2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 3500 vs 2500

[Jeremiah]

3500 = higher insurance premiums

OK, guys, you ain't gonna want to hear this, but the 3500 truck will cost you a bit more for insurance. Seems the code used for the 3500 - even the SWR - puts the truck in a work category.



Even complaining that the truck won't be used "down on the farm" did me no good. Insurance companies just assume that anybody buying a 1-ton truck has a commercial use for it.

 

[georgej]

On the other hand in states like Oregon you don't have to get an emissions check with a 3500 like you do with a 2500. A point to ponder if you choose to bomb your beast!

 

[Jeremiah]

Emissions

Originally posted by georgej

On the other hand in states like Oregon you don't have to get an emissions check with a 3500 like you do with a 2500. A point to ponder if you choose to bomb your beast!

You mean diesels pollute? I always heard diesel particulates settle to the ground and don't remain in the air like gas fumes!



In Colorado emissions are governed by the county in which the vehicle is registered. I think only Denver metro and El Paso (Colorado Springs) counties require emissions checks.

 

[DPelletier]

Up here in the Great White North, 3500's are exempt from the 3% luxury tax and insurance is the same. Makes it a no-brainer. Sometimes its hard to even find a 2500, 'cause the dealers don't bring many in.



Dave

 

[Cliffman]

We keep an old 98 beater around to keep our insurance down plus we like having a third car.

 

[Wiredawg]

We bought an 03 2500

We bought my wife a 2500 vs a SRW 3500 for two reasons:



1. we decided we would never pull our 17K lb 5th wheel with it. That's why I got rid of my '00 2500 for the extra safety of a 3500 dually.



2. There weren't any 03 SRW 3500s around and would have taken eight to ten weeks at the time. Plus, the dealer had exactly what we wanted (color, HO, SB QC, 4X4, 48RE).



Please note that my previous comments on spring packs were on 2d Gen trucks, but I wouldn't be surprised if the the spring packs on SRW and DRW 3500 are also different. Maybe someone could check w/ parts dept at a dealer to see if they are the same.



Wiredawg

 

[Groover]

Boy Cliffy, Talk about stirring the proverbial ****.



I cannot speak for 89 models or 94 models or any other model year. I referred to the 1999 model year and will stand behind my comments. Here are some specs for the 1999 4x4 Manual trans. MODEL YEAR. I have no idea about older or newer trucks or auto's with Dana 70's etc.



2500 3500 3500 C&C

F brakes 12. 5x1. 5 12. 5x1. 5 12. 5x1. 5

R brakes 12. 5x2. 5 12. 5x3. 5 12. 5x3. 5

F axle Dana 60 Dana 60 Dana 60

F GAWR 4850# 4850# 4850#

R axle Dana 80 Dana 80 Dana 80

R GAWR 7500# 7500# 8000#

R springs 4 leaf 4 leaf 9 leaf

Trans NV4500 NV4500 NV4500

T-case NV241HD NV241HD NV241HD

Frame center 9" 9" 11"

section





The rear brake shoes on a 1999 3500 are 1" wider than a 2500. I don't know if there is any difference in the newer disc brakes between the two. My point is there is not such a huge difference in the components of each truck as people try to make out. In fact there is hardly any difference. If anything the 3500 cab and chassis guys have bragging rights as far as component strength goes.



By all means the 3500 DRW is a more stable towing machine and safer with big weight. I will never argue that it is not. The 3500 SRW truck is mostly a marketing thing and fills the niche quite nicely between 2500 and dually. But if everybody had a 3500 how would you maintain your superiority over us little 2500 guys. You would have nobody to thumb your nose at.



Cliff buy the 2500 - you are not worthy of a 3500 (just kidding).



See-YA

 

[The Adjuster]

Not sure about the new ones but the 3500 also comes standard with ABS on all 4 wheels as well as the larger brakes.

After starting with a 1500 then on to a 2500 and now a 3500, I would never go back to a 2500 if I planned on towing anything, the 3500 just seems more stable if you have a load on it. I can pull anything from my 18' boat, my 22' Gooseneck single car hauler or my 48' 3 car wedge without worrying about overload issues in any state I drive in.

I was always told to buy as much truck as you can, because once you find how easy these trucks tow you will want to load it up ... . just my penny's worth



Kevin

 

[DPelletier]

LOL,

Grover and Cliffman, I don't feel superior! I agree the 3500SRW is basically the same as a 2500HD with a camper package. Its about marketing and competing with Ford.

So, for the sake of arguement, lets assume that the only difference between the 3500 SRW and 2500 is clearance lights and the door sticker of 9,900 GVWR vs. 9,000. My point is that knowing that Cliff is planning on towing heavy, If I were him I'd get the 3500 SRW just for the sticker, if nothing else. Do what makes you happy.



Dave

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by DPelletier

LOL,

Grover and Cliffman, I don't feel superior! I agree the 3500SRW is basically the same as a 2500HD with a camper package. Its about marketing and competing with Ford.

So, for the sake of arguement, lets assume that the only difference between the 3500 SRW and 2500 is clearance lights and the door sticker of 9,900 GVWR vs. 9,000. My point is that knowing that Cliff is planning on towing heavy, If I were him I'd get the 3500 SRW just for the sticker, if nothing else. Do what makes you happy.



