2500 vs 3500 for mountain towing

[TDreiling]

I have recently acquired a 37’ Coachman travel trailer, long story. Anyway it has a weight distribution hitch on it but the previous owner only towed in mostly flat terrain. I will be pulling it here in the Colorado Rockies. The GVWR is 10,500 lbs. Could I get by with a 2500 or would I be better off getting a 3500 srw?

 

[endoscott]

You will barely notice behind a 3500. I am sure a 2500 is adequate but I have never had a moments regret moving up from 3/4 ton. What if you get a bigger trailer later?

 

[snadamo]

While there's a few numbers to take in consideration, one that sticks out to me would be payload. The tongue weight and all the other "stuff" (people, cargo, etc), you could be running up close to payload on. 3/4 ton; depending on trim level, options etc.

If you're one to be much safer than sorry, I'd say go with 1 ton. This sets you up for potential upgrades to trailer or even a 5th wheel without having to change your tow vehicle.

There's more experienced folks on here but my preference is to not have to worry about numbers and go overkill.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Take my advice and get a 3500 LB AISIN with Factory Rear Air Ride.

why???

Everyone buys a bigger/heavier RV. So have the truck in the stable you will need in the future.

Rear air will give you a better ride and maintain ride height.

 

[AH64ID]

37' is a HUGE TT!!!

Anyhow, I've done a fair amount of towing 10K plus trailers around the rockies and inter-mountain west. A 2500 would likely do the job satisfactorily, but a 3500 would do it better.

I'd be shopping for a SRW 3500 with the AISIN and auto-level.

 

[Wiredawg]

I go along with EVERYONE buy the best, biggest, strongest, highest tow rating, most powerful Ram offered.

I'm also a numbers guy. I and in addition to our SAGE advice, pull up and compare the GVWR and GCWR and COST on both trucks. Not just a few hundred $$ difference between 2500 and 3500 like the old days. Likely to see a few thousand $$ difference in the price.

I'm still voting for the 3500, but of the 6 Cummins Rams I've owned, 3 were 2500, 1 3500, a 4500, and a 5500. The 2500s performed great. A friend coming over today has a 2017 Ram 2500 who tows 32 foot TT with two or three slides... heavy and he loves it
Not even close on tires, weights, and has plenty power.

Just some more info to plug into your decision process.

Let us know what get with pics of course.

Cheers, Ron

 

[TDreiling]

Thanks for the great advice guys. I was leaning towards the 3500. I just needed some confirmation and knew this was the best place to get the right answer. I’ll keep you posted on the buying process.

 

[Wiredawg]

Here are the tables for your comparison:

2500: https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/d...ow_Excel_2019_DJ_OFFICIAL_INTERNAL_2-6-19.pdf

3500: https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/d...w_Excel_2019_D2_OFFICIAL_INTERNAL_2-06-18.pdf

Even though I already have our trucks, I still look. There are some big dealers around San Antonio TX, so interesting to look. Always TONS of 2500s, a few 3500 SRW, and even fewer SRW with HO/Aisin.

Interested in hearing back on the results of your investigations.

Cheers, Ron

 

[TDreiling]

Here are the tables for your comparison:

2500: https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/d...ow_Excel_2019_DJ_OFFICIAL_INTERNAL_2-6-19.pdf

3500: https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/d...w_Excel_2019_D2_OFFICIAL_INTERNAL_2-06-18.pdf

Even though I already have our trucks, I still look. There are some big dealers around San Antonio TX, so interesting to look. Always TONS of 2500s, a few 3500 SRW, and even fewer SRW with HO/Aisin.

Interested in hearing back on the results of your investigations.

Cheers, Ron

Thanks for the info Ron. Very helpful. I’ve noticed there aren’t a lot of 3500 srw crew cab HOs on the lots. I have some time before I need it so I’ll most likely order one exactly the way I want it.

 

[Wiredawg]

Brother, You're welcome. Cheers, Ron

 

[endoscott]

I got the 3500 SRW HO/Aisin crew cab and long bed. Its just awesome for towing 5th wheel. Lots of room in the bed for golf clubs, generator etc. Thinking about upgrading in 2021 or 22. The 50 gallon fuel capacity option is very attractive and that should be the FULL next-gen version right?

 

[Cummins12V98]

" I have some time before I need it so I’ll most likely order one exactly the way I want it."

