I'm looking to get a 2500 or 3500 DD.

Is there any real differences between the two besides suspension?

I don't like duallys, and it seems that a lot of the 3500s are now standard axle, so it seems more inviting. Are there any diff in towing capacity?
What about the potential harsher ride in the 3500?

Are there Heavy duty versions of 2500/3500 and how do they perform?

Any info on differences is appreciated.

 

the 3500s come with overloads in the SRW and DRW configurations. thats pretty much the only difference...the 3500s are also rated to tow more

brett

 

I had the same questions, and after driving them both, I went with the SRW 3500. It's about $400 extra on the invoice, there is no difference in ride, and adds about 1100 of payload and a couple extra thousand pounds of towing. Pretty cheap for all that I thought.

 

Is that really the only difference?? Seems like a 3500 would have larger axle/diff and maybe a beefier frame. Don't they come with a different gear ratio?

I want to upgrade my 2500 to a 1 ton, so I can haul a larger truck camper.

 

HAHAHA... Nice signature Brett... 09 Tundra thats a concept huh? You own it LOL>..

Kaywt, the 2500 and 3500 have only ONE difference. The overloads on the rear springs... Thats it.
Scott

 

One other difference besides the overloads is the license laws related to the weight ratings on the truck.

Here in South Dakota its wise to buy a 2500 and add the overloads since a 3500 adds a little more in licensing due to its higher load capacity.

Over in Minnesota its actually cheaper to register the 3500.

I don't every law out there and all the details, but after talking a person at the courthouse thats just the way it is.

Just something to consider besides the overloads.

Have a good one.

ps:I agree to keep it legal if you really are going to haul the extra weight.

 

I think it's well worth the extra few hundred dollars in price to get the extra 1000 lbs. or so extra legal GVW on the door sticker. That would definitely be the way I'd go.

 

Only difference is in the rear springs. Just add airbags since you can't install the 3500 springs on the 2500.

 

the only differance is 1 rear leaf add on the 3500. everything else is exactly the same.

 

buy the 2500 and do a set of air bags or timbern kit and be able to haul more then the 3500 as long as there is no problems law wise

 

With 4.10 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 12450 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR)[i]=9000
Payload[i]=1592
Curb Weight[i]=7408
Curb WeightFront/Rear=4500/2908
GAWR[i]Front/Rear=5200/6010
Gross Combination Weight Rating(GCWR)[i]=20000

Its all interesting but the above is for my new as yet to be delivered MegaCab 4x4 2500 with 3.73's. I looked extensively at the brochure (for the new trucks) last night because of this issue. In my model 3.73's and 4.10's are rated the same for some reason. A 3500 with SRW increases the GVWR by 1000lbs to 21000 lbs and the load capacity in the rear give or take 100 lbs by the same amount. I don't think you can go up to that 24000 GVWR unless you have DRW. Maybe someone else has thoughts on this.

Anyway, talking with my brother, he believes you certainly could add the airbags or whatever for the rear to increase the load carrying capacity. He also thinks this increases your GVWR to the 3500 in the same configuration.

His thought is, legally, if your in an accident, since all other factors are the same (axles and the like) that the GVWR can be increased legally for the 2500 to the 3500 as long as you remember its in the same configuration.

His logic is this: His boss ordered in trucks with some what he calls skinny front wheels to save money. But the truck has the same front axle as the a truck with the larger float front wheels and the sticker on the door shows a lower weight rating for the skinny front tires. Well, after they got them, they got a job where they needed to haul larger loads. He checked the axle and ordered in the large floats for the front increasing the load carrying capacity of the front by a large amount and DOT accepted that as OK since the axle was rated for the larger tire carrying capacity.

So, I'd say, with out calling the state, and I plan on doing that, I can increase the weight 1000 lbs on the rear both legally and within the limits of the truck becasue the axles are ratedfor this and the tires.

Any thoughts? But I agree with the above -I should have just spent the $400 bcuks and got the 3500. Now I have to think about all this stuff if I get a bigger trailer.

Mike

 

I think if you went to court you'd have a good case. I think if you already have a 2500 then most people would just add bags because the costly upgrade to a new 3500 isn't going to do much for you in reality compared to bags... Unless you go DRW.

I think if you haul commercial then you'd want to ask someone else that knows the Regs and DOT .

The reason I reply is my above post left out one thing. Everything is the same except the rear springs and weight ratings.

 

Dodge ratings mean diddly squat!! The DOT is going to look at axle and tire ratings, not what Dodge says you can haul. I'm legally plated for 34k in my state and every time I hit a scale and get checked by a trooper or carrier enforcement, I pass with flying colors. Also with my comm. ins. I am covered in an accident...

 

I agree with you totally 06 dually. I have been inspected several times up here in Ontario by the MTO. All they checked me for was my tire rating and my registered gross weight. They didn't even want to look in the door jam.

 

jamiec:

Hey what is your registered weight?

Mike