Dave

I bought my 3500 to haul, not tow, and if memory serves me correctly I was astonished to find the Ford 1-ton SWR hauled about 900 lbs more in the bed than Dodge.



But I just couldn't bring myself to walk away from Cummins. Been wantin' one too long to buy a PowerSmoke instead.

 

[DPelletier]

Jeremiah, care to clarify that? Is the F-350 SRW rated at 10,800 GVWR or are you banking on the F-350 being lighter or? If you're referring to some payload rating brochure, save yourself the time. As I mentioned before, payload and trailer tow ratings mean nothing. Only GVWR, GCVW and truck weight.



Dave

 

[Jeremiah]

Payloads F v. D

Originally posted by DPelletier

Jeremiah, care to clarify that? Is the F-350 SRW rated at 10,800 GVWR or are you banking on the F-350 being lighter or? If you're referring to some payload rating brochure, save yourself the time. As I mentioned before, payload and trailer tow ratings mean nothing. Only GVWR, GCVW and truck weight.



Dave

I took the manufacturer specs on both trucks and compared them side by side - payload to payload. The Ford hauled more by quite a bit. I don't have the spec sheets anymore. Too busy listening to that Cummins hummin' under the hood!

 

[DPelletier]

Jeremiah,

I hope you don't think I'm being a ****, but your post got me thinking so I checked both the Ford and Dodge websites, the results;



- F-350 SRW vs. 3500 SRW - both rated at 9,900 lbs GVWR. Therefore if both trucks weigh the same, they have the same payload capacity.



- F-350 DRW vs. 3500 DRW - 11,200 vs. 12,000 lbs GVWR Dodge has a higher payload capacity by 800 lbs.



The Payload capacity that you are referring to are fictitious numbers based on theoretical truck weights. For instance the ford truck weight listed was for a 5. 4l gas engine, no options, etc. etc.

It is possible that the Dodge weighs more than the Ford, again depending on options, but I would't expect it to be more than a few hundred pounds.

So, bottom line is now you can be happy that you didn't get way less payload capacity as well as being happy you have a Cummins instead of a 6. 0l.



Dave

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by DPelletier

Jeremiah,

I hope you don't think I'm being a ****, but your post got me thinking so I checked both the Ford and Dodge websites, the results;



- F-350 SRW vs. 3500 SRW - both rated at 9,900 lbs GVWR. Therefore if both trucks weigh the same, they have the same payload capacity.



- F-350 DRW vs. 3500 DRW - 11,200 vs. 12,000 lbs GVWR Dodge has a higher payload capacity by 800 lbs.



The Payload capacity that you are referring to are fictitious numbers based on theoretical truck weights. For instance the ford truck weight listed was for a 5. 4l gas engine, no options, etc. etc.

It is possible that the Dodge weighs more than the Ford, again depending on options, but I would't expect it to be more than a few hundred pounds.

So, bottom line is now you can be happy that you didn't get way less payload capacity as well as being happy you have a Cummins instead of a 6. 0l.



Dave

Heck, no, I appreciate the interest! If what you say is true, I am a happy camper indeed! When contemplating a veh purchase I go straight to spec sheets and forget sales prattle. Either I misread the sheets (which is possible but not likely since I looked at them a dozen times) or Ford did a flim-flam. I haul water in the bed of my truck and the size tank I use is governed by the weight the truck can haul.



So I bought the Dodge (7500 lbs. with me, 60 percent fuel and two Portuguese water dogs inside) and a 300-gallon tank, which weighs 150 pounds. Add water (2400 lbs) and I roll out on the highway weighing 10,050 lbs. , or 150 lbs over gross.

 

[DPelletier]

I'm sure you didn't misread. More likely the "flim-flam"! Happy trucking.



Dave

 

[Cliffman]

Okay guys, so have we finally determined that the only physical difference between the 3500 srw and the 2500 srw are overload springs and running lights? I can't find a 3500 in my color So now I'm looking at the 2500's.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Cliffman

Okay guys, so have we finally determined that the only physical difference between the 3500 srw and the 2500 srw are overload springs and running lights?

That's about it. Reason enough if you need one. Kinda like buying a short box and needin' a long box once in awhile. You ain't got it, you're outta business.

 

[Wiredawg]

3d Gen 2500 vs SRW 3500

I'm inclined to agree that springpacks and badging are the only differences between 3d Gen 2500 and 3500.



And, I believe Dodge should have badged the 2d Gen trucks w/ camper pkgs as SRW 3500s a well. The 2d Gen 2500s were way underrated IMHO.



Wiredawg

 

[DPelletier]

Unless I'm missing something it's overload springs, running lights AND door sticker . Yep, that about covers it.

Happy shopping Cliff. Let us know what you find.



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

Wiredawg,

I think you're right about the 2nd gen 2500's. I just picked up a 2000 K3500 SRW Chevy for the Waterworks District and its only got 9,000 lbs GVWR (same as 3rd gen 2500's). Makes you wonder, what's in a name?.



Dave