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2500 vs 3500

For me it was simple. I drive somewhere every single day. I tow my 5th wheel about 10 times a year and my dirt bike trailer a few times a month. I didn't need the specs of the 3500 to meet my needs and the ride between the 2 trucks is night and day especially over long drives.

I'm actually having an Air Lift system installed on my truck as I write this. 5000# bags and the 74000EZ compressor. Wish I could have found my truck with it stock, but this truck had everything else and the dealer took the money off of the truck for parts and install, so it worked out fine for me.

If you're not in a trade where you need it or towing a pretty big 5th wheel or camper the 3500 is a whole lot o truck that on the right road will make your kidneys bleed after a while.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still end up with one more than likely, it's just that right now the 2500 fits the bill for me.
 
Billcf7 said:
There aren't many fifth wheels you can tow with a 2500 and be within your payload limit
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A 5th wheel under 12K for a 2500 will put it over 90% capacity. My toyhauler put my rear axle at 5700-5800 pounds, on a 6000 axle.
 
RV_Goose said:
Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_20/Article_2.html
"Class A. - A Class A license authorizes the holder to drive any of the following:
a. A Class A motor vehicle that is exempt under G.S. 20-37.16 from the commercial drivers license requirements.
b. A Class A motor vehicle that has a combined GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds and includes as part of the combination a towed unit that has a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds."

GVWR of my 5th wheel is 11,800. So a non-commercial Class A is required.
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If you were pulling it for business reasons, yes. But if you're pulling it for personal use, I think almost every state now exempts recreational vehicles and other personal use trailers from requiring a non-comm CDL. There may be a few stragglers out there though.
(e) The requirements for a commercial drivers license do not apply to vehicles used for personal use such as recreational vehicles.
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_20/Article_2C.pdf
 
jdefoe0424 said:
If you were pulling it for business reasons, yes. But if you're pulling it for personal use, I think almost every state now exempts recreational vehicles and other personal use trailers from requiring a non-comm CDL. There may be a few stragglers out there though.
(e) The requirements for a commercial drivers license do not apply to vehicles used for personal use such as recreational vehicles.
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_20/Article_2C.pdf
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I never quoted anything about commercial drivers license. The class A I referenced is for non-commercial. No type of CDL is required for RV or personal equipment.

I referenced the laws about non-CDL license classes. Yes, it is confusing. Even DMV staff are confused. Many NC DMV offices are contractors.
 
RV_Goose said:
I never quoted anything about commercial drivers license. The class A I referenced is for non-commercial. No type of CDL is required for RV or personal equipment.

I referenced the laws about non-CDL license classes. Yes, it is confusing. Even DMV staff are confused. Many NC DMV offices are contractors.
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Ah. I guess even I was confused on the non-cdl stuff.
Yeah, you read it and it says you don't need a CDL...but it doesn't say you need a non-cdl or your license to match the weight...I was looking at my state and technically I should have a class C just because of the truck...but I feel like as long as nothing happens and you're not being an idiot then it's not going to come into play.

edit. FWIW, I saw a 2500 Cummins the other day with a B plate on it. B plates are 8k lbs max, the truck alone is almost over that! I went to C (10k lbs max) even though I lost 6 months of reg fee
 
jdefoe0424 said:
Ah. I guess even I was confused on the non-cdl stuff.
Yeah, you read it and it says you don't need a CDL...but it doesn't say you need a non-cdl or your license to match the weight...I was looking at my state and technically I should have a class C just because of the truck...but I feel like as long as nothing happens and you're not being an idiot then it's not going to come into play.

edit. FWIW, I saw a 2500 Cummins the other day with a B plate on it. B plates are 8k lbs max, the truck alone is almost over that! I went to C (10k lbs max) even though I lost 6 months of reg fee
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Probably true however, someone was talking me that there is a possibility of insurance using the registration weight as a loop hole if you are overweight to not pay


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Bozo said:
No CDL here for non pro use. If you haul for profit, including show animals, etc. that pay winnings/prizes, you do need a CDL crossing state lines. Lots of grey/areas subject to interpretation. For the record, I have a CDL, so no worries except for when I had the 2500. If I would have been stopped, I would have gotten the, “as a CDL holder/driver, you should have known better”, from law enforcement.

