2500 or 3500 TV?

[KYCAMPER]

I am currently towing my 27DSRL with a Chevy 1500. While adequate for most any relatively short trip, I want a more substantial TV for planned cross country trips through rockies to west coast etc. Also,I think in a few years I will want to upgrade the TT to something larger. I have been looking at GMC Duramax 2500 but discovered the payload is only 2420lbs (according to label on pillar behind driver door). That eliminates quite a few 5'vers so for around another $1K I can buy a 3500 SRW with a payload a little north of about 4200lbs. To me seems like a no brainer for the money but would like a little feedback from the experienced travelers if there are any significant compromises owning a 3500 vs a 2500. Although I probably won't drive the TV much unless I'm pulling the camper, one concern is that a stiffer ride while driving unloaded might be a problem. My local dealer doesn't have a 3500 for me to try so I'll need to go to an out of town dealer to try one out. A test drive will help me decide but nothing better than feedback from anyone with some first hand experience owning one.

[UPCamper]

I went from a F250 to a F350 SRW when I bought my most recent truck. Thought I wanted the 250 but they gave me a great deal on a 350. Anyways, now realizing the payload difference, and the few other upgrades, I wouldn't go back. The added cost is minimal. My 350 rides the same as my 250 did. I really do not see any negative to moving up other than the small increase in price.

[Ustabslim]

Get a Dodge Ram..2500

[milw156]

I was in the same position as you in 2013. In the grand scheme of things that little extra to go up the 3500 was small. Now with over 3800 lbs payload no worries in case we need to upgrade, and I love the towing experience.

[Russ661]

Originally Posted by KYCAMPER

I am currently towing my 27DSRL with a Chevy 1500. While adequate for most any relatively short trip, I want a more substantial TV for planned cross country trips through rockies to west coast etc. ...

This is my exact setup but we've only just taken delivery of the trailer, first outing in 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure this setup is at the upper end of my TV's capability and I'd like to know more about your experiences towing with the 1500. My TV is a 2012 4WD extended cab with all the HD towing options and the 5.3l engine, 3.42 gear. Do I need to look into upgrading my TV in order to do long range trips? Thanks

[etex211]

If you ever tow with a dually, you'll never want to tow with anything else.

[wwsmith111]

Originally Posted by Russ661

This is my exact setup but we've only just taken delivery of the trailer, first outing in 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure this setup is at the upper end of my TV's capability and I'd like to know more about your experiences towing with the 1500. My TV is a 2012 4WD extended cab with all the HD towing options and the 5.3l engine, 3.42 gear. Do I need to look into upgrading my TV in order to do long range trips? Thanks

That 3.42 gear is a killer power wise. You want something like a 4.10. My Tundra has a 4.30 but I wish it had a 4.10.

[norty1]

Count me as the exception then. I had a duelly and went to a 1 ton SRW with 3.73 rear.
As long as it does not exceed towing specs I prefer it.

[cariboocreek]

I think when you start comparing prices the difference between a one ton and a 3/4 ton becomes minimal. For the 1k, and all other things being equal, I would go with the 1 ton. I did like towing with my previous dually (2011 Ram 3500) but for anything else the dually was "inconvenient". I switched to a single rear wheel and couldn't be happier.

[plaid]

I traded in my 2007 3/4 ton GMC Duramax with air bags for a 2014 3500HD DRW long box. I was not in anyway overloaded before but decided if I was going to pull the trigger on a new truck I was going bigger.


I wanted a SRW short box 3500 but could not find one at the time with the rebates. Now that I have towed with the duelly I would not go back and the extra bed space is nice too. It is a little huge for driving around town but manageable if you are not constantly in the city.


I was worried about the ride as well but the GM's are unbelievable for ride comfort the thing rides like a 1/2 ton. I don't think GM has the HD suspension under it like Ford or Dodge does but the Duramax engine/transmission is the way to go!

[Russ661]

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

That 3.42 gear is a killer power wise. You want something like a 4.10. My Tundra has a 4.30 but I wish it had a 4.10.

4.10s are just too low for my situation; I kinda like getting 18-20 mpg when not towing! Anyways, 3.42 was the lowest offered. I believe the reason those gears work in your truck is because the trans is geared high but that's just a guess.

Had a street legal Chevy Luv back in the 80's with a 350 small block / powerglide combo with 4.88 gears on a Detroit locker differential in a narrowed 9" ford rear end. 12.9 second quarter mile times @ 120 mph all day long on 89 octane unleaded gas. Low gears do have their place, just not in my current TV.

[KYCAMPER]

Russ661 it all depends on how you will use your setup. If all I did was 150 mile pulls or less I wouldn't bother changing what I have.
My setup is a 2012 Silverado extended cab, with the 3.42 gear, tow package. Payload is about 1680. With very few exceptions, no complaints on how the truck handles the trailer but then I don't think I have added enough cargo to exceed the rated payload. The transmission never got too hot. I think I am operating within the "rated" design parameters of the truck.
Pulled the camper to Florida last summer. Went down a relatively flat I-65. Just the slightest hill and the transmission begins downshifting. On some hills in 4th I could not get past 50mph - mabe I could have in 3rd. Bottom line is, I don't like all the transmission hunting and I am afraid I will be climbing the steep grades through the mountains out west at 30 mph.
Maybe I am impatient or overly sensitive to the shifting and whining but I can't help but think a heavier duty and, more importantly, a more powerful truck will provide a better towing experience.

[Russ661]

KYCAMPER my experience just towing the rig home was just as you said: flat ground, no problem tows great. There is a 2 mile stretch of highway coming home from my dealer that is about a 6-7% grade and I was up and down from 40 to 50 MPH. And that was with a totally empty/dry tanks trailer! Next time I will put it in manual shift mode and just stay in 3rd gear. I am not in a good position to pull the trigger on a new (or used) TV right now so I will have to live with what I've got and just go slower. Thanks for your reply.
Russ

[KYCAMPER]

Russ: I found that if I put the tranny in manual 4th, 80% of the downshifting problems went away. I didn't like going down the highway at a constant minimum of 2800RPM and I ceratinly never came up on anything close to a 6 or 7% grade.

I would say give it a shot - there are quite a few on this forum that have the same or very similar setup and are perfectly satisfied. It comes down to personal preference for towing performance expectations.

The most important step for getting a new TV I have already accomplished - getting the DW on board. Actually, she is just as annoyed with the performance as I am.

Love the camper but I think in a few years after we're finished galavanting around the country (I will retire 1/30/15) with this camper we will probably get something bigger (probably large 5er) to pull south for the winter for extended stays.

[troutslayer]

I forgot...what was the original question?

[Plowtoy]

Other than the payload, the differances between a 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are minimal. Today, ALL The truck manufactures want their truck to ride like a car. So if it were me, I would consider the 1 ton for future expansion. Then again, this is from the same guy who would try pull just about anything with a half ton ( I Love My Tahoe ).

[carey965]

if you get a srw or drw you will be way happier either way, i love my 3500 srw, was looking for a drw but they were about 3-5 grand more and needed 6 tires to replace rather then 4, generally can pull the same amount of weight and the payload is close

i can definitely feel the difference in the ride from my half ton, but not a whole lot and it is completely worth it

[Diesel Donnie]

Originally Posted by etex211

If you ever tow with a dually, you'll never want to tow with anything else.

X2

[Russ661]

Originally Posted by KYCAMPER

The most important step for getting a new TV I have already accomplished - getting the DW on board.

That was the easy part! The hard part is coming up with the cash!
BTW, congrats on the retirement, I'm still about 18 months out.

[Paintinfool3]

Well I had a 2005 Yukon with the 5.3 before and pulling any trailer it seemed to hunt gears even on the smallest incline . Now I have a 1995 f 350 dually crew cab longbed with the 7.3 and a 5 speed manual tranny and most of the time I can run it in 5 th gear with cruise set and not worry about it .... Now as to ride I think they have made great strides since then ,mine rides pretty rough unloaded ..... I am thinking of going to an air ride suspension kit they sell for about 3500 dollars to change front and rear to air ride ... If that tells you how much I like the trucks ability lol ... I do like the dually rears not so much for payload as for stability , it just seems more stable to me when pulling a load