Why I would never have a 3/4 ton...

[Gary - K7GLD]

Let me see if I can get the super-complexities of this thread simmered down.



1) The 3500 SRW only costs a little bit more than the 2500.

2) The 3500 can carry / tow a little bit more than the 2500.

3) If one tows or might tow close to the maximum, it's better to get the 3500.

4) The difference between the two are probably the extra springs.

5) Adding springs to a 2500 will probably get you the capability of the 3500

6) Doing that may or may not make you legal.

7) Some people like the 3500 badge because it makes them feel more macho.



Seems that 4, 5 & 6 above are the only things that need to be verified factually.



7 is not really true -- nobody said that. I just threw that nonsense in.



Did I miss anyting?

You seem to have got it all, and (gasp!) managed to do it without attacking, demeaning or insulting anyone...



See, I *knew* it could be done...



Rest of the class, take notice!

 

[6 2 Carl]

Wow, I cannot believe the hatred in this thread! I think Tim stated a very good point about our trucks. It is very easy to overload the 2500 if you follow Dodge recommended GVW. What we should really be complaining about is the fact that Dodge rates these trucks so low. Dodge should take a lesson from Ford and increase the GVW of their trucks so they can actually haul a decent load without the weight nazis throwing a fit.



I ordered my truck as a 3500 instead of a 2500 to get the extra 900lbs of payload. I know if I got a 2500 and added airbags it would handle a load just as good if not better than my 3500. But the sad reality of today for you guys in the US is that you live in a lawsuit crazy society that could get you into alot of trouble if you exceed the GVW. I got the 3500 for a little extra protection when I come to visit your wacky country. :-laf





Carl

 

[klenger]

Actually, it's the 3500 cab lights that give the added 900 lb capacity, not the overload springs.

 

[fkovalski]

Actually, it's the 3500 cab lights that give the added 900 lb capacity, not the overload springs.

:-laf :-laf



62 Carl- where y'all from?

 

[brods]

Gary-K7GLD, if you defend Tim’s right to make inflammatory posts that typically contribute nothing information wise (ex: “Dynarape” in the hub thread, etc), or worse, contribute inaccurate information (like this one), then you must defend the right of others to voice their offense at his comments and with his tone. I agree with you there is no reason to attack him personally, but yes, it should be open season on his arrogant, childish comments and replies! Right or wrong, he has a reputation (well deserved imho) which makes people more likely to take offense at his comments. Lets not forget that is a situation HE caused and continues to feed with almost every post.



I usually ignore his comments, but this thread struck home. I bought a 2500 to tow a K5 wheeling rig and feel it is perfectly capable. Obviously Tim does not. I’m just trying to put some verifiable facts on the table. (Ok, yes I did slip up and stoop down to Tim’s childish level, I deleted it, I’m sorry. )



New math:



8560 Tim's measured weight

-106 how much less a 2500 Laramie weighs than a 3500

8454 lbs



9000 GVWR 2500

-8454 lbs

546 lbs left over, not the 240 lbs Tim has listed in his first post.



Also, like Tim noted he is probably a couple hundred heavy on the tongue, so there is really plenty of capacity left in the ¾ ton. Kind of lets the air out of the whole argument, yes?

 

[nps]

:-laf :-laf



62 Carl- where y'all from?

From his readers rig shot, the 51st state up north. :-laf

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary-K7GLD, if you defend Tim’s right to make inflammatory posts that typically contribute nothing information wise (ex: “Dynarape” in the hub thread, etc), or worse, contribute inaccurate information (like this one), then you must defend the right of others to voice their offense at his comments and with his tone. I agree with you there is no reason to attack him personally, but yes, it should be open season on his arrogant, childish comments and replies! Right or wrong, he has a reputation (well deserved imho) which makes people more likely to take offense at his comments. Lets not forget that is a situation HE caused and continues to feed with almost every post.



I usually ignore his comments, but this thread struck home. I bought a 2500 to tow a K5 wheeling rig and feel it is perfectly capable. Obviously Tim does not. I’m just trying to put some verifiable facts on the table. (Ok, yes I did slip up and stoop down to Tim’s childish level, I deleted it, I’m sorry. )



New math:



8560 Tim's measured weight

-106 how much less a 2500 Laramie weighs than a 3500

8454 lbs



9000 GVWR 2500

-8454 lbs

546 lbs left over, not the 240 lbs Tim has listed in his first post.



Also, like Tim noted he is probably a couple hundred heavy on the tongue, so there is really plenty of capacity left in the ¾ ton. Kind of lets the air out of the whole argument, yes?

IF you and those like you object to Tim's, or similar posts, you have the option to register a complaint with the moderators and site administrator. It then falls under THEIR judgement as to how to deal with the one being complained about, or his post.



But UNTIL *YOU*, and other, Ummmm, "gentlemen", are assigned site police duties, you have neither the RIGHT, or the self-appointed "duty" to assume the role of disciplinarian - any more than you would to run a slower driver off the freeway simply because he annoys you, or you have arbitrarily decided he "deserves" some form of corrective action at YOUR hands.



This ain't no self-appointed Vigilante board, OR lynch mob!



On the freeway, they call it "road rage" - and it's no more appropriate or attractive HERE!

