I am going to buy either a new 2500 or 3500 CD auto srw 4x4 shortbed and will later be buying a used 5th wheel toyhauler 32' or longer so I don't know yet what the weight is. Question is how much more weight can I haul with a 3500 over a 2500 in a 5th wheel rv? Also I am planning on the 315 tires so which rear end gears are the best? Towing will be 12-16 times a year and mostly no more than 250 miles to the dunes. Thanks.

Long time Ford owner

 

About 900 lbs more pin weight. You should get 4.11 gears.

 

As stated, more pin weight is important with a 32' trailer. Difference in price is not that much. I would suggest that hauling no more than 250 miles that few times per year I would go with the 3.73 axle. 4.10 gives you higher GCWR but for those few miles, no. Until you go over 12,000 pounds towing for long distances, I think the 3.73 is the better way to go.

 

I agree with FiverBob on the 3.73 - better all-around for towing that small a distance. That is the distance from my house to my deer camp, and with the 6-speed dually I'm running, and 11k lb. trailer in my signature, I get 12 mph towing it and 17.5 running empty - not bad for a 4x4 dually 8k lb. truck. With the 3.73 I am running 1900 RPM at 65 mph, and 2000 at 70, which is a nice "sweet spot" for cruise. Hope this helps.

 

For stock tires, I would go 3.73, but with those 315's I think you may be happier with the 4.10. From what I've seen, it doesn't seem to hurt milage that much, plus you get 2000 more combined weight rating in case you talk yourself into a bigger 5er...

SRW 3500 is only a couple hundred more than a 2500, and as stated above is rated for more pin weight...

 

An auto equiped truck with larger tires is a no brainer = 4.10 gears

Why limit yourself with SRW when everyone in their right mind knows the correct way to tow large loads is with dual rear wheels. Have not seen one semi with single wheels yet!!!

 

Like bluebull said....why hold back with a shortbed and SRW ???

 

OOOPPPSSS, I didn't notice the comment about larger tires. I agree about a 4.10 with larger tires.

You now have two problems: 1) oversize tires 2) 4x4 You will have problems getting any fiver that will fit on your rig and still give you your 6" clearance over the bed rails. It is tough enough with a 4x4 and stock tires.

Then, a short bed requires a slider hitch. The cost of the slider will buy a long bed. HMMMM The long bed, longer wheel base rides better and stays straighter on the road when towing.

 

Go over to Europe and you will not see tractor trailers with dual wheels. Most of them now use a single larger wheel on all axles.... I'm not sure what the advantage is though.....
The company I work for sells moving trailers and the biggest one, called "The Super Bertha" comes with three axles which each have a single wheel and it is much larger than the wheels you would have if you had tandems.....

 

If the truck was just for towing and I was always on pavement then I would go for the long bed dually but I will use it for driving to work, driving to Vegas, going hunting on quad trails, and then some towing the toy hauler to the dunes. Plus I think the long beds are ok but the short beds with big tires and 2" lift are hot! I never even considered a Dodge until I drove a guy's new one at work this week and holy crap I loved that truck. I had a long talk with our mechanics at work today (we have a fleet of Ford and Dodge for line trucks) and they all said get the Dodge and get the 3:73 gears as ours with the 4:10's are way slow, top out at 80 mph and get worse gas mileage. Thanks for the input!

 

Mine must be special, tops out a 105. I've towed the 5er over 80, and no it wasn't down hill.

 

Mine tops out at 105 as well and that was verified with my GPS. And that is plenty fast.

Casey

 

iweb,
For what it is worth since it looks like you have made a decision.....1st thing you are doing right is getting yourself into a Cummins !

I tow a 29 foot fifth wheel camper weighing in around 8,500 lbs and have a Reese 16k slider hitch. My truck is a '98 24V S/B 2 wd with 3.54 rear end and I pull my trailer and a fishing boat and hardly know it is behind me. Check out my pics and see.

If you are only doing leisurely trips with your trailer, you can't go wrong with the single wheel set-up you are thinking about and 3.73 rear end is the way to go since you will use your truck for work, trips, etc..

 

How are you guys running so fast? mine with 4.10 and 6 speed hits redline at 90mph (speedo) so i cruise around at 65 70. I got 4.10s because i will be going to 35's at a later date too. this big truck looks silly with these stockers.

 

zzzzz - - hmm, dial tone - - - dialing - - - Hello, Ontaria Provincial Police Department, can I help you? Oh, yes - - I wish to remain annonymous, but you need to have your cruisers on the lookout for this big bad Dodge truck that . . .



AngelBob

ps: I sure am glad to know that my truck will not exceed 80 mph. Now to convince my wifey that what she saw she could not have seen because it won't go that fast - - really dear - - someone on the web who has never driven one of these said so.