Is the 2500 a good all around truck, not for towing all the time?

[gimmie11s]

Must have either been the Cummins or LA.

My 2016 2500 with the Hemi was a pleasure to drive daily, even back when I was commuting just shy of 100 miles round-trip every day. But that was in Denver traffic, so definitely much less hectic.

I'm sure I'd enjoy it just as much in my 2020, but have only been to the office twice since I bought it.

I'll agree with that... probably both! A gas motor would have been much more responsive in that atmosphere, no doubt.

 

[Frank]

I purchased my 2500 Mega 6.7 with the intention of getting a travel trailer soon. Looks like that won’t happen now though we could rent one instead through RV Share.
I drive 90 highway miles round trip to work so it doesn’t really get used as a grocery getter. Have three growing teen boys hence the Mega.
I know it is overkill for me right now (feel like a poser sometimes) that I dont really use it as intended but I enjoy it. Love the power on hilly highway drives. Gets 19-20 mpg most weeks. All stock with Banks Monster Pedal.

I'm sure I look like a poser to my neighbors. I store my camper and 28' boat trailer at a storage lot, I have a little 16' aluminum fishing boat in my driveway, and I have a optioned up 2500 CTD Night Edition parked out front that barely moves with working from home. The big boat is only at my house for maintenance and cleaning the day I take it in or out of the slip for the year, and the camper the night before a trip. Even before Covid, 80% of my miles were weekend fun. I could get to work, daycare, grocery store, almost all of my daily needs with a bicycle and tandem trailer if I really wanted to.

 

[Jimmy07]

All I can tell you is my experience. I don't know where the numbers came from but the 2500 is in no way, shape, or form smaller. I have much less room for error in parking spaces (left to right and I always stick out) and I had to go from a 2inch to an 8 inch drop shank because I couldn't even reach my camper's tongue fully extended when I first got the new truck. I backed half way into the garage to install my bed cover and I had 1/4 inch to spare at the clearance lights. Whatever source you are looking at...not what I am seeing in real life.

It all depends what 1500 you are comparing an HD with. A 2500 CCSB vs a 2019 1500 classic crew cab 6’-4” bed, and they are exactly the same physical size (same cab, same size bed, etc). Ride height is the only difference.
A 2500 CCSB vs a 2019 1500 5th gen crew cab 6’-4” bed, and the 1500 is definitely the larger truck (obviously ride height is the difference). The 5th gen cab is 4” longer, 2” wider, the bed is 2” taller. The only way a 1500 can be smaller (shorter) than the HD is if the 1500 has a quad cab, or the 5’-7” bed.

 

[jm888]

All I can tell you is my experience. I don't know where the numbers came from but the 2500 is in no way, shape, or form smaller. I have much less room for error in parking spaces (left to right and I always stick out) and I had to go from a 2inch to an 8 inch drop shank because I couldn't even reach my camper's tongue fully extended when I first got the new truck. I backed half way into the garage to install my bed cover and I had 1/4 inch to spare at the clearance lights. Whatever source you are looking at...not what I am seeing in real life.

Did your 1500 have the short bed (5'7") or the standard bed (6'4")?

 

[Frank]

It all depends what 1500 you are comparing an HD with. A 2500 CCSB vs a 2019 1500 classic crew cab 6’-4” bed, and they are exactly the same physical size (same cab, same size bed, etc). Ride height is the only difference.
A 2500 CCSB vs a 2019 1500 5th gen crew cab 6’-4” bed, and the 1500 is definitely the larger truck (obviously ride height is the difference). The 5th gen cab is 4” longer, 2” wider, the bed is 2” taller. The only way a 1500 can be smaller (shorter) than the HD is if the 1500 has a quad cab, or the 5’-7” bed.

I had a 5th Gen 1500 CC SB, not a Classic. Enormous back seat which I miss. Again, just my experience, the 1500 was easier to maneuver through parking lots and fit in spaces easier.

The dimensions of the 5th gen cab may be larger but the entire truck, 2500 has the larger envelope. I agree the 2500 bed is somewhat shallow, but the 9 inches of extra bed is more than the 4" of extra cab and the roof is much higher from the ground. I could see the roof of my 1500 standing next to it BUT my head was no where near the ceiling and now I have to comb my hair when I get out.

