2500 versus 3500? The difference?

Rookie, dumb, no-brainer question.

I want a new truck.

A diesel.

Chrysler products are out (Lotta reasons, drive train mostly. The Cummins is a great engine, no doubt.)

Ford hasn't the reliability, and more electrical problems seem to be popping up. (Though I own a little Ranger that I like.)

GMC/Chevy?

I know there are soime websites that will explain this, but i haven't found them yet.

What is the difference between the 2500 and 3500 lines.

Is the 3500 a one ton?

The little googling I've done, the prices seem to be about the same.

Same engine sizes?

talking to dealers is VERY time consuming and very difficult. (I won't do that until I know exactly what I want.)

Buck

Reply to
Buck
Loading thread data ...

Me too.

Me too

yup again

Hmm, have you been reading my mind?

Dammit you've been spying on me!

What is it, a keylogger?

Ahh this one I know; Yes (I think )

This one I do know, Yes, same engines, I've compared.

Just came back from the local Chevy dealer, gonna trade in my '99 F250. Now my questions: I tow a 29' fifth wheel trailer and would like to know what experienced owners think are the must-have options/accessories for occasional non-towing use and two to three long (1-3 week) trips/year. The only one I am really sure about is the dual-zone AC, she is going into menopause and NEEDS her own temperature controller. Keep in mind that we live in Canada and cold/snow are a definite possibility 5-6 months of the year.

TIA, Tim and JoAnn.

Reply to
Tim Barr

Go to

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Select New Vehicles/Trucks/Chevy

Choose the models you are interested in, only 2007 models are shown.

On the next page, find "View all specifications"

Select "technical specs" from the tab menu.

There you are, weights, payloads, tow capacity etc...

DJ

Reply to
IdaSpode

I believe that it is possibly a violation of Canadian law to make such an ostentatious display of economic well-being.

Try Idaho (It ain't full yet!).

I own a 3/4 ton GMC van that was made in Canada. I think it got deported.

Anyway, I can hardly understand much of what you posted because you wrote it in Canadian.

Now to more serious matters.

It's a whole world of opinion out there.

The GVW/GVWR thing seems to hinge on an extra spring and tire size. (No dealer would ever tell you that.)

As you increase bed length and cab size, you eat up GVRW (I think I got that right.)

The whole issue seems to pivot on whether you need duallies or not.

This will be my last truck, so I want to get the right one.

I DO NOT want to be one of those old farts tooling around in a Winnebago.

It has to do more than one job.

Good Luck.

Buck

Reply to
Buck

I am ordering a 2500HD, crew cab, LT3, short bed, 4x4 to pull my future 5er. If you are towing, there are only a few items that would need to get: vertical mirrors - RPO DPN, the trailering equipment package - RPO Z82, the trailer wiring package - RPO UY2, and the Duramax, of course - RPO LBZ. If you get the LT3, it comes with everything but the kitchen sink, but that is an option ;-)

Hope this helps,

Steve M. in CA.

Reply to
Steve M. in CA.

I didn't mention that the 5er is a '96 model, hardly ostentatious.

I do plan to eventually make it to most states in the U.S.

Darn, I keep forgetting to translate for y'all.

I've looked at all the specs available, what I really want is experienced users opinions, but all opinions are, of course, welcome and appreciated.

Tim and JoAnn.

Reply to
Tim Barr

Don't see anything like that.

Reply to
cew

The answer is ... it depends. I tow a 35' triple slide 5er and recently traded in my '01 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed Dually Duramax on an '06 3500 Chevy SLT3 Crew Cab Long Bed 4x4 Duramax HO with Allison 6 Speed Automatic so I may be a little biased.

In my opinion the top 5 reasons a 3500 dually is a better tow vehicle than the 2500 is as follows:

  1. Dually is more stable

  1. Dually is rated for more pin weight

  2. Dually is more stable

  1. Dually has more stopping power

  2. Dually is more stable

I live and do most of my towing in the 'great plains' area where we have a lot of wind. On windy days I have followed (and passed) 3/4 ton pickups towing 5ers and they were all over the road. A few years ago on I-35 south of Oklahoma City I was behind a 3/4 ton towing a 5er. We were both heading north and the wind was gusting to 45 mph from the NW to the WNW. We would get a big gust of wind and the 3/4 ton and 5er would go 3-5 feet over on the shoulder. He would get it back in his lane and another gust would blow him back on the shoulder. I would guess he was driving 50-55 mph when I caught up and passed him doing about 65 mph and not having a problem staying in my lane. We also traveled some with a friend who had a SRW Ford 350 with a 5er and he had trouble on real windy days when I wasn't having a problem.

The biggest problem with a dually is that they won't fit in automatic car washes. The next biggest problem is parking in small parking slots especially until you get used to driving the dually.

As far as what options to get, get them all!! If you like listening to music and spend much time in your vehicle, get satellite radio. Also be sure to get all the towing 'stuff'' including mirrors.

Ron

Reply to
Ron Recer

I tow a 31 foot Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite with a 2500. Power is not a problem and shouldn't be for any well equipped 2500.

There is one problem with single rear wheels though, should have been number 6 on your list, Dually is more stable.

Too bad you missed that one :)

George

Reply to
George

Thanks Ron, that's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. I will re-evaluate the choice of a 2500. The towing stuff is certainly on the list, I especially like the mirrors, I think they are new for this year; they are big. I do like music, bopping down the highway, but am torn, my favourite, CBC is on Sirius and all GM offers is XMradio, sigh.

The power seat is also 'de-rigueur, but I'm wondering about carpet/rubber mat on the floor. The carpet is harder to keep clean, for sure, is there a good reason to want it? Most of the trucks on the lots equipped the way I want seem to have the rubber. Tim & JoAnn

Reply to
Tim Barr

Guys like you made me nervous as hell when I drove truck for a living. 65 mph towing a barn side fifth wheel in 45 mph gusting cross winds.

Whitelightning

Reply to
Whitelightning

2007 Chevrolet Silverado (Classic) 3500 Regular Cab LT =

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It's in the same box as "Vehicle Highlights", just to the right.

Which takes you to:

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DJ

Reply to
IdaSpode

Get the SLT3 and almost everything but the kitchen sink is included. My '06 Chevy has leather 8 way electric bucket seats with what my wife calls 'butt warmers' and an additional switch that turns on heat only to the seat back (like a built in heating pad if your back starts hurting on those long drives ). AM/FM/XM radio with 6 CD changer, dual a/c controls, floor mats, remote control outside mirrors (you have to manually pull them out for towing and push them back in for solo), compass and outside temp built into inside rearview mirror, driver info display(displays