2500 or 3500?

[Jholeman]

Hey all, I’ve never owned a pickup but starting to look for towing a camper and hauling two dirt bikes. Current trailer has a tongue weight around 1000 (bumper pull) And GVWR is 7000 lbs.
questions are;
1. If I want to tow this trailer and haul two dirt bikes and a bunch of gear in the truck is a 2500 Laramie (6.7, crew cab, 4x4, short bed) enough truck or do I need a 3500? Looks like 2500 payload is 2050 and I assume that includes tongue weight?
2. Is a 6’4” bed going to work (with tailgate removed or left open) For two dirt bikes? I am not at a location where I can measure the bikes currently, so looking for someone that has done this.
3. It looks to me like a 2500 would work for what I describe but if I ever got a bigger trailer I may be screwed. So want to be able to have extra capacity for future (unknown needs).
4. From what I can tell the 2500 has coils in the rear and the 3500 has leafs. It would also be a daily driver so how does the ride compare. I currently drive a Lexus Land Cruiser clone and love the coil spring ride.

 

[Will_T]

Yes I would get a 3500. The true payload on the door sticker is probably less than that. Could you get by with a 2500? Not sure. But 1,000 lbs. of tongue wt. plus two bikes, plus other gear, people, etc. and I would not do it. The only down side is not as smooth a ride when empty. The cost difference is small although it is harder to find a 3500 short bed than it is to find a 2500 with that bed. I have always had a 1 ton 3500 long bed and have always been happy to have the payload. My current truck is that size and 20 years old. I have never been unhappy with the ride. The truck I just ordered is a 3500 short bed but I am still hopeful that even with the short bed, the ride will be as good or better than my 20 year old truck. So the ride is the only possible downside I think. But on the other hand, if you load it too heavy, you then have safety concerns. Not an easy decision, especially if the numbers are not clearly over the 2500 payload. So many of these choices take a lot of time to "weigh". Then in the end you make the decision you think is best and then worry it was the right one! Welcome to the club.

 

[Portercycling250]

Go with 3500. Sounds like 8 foot bed is just an overall safer bet for you. You can never have too much truck. Disregard the FCA payload charts as they are only a max starting point as you add options to a truck it goes down. The more options the less payload. Hitch weight is not factored at all and must be added to your payload weight. Occupants, gear, hitch weight add up fast.

 

[Bozo]

For the difference in price, spring for the 3500, most definitely.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Buy a long box and buy a 3500

 

[RV_Goose]

When we test drove 2020 3500 dually, it was nothing like the duallies from previous years. I imagine the SRW are the same. It is not a Lexus. But a SRW 3500 will perform current towing duties and allow for future expansion. And the price differences between gas 2500 and 3500 is not much, if any at all. You do not seem to need a dually at all.

Many people paid more for their 1500 than I did for my 2020 RAM 3500 Tradesman HO Aisin truck.

 

[Phil T]

Definitely a 3500 with the long bed. If it can take a full 4x8 sheet of plywood flat with the gate closed, it is a real truck.

 

[Jholeman]

So I test drove a 2500 short bed and a 3500 long bed yesterday. No way I could daily drive the 3500. Maybe I’m just used to a shorter wheelbase coil sprung SUV, but the 3500 unloaded would not be a good daily for me, and the long bed makes it hard to park. Are there options for updating the payload a few hundred pounds on the 2500 if I needed to? Airbags?

 

[StealthSky]

Payload would be a bit higher if you go for the 6.4 Hemi. The payload for my 2019 2500 bighorn is a tad over 3k.

 

[Bozo]

When we test drove 2020 3500 dually, it was nothing like the duallies from previous years. I imagine the SRW are the same. It is not a Lexus. But a SRW 3500 will perform current towing duties and allow for future expansion. And the price differences between gas 2500 and 3500 is not much, if any at all. You do not seem to need a dually at all.

Many people paid more for their 1500 than I did for my 2020 RAM 3500 Tradesman HO Aisin truck.

Crazy, isnt it?

 

[Wileykid]

So I test drove a 2500 short bed and a 3500 long bed yesterday. No way I could daily drive the 3500. Maybe I’m just used to a shorter wheelbase coil sprung SUV, but the 3500 unloaded would not be a good daily for me, and the long bed makes it hard to park. Are there options for updating the payload a few hundred pounds on the 2500 if I needed to? Airbags?

