Difference between 2500 & 3500

[speedyjdl]

My dad is looking for a new truck. I just test drove a '03 2500 for him and it is a super nice truck. The only problem is that he wants a 1 ton cause of the heavy loads that he tows. The truck has airbags under the rear. Can someone tell me the difference between a 3/4 & a 1 ton.

 

[Matt400]

I assume he doesn't want a dually right?



From what I know-



In the 3rd gen line up 03+, the only difference on SRW models is the overload leaf on top of the rear springs.



There is an exception on the 03's however in that some 2500's came with 10. 5 rear ends vs the 3500's 11. 5 axle. I owned one and it was a CA SO model with 48re.

I believe in 03 they were using up stock on 10. 5's. None to my knowledge were installed behind HO's or manual trans trucks. 04+ they are all the 11. 5 axle.



The air bags on the truck you found easily make up for the missing top overload leaf. What they don't do is change the door sticker capacity if legality is a concern with your Dad.

 

[RMarkey]

From what I know-



In the 3rd gen line up 03+, the only difference on SRW models is the overload leaf on top of the rear springs.



The air bags on the truck you found easily make up for the missing top overload leaf. What they don't do is change the door sticker capacity if legality is a concern with your Dad.

Dead on right, and the badging.

 

[opjohnny]

go with the 3500 they ride the same unloaded with the single rear wheel.

 

[STeichert]

Well since your dad is so much like mine just change the badge to 3500 and he will never know the difference. He may even like the airbags. Our '05 3500 dosen't even hit the overloads untill you have 6 or 7 cows in the trailer.

 

[speedyjdl]

Well since your dad is so much like mine just change the badge to 3500 and he will never know the difference. He may even like the airbags. Our '05 3500 dosen't even hit the overloads untill you have 6 or 7 cows in the trailer.

:-laf He would never know would he. :-laf

 

[Paladin1911]

You'd have to add cab lights too, if you wanted to pull the wool over his eyes. The 3500 SRW in '03 has cab lights, the 2500 doesn't.

 

[speedyjdl]

Grrrr! Just got off the phone with him and now he's looking at a 2000 F-350 Powerjoke. At least its the ol-7. 3 but still a piece a junk. One of these days I'll convert him.

 

[Paladin1911]

It's probably time to have your Dad committed, because he is obviously now senile. Son's don't let fathers buy Ford's, altho the 7. 3 is the best of all of the Powerjokes...

 

[AllianceDiesel]

my dad was a die hard chevy guy and was about to buy a toyota tundra, I told him to look into getting a cummins, he ended up getting a 06 megacab 2wd auto cummins and he get 25mpg. I asked him last week if he is happy with it and he said he wished he would of done it a long time ago.



As for the ford, a buddy of my dads who is a rancher had fords all his life, he bought a 03 cummins about 4 years ago. he said he will never pull with a ford powerstroke again, he said its night and day between the two.

 

[STeichert]

It's probably time to have your Dad committed, because he is obviously now senile.

I love it, isn't that the truth? We've been teaching our 3 year old girl about diesel trucks, and she calls them Powerstation wagons. That's the same truck your dad already has. Put a goose neck ball in your '04 and let him borrow it for about a week, he probably won't have a stock trailer left, but it will convert him over.