And I definitely was one of those......99%
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Yes, as soon as I retire, that stupid CDL is going by-by, so I can play dumb like I see all you amateurs do and get away with
stuff I never could! All because of the word COMMERCIAL on my DL! :mad:
 
Plum Cra Zy said:
Yes, as soon as I retire, that stupid CDL is going by-by, so I can play dumb like I see all you amateurs do and get away with
stuff I never could! All because of the word COMMERCIAL on my DL! :mad:
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I gave up my CDL 3 years ago after not using it for 10 years, and never wanting to go backwards. The woman at the DMV was dumbfounded that someone in their early 40's would just let it go.
 
Plum Cra Zy said:
Yes, as soon as I retire, that stupid CDL is going by-by, so I can play dumb like I see all you amateurs do and get away with
stuff I never could! All because of the word COMMERCIAL on my DL! :mad:
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I see too many amateurs with CDLs.
 
The biggest reason for me was Cali registration. 10000 gvwr and under don’t have to declare weight. So while registering a 70k truck is still stupid expensive to register, it’s not as bad as 10001 and over gvwr.


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CasualAdubs said:
Yep. Just looked it up. DMV.ORG

"A Class A commercial driver's license is required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more, to include a towed vehicle that is HEAVIER than 10,000 lbs."
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“Towed vehicle” ≠ “towing vehicle”
 
Toyotaguy said:
The biggest reason for me was Cali registration. 10000 gvwr and under don’t have to declare weight. So while registering a 70k truck is still stupid expensive to register, it’s not as bad as 10001 and over gvwr.


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Not correct.

You will pay a weight fee on a half ton 1994 chevy pick up since in CA, all trucks are considered "commercial" vehicles. Dumb, i agree.

That weight fee will be less than a 10k GVWR truck, but it will be an additional fee nonetheless.

If that is the "biggest" reason you bought a 2500, you may have made a mistake. There are plenty of reasons to not buy a 3500, but reg in CA is not one of them.
 
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You do still pay for a weight fee, but the weight fee on an under 10k vehicle is substantially less than a vehicle register to weigh 37k lbs.

If we had to register our 2500 to the 20k gvwr than there wouldn’t be a reason to buy a 2500 other than ride comfort.


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We'll have to agree to disagree.

It appears a 2500 and SRW 3500 are probably the same price to tag being they weigh almost the same (between 8 and 9k lbs).

Now, a 3500 dually might push you into the 9k lb range (which would be $52 more in fees), but doubtful.


 
When you declare weight, you declare what the gross combined weight your vehicle will weigh. So if you plan to pull a 20klbs trailer with your 3500 you have to register for 30klbs. With a 2500 you can pull a 14klbs trailer while only paying for an 8klbs truck.
337866622651d77fc57c926fa80e0e5f.png




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Toyotaguy said:
When you declare weight, you declare what the gross combined weight your vehicle will weigh. So if you plan to pull a 20klbs trailer with your 3500 you have to register for 30klbs. With a 2500 you can pull a 14klbs trailer while only paying for an 8klbs truck.
337866622651d77fc57c926fa80e0e5f.png




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That's one way to do it. The other way is to arrive with your scale ticket in hand and pay your weight fees via unladen weight--which is how ive done it more times than i can count. See the weight fee chart i posted above.

To be honest, both ways you pay roughly the same. The point stands that it is not much more expensive to tag a 3500 in CA, and in many cases the same or cheaper.

But hey... what does it matter as long as you enjoy your truck.
 
I honestly didn’t know there was a work around for declaring weight. Is there no risk in getting caught up by not being registered for the weight if for some reason you were ever weighed for some reason?

Luckily I never plan on towing super heavy and 2500 still fits my needs better, but maybe someone else can use the info.

For my work trucks I’ve always been hit with the declared weight paper when buying the truck. They’re all srw 1 tons with a service body though.


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