I'm a long time reader and getting close to buying a new CTD. Lookin at the build and price at the Dodge web site, I see that a 2500 srw short bed lists the rear end as 10.5" where as the 3500 lists it as an 11.5". Does this mean that the 3500 has larger axels? Also talking to Dodge sales people I'm told the only differance between a 2500 and a 3500 is extra leaf springs on the rear end. Is this just hype from the saleman? It still seem that a 3500 is the way to go in case I move up to a heaver fith wheel, say in the 14000# range. I think biger axels would be better. Eather way I Plan on a short bed srw. If the axels are bigger does that also mean that the input from the drive shaft is bigger? Is this how it gets to be 11.5"?
shep in Denver.

 

MY 2500 HAS THE 11.5. IT TELLS WHAT REAR END IT HAS IN THE GLOVEBOX.

 

It also says on the window sticker which axle is in the truck.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but the 10.5 is standard on the 2500 and the diesel engine adds the 11.5 axle to the 2500. At least that's the way I remember when I was truck shopping.

 

I believe that all of the Cummins Powered Rams now come with the AAM 11.5 rear axle. I think the 10.5 is only for Hemi powered Rams or in 03 model year for the SO Cummins Engines. Now all the Cummins Powered Rams are HO models and automatically get the 11.5.

The SRW 3500 has a couple of extra overload leaf springs that give it a 9900 GVWR over the 8800 GVWR of the 2500. The 3500 also has Cab Clearance Lights standard instead of as an option. Otherwise I believe they are the same. It is possible the 3500 models have a slightly bigger brakes...but im not sure on that.

When I got mine there seemed to be very little difference in the price of the 2500, SRW 3500, and Dually. I didn't want a dually, but I figured for a couple of hundred more dollars I might as well get the extra capacity of the SRW 3500. The ride is the same because the overloads only come into play after the other leafs have a major load on them.

 

I'd take anything a salesman gives you with a grain of salt. At least they're not trying to sell many "diesel hemi's" anymore ....

If you're thinking of pulling a heavy trailer, spend the extra couple hundred and get the one-tone and be done with it. The weight of the diesel will eat up your GVWR real fast no matter what. Plus, the weight ****'s will leave you alone....

I think our trucks ride pretty good, but if you want a really smooth ride - buy a Lincoln or something.

 

Shep,
11.5 is the ring gear. You can go lower gears and still keep integrity of diff. If you tried to go 4.56 in a 9.25 you would have a real small pinion gear to get that ratio out of that size ring, this would mean weaker ring also. I don't see a big difference in a 2500 10.5 and a 3500 SRW 11.5. Safety issue will be tires popping, full floating rear end in Heavy duties will not cause safty issue if axle breaks. My truck is diesel and has 10.5. I would not hesitate to load it same as srw 3500 with 11.5.

Regards
Jeff

 

bulabula,
Are you saying the two-tone trucks can't pull as much?

~Rob

FWIW, in the second gens, the 2500 auto came with a Dana 70, the 2500 manual (5 or 6 speed) came with a Dana 80 hybrid and all 3500's (SRW, DRW, auto or manual) came with the Dana 80 (hybrid?). What I'm saying for the 2500 is that it might depend on the tranny.

 

If he is talking about getting a NEW CTD, this is all a mute point. IT will come with an 11.5" ring gear.

Whether you get a dually, SRW 3500, or 2500.......the only difference in how much they will pull is if you get the 3.73 gear or the 4.10 gear. They are rated for a 21,000 total GCWR with the 3.73 and 23,000 total GCWR with the 4.10 gear. We all know the trucks can pull more than that, but im just talking factory ratings here.

But moving up to a SRW 3500 will add 1100 pounds to the GVWR. I think duallys are rated at like 12,500LBS. And they do add some extra stability with the extra tires. The weight limiting factor on SRW 3500 trucks is the tires, not the springs.

 

Rob, two-tones are great, its when your rear end is half-tone is when you're asking for problems....