2500 vs 350

[desuhu]

Kent is absolutely right, we have a sliding hitch and they are worth ever penny. Some of friends of ours bought a new truck a couple of years ago and didn't get the sliding hitch and coming back from Utah recently, had to make a sharp and hit their cab, breaking out the back window and putting a couple of dents in the cab.

[NMWildcat]

Look at the Sidewinder pin boxes. Much better solution for 6.5' boxes than any slider. You can use a standard hitch and turn 90 degree without any worries.

Slider (manual or automatic) take up way too much room in the truck bed, are very heavy and cumbersome, and seem to bind when you need them most.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by TT233S

The brakes have 73,000 miles and you haven't changed them? That's nice!!!!!

Yup!

Mostly highway miles...

When I had the oil changed and tranny serviced (flush & fluid change) at the Chevy dealer in Denver where I bought it before I left town for good last March they told me that the brakes were good to go!

[Retusps]

Originally Posted by KentEldredge

If you get the 6.5 bed and decided to move up to a 5er, you will need to get a sliding hitch or you will pinch your cab (please don't ask me how I know). I have a B&W, but wish I would have bought an auto slider. With the B&W you have to have the trailer fairly straight with the truck to slide it and you need to get out of the truck to unlock the hitch every time you need to slide the hitch. Not a huge deal, but it is something to consider when buying a sliding hitch.

I will Definitely remember that. I did get the 6.5 ft bed but not moving up in trailer for a couple years.
Retirednut, I went with SRW. I pulled the maiden trip with this truck across Kansas and into the middle of Colorado yesterday and all I can say is WOW! I never had white knuckle towing with the 1500, just didn't know what I was missing. Duamax towing is sooo much easier and relaxing.
I've been trying to post a picture but it keeps getting flipped upside down.

[KentEldredge]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Look at the Sidewinder pin boxes. Much better solution for 6.5' boxes than any slider. You can use a standard hitch and turn 90 degree without any worries.

Slider (manual or automatic) take up way too much room in the truck bed, are very heavy and cumbersome, and seem to bind when you need them most.

Well those definitely look cool. Time to find a video or two on these adaptors in action.

[Chrisb009]

Originally Posted by privateer

160,000 miles on my 2007 Chevy 2500 with Duramax Diesel. Its not the engine or transmission you have to worry about on these things... I have replaced two wheel bearings front, two brake calipers front, all the brake lines (this summer after they burst - $1200 bill just for the brake lines). The salt eats them all... I don't live in a "salt area" but do travel there a couple times a year for a week each and that is enough to do the damage. Chevy has a terrible rubber coating that holds the salt in. Had I known it when new, would have taken the pressure washer to blast it off and then just gave it an oil bath each year. Are they still putting that crap on the new ones?

Still love the Chevy though and the next one will be the 3500 Diesel with dual rear wheels.

Had the same issue with my 2003 2500. Replaced all brake and fuel lines with stainless steel lines. Had several leaks all over the place with GM's junk lines. Also replaced the entire braking system - from the tire to the pedal and rebuilt the entire front end suspension. Lots of work and cost however the truck has around 136,000 on it and could pull the 5th wheel in a pinch - also did some stereo and interior work while I was at it to bring it back to factory condition.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by TT233S

The brakes have 73,000 miles and you haven't changed them? That's nice!!!!!

Not unusual for GM HD brakes to last 200k. My 2007 is at 150k+ and had them inspected last month. Tech said they still have 60% left! And when you do replace them, only use OEM pads. Get on the Duramax forum for all kinds of information.

And far as diesel maintenance cost being more than a gasser? I haven't seen that at all. I own three high mileage trucks and two are gas. The diesel is our daily driver. Lifetime maint costs are actually lower than the gas trucks.

I just replaced the glow plugs in the Duramax. One was bad, so I just did all of them. Did it myself and it cost me one afternoon and $100.

Enjoy!

[KEN9XL]

The big difference comes with length of bed, and thus wheel base. Longer the wheel base, the better the ride quality, both solo and towing.
__________________
Tom & Renée
Durham, NC

2015 Wildcat 295RSX
2018 Ford F-350, 4x4, Diesel, CC, Long Bed


5er_tom --- Thanks for that information on long bed verses short bed.
I was planning on an upgrade from a travel trailer to a fifth wheel along with a new pick up truck. Now I know, not only get myself a 2500 diesel but make sure it is a long bed.

