2500 vs 3500

[woodwhttler]

I would like an opinion about towing 11,000 5th wheel with a 3500 vs 2500 duramax. What difference in handleing would you expect with a dually and is it worth the difference considering everyday use when not towing.

[DmaxMaverick]

Jforrest

Welcome to the Forum!

A dually will most definately handle better than a SRW with a heavy trailer in tow. No brainer there. Do you need one? That's up to your needs. I have an '01 2500HD and tow a 11K+ 5'er about 25% of the mileage. It is more than adequate and handles very well. If I were a full timer, I would likely move up to a dually, but the 2500HD would still do the job fine. The remaining 75% of my driving makes me really appreciate the SRW for many reasons.

A 11K 5'er should be well within the trucks rated capacities and will tow comfortably. DRW's would be more of a peace of mind thing, IMO.

[richp]

I can't comment from personal experience with a dually and that big a trailer, but I've towed a 31' Jayco fiver (11,500# actual weight) about 65k miles with my 2001 K2500 DMAX (truck just turned 90k with no significant issues -- still have lots of life on the original brakes, believe it or not).

I've never felt a need for any additional stability or capacity, which I suppose would theoretically be the reasons for the dual wheels. Passing big rig trucks are barely noticeable. Wind sway is not an issue except in side winds that would cause any sensible person to slow down anyway. I'm now up to 9 round trips over the Rockies with this rig, and never wished I had more, either in weight capacity, power, or braking.

For what it's worth.

Rich Phillips
Member #27

[royalglen]

We have towed 11000 lb Titanium 34` across US & Canada in every weather condition with 03 2500HD. I would`nt want duals when not hooked to trailer. too limiting.A 5th wheel that is double swivel is must-less chance of transfer of side winds etc. smile.gif

[tanker]

jforrest, you may wish to look into a K-3500 SRW in lieu of a dual rear wheel. The 3500 SRW has one more extra spring leaf in the main spring, than the 2500HD, and one helper spring, No helper on the 2500HD. (dual rear wheels get two helper springs) the 3500 gets the 265/75R16-E tires, the 2500HD gets the 245's. The 3500 SRW has a GVWR of 9900lbs. The 2500HD is 9200lbs. So if you don't want a DRW, but want some extra stability, go with the K-3500. You cannot get a short bed in the 3500, but at least you will get the larger fuel tank 35-gallon, short bed is 26-gallon. One other thing, the K-3500 is less money than the K-2500HD :rolleyes: , Could be that you can't get factory aluminum wheels on the 3500. I just ordered a K-3500, after many months of searching for information on what would serve us best. Hope this helps in your choice. smile.gif

[woodwhttler]

Thanks guys! You opinions are about the same as I thought. Had an 01 short box and now 03 long box extended. Just getting new veh itch and wanted to consider the options. The 03 srw has done fine and is still stock. NO problems with the 01 or this one (yet)

[Onebigcanuck]

I towed the unit pictures here with a 2500 for a year. I upgraded to a 2003, 3500 about 1 1/2 years ago. I would never go back to a 2500 with a trailer of this weight. Towing is much more relaxing experence with the 3500.

smile.gif

[MaxACL]

I tow about 85% of the life of my truck and the extra wheels have saved my bacon a few times.

I can't compare the two trucks as all I've driven is the dually but I see the 2500 units leaving the yard daily that looks over grossed.

The three most useless things in my other job is:

1. The runway behind you,
2. Fuel you didn

[billmax]

jforrest,
I just traded my 2001 duramax dually for a 05 2500 duramax, I'll let you know after this trip to florida if I made a good decision. I'm hauling a 5th wheel camper weighing about 12500.
I liked the stability of the dually but didn't like the extra width and expense of extra tires and fuel mileage.
Before the dually, I had a 2500 Dodge and stability wasn't an issue with it, so I don't think I'm going to have any problem with this one.

[BozDMAX]

I guess I would ask if that is the last 5th-wheel you are planning to buy? A lot of folks trade up trailers after a year or two and it doesn't take too long to get a pin weight up over the rear axle limit of a 2500.

I went for the 2003 DRW K3500 a couple of years ago and have never regretted it. 64,000 miles total, with 43,000 of that in the last 12 months of fulltiming (15,000 towing a 14,000 lb 5'er and another 5000 miles pulling a 16,000 lb gooseneck). I couldn't be happier with the DRW - helps it drive like a sports car!

[woodwhttler]

MaxACL, you forgot altitude above you on your worthless list. Thanks for the input the forum seems fairly divided between the SRW and DRW. I like the safety aspect and tow either a 12 ton equipment trailer with Skidloader or tractors about 40% and 20% 35' Kit patiohauler. I drove a new DRW and with the mirrors in could't see squat anywhere close the the rear because of the fenders.

------------------------
03 extended duramax
04 surburan
53 PA 18
Lots of other stuff

[J-M]

Both trucks have good and bad points, but saftey would be my main concren. We have pulled many miles with an 01 and a 02 ccd. The dual wheels will make your truck alot more stable on the road and in corners on the highway. We just up-graded to a 4500, what a big improvement over the 3500. Not to say this is the way you should go, but for us it made all the difference in handling the trailers we pull.this thing can stop the trailers we pull way better than the 3500 did.Hope this helps?

[wheeler]

Over last five years I towed 12,500 lb. fifth wheel with two different SRW trucks and had been avoiding a dually like the plague for the litany of usual reasons (ranging from aesthetic preference, hassle of car wash, parking, etc., squirrelly behaviour in snow, etc.) Very good point made above: I traded up in my 5ers and became undertrucked in the SRW 2500.

So I traded in my '03 2500HD on an 04.5 3500 dually and I love the new dually and feel like I should have made the change long ago. Only concern remaining is the dually's behaviour in snow-- but that point is moot this year as I'm staying south for the winter.

There is one unexpected plus to the dually. Call me nuts, but I think the 3500's unloaded ride is BETTER than the 2500HD's. That's because given my trailer pinweight I kept the 2500's tires at 80 PSI -- and due to the hassle I'd often just leave the tire pressure there. On the 3500 the rear tires' pressure are at 55 PSI all the time and my everday drive is less harsh. --wheeler

[MaxACL]

Help me out here someone.

Why does the Dually behave differently in snow?

Mike

[DmaxMaverick]

In deap snow the rear wheels don't track the front, or existing tracks (ruts). The biggest factor is the contact area of the rear wheels. More contact area with roughly the same weight translates into less traction. The results will be the same (or worse) when compared to driving on wet pavement. Tires spin a little easier with a dually. This is the reason narrower tires do better than wide tires on snow.

[J-M]

Dual rear wheels are terrible in snow and mud if you do not have 4wd. The last 3 3500 we have had were 4wd and it was a blessing to have when we needed it. A crew cab dually was not meant to be an off road vehicle, but having 4wd sure does help.