I HIGHLY advise doing so!

 

[Jim W]

Ok I am different just ask a couple of guys on this site.

I am towing a 34RL Cedar Creek 5th wheel with a 2500 SRW, 6.7L Mega Cab with 3:73 gears, a Smarty S67 set on CatCHER level 3, with the total combined weight of 20,500 LBS. I do not carry any water or waste water in the holding tanks when towing just food and cloths plus camping gear. I have towed this trailer in Colorado on I70 going west to Utah. With no issues in 5th gear, my boost was under 30psi, EGT's were under 900F , transmission temps were in the 190's and engine RPM was around 1800. The exhaust brake was on and the truck and trailer handled this load.
I have towed out east in the NC up and over Black Mountain on I40 with the same results and my truck worked great.

Now if you are looking to buy than yes buy a 3500SRW with the AISIN transmission but a 2500 can handle the towing challenges too.

 

[TFucili]

Low trailer GVW, and WD hitch or not, pulling a 37' TT off the receiver is a whole lot of tail to wag the dog IMHO.

 

[AH64ID]

Ok I am different just ask a couple of guys on this site.

I am towing a 34RL Cedar Creek 5th wheel with a 2500 SRW, 6.7L Mega Cab with 3:73 gears, a Smarty S67 set on CatCHER level 3, with the total combined weight of 20,500 LBS. I do not carry any water or waste water in the holding tanks when towing just food and cloths plus camping gear. I have towed this trailer in Colorado on I70 going west to Utah. With no issues in 5th gear, my boost was under 30psi, EGT's were under 900F , transmission temps were in the 190's and engine RPM was around 1800. The exhaust brake was on and the truck and trailer handled this load.
I have towed out east in the NC up and over Black Mountain on I40 with the same results and my truck worked great.

Now if you are looking to buy than yes buy a 3500SRW with the AISIN transmission but a 2500 can handle the towing challenges too.

2500's certainly are very capable. In 2008 the difference between a 2500 and 3500 SRW was minimal and didn't really have any effect on performance. The 2500 and 3500 SRW aren't as similar anymore. With the rear coil suspension on the 2500 it's not quite as capable as the 3500 SRW for higher CG loads. This likely isn't an issue for a TT, but it depends on what one puts in the bed I suppose. I certainly wouldn't want the 2500's rear suspension for my TT and the ATV's I put over the bed rails in the bed.

So it comes down to use more now than it did in the past.

 

[TDreiling]

Low trailer GVW, and WD hitch or not, pulling a 37' TT off the receiver is a whole lot of tail to wag the dog IMHO.

This is one of my concerns. Especially going down a steep grade.

 

[TDreiling]

2500's certainly are very capable. In 2008 the difference between a 2500 and 3500 SRW was minimal and didn't really have any effect on performance. The 2500 and 3500 SRW aren't as similar anymore. With the rear coil suspension on the 2500 it's not quite as capable as the 3500 SRW for higher CG loads. This likely isn't an issue for a TT, but it depends on what one puts in the bed I suppose. I certainly wouldn't want the 2500's rear suspension for my TT and the ATV's I put over the bed rails in the bed.

So it comes down to use more now than it did in the past.

I’ve heard that this is a concern. Some people have told me they don’t think the coils handle a bigger load as well as the leaf springs.

 

[NonFord]

Well, I'll chime in. Granted mine was a 2004 2500, I carried an 855s Lance camper on it, it did just fine carrying it. I put on bags and a hellwig bar and she climbed and turned awesome. I never even thought of getting rid of this truck until my neighbor shows up with a decked out 2500 Laramie, oooo the creature comforts were just unbearable to say no to. Lo and behold, I found an awesome deal on a 3500 with factory bags and to boot an aisin transmission. Let me tell yah, I thought I would miss my 2500, no way, I love this truck and I can tell you that this truck makes the 855s feel like a bed of feathers in the bed. No comparison whatsoever, granted technology has helped in the years here, but having leaf springs is still an advantage too! The truck is just a beast and I'm glad I went to a 3500!!!!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Low trailer GVW, and WD hitch or not, pulling a 37' TT off the receiver is a whole lot of tail to wag the dog IMHO.

True Dat!!!

 

[R.Taylor]

Order yourself the 3500 SRW HO and add all the goodies you want... I special ordered mine and I love it... The best RAM I've owned so far.