New truck 2500 or 3500?

[DFark]

I’ve been running SRW 3500’s since my 2005. I run a mixed bag of farm trailers and a Coachmen 5th wheel. Also a lot of light loads, empty miles. Thinking of a coil spring 2500 with the air system. My thinking is a better ride empty, and then inflate when extra load capacity as needed. My question is will a 2500 give a smoother ride than a 3500 SRW with an empty bed? Or should I just stay with a leaf sprung 3500? Thank you all

 

[AH64ID]

A 3500 auto-level rides better than a coil spring 2500. The 2500 auto-level likely rides better than the 3500 auto-level, but not sure by how much.

Since you mentioned a 5th wheel I would get a 3500 auto-level for the best ride empty or loaded, and the best capability.

 

[kthaxton]

I’ve been running SRW 3500’s since my 2005. I run a mixed bag of farm trailers and a Coachmen 5th wheel. Also a lot of light loads, empty miles. Thinking of a coil spring 2500 with the air system. My thinking is a better ride empty, and then inflate when extra load capacity as needed. My question is will a 2500 give a smoother ride than a 3500 SRW with an empty bed? Or should I just stay with a leaf sprung 3500? Thank you all

In a 2500, you either get coils in the rear or air bags. Not both.

It's hard to make a recommendation without actual weights, but you are likely better off to do as AH61ID explained.

 

[AEdelheit]

I am biased as I worked for a company specializing in these trucks for 8 years but unless its not much more then a grocery getter I would go for a 3500. You will find some people on here that love the 2500 but a quick google search will show the real issues of axle wrap, rear end sway, side to side sway with any little bit of weight and many more annoyances. If you want a truck to do truck stuff a 3500 is the only option IMO...

 

[SnoKing]

I am biased as I worked for a company specializing in these trucks for 8 years but unless its not much more then a grocery getter I would go for a 3500. You will find some people on here that love the 2500 but a quick google search will show the real issues of axle wrap, rear end sway, side to side sway with any little bit of weight and many more annoyances. If you want a truck to do truck stuff a 3500 is the only option IMO...

I agree, 3400 lbs of concrete blocks behind the axle. Stock leaf spring suspension.

 

[kthaxton]

I am biased as I worked for a company specializing in these trucks for 8 years but unless its not much more then a grocery getter I would go for a 3500. You will find some people on here that love the 2500 but a quick google search will show the real issues of axle wrap, rear end sway, side to side sway with any little bit of weight and many more annoyances. If you want a truck to do truck stuff a 3500 is the only option IMO...

I'm curious....what makes the axle wrap possible with the 5 link rear (since it is usually more prevalent in leave springs)....is it just compression/flex in the bushings?

 

[Cummins12V98]

A 3500 auto-level rides better than a coil spring 2500. The 2500 auto-level likely rides better than the 3500 auto-level, but not sure by how much.

Since you mentioned a 5th wheel I would get a 3500 auto-level for the best ride empty or loaded, and the best capability.

100% concur, I will add stick with a long bed especially for no compromise towing a 5er. Get the towing prep also!!!

Every time someone rides in my DRW with auto level air ride assist rear they comment on what a nice ride!!!

 

[AEdelheit]

I'm curious....what makes the axle wrap possible with the 5 link rear (since it is usually more prevalent in leave springs)....is it just compression/flex in the bushings?

The biggest issue is poor geometry, the lower arm is mounted above the center line of the axle, add the big soft bushings and they can get really bad axle wrap especially in reverse. The 1500's have great geometry, the lower arm is well below the axle, track bars at a better angle, coils are outboard for better stability but for some reason they took everything that works on a 1500 and threw it out the window for the 2500's.

 

[DFark]

100% concur, I will add stick with a long bed especially for no compromise towing a 5er. Get the towing prep also!!!

Every time someone rides in my DRW with auto level air ride assist rear they comment on what a nice ride!!!

Thanks, I failed to mention it will definately be a longbed for farm use!

 

[SnoKing]

Thanks, I failed to mention it will definately be a longbed for farm use!

Farm truck that rides like a caddie???? Get a 3500 and do not look back! Air pressure in rear tires verses load greatly effects the ride quality of HD pickups. The rear air on the 3500 will mask higher pressure in rears tires verses constantly making pressure adjustments. However at 40 PSI you still have around 1500 lbs of carrying ability without overloading the tires at that inflation.

 

[AH64ID]

. However at 40 PSI you still have around 1500 lbs of carrying ability without overloading the tires at that inflation.

It depends on loading. 40 psi allows for a RAW of 4,540. Both my auto-level 3500’s have been right around 3400-3450 empty empty, so less that 1,200’s availability on the rear axle. 1,500 lbs against the forward wall of the bed should be fine, but aft of the axles you’d only be good for about 1,000.

Just throwing some numbers out there for a LWB auto-level.

 

[Turbo Terry]

My 99 2500 rode pretty rough empty. Coils front and leafs in back air bags empty 2022 3500 srw rides better empty. It ain’t no Cadillac but it will do

 

[Cummins12V98]

I run 30 rears 80 fronts running BobTail. Better ride with plenty of capacity. 59k and plenty of tread left on my DRW.