Couple of thoughts. First, you can get a 3500 short bed, and it would be the same as the 2500 you drove. The 3500 will have a stiffer ride, but you can lower the tire pressure when you are not towing, and it improves the ride a lot.

Second, you can put whatever you want on the truck, but the payload number will never change.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

So I test drove a 2500 short bed and a 3500 long bed yesterday. No way I could daily drive the 3500. Maybe I’m just used to a shorter wheelbase coil sprung SUV, but the 3500 unloaded would not be a good daily for me, and the long bed makes it hard to park. Are there options for updating the payload a few hundred pounds on the 2500 if I needed to? Airbags?

You can get away with the 2500 how it is but you will be over they legal payload it will ride and sit fine

 

[OuachitaAdventure]

I've had both and honestly I would probably never buy a 2500 again unless I just plan on doing things I could probably do with a half ton. For me, payload is what gets you on the 2500s. My 2018 Mega cab only had 600 more pounds of payload than another 2019 Ram 1500 I had. For any good size fifth wheel you are usually over payload with the pin weight, not counting the actual weight of people, stuff, etc.

I had 4 2500s in a row. When I made the leap to 3500 I never looked back. I have a 3500 mega dually now and I am really pleased with the ride. Yes, it is harsher than the 2500, but not bad and not nearly as rough as the new 2500 GMCs I've driven( drove two on test drives and they were teeth shattering). With a payload of 5600lbs. I never have to worry.

 

[JohnandDonna]

I have always thought its pretty simple. If you want a diesel then go with the 3500. You lose too much payload on a 2500 with a diesel (about 1000 pounds). For me the 2500 goes best with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 rear end.

 

[RV_Goose]

I have always thought its pretty simple. If you want a diesel then go with the 3500. You lose too much payload on a 2500 with a diesel (about 1000 pounds). For me the 2500 goes best with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 rear end.

I can see your point. My 2013 RAM 2500 Tradesman CC SB diesel had. 2475 payload. Which worked well with my 12k toyhauler. When weighed on a scale I was under all weights, but over 90% of all capacity. Knowing we will be buying a heavier trailer, I went with a 2020 RAM 3500 Tradesman dually that will handle any trailer I'd buy. I did appreciate my diesel just humming along in the WV, TN or NC mountains, not turning 3000+ rpm like a gasses would have.

I wonder what the payload is on a current 2500 Tradesman CC LB diesel.

 

[Xflight29]

The 2500 would do just fine. if you are towing every day than yes the 3500 but for what you describe the 2500 was made for this.

 

[Jholeman]

I have always thought its pretty simple. If you want a diesel then go with the 3500. You lose too much payload on a 2500 with a diesel (about 1000 pounds). For me the 2500 goes best with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 rear end.

Agree, but I really would like the exhaust brake since I live in the mountains. Guess there is no perfect vehicle that does it all. Thanks

 

[Chris.Gio]

Agree on 2500 here. Daily driver and not towing should weigh heavily on decision. sounds like the 3500, especially HO, is about compromising capability with comfort, drivability (pedal lag, dead spots?), transmission clunkyness and more. Which is all good if you are towing more often than not.

the 2500 can tow 18,000. That is more than 2.5x your trailer. Not asking very much of truck here.

payload of 1800 is trickier. If your tongue is around 1,000 you have 800 to play with. But why is tongue so high? Typically it’s closer to 10% or 700 in your case. Alternatively can you move from your trailer to a toy hauler? It isnt that the 2500 is anemic, you are asking for two different things (towing plus bikes in bed).

as an example you could get a 10,000 or even 12,000 pound toy hauler, put bikes in the back of it and still only have a tongue (payload) of less than 1200. This bad boy is 29 feet, only weighs 7600 pounds and can carry dirt bikes and more as an example.. https://aluminumtoyhauler.com/model/game-changer-pro-series/2917/

then you get a 2500 around town the other 5 days a week...

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

gas 2500 is plenty for that load

My 6.4L 2500 has a payload of 3187lb and towing of 14,xxx lb.

hell, a half ton gas truck could do that work but would not be the most confidence inspiring setup

 

[Chris.Gio]

Relooked at ram brochure. do you need a mega or limited? If no, 2500 diesel crew payload is over 2700 and can pull over 19,000. Maybe that is way to go?

another thought. There is talk of a true 5th gen, and possibly new transmission options, in next few years. You could lease (2500 or 3500) for 2 to 3 years as a super long test drive and see how fits the family. Then actually buy another new one that is perfect based on what you learn..