Hmm, I thought cab lights were standard on 3500s. Obviously I'm mistaken. Not the first time, nor the last.

 

Here is a big diff. Insurence. It is cheaper to own a 3500 over a 2500 with State Farm insurence. Check it out with your insurence. That is one of the reasons I bought the 3500 over the 2500. I don't know why its cheaper, but it is.

 

No cab lights on mine either. I'd love to have them though.

 

They must have changed the GVWR in '07. Both my '07 and my dads '07 have a 10,100lb GVWR.

 

That is quite a load.

 

Yeah pretty heavy. I was only going about 15 miles or I wouldn't have tried it with these tires. They are only rated at 3000lbs each.

Actually...this pic shows some of the sand removed (before the pallet was put on)....but I made another trip with the same load.............full cubic yard of sand and pallet of blocks.....56 blocks at 50lbs each = 2800lbs. And I was told a cubic yard of sand weighs about 2200lbs....but I don't know for certain. It was the heaviest load actually on the truck I have carried in the bed.

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Cab lights were deleted on 2008 3500's with srw. They may have been a delete on earlier years as well.

 

Yeah I think they did up the GVWR in 07. They should have all along....Dodge way underrates these trucks for their own liability reasons.

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They were standard on SRW 3500 trucks 2003-06 (I think)....then they became an option...even on SRW 3500s.


Mechanically the only difference is overload springs to my knowledge.

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Before I bought mine, I was researching on the Dodge website and the specs stated (at that time,) the following:

11.5 rear axle vs 10.5 on the 2500
Slightly larger rear brakes on the 3500
Slightly higher tow capacity for 3500 SRW

Turns out Dodge just put the same axles and brakes on both and only added overload leaf springs for the 3500. Also I think cab lights were no longer std. on 3500's after 2005.

 

Falstaff, The 10.5'' axle mentioned is for the "Hemi" powered 2500 trucks except for a few 03 models with the california emission SO engines.

Certainly from 04.5 on.........all "Cummins" powered Rams have 11.5'' rear AAM axles.......2500, srw 3500 and dually.


The tow capacity for the Dodge Cummins trucks have always been 21,000lbs for 3.73 gears and 23,000lbs. for 4.10s............minus the weight of your truck and it's cargo. (ex....mine has 3.73 gears and weighs in at 8500lbs or so with tools etc......so 21,000-8500 = 12,500lbs "tow capacity".......if I cared what Dodge Rated it at )
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My truck is an '04 (305/555) and it has the 11.5 axle. As TexasCTD says, only SO diesels had the 10.5. I've a friend with an '03 HO & it has the 11.5.

 

2500 has the 4/1 2600 in/lb springs, cab lights an option
3500 SRW has the 4/1 2600 in/lb springs and 1300 in/lb overloads. 03-05 cab lights standard, 06-curr cab lights an option
3500 DRW has the 3/1 2800 lb/in springs and 1300 in/lb overloads. cab lights required.

Axles are the same AAM 11.5", except rare 03 SO 47RE trucks have the AAM 10.5". AAM 11.5's are all rated for 10910 lbs. The SRW is narrower than the DRW, so the differences are hub spacers, axle shafts, and inner wheel bearings. Because the ratings and life expectancy are the same the larger inner wheel bearing on the DRW is to keep the life expectancy up from the increased stress from a wider heavier tire stance...

Brakes, frame, front axle, etc are all the same from a 2500 hemi thru a 3500 DRW CTD.

 

Cab lights are an option on SRW and standard on DRW. I know in "06" they were. Not sure when they started the option on them. Has to do with DOT and the vehicle width of the DWR I think.

 

My truck sags in the back with a 4 wheeler also. Its because of the level kit.