 

[NIsaacs]

I am biased as I worked for a company specializing in these trucks for 8 years but unless its not much more then a grocery getter I would go for a 3500. You will find some people on here that love the 2500 but a quick google search will show the real issues of axle wrap, rear end sway, side to side sway with any little bit of weight and many more annoyances. If you want a truck to do truck stuff a 3500 is the only option IMO...

Does this apply to your 2500 or just the coil spring trucks? I haul heavier than most and I don't feel like I am under trucked at all. Google is mostly about aftermarket suspension manufactures trying to spook owners into buying their so called upgrades, kinda like Banks The coil springs were such a huge departure from what was considered an HD truck that most were apprehensive about it, including me. Not anymore, they are not a toy.

I do see some TDR members question their 3500's. One con of the 3500's, is, some states require different registration, even dot numbers for some. That may or may not be an issue, in my instance it is.

I love my truck

 

[AH64ID]

Does this apply to your 2500 or just the coil spring trucks?

Just the coil spring trucks. All the 2500 specific issues he listed are related to the rear suspension.

There are some interesting threads on other forums about issues associated with the coil suspension. Many issues I haven’t read about here, but there aren’t as many folks on this forum either. We have a good 4th Gen community but it’s not huge.

 

[NIsaacs]

There are some interesting threads on other forums about issues associated with the coil suspension.

Is this coming from owners or just readers parroting what they read, parroting what the next person read and so on? After 9 years, I would think it would show up here too, but I don't recall much.

With all the joints they have, I could see where years and mileage would start to show up some issues.

 

[AH64ID]

Is this coming from owners or just readers parroting what they read, parroting what the next person read and so on?

It's coming from the owners.

 

[AEdelheit]

Google is mostly about aftermarket suspension manufactures trying to spook owners into buying their so called upgrades, kinda like Banks

False, The parts the company I worked for made 100% by consumer demand due to the massive shortfalls of the coil sprung rear suspension , same applies for all the other companies we dealt with and were in no way "Spooked" into it.

Also hauling heavy the suspension doesn't move much though I have always felt some rear wiggle when towing, heavy payload is where most issues arise.

 

[NIsaacs]

False, The parts the company I worked for made 100% by consumer demand due to the massive shortfalls of the coil sprung rear suspension ,

heavy payload is where most issues arise.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. My truck does everything I ask of it. I am not a fan of level/lift kits, aftermarket wheels and big tires, a big portion of "Consumer Demand" and suspension products. What I did see, was as many upgrades listed for 3500's as I did for 2500's. I looked at Carli and Thuren since I see those on here from time to time. One search I did for Ram 2500 suspension issues even said the OEM was great for off road and towing. Most were looking for a softer ride.

So, to be fair I did a search on Ram 3500 issues and ran into a consumer reports of the 2017 Ram 3500 being at the bottom of the list and 10 recalls.

Almost all of my towing is with a gooseneck, so bed level pin weight. A gooseneck by design will rarely overload a pickup truck. A fifth wheel RV or slide in camper can. I have posted several scaled weights on here with 26-27k gcw, the truck is always right at 10k, it's rating. I did add airbags, a win win.

I will also say, a big share of truck modifiers do it to be cool, so marketing, unscrupulous shops and being the biggest and baddest on the street is the goal. If you do all your own work/repairs like I do, you get a feel of what is good and what is fluff.

Massive shortfalls? I didn't find it, nor do I have it.

 

[AEdelheit]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. My truck does everything I ask of it. I am not a fan of level/lift kits, aftermarket wheels and big tires, a big portion of "Consumer Demand" and suspension products. What I did see, was as many upgrades listed for 3500's as I did for 2500's. I looked at Carli and Thuren since I see those on here from time to time. One search I did for Ram 2500 suspension issues even said the OEM was great for off road and towing. Most were looking for a softer ride.

So, to be fair I did a search on Ram 3500 issues and ran into a consumer reports of the 2017 Ram 3500 being at the bottom of the list and 10 recalls.

Almost all of my towing is with a gooseneck, so bed level pin weight. A gooseneck by design will rarely overload a pickup truck. A fifth wheel RV or slide in camper can. I have posted several scaled weights on here with 26-27k gcw, the truck is always right at 10k, it's rating. I did add airbags, a win win.

I will also say, a big share of truck modifiers do it to be cool, so marketing, unscrupulous shops and being the biggest and baddest on the street is the goal. If you do all your own work/repairs like I do, you get a feel of what is good and what is fluff.

Massive shortfalls? I didn't find it, nor do I have it.

Not sure why you are so offended at the fact the coil spring 2500's have issues, Thuren and Carli both make parts to address the shortcomings of the 2500's and you are the only one on this thread that's happy with yours so glad you are happy with it but that doesn't make the issues non existent.

Please post the link of upgraded rear track bars, rear control arms and rear sway bar end links for the 3500... Ill help you out here, you wont find them because they dont exist so your statement that those company's make the same number of upgrades for a 3500 as a 2500 is once again false.