I was wondering what the rear spring pack differences are between the 2500 and 3500.
Like, do both have overloads, spring rates.
I assume the 3500 dually has the heaviest springs.

The reason I ask is my 5th wheel has a 1500 pin weight and I'm looking at a 2500 right now and wondering if it won't be enough.

 

The 3500 has helper springs...the 2500 does not. There may be other differences, but I don't know what they are.

 

I have read on this and other forums that the 3500 rear springs are a softer spring rate than the 2500. As Hoss mentioned the 3500 has the overload spring and the 2500 does not. It is not available as an option as it was on the Gen IIs. This explains why people say the 3500 unladen rides better than the 2500.

 

yea, the 2500 has no overloads and has stiffer main springs. The sway bar is also removed from the 2nd gen design. This was possible because of the wider tire stance on the road and longer spring leaves. compared to the 2500, the 3500 has a lower spring rate main spring and a high spring rate overload.

1500 lbs pin weight is pushing it for the 2500 if you believe in GVWR. The dern truck weighs close to 7,000 lbs and you have:

170 lbs for you
130 lbs for the wife
150 lbs worth of kids
240 lbs for the 5ver hitch

with a 9000 lb GVWR, this leaves you only 1300 lbs for the hitch pin.

That said, I'm no expert but it really fries me to see GVWR applied to 5ver hitch weight as well as free-floating payload. For 1,300 lbs of free payload in the bed, the truck experiences fully 100% of the consequences of that load, including stopping distance, sway control, weight distribution, etc. For 1,300 lbs of 5ver hitch weight, the trailer stops itself controls its own sway, and is distributed optimally. So I just don't get why a 5th wheel hitch has to fall under GVWR, but indeed it does. I think they ought to waive the GVWR for "controlled" payloads like goosnecks and 5vers, and use GAWR (axle ratings) or at least another rating system that more accurately accounts for the hitch weight consequences.

 

Hey Westport, my 2500 weighed 7080 when I brought it home from the dealer (empty but fully fueled). GVWR is 8800. Its a 4x4 so a few hundred heavier than a 4x2.

Start adding the weight of yourself + family + whateverstuffyouputinthetruck + 1500 pin weight. If it matters, that 8800 approaches pretty fast - heavy springs or not.

 

... and what Doug said. But his family is kinda light.

 

"1500 lbs pin weight is pushing it for the 2500 if you believe in GVWR. The dern truck weighs close to 7,000 lbs and you have:

170 lbs for you
130 lbs for the wife
150 lbs worth of kids
240 lbs for the 5ver hitch

with a 9000 lb GVWR, this leaves you only 1300 lbs for the hitch pin."


My family is more close to 600 lbs. for the five of us.
I think I may have to look at the 3500 to be safe.

 

If you price out identical 2500/3500(srw) trucks there isn't much diffrence in price... Last I looked it was only $500 (cdn) diffrence. At that rate why wouldn't a guy buy the 3500??

 

I drove both. The 3500 costs little more and rides a little better. You get the higher rating to boot. IMO.

 

Remember, if you want you can get hte 3500 in SRW so you don't have to put up with the extra width of the dual rear wheels.
You can also have it in long or short bed. I personally like the short bed better, but if I were to do it again I might just go full hog and get the dually.
Oh yeah the SRW 3500 has a bed weight of 3500lbs. If your 5th wheel is up around that then you have to go all the way with the dually.

 

[quote author=westport link=board=20;threadid=19818;start=0#msg186409 date=1063907583]
I was wondering what the rear spring pack differences are between the 2500 and 3500.
Like, do both have overloads, spring rates.
I assume the 3500 dually has the heaviest springs.

The reason I ask is my 5th wheel has a 1500 pin weight and I'm looking at a 2500 right now and wondering if it won't be enough.
[/quote]

The 2500 should be more than adequate for towing a 5er with 1500# hitch weight. You didn't indicate if you were getting a 4x2 or a 4x4. My 2003 when loaded and hitched to my 5er is less than 2 inches lower due to the addition of hitch weight.
In fact the truck bed is level.

I noticed several inaccuracies in the weights quoted in other posts. Go to http://www.dodge.com/ram_truck/index.html?context=homepage&type=vehicle_nav
and check out the Dodge Towing Guide.

 

I was poking around a Dodge dealership not that long ago and noticed that some of the 2500's are not only devoid the overloads, but they were had 1 less leaf in the main pack??? I think my rig has 5 and 2.

 

Last weekend I had 1,500lbs of corn in the bed of my 2500. The weight made the truck sit level. And the ride was very impressive.

MikeyB