 

[Frank]

Did your 1500 have the short bed (5'7") or the standard bed (6'4")?

5'7". That would be apples to oranges to compare 6'4" beds across both models.

 

[jm888]

5'7". That would be apples to oranges to compare 6'4" beds across both models.

Ok that explains it then, I must have misunderstood. I thought both trucks had the same bed size so yeah, I can see how the 1500 would be easier to maneuver.

 

[Frank]

Ok that explains it then, I must have misunderstood. I thought both trucks had the same bed size so yeah, I can see how the 1500 would be easier to maneuver.

5th gen 1500 with the new enormous interior - SB = 5'7", LB = 6'4".
4.5 gen HD - SB = 6'4", LB = 8'

The 1500 Classics follow the HD's because they are really 4.5 gen too. 5th gen 1500 has no 8ft bed available until they retool Saltillo or expand production in Michigan and do away with 4.5 gen altogether.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

If your getting a hemi its fine to drive a 2500 dailyif you were looking at a cummins or any diesel for that matter they are better if you tow often as a diesel is happiest when working hard.... diesels that have been worked tend to be more problem free than ones that people just commute with... but a gas engine does not make a difference really....

 

[jdefoe0424]

Disagree. My 2016 2500 cummins short bed crew cab was AWFUL to daily drive. That being said, i was putting about 300 miles a week on it for work and it was like driving a drump truck after a while... As a dd, you really begin to feel the weight and slow response of the truck. ... the "dead" or laggy throttle makes it even worse. Add LA traffic into the mix and nope... not a good time!

Obviously while towing, there wasnt much that could compare with that truck, but as a daily driver? Never again.

Yes, you definitely feel the extra weight and heavy suspension...I still find myself braking too late occasionally. With the Hemi I have no dead pedal and the truck drives well in that regard, that's always been a complaint of the Cummins.
I'm sure with that traffic it's not a good time.

What am I missing here? Looking at the specs, the 2500 crew cab standard bed is 238.8" long, 79.5" wide, and 80.2" high. The 1500 crew cab standard bed is 241.8" long, 82.1" wide, and 77.5" tall. First of all, I am surprised that the 2500 is shorter and narrower, although those differences seem negligible but in the favor of the 2500 for space. It is 3 inches taller though so I guess if your garage door height is already low, that could be a problem, but parking spaces shouldn't be any worse, should they?

It's more than just physical size, it's the size that it feels when you're inside. Because it's taller it feels a lot bigger than it really is.
Parking lots with the crew cab & 6'4" bed are probably comparable to a 1500, maybe slightly worse as I'm sure the steering angle on the 1500 is still better. But with the 8' bed or megacab it really hurts the turning radius and your only option in many cases is to reverse into a spot or park far enough away that you can pull through to be straight and not stick out in the aisle.

 

[Basser53]

I went from a 15 (6.4l] to an 18 (ctd) to a 21(ctd) all 2500 cc's with the 6.4 bed.. all have been daily drivers .I pull on weekends the 21 rides and handles much better the the other 2.. the 6'4 bed does everything I need it to do.. had an 03 cc with an 8' bed . For me giving up 1.5 foot of bed space was well worth gaining the ability to park it anywhere... jmo

 

[AnthonyD1978]

I had a 2019 5th gen 1500 Laramie and now have a 2019 Power Wagon. I got the 1500 in 2018 and owned it for over a year. I've had the PW almost a year. I'm going to make a generalized statement that many here won't like.

If you don't need the specific towing/payload of a 2500 (or Power Wagon capabilities) the 5th gen 1500's are a better truck. The biggest difference being the cabin is nicer (at the same trim levels) and actually bigger. The flat floor and wider cabin in the 1500's makes a big difference. Rear leg room is a huge difference in the crew cabs. Also, the tech is better on the 1500. Basically, you get all the advantages of a true new gen truck.

