is the rating for truck and trailer. The dually will offer better stability and allow you to add more cargo weight in the truck box (such as a heavy 5th tongue weight.)

Can you settle this question for us?

“Will a 2500 dually with the two added overload springs haul as much as the 3500 dually? “

Inquiring, but tired, minds want to know.

 

Yes. As safely? No.

The extra wheels in the back help stabilize the load. Both while cruising, and while braking. With ALOT of weight behind the truck, you dont want to hit the brakes and have the trailer push your truck sideways into a jackknife. Alot easier to do on a single wheel truck than a dually.

 

He said 2500 dually!

yes it will do the same exact thing if you use a dually rear Im to to sure if wheel spacers to make it a dually will handle the load over time

 

I was under the impression that the 2nd gen 2500s srw with the overloads sway bar and the whole ball of wax was in a sence the new 3rd gen srw 3500? Am I wrong about this???

 

Jeez. the difference at the dealer between a 2500 and a 3500 was $150.00.

You and I know that the only difference is the overload springs in the rear.

My advice is:

Add a leaf and pray not to get pulled over for overweight.

Rick

 

Depends what you're pulling. 5th wheel RVs put as much as 20% or more of their GVW onto the truck as pin weight. The 2500 will run out of GVWR before it comes close to its GCWR or fictitious manufacturer's "trailer tow rating."

Yes, a homemade 2500 dually would pull it, but it doesn't change the GVWR tag on the driver's door post.

Rusty

 

Thanks a lot, fellows. I figured it would have more to do with the stickers than mechanics. This would probably be an issue if we were ever in a weight-related accident with the 2500 rather than the 3500. Just wish they wouldn't put those clearance lights on the 3500's.

 

If you build your homemade 2500 dually, you'll have to have them as well because of the increased vehicle width.

Rusty

 

Thanks, Rusty...I didn't know about the extra width requirement on those running lights. Makes sense now...like most things after you ask! I am not the brightest bulb on the tree.


Could someone explain......What are the main reasons the 3500 is made, anyway?

 

The 3500 DRW truck has a substantially higher GVWR which allows it to tow 5th wheels and goosenecks that have high pin loads relative to the hitch weight of a "bumper pull" trailer without exceeding the truck's GVWR or rear GAWR.

The dual rear wheels provide additional load carrying capacity and (although this will be debated) stability as opposed to a stock 2500 or SRW 3500.

Rusty

 

the 3500 DRW has a Dana 80 rear and i'm pretty sure the 2500 has a Dana 70 rear which are rated different as far as load capacity goes.
If you were to swap a 3500 DRW rear & springs into your 2500 it should be the same.

 

The following is a quote from 'behindtheeightball' on a different forum. I believe his report has some good points. What say you?

"Those that own a 3500 and say that the sticker makes for the big difference as far as legality of load carrying limits go, have a certain validity to what they are saying. Otherwise, It looks like a 2500 ram can be made into a clone of a factory 3500 via factory helper springs, with the loss of the cab running lights, and tail-gate brake light. They both have the American Axle 11.5, same 48 Re or Daimler manual......Looks like the extra cost of the 3500 single rear tire model is for the helper springs basically and lights."

 

2500 autos have a D70, manual tranny 2500 and all 3500 trucks have the D80.

And a dually is more stabe with a trailer, I have never heard any argure that they aren't. Plus the added safety margin if you have a tire failure in the rear while towing.

One member on here (Northslope I'm pretty sure) towed to Alaska (guessing the slope) grossing around 40K with a SWR, they are capable of toing major weight.

 

Not me I just live in rainy wet Juneau! One day I'll drive up there when I make more money!

PS the 3500's have wider brake shoes also, you'll only notice when trying to stop a hhheeeaaavvvyyy load. Juneau has a number of various makes of 3/4 ton trucks running around with the dually adapters to achieve the duallie status. If you got drum brakes in the back I'd feel safe running duals on a regualr 2500 axle providing they had the bigger gm wheel cylinders for increased stopping power. If they were disc what the heck load'er up!

 

the whole time i didnt see the one word in the sentence at the end.