 

[BrianJ]

For the love of Pete people need to grow up. As a relative newbie here and impartial observer, this is getting asinine how any Post of Tim’s degrades, generally to no fault of his own. I am not going to go back and ready every post of his, but I have never seen him personally attack anyone like the crap he gets from a select few on this board. I can’t say that I agree with his PERSONAL opinions all of the time, but I have never seen anything offending. In fact I corrected his GVWR rating on page 2 of this thread at 9,000lbs for 3rd gen 2500’s, but I did so cordially realizing it was an HONEST mistake. 2nd Gen 2500’s are 8,800 lbs GVWR. Heaven forbid anyone ever make an honest mistake on here.



I have a 4. 5 2500, and happen to agree with his post on this issue. I have a 10k bumper pull RV and come very close to GVWR hooked up and loaded to go. If it ruins your day or life to read someone else’s opinion on your beloved 2500 and it’s limitations, then I suggest that you have further issues that you need to address. :{ You know what, there is always something bigger and better for a particular job. The way RV’s are going today a 3500 is getting to the point where it is not enough truck. Uh oh, cover your ears 3500 owner’s, your truck might have limitations too! And if I had known when I bought the truck what I know now, thanks to sites like this and posts like this one, I would have gone with the 3500. It is a warning well heeded by those researching this site looking for information on their purchase decision. Other than a couple honest (yet close) mistakes, this post is right on.



People are different and personalities clash, but I venture to guess most of us don’t want to read it in these forums. PM Tim if you have a personal issue with him. As an impartial observer reading this thread (and other’s), it is quite clear who is immature and posting the inflammatory comments (hint, it’s not Tim).

 

[Heavyweight]

Looks like I have to trade in my 2500. She can not handle a load! :{ :{

 

[gsbrockman]

I wonder how Tim would feel if.....

... ... someone told him that his 3500 single rear wheel with short wide bed is indeed "inferior" to the ultimate tow vehicle... . a 3500 dual rear wheel.

Greg

 

[JohnnyH]

Guys, come on already. Drop it. I think tim could come on this site and say it is the greatest site in the world and everyone on it is the best and you would all still find something to criticize him about. Leave it alone.

 

[BrianJ]

So, this whole thread is about Tim, not trucks?

Unfortunately, it seems as though some people care more about antagonizing Tim than having an educated and honest discussion about our trucks, their mostly good points, and limitations (everything has limitations, including our beloved trucks)

 

[BrianJ]

... ... someone told him that his 3500 single rear wheel with short wide bed is indeed "inferior" to the ultimate tow vehicle... . a 3500 dual rear wheel.

Greg

It's subject to ones opinion as well as to if the 3500 DRW is the ultimate tow vehicle. If you look at ratings, the 3500 SRW is actually rated to TOW more than the 3500 DRW due to the lower GVW vs GCWR (23k for both). Of course, the DRW has substantially more PAYLOAD capacity.



The way RV's are going these days, I am not sure I would consider any 3500 DRW an "ULTIMATE tow vehicle". Again, that's just my opinion, and I am not talking about work trailers or commercial trailers/loads. My use is strictly recreational, other than occasional light loads (<5k) to the dump now and then.

 

[ilovetrains]

If anyone is still reading this thread and wants to comment on the original question of weights, I thought the 2500 had a no cost "9900 GVWR" option? I admit to not being able to keep straight all the trucks I looked at (and have no idea what is on mine, to be honest) but I swear I remember seeing this.

 

[67guzzler]

If anyone is still reading this thread and wants to comment on the original question of weights, I thought the 2500 had a no cost "9900 GVWR" option? I admit to not being able to keep straight all the trucks I looked at (and have no idea what is on mine, to be honest) but I swear I remember seeing this.

Trains,



I went to the online configurator at cars.com and these three ratings were selectable for the 2500 4x4 QC Short Bed:



Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

GVWR: 8,800 lbs

STD STD

GVWR: 9,000 lbs

N/C N/C

GVWR: 8,510 lbs

N/C N/C



Mine is 9,000 lbs and it's stated on the drivers door sticker.



Now on the 3500 4x4 SRW QC Short Bed there was only 1 option:



Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

GVWR: 9,900 lbs.



So I think that your recollection for the 2500 might be (understandably with all the configurations ) incorrect... .

 

[Nate]

Personally I think the ratings that Dodge puts out, are a bit low anyway.



At work, we have about 20 2nd gen Dodge 2500s that are "bobtailed". We use them to tow bomb and missle trailers out to the flightline. The trucks alone weight 8000-9000 lbs. Then we pull 2 trailers at a time, weighing up to around 20000lbs. They pull just fine. I loaded one up one with about 1000lbs of sandbags... nothing broke.



I know there is a saftey margin for the gross vehicle weight.



On the 3500s, do they use a D70 or D80 rear?

 

[67guzzler]

Your right Nate -- I think the point of this thread (now I'm really taking a chance here) is the ratings and the 3500 has about 900 lb rating more than the 2500 for not much more cost and this is context of being "Legal and Safe" -- not as much as whether it "Could" pull something. Again -- I'm taking a big risk in making this guess... .

 

[gsbrockman]

On the 3500s, do they use a D70 or D80 rear?

Neither... they now use AAM's... . 11. 50".

Greg

 

[fkovalski]

... is (the) context of being "Legal and Safe" -- not as much as whether it "Could" pull something. ...

I agree with you- The Cummins in our trucks could easily be installed in a larger medium duty truck with approporiate payload, GVW, GCWR, XYZ... and do the job. I think Dodge is doing another CYA (ala "not recomended for slide- in camper) because the engine is far superior to the vehicle that contains it.

 

[JimScott]

The Difference: The 3500s have an 11. 5" rear axel and overload springs. The 2500s have a 10. 5" rear axel and no overload springs.

Jim