I'm new to Dodge and I'm getting ready to buy an '06.

I'm settled on a MegaCab with a Cummins, however I am trying to decide between a 2500 and 3500 dually.

1. Can anybody comment on ride differences between 2500 and 3500's?

TIA

 

the ride quality should be about the same. seeing as how the only differences in the 2500 and 3500's are the rear overloads. (which don't effect the unloaded ride anyways)

as far as i know the front springs are the same on 2500 and 3500s the only differences are if the truck is equipt with snow plow package or not.

 

I heard if you get over 80mph with the dually the rear end starts to lift off the ground with them flaps back there! Not.

Depends on what your doing with it. If your going to tow heavy the dually is the way to go. If your not towing, at all, I'd go with the 2500. I guess they make a 3500 Single Rear Wheel?? Not sure. If I were spending that much money I would take both for a ride and go from there based on your needs.

Dave

 

Go test drive a dually, mine rides pretty smooth and I'm running 70# of air in all tires.

 

A word of advice from a two dually person on air pressure. Run the pressure thats listed on the door or your tires will wear out in the middle long before the outside part of the tires wear, especially on the rears. That includes towing as well. Even with 2000lbs in the bed, over the axles, your only loading the tires 500lbs each. The only advantage to running higher pressures in the front is the truck feels lighter in the steering.

Took me about three sets of Michelins to get smart. I've got 65k on the current set and they are flat in contour. Rotation every 10K. I run 55 up front and 50 in the rears.

A little off topic but thought I needed to let you know.

Dave

 

Don't buy a dually unless you really need it. SRW is so much nicer. Duallys are a pain in almost every way. They are a pain to park. Limited on tire selection. Expensive. Get stuck easier. Get flats easier. Difficult to check the air. Throw rocks up between the duals. You have to watch the fenders at all times.

 

Dually's rank right up there in the "Cool Factor". The 06 is my first SRW truck in 13 years! B C is correct for the most part, I never had any flat problems. The few I had, a bad stem and nail could happen to ether.
If you can park it and get around your town fine then the dually's fine. Get the tow mirrors and if they clear the hips will fit!
Ride on the DRW is as good or better than SWR IMHO. Mostly due to the fact that I ran 35-40 psi in the rear tires, just boosted them to 65psi when towing. If you pop the wheel covers the stems are easy to get to.
I really like my SRW wheel but DRW's are still my favorite. I am just not towing much and SRW is better on the trails.Maybe I'll even go Downtown some night.LOL.

 

Are you saying dually's get flats EASIER?

If so why would that be?

 

We get the flats in the dually much more frequently. We have 7 duallys and 7 srw. They are off road quite a bit. You have a greater chance of hitting rocks, glass, nails, bushes with sharp sticks to poke through tires, etc. You can squeeze through the areas easier with a srw. One nice thing about the dually is you can get to a place to get the tire repaired if only one goes. But bad comes with that as well, sometimes you don't know you have a flat. We have had the whole tire rip up and tear apart the fender and also come off completely and roll down the freeway. Scary.

I like the coolness of a dually, but unless you need I wouldn't do it. SRW can be cool too. I know I much prefer driving the SRW for a DD, on and off road.

 

I would check the price on the MC dually first. I think they are quite expensive. Your choice is probably more between the 2500 and 3500 SRW instead. Plus, a shortbox dually looks to me. But that is just my opinion.

 

Maybe going off road makes a difference. I figured the dually would offer some insurance on trips if I should get a flat. I often tow a trailer full of expensive racing stuff so being able to limp home or to a safe place to pull over is a big plus.


The dually option is only about 3 or 4 hundred bucks, so cost isn't really a factor. I've always wanted a dually but didn't want a super long truck. With the Mega Cab it will be the same length either way. I don't mind the looks of the Mega Cab Dually as much as some, but I'm still not sure so I'm probably leaning towards a single 2500.

Someone mentioned earlier that the ride between a 2500 and 3500 are about the same? Can someone else comment on this?

When test driving Ford F-250 and F-350's there was a noticable difference.

 

My cousin has the same truck I do only in a 3500 Single rear wheel and we can't tell the difference in ride.

 

So what does the 3500 give you over the 2500?


Since I'm more familiar with Ford....you usually get stiffer front springs and I believe an extra leaf or two in the rear. The truck also gets 2" bigger blocks under the leafs and the 350's sit that much higher than the 250's.

I've noticed at the Dodge dealer that the 2500's seem to be the same height at the 3500's. Makes me wonder if there is any difference at all...

 

The only difference I have seen at the lots from the 2500 to the 3500's are the extra overloads on the 3500, no overloads on the 2500, that I have seen. I ordered the 3500 SRW, just to get the most out of my money, there is only a few hundred bucks difference to get the 3500, and really didn't make much of a difference. If they had a 2500 EXACTLY like I wanted I would have gotten that. A set of airbags on a 2500 would make it pretty much the same, except for legalities of the few hundred pounds of payload. Scotty

 

I asked the same question and was told it was only the overload springs. I bought the 2500 mainly because all they had around here in 3500 were drw and I wanted a srw. I am installing air bags in it tomorrow since it will be hauling and towing some pretty heavy loads at times.