3/4 ton verses a 1 ton

[gpintler]

I have a 04 2500, weighing in at about 8300 lbs full of fuel and me.
The door sticker lists my GVW at 9000 lbs. That means that I have a payload capacity of about 700 lbs.
Is this correct ?

The hitch weight on my camper is 750 lbs. So if the first is true,
than I can exceed my GVW by connecting my trailer to my truck and before I add the wife and dog
to the truck.

I have been told by many people that the only major difference between the 2500 and 3500
of the early 3rd gen is the rear leaf springs. Is this true?

Last question - In what year is there a true difference between the 2500 and 3500 ?

 

[AH64ID]

The only difference is the rear springs. The SRW 3500 used the same main leaf pack with upper overloads.

I found the upper overloads didn’t even engage statically until over the RAWR.

Check your local laws. Odds are good GVWR isn’t a legal number, which if that’s true then load up to you RAWR and call it good. That’s what I did on my 05.

In 2013 the rear suspension changed design style from 2500 to 3500, but both still use the same axle housing.

 

[Turbo Terry]

So I hauled a 3000lb camper pulled a 2500lb trailer with a 99 2500 regular cab long box for many miles. It had leaf springs, Firestone air bags, and Rancho adjustable shocks with 10 ply 16 inch tires. The cargo thing that I got with truck when it was new said 1750 lbs so I was very over loaded I guess, but when I set the camper down on the truck the truck didn’t even go down. I could never understand that. It was always very hard for me to understand how it worked so well, but now I have a 3500 SRW and would never have a 2500 again. The new 2022 rides empty so much better than the old truck. I would not have a 2500 again. You can never have too much truck

 

[petersonj]

That means that I have a payload capacity of about 700 lbs.
Is this correct ?

Yes, this is correct. If your payload is 701 lbs or more, you should never exceed 25 mph. People following you will appreciate your concern for safety.

I hauled a 3000 lb slide-in camper for years on my '02 2500. The load did not exceed axle or tire rating. My truck came equipped with upper overload springs and rear anti-sway bar. I replaced shocks with nine way adjustable Rancho shocks to reduce sway generated by high center of gravity.

- John

 

[bighammer]

So I hauled a 3000lb camper pulled a 2500lb trailer with a 99 2500 regular cab long box for many miles. It had leaf springs, Firestone air bags, and Rancho adjustable shocks with 10 ply 16 inch tires. The cargo thing that I got with truck when it was new said 1750 lbs so I was very over loaded I guess, but when I set the camper down on the truck the truck didn’t even go down. I could never understand that. It was always very hard for me to understand how it worked so well, but now I have a 3500 SRW and would never have a 2500 again. The new 2022 rides empty so much better than the old truck. I would not have a 2500 again. You can never have too much truck

I had a 2003 SRW 3500 and really liked how it rode, but part of that was that it was a quad cab. My '15 2500 feels a bit firmer, but seems to handle a load just as well. I had a ton of wood pellets on a single pallet, that wasn't even fully centered over the axle, and it seemed to barely squat. Rode real nice, too.

 

[SBashaw]

So quick question, what is the difference between a 2500 and a 3500 both with air ride since there are no leaf springs on the 2022 trucks?

 

[AH64ID]

So quick question, what is the difference between a 2500 and a 3500 both with air ride since there are no leaf springs on the 2022 trucks?

There are still leaf springs on 3500’s, even with the auto-level.

14+ 2500’s have a 5 link coil, or airbag, suspension.
13+ 3500’s have leaf springs. The auto level spring setup is different and has both springs and bags.

