2500 vs 3500

[dearflanks]

Question from a newbee. 2500 vs 3500 I can get by with the payload and towing of a 2500 (barely) But I would perfer the 3500. Now the problem is I live at 9,000 ft in Colorado and the snow and ice concerns me with the duals! Has anyone tried both in harsh steep gravel hills? And no I cannot afford a 2003 3500 with the single rear. I'm looking at 1999 and 2000. Thanks for any advice. Glenn

 

[HC]

My two cents: I got a 2500 because it exceeds what I really need. If I was "borderline" as you are, I would go for the 3500 right away. Then deal with the traction issue by carrying more weight in winter, studded tires, chains, or some combination.

 

[bmoeller]

I've had the 3500 for a little over a year and have so far have gotten around everywhere I could with my other single wheel trucks that I have owned. Does supprising well, even mud. We have some roads in the town that I drive through to get to work and don't usually do a very good job of putting down salt or sand at lots of intersections and sometimes need to use 4wheek drive to get going. The way mine shifts into O/D I have to watch it. If I don't, it wants to try to do doughnuts if it's icy(usually lock it out of O/D until it's over 50-55mph to prevent that). The bumper hitch trailers that I pull, sometimes it makes my Ford a little squirrlly in the back(doesn't matter how it's loaded either). With the dually you really don't feel it's back there.

 

[illflem]

I have both a 3500 and 2500. I rarely use 4wd even though the 2500 has it. The 3500 is parked all winter, need I say more? Sure you can do it but the single rear wheel does it better.

 

[Pit Bull]

I agree, I drive my wifes Landcruiser when it snows until they get the roads cleared. If you have to you can load up the rear, but you still slide in and out of the ruts that the single wheel vehicles make. Don't get me wrong I love my dually and would not want any other truck but if traction is that big of a concern??

 

[pwr2tow]

Deer hunting season the year of 2000 we had alot of snow around here and my dually would go where alot of single rears didn't want to go. It all depends on how you drive and at what speeds for the conditions. Now ruts on a icy road would be a big no no with a dually at higher speeds.



This will be the fourth winter for my dually and it is the only vehicle we have owned since I bought it.



Ron

 

[dearflanks]

2500 vs 3500 thankyou

Thank you !! This is my first time using "the form" and it really help! Thanks

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I wouldn't worry about overloading a 2500. It will be fine. It can pull as much as a 3500 anytime anywhere.

 

[pwr2tow]

Yes a 2500 can pull as much as a 3500, even slightly more, but the 3500 will win every time in the stability department and you can load a dually with more payload.



Ron

 

[pstillo]

If there are snow ruts on the road and steep hills I don't think speed is a option with any truck. At what speed does a dually start to get loose in the ruts?

 

[Pit Bull]

It's not the speed, they just bounce in and out of the ruts that the front tires make in the snow. It's not a deal breaker, if you have 4 wheel drive the front weighs enough that with good snow tires it will drag the rear up about any hill. It's just not as stable as a single rear wheel. Lifes about trade off's

 

[jtisdale]

Camper Package...

Check to see if the 2500 has the camper package, it is worth its weight in gold. The 3500's come "factory" with it.

my $0. 02

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Camper Package...

Originally posted by jtisdale

Check to see if the 2500 has the camper package, it is worth its weight in gold. The 3500's come "factory" with it.

my $0. 02

I thought that too until a friend at the gym bought a new 02 3500QC 4x4 and it did not have the camper package on it. Thought it looked kinda funny without that stablizer bar and the overload springs. He got a great deal on the truck. Wonder if that was part of the reason??