 

[sstoner911]

Good point on the Hemi. I was leaning that route too but then have had people tell me that I will get better mileage with the diesel. However, for the $10k difference in price, it will take forever to make up for it with the amount I would be driving! I don't really want a diesel anyways so you just helped confirm that it would not be good for my situation. Thank you.

You can make that $10K up in the piece of mind you will get 500,000 miles out of the diesel

 

[Brewbud]

You can make that $10K up in the piece of mind you will get 500,000 miles out of the diesel

And in the resale too. The 2007 Cummins I just sold went for 10K more than similar gas versions were priced at.

 

[gimmie11s]

You can make that $10K up in the piece of mind you will get 500,000 miles out of the diesel

500k is doubtful with the emissions equipment.. unless all of that falls off the truck around the 150k mark lol

And in the resale too. The 2007 Cummins I just sold went for 10K more than similar gas versions were priced at.

Resale and power! That's the reason i buy diesels.

 

[Brewbud]

I would love to have the cab of the 1500 but that is pretty much it. Both my wife and I love driving the Cummins. Even in LA traffic. Actually, especially in LA traffic. We sit taller and can see over traffic better. There are things you can do to the diesel that will improve the performance and the ride. My 2020 with the modified suspension is much more nimble now than it was stock. Now if I could only get the throttle response my programmed 2007 had. That will take a little more work.

 

[jdefoe0424]

I would love to have the cab of the 1500 but that is pretty much it. Both my wife and I love driving the Cummins. Even in LA traffic. Actually, especially in LA traffic. We sit taller and can see over traffic better. There are things you can do to the diesel that will improve the performance and the ride. My 2020 with the modified suspension is much more nimble now than it was stock. Now if I could only get the throttle response my programmed 2007 had. That will take a little more work.

Get a Banks pedal monster, expensive but worth it from what I've seen.

 

[kristof]

I moved from 1500 to 2500 just so I could move my 32ft travel trailer from Illinois to Michigan . Probably not going to move it anymore. My wife keeps asking me "so why we bought bigger truck?"

 

[LightRacer]

I had a 2019 5th gen 1500 Laramie and now have a 2019 Power Wagon. I got the 1500 in 2018 and owned it for over a year. I've had the PW almost a year. I'm going to make a generalized statement that many here won't like.

If you don't need the specific towing/payload of a 2500 (or Power Wagon capabilities) the 5th gen 1500's are a better truck. The biggest difference being the cabin is nicer (at the same trim levels) and actually bigger. The flat floor and wider cabin in the 1500's makes a big difference. Rear leg room is a huge difference in the crew cabs. Also, the tech is better on the 1500. Basically, you get all the advantages of a true new gen truck.

Those are good points, but I think I do need to consider payload, as others have mentioned a trailer closer to 30' will be close to the max payload of a 1500. I understand that the cabin is roomier in a 1500 so I guess I will have to compare that in person, but how is the tech better?

As far as resale value, I can see how that is important to some people, especially if you trade it in every few years, but if you plan to keep it 10 or 15 years, I don't think that makes much difference. And I doubt this truck will even reach 1/4th of that 500k miles someone mentioned I guess it all depends on how you plan to drive it or how long you plan to keep it.

 

[jm888]

Those are good points, but I think I do need to consider payload, as others have mentioned a trailer closer to 30' will be close to the max payload of a 1500. I understand that the cabin is roomier in a 1500 so I guess I will have to compare that in person, but how is the tech better?

As far as resale value, I can see how that is important to some people, especially if you trade it in every few years, but if you plan to keep it 10 or 15 years, I don't think that makes much difference. And I doubt this truck will even reach 1/4th of that 500k miles someone mentioned I guess it all depends on how you plan to drive it or how long you plan to keep it.

I agree about the resale value. I just consider any vehicle a depreciating asset so I try to hang on to them for a long time too. But even in this case, for example, if you spent $10k more on a diesel, what will the resale value be in 10 years? Will it be $5k more than a gas? $10k? 15k? Even if the resale value is more than the $10k extra you spent on the diesel, you still would have had 10 years that you could have done something else with that extra $10k. Now, if you need a diesel, then that is great to have better resale value, but I don't think it is a wise investment to get one just because of resale value.