Thank you.

[newcowg]

Originally Posted by Retusps

I was all set to upgrade our TV to a new 2018 Chevy 2500. Then this new 2018 3500 SRW came up for sale on the lot. Same truck, minus the sun roof, only 3500 for $1,000 less than the 2500. Common sense says to get the 3500 but I'm wondering about ride quality of the 3500 not towing. I will be using it for my daily driver. My buddy has a 3500 DRW and it's pretty harsh not towing. Am I over thinking this ?(sometimes I'm my own worst enemy ) Towing a TT now but anticipate a different trailer in the future. All thoughts appreciated. Sorry for the long thread.

I ran into the exact same type of deal. I bought the 3500. I gave it a real work out loaded and empty. The 3500 rides much better empty then the 2500. This is due to not riding on the stiff springs until loaded up

[Barefoot68]

3500 is far better than the 2500. Most rigs pulling 35+ are over weight. You don’t really need DRW unless you are doing a lot of traveling. I have the 3500 SRW , standard bed pulling a 37’ 5er. I weight 10,700 loaded and have 800 lbs to spare ( for extra tank maybe). To many 2500 & 250 out there are overloaded. Yes they can pull about anything, but still over loaded

[desuhu]

Haven't heard about the Sidewinder pin box, but our hitch has never given us a minutes trouble. They are heavy though.

[desuhu]

We have about 140,000 on our 03 2500 HD and did replace the brakes in 2015. We recently put a new fuel sensor and fuel pump (while we had the gas tank down). We've also replaced the main V-belt that runs everything before it broke. Had the Ally transmission flushed and filter changed a few years ago. We run Mobil One synthetic and change the fuel filter and Allison flip filter at least every 10,000 miles. Maintenance is the key to keeping them running. Still running the original alternator and water pump. Had to replace the injecters at 99,000 miles.

[Retusps]

Originally Posted by Barefoot68

3500 is far better than the 2500. Most rigs pulling 35+ are over weight. You don’t really need DRW unless you are doing a lot of traveling. I have the 3500 SRW , standard bed pulling a 37’ 5er. I weight 10,700 loaded and have 800 lbs to spare ( for extra tank maybe). To many 2500 & 250 out there are overloaded. Yes they can pull about anything, but still over loaded

I'm definatly happy with the 3500 and so glad we don't have to play the upgrade TV game down the road. Should have done this years ago!

[67L48]

The price difference between a new 3/4 ton and a 1 ton is about $1,200. For me, that's easy. 1 ton.

For others, various CDL rules, laws, taxes, and other considerations actually make the 3/4 ton a better choice.

Not for me. I'm drooling over a 1 ton diesel.

[Retusps]

Originally Posted by 67L48

The price difference between a new 3/4 ton and a 1 ton is about $1,200. For me, that's easy. 1 ton.

For others, various CDL rules, laws, taxes, and other considerations actually make the 3/4 ton a better choice.

Not for me. I'm drooling over a 1 ton diesel.

The 3500 I found was actually less than the 2500. I'm in Colorado and have no regrets with the larger truck. It pulls my 30 foot trailer like there's no tomorrow. No brainer

[mwdilday]

Originally Posted by Retusps

I will Definitely remember that. I did get the 6.5 ft bed but not moving up in trailer for a couple years.
Retirednut, I went with SRW. I pulled the maiden trip with this truck across Kansas and into the middle of Colorado yesterday and all I can say is WOW! I never had white knuckle towing with the 1500, just didn't know what I was missing. Duamax towing is sooo much easier and relaxing.
I've been trying to post a picture but it keeps getting flipped upside down.

Post the pic upside down and maybe it will get flipped back over.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by Retusps

The 3500 I found was actually less than the 2500. I'm in Colorado and have no regrets with the larger truck.

That was not the case when I bought my 2015 Chevy 2500HD gasser from Medved in Wheat Ridge (might as well say Denver) in August of 2014 (four years ago next week).

The 2015 2500's were closer to $8000 less than the equivalent 2015 3500HD's...

My 2500HD was the very first 2015 model sold by that dealership as the 2014's had already been bought up at model year end clearance prices.

They had loads of 2014 3500HD's on their lot, but didn't have the same incentives on them like I got on the new 2500HD.

Here it is the night I picked it up: