I am about to buy an '06 2500 quad cab. But I am starting to rethink my purchase. What would be the main difference in this truck and a 3500 SRW? My main questions would be concerning:
purchase price
mpg(no towing)
gvcr(I can look this up easy enough...I guess)
Anything else I am missing?

Z

 

Pretty much ZERO difference between the 2500 and 3500 SRW...other than price. Hence the reason I am in a 2500

Derek

 

So if I could pick up a 3500 for a comparable price of a 2500...There isn't much of a reason to pass up such a deal?

How much of a difference is there in weight between the two?

Z

 

The 3500 has a 23k GCWR where the 2500 has a 21k GCWR..

 

This is correct...but I think that the 2k capacity isn't worth the extra money you spend on the 3500...IMO Their BODY weight is pretty much the same (2500/3500 SRW) it's in the dually that you start getting the extra weight...oh, and 2 and 4 wheel drive models, quad cabs, long beds, etc will also effect weight, obviously

Derek

 

If you're thinking MegaCab then go 3500.

 

They difference I saw was extra leaf springs in the rear. I drove both & ended up with the 2500 because it was a better deal for me too.

 

suspension, gcwr, cablights, and much better resale value.

I think it cost me $1000 more for the 3500 over the 2500

 

I paid about $750.00 more for mine than a 2500. The only differences that I'm aware of are the cab clearance lights, overload springs and a higher gvw. The 3500 has a 900 lb. higher gvw which was very important to me for $750.00. You can't just get a higher gvw out of the clear blue. Other than that I believe the two are the same exact truck.

 

isn't there an extra set of spring on 3500?

 

Just a set of overload springs that don't make contact until the truck is about level.

 

See, the dealership that I was at coudln't offer me anything 3500 for the $750-$1000 price range...or I would have taken one home with me.

 

We went through all this last month when we were deciding. At the end we bought a new 2006 3500 Laramie Quad SRW SB 4x4. We got a pretty decent deal, IMO, and it is kind of hard to tell just how much more the 3500 vs 2500 was. My estimate is that it was about $700 more.

For our $700 we got more payload and a bit higher GVWR. In my eyes the 3500 main difference is with the leaf springs on the rear.

Our plan is to get a 5th wheel with pin weight in the 2000 to 2100 area and our computations indicated that the 3500 SRW would do the trick. So far the truck is great! One thing that is a delight to us is that on the highway, it is fairly quiet. Somehow or another we had convinced ourselves that it would be loud. I suppose it is because our son has a 2002 Ford 7.3 PSD that is so loud on the highway you cannot talk on a cell phone or hear the radio very well!

Best wishes!

 

depending on insurance the 3500 could require commerical ins.

 

People who buy the 2500 and think they are same as the 3500 have no idea how far off they are. They all think the front ends are the same and the only difference is the rear leaf spring. I have the 3500 and will soon need Ball joints. I have gone to parts stores and they have 2500 front end parts in stock but none of the 3500 parts. Yet the front ends are the same??? The 3500 sits about 2 inches higher than a 2500 but yet all the 2500 owners will tell you we have the same front end. The 3500 is a heavier duty truck and can take a little more weight than the 2500's. So if you plan on using the truck for plowing I would buy the 3500. Also if the 3500 is a good deal buy it anyway the resale will be better. For all you 2500 owners go look up what plow you can put on your truck then check the 3500. Or better yet go look at front end parts. They are not the same. But like I have stated before the Dodge keeps the 9900 GVWR for insurance reasons. Once you go over a 10k GVWR you need to have commercial insurance. Ues you can lie about it. But that is where they draw the line on daily driver and commerecail vehicle