Considering a SWB QC. I sure could use the extra payload, but I remember how spine jolting my 99 2500( swb qc )was on the rough roads. Test drove a 04 2500 and it wasn't to bad. Hows the ride on the 3500 I asked? He didn't know. In fact, I've never seen one with my own eyes. Anyone out there own one? Oh yea, I heard Chevy makes a true 1 ton axle (3500 srw) and Ford just adds leaf springs to the F-350 (srw). Is there any truth to this? What's the story with Dodge?

 

I have a 2004 3500 SWB 2X4 QC and it rides like a dream IMO. I have read it is the same truck as the 2500 but has "helper springs" is the load brings the bed down far enough to use them. I have made several mods to mine including removing the spacer blocks to lower the rear a little. So far it is the best vehicle I have owned. I don't know for sure but I think there may be other differences in the 2500/3500 such as the rear AA axle (11.5"?)
Good Luck

 

Returned two weeks ago from a 9,000 cross country trip. The ride was great as far as I am concerned. There are a few roads which jar your teeth with bad expansion joints. Like I-80 between Sacramento and San Francisco. Have no way of knowing if the LWB rides this highway better.

jr

 

Ride is supposed to be the same. The 3500 gets some helper springs. That's it. Depending on how you look at it, either Dodge put a 1-ton axle in the 3/4 ton. Or the 1 ton, dually included, gets a 3/4 ton axle. They are all the same rear end these days.

 

Jaa I have the SWB SWR 3500 in 2-wheel drive configuration and it rides fine, although it does bump and jolt on rough roads and RR crossings. A bit of weight in the back helps a lot.

It softened up noticeably since new, it was fairly stiff then. I have 29,000 & change miles.

I like my truck a lot and no regrets here for going shortbed.

Vaughn

 

I agree and have no regrets either. When it is our only driver we find the shorter bed a lot more pleasant to use when parking etc. We did have a Toyota Highlander, a fine vehicle, but my wife finds the pickup more comfortable.

jr

 

Love it ride is better than I expected. Have used towing and hauling both and does a great job.

 

The ride is great. I drove both a 2500 & 3500 for purchasing the SRW SWB 3500. I couldn't tell a differance in the ride. It appears as though the 3500 just has a helper spring that comes into play only when loaded.

The 3500 does have an 11.5" AA rear end. Not sure on the rear end size on the 2500.

As a comparison - my other vehicle is a Ford Excursion Limited 4x4 with the PowerStroke. I believe the 3500 4x4 DC has a much better ride.

 

I had a 3500 SWB QC and now have a 2500 LWB QC. Both 4X4. The 2500 rides 10 times better. It rides like a Chevy 1/2 ton compared to the 3500...it really is that big of a difference. Now, I'm sure the lonnger wheel base is part of it, but I also believe the 2500 has someting to do with it too...

 

The ride in my 2004 3500 SWB SRW 4x4 is smoother IMHO then my 2002 2500 SWB 2x was.

I think the ride is great. Although the fifth wheel hitch has been in since new, so I do carry a small amount of weight.

 

The 3500 SRW SB rides GREAT. The key to the ride is air pressure. When you are not pulling or carrying a load the just put 50lbs of air in the front and 40-50lbs of air in the rear. When loaded or pulling a load then put 65 front and 75 rear. Go for it and drive it like you stole it

 

Dunno if you are looking at 4x4 or 2wd but there is a huge difference between the two regarding ride quality. My 2wd is fine, better with 800 lbs in the rear but a friends '03 4x4 is brutal to drive. Even with weight. 2500 and 3500 have the same rear ends. Both are full floating.

 

I think mine rides great with 350lbs in the box. Empty it seems a little harsh though, almost feels like the back tires 'skip' off the ground on big bumps. Tire pressure makes a big difference as mentioned by someone else.

 

All 1-tons have the 11.5" AAM axle. 3/4 tons w/ manual have the 11.5". 3/4's w/ an auto have the 10.5" AAM.-Steve

 

I would bet that the wheelbase difference is the major part of it, or perhaps is all of it - I doubt that the springs are that much different. Also, yours are both 4x4's, but just to add to the thread, if you are comparing 4x2 and 4x4 remember that the 4x4 has a solid, live front axle and the 2wd trucks have an independent front suspension, which should really improve the ride.

This has been covered in several threads and the consensus seems to be that the 2500 & SRW 3500 (of the same wheelbase) have a pretty similar, if not the same, ride. But wheelbase differences are another matter... a shorter wheelbase will always seem stiffer if all else remains the same.