 

[Regcabguy]

So I hauled a 3000lb camper pulled a 2500lb trailer with a 99 2500 regular cab long box for many miles. It had leaf springs, Firestone air bags, and Rancho adjustable shocks with 10 ply 16 inch tires. The cargo thing that I got with truck when it was new said 1750 lbs so I was very over loaded I guess, but when I set the camper down on the truck the truck didn’t even go down. I could never understand that. It was always very hard for me to understand how it worked so well, but now I have a 3500 SRW and would never have a 2500 again. The new 2022 rides empty so much better than the old truck. I would not have a 2500 again. You can never have too much truck

if it was an automatic i'm surprised you could even stop it with a load. My regular cab auto 2500 had the worst brakes. I carried a 2200# wet popup with 285's. It was scary. The manual's had better brakes.

 

[Turbo Terry]

BD Exhaust brake worked great. Your right the brakes sucked mostly

 

[Turbo Terry]

Had to have DTT transmission with 89 percent torque converter and smart controller. Not cheap to make it work. New truck is ready right out of the box a wonderful machine

 

[Regcabguy]

Had to have DTT transmission with 89 percent torque converter and smart controller. Not cheap to make it work. New truck is ready right out of the box a wonderful machine

Just this morning I rode in a 2022 3500 dually with the Aisin trans. Super quiet and comfortable. Gobs of power. i don't know why anyone would mess with it. I thought the Aisin shifted and downshifted great.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Yes I’m loving my ho 6 speed. Awesome power train

 

[gpintler]

To Pertsonj That is hardest thing for me to understand. If I connect my trailer to to my Class 5 Trailer hitch [mounted below my Class 4] , My truck now weighs more that the GVW without the driver in the truck. If I were to drive my truck and trailer down the highway in Idaho at 25 were the speed limit is 80 even the semi(s) would pull over just to beat me with a bat. I did just install the Firestone air bags. 8300 for the truck + 582 for the Honda + 750 for the trailer = 9,632 On a 9000 GVW. Then add in me, the wife , and the dog.

 

[AH64ID]

To Pertsonj That is hardest thing for me to understand. If I connect my trailer to to my Class 5 Trailer hitch [mounted below my Class 4] , My truck now weighs more that the GVW without the driver in the truck. If I were to drive my truck and trailer down the highway in Idaho at 25 were the speed limit is 80 even the semi(s) would pull over just to beat me with a bat. I did just install the Firestone air bags. 8300 for the truck + 582 for the Honda + 750 for the trailer = 9,632 On a 9000 GVW. Then add in me, the wife , and the dog.

I took his comment as tongue in cheek, as it's not viable nor backed up by Idaho Statutes.

If you're not over FAWR/RAWR or tire ratings then you are legal for personal use in Idaho, and most other states.

 

[petersonj]

To Pertsonj That is hardest thing for me to understand. If I connect my trailer to to my Class 5 Trailer hitch [mounted below my Class 4] , My truck now weighs more that the GVW without the driver in the truck. If I were to drive my truck and trailer down the highway in Idaho at 25 were the speed limit is 80 even the semi(s) would pull over just to beat me with a bat.

I apologize for misleading information. @AH64ID is correct - it is my sarcasm directed at the truck manufacturers for having such a ridiculous payload assigned to a heavy duty truck. That is why I followed with the fact that I carried a 3,000 lb slide-in truck camper on my truck.

- John

 

[Turbo Terry]

My 99 2500 had leafs and a rear stabilizer bar from the factory. It also had overload springs. It was pretty heavy duty and never really sagged with all the weight I put on it. I also could not believe it was rated for 1750 lbs only on the door and in the paper work. Highly underrated it seems

 

[Ozymandias]

My best bet on the payload numbers from the factory is - liability.
I guess they just make sure that even if someone overloaded it by say 50% he is still in a safe area.

 

[Ozymandias]

As a side note, don't even think about overloading a European Van/Car. Europeans don't do that as it is very expensive and you loose your license by doin so. And the police checks weight on all vehicles that look suspicious.
Means, Vehicles are built for GVW and that's it.

 

[AH64ID]

A lot comes from the classification of vehicles in the US. i.e. class II cannot exceed 10000lbs, even if it's capable of it (FAWR+RAWR).