Ram 2500 or 3500???

[Philos3]

I did drive a 1 ton Ram dually recently and I thought it rode really well on the flat road. I also rode in a 44 ft Monaco class A and it was not as smooth as that Ram truck rode.

I was very disappointed to discover the ccc of an Isata 5 that is on a Ram chassis 5500. If the ccc was double what it is that would be a great combination, plus a dingy.

I think this is leading me away from a C and an A, to the point that with a $150 budget, more or less, I can get a Ram 3500 dually and a DRV 38 footer and probably be happy as my Boxer running a cat out of my yard, and gain a dual use vehicle that is easy to maintain and much safer on the road. The DRVs use Mohr-ride suspension and disc brakes - a heck of a traveling combo.

[rchavet]

I bought a 2014 3500 new and we pull at XLR 380 which is 42ft and pushing 22-23,000lbs loaded and it pulls like a dream. If your not going to upgrade to a bigger 5er for another 6-8yrs really no need to have a 3500 in my opinion until you need it.

[Camperstewart]

Ram 3500 Dually with Aisin transmission and the 4:10 gears as well as the air leveling system you just never no when momma wants a larger 5th wheel. Like the scouts motto says "Be prepared" We have had ours for eight months now and we both "Love it". Good luck!!!!

[HappyGuy]

What costs more? Getting the 3500 now or paying the depreciation on the 2500 when you trade it in to get a 3500 to pull that monstrous 5er with the sweet ________ you never knew you had to have until you had to have it? For that matter why not just save some major $$$ and get the 5er now as well? Then you won't have to pay for the other trailers depreciation. It's so much fun to have these conversations when it's not my $$$

[Crusader 816]

Get the aisin you can't go wrong. It's a great heavy-duty trans.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by DanoHB

Thanks guys. I will prob get the regular auto tranny it comes with. I'm not hauling all the time. Just camping about once a month or so. The extra $2500 just doesn't seem worth it for the Aisin.

How many miles will you put on the truck each year? 10? 12? 15K? In 5 years when you get your 5th wheel, you will welcome the Aisin - when we were looking at 5th wheels the Aisin was the clear choice (since you couldn't get an Allison with a RAM )

Also, IMHO, look at a dually as well. When we were test driving them, we really could not tell the difference between a SRW and a DRW in ride, performance, or cornering.

[DanoHB]

The 3500 with the Aisin comes standard with engine brake now. Not sure about with standard auto. Definitely something I will look into. I like the option to get a nice 5er later with the 3500 over the 2500. I'm not too concerned about the ride. I have had my 07 1500 with leaf springs and Bilsteins for 10 years with E tires. i am used to feeling the road more. i am more about carrying more later, that's why I will probably go 3500 now. It is a daily driver for me, and definitely want it for towing more later. My 2007 just hit 76000 miles, but will be doing more now that I am getting more into RVing. Really want to take on some hills with the trailer and have no issues.

[DanoHB]

The new 3500's only come with the 3.42 rear end though. Will that be an issue in hills? I am looking to buy it soon because I can still get some value selling my current 2007 1500. Also, I am planning on this being a 10-15+ year truck.

I would get a DRW, but I won't be able to get it around my trailer and into my driveway. I need to move a retaining wall first, which won't be cheap. that's another project for another time...lol

[donniedu]

Since January 1,2007 every Ram truck equipped with a Cummins 6.7L engine has had as standard equment an exhaust brake. Does not matter what transmission or rear end combination. The end user simply needs to push a button to turn it on after starting the engine.
Allison? Naw. The 68RFE has a reputation as good as and in some reports better and more durable than the Allison1000 used in GM products.

[Philos3]

My understanding is that the Ram 2500 uses coil springs and the 3500 uses leaf springs. Last time I looked I was 66 years old.

Now that I have taken my pain medication, my mind wanders towards irrelevancies. What do they use for the suspension in the 1500, 4500, and 5500?

How does the ride in a 4500 compare to a 3500?

Is there really all that much difference in ride between the 3500 and 2500?

Yeah I know, need to get my butt into it, but...

Had 3 hours of sleep last night. I was suffering so much in pain in my right leg my Boxer threw up in his crate listening to me - first time he ever did that. Am better now after getting some meds from the doc.

[Salt Shaker]

I've had an oil burner dodge since 03. Love the Cummins. 03 2500 4x4, 05 3500 4x4 dually, 08 3500 4x4 SRW. My current is a 14 2500 4x4 hemi with airbags. After 07 they all have E brakes w a Cummins. I think the ride is better loaded on the 3500 loaded as compaired to empty. The ride is very different between the springs and leafs. I had a friend that rode about 400 miles with me on a hunting trip and the next week he traded his 3500 4x4 dually for a 2500. On good pavement they all ride good. With out a doubt if I was getting a new 3500 it would have the air ride suspension. I would also opt for SRW. I live in the boonies and don't like chucking rocks from duals.

I drive a F250 as a work truck. I put 140k on it in the last 5 years and our new ones ride the same. It makes me really apreciate the ride on the springs.

Your not going to have issues pulling hills with any gearing combo with the Cummins (in my opinion) and as a daily driver would opt for the 3:42 s unless you live in the western mountains, and if they aren't cutting on your rig you're probably looking at 4500 or bigger.

My 2 cents

Salt

[Philos3]

Salt Shaker,

That is about the best write up on these issues I have ever read. This is a subject where there will be differing opinions, but you have a very useful combination of experiences and opinions that make a lot of sense to me. I would value your experience closer to $20,000 because getting the right combo of 5th, truck, and daily driver right the first time out is a big deal, and I do mean that...or instead going with a used high end dp Class A and dingy, possibly a truck dingy, to get the right combo for my situation.

[shorthorn]

My Ram 3500 drw has the Cummins / 68RFE / 3.42 combination... pulls my 14k 5er with ease, even thru the Smokey Mountains.

[2Dragons]

I purchased a 2015 3500 Laramie Longhorn dually, Cummins w/ Aisin tranny. I pull a 40' 5ver (Primetime Sanabel) and the Ram does not even know it's back there except for the steep climbs of course. It handles the 5ver like a charm and I feel a lot more comfortable with the beast in control. I would get airbags, empty, the rides not too bad but it is deffinately a little rough but I'm a full timer so I ride loaded a little more than I do empty. Plan to upgrade to the bags.

[boatman22]

Remember that with the Asian transmission you also get the larger rear end....

[325BH]

Originally Posted by boatman22

Remember that with the Asian transmission you also get the larger rear end....

Nobody wants those Asian ST tires, but them Asian transmissions da best!

LOL. Sorry, I couldn't resist. [emoji846]

[boatman22]

I need to learn how to spell....back to 1st grade....

[hguld1]

Just returned from an 9000 km trip to Jasper Alberta with my 2016 2500 Ram pulling a 36 Cedar Creek fifth. Truck comes with the standard transmission and no air bags. Got 13.5 mpg and pulling never presented a problem. Just never forced the truck as some mountains were very steep.

[Philos3]

"36 Cedar Creek fifth"

My understanding is that the GVWR of your unit is 16,406 lbs. Using my estimate of the pin weight based on 25% your pin weight at max GVWR would be 4,101 lbs.

For me it always works out to exceed the 2500 payload and force me into a 3500 dually since I would also want a crew cab and 4x4, both of which reduce the payload available, as well as the hitch plus other stuff. And probably the axle limit???

Doggy bones for me.

[hguld1]

GVWR is 14085 and pin weight is 2085 so I feel comfortable with that and load the trailer properly.