For those that think the only difference between the 2500 and 3500 is rear springs.

[SnoKing]

It appears the frames are not quite the same. It has come to my attention that the 2500 and 3500 use a different 5th wheel puck kit. The 3500's have 8 mounting plates welded to the frame and robust pucks. The 2500 has bolt on plates for the lighter duty pucks at one position and the other they just bolt to the side of the frame. So same frame, NOT!

3500 kit.

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2500 kit.

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[kthaxton]

While I don't claim to know for certain one way or another....could the frame differences be limited to the rear portion to accommodate the coil springs? What I'm getting at is that maybe there really isn't a real-world strength difference (and maybe there is), but it is quite obvious the rear part of the frame is unique for the coils.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Good find Sno. I'm wondering if the frames are the same, but the 5th/goose hitch welded mount area are different between the 2500 & 3500??.....

Somebody run out and remove the bed from there 2500

 

[Ram4Sam]

Good find Sno. I'm wondering if the frames are the same, but the 5th/goose hitch welded mount area are different between the 2500 & 3500??.....

Somebody run out and remove the bed from there 2500

The B&W goose hitch #1314 fits both the 2500 and 3500 trucks 2014-2016........so I would say nooooo.......

Sam

 

[kthaxton]

The B&W goose hitch #1314 fits both the 2500 and 3500 trucks 2014-2016........so I would say nooooo.......

Sam

Doesn't that only mount to the center section of the crossmember? Which would mean it could easily be used universally between the two (2500's and 3500's) even if there were other differences in how the 5th wheel hitches mount. Just a guess.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Doesn't that only mount to the center section of the crossmember? Which would mean it could easily be used universally between the two (2500's and 3500's) even if there were other differences in how the 5th wheel hitches mount. Just a guess.

Yup......six bolts is all.....

Sam

 

[Cummins12V98]

This is interesting. The RVK3600 will fit the 2500 and 2500 RAM's with pucks. It has a blanket rating of 25K. Now the similar hitch for Ford and GM only have a 20K rating. I can understand the Ford rating since the fore/aft base dimension is very short. The GM has a much bigger footprint but still has only a 20K rating.

 

[SnoKing]

This is interesting. The RVK3600 will fit the 2500 and 3500 RAM's with pucks. It has a blanket rating of 25K. Now the similar hitch for Ford and GM only have a 20K rating. I can understand the Ford rating since the fore/aft base dimension is very short. The GM has a much bigger footprint but still has only a 20K rating.

Maybe B&W has not picked up on the fact that the two puck systems are not the same on the RAM trucks. SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

This is interesting. The RVK3600 will fit the 2500 and 2500 RAM's with pucks. It has a blanket rating of 25K. Now the similar hitch for Ford and GM only have a 20K rating. I can understand the Ford rating since the fore/aft base dimension is very short. The GM has a much bigger footprint but still has only a 20K rating.

Did you ask them about the RAM 2500 and GM today when you talked to them about the First?

 

[Cummins12V98]

B&W said they rate to the lowest component. So their opinion is the GM and Ford systems do not warrant their 25K rating and can only justify 20K.

I asked about the weaker puck system of the 2500 RAM's and she saids they have a disclaimer that says not to tow over the trucks ratings.

 

[Newsa]

Six bolts for bolting to the cross-section on the Ram 2014-2017. 2500? And eight bolts for same year of the Ram 3500?

Am i piecing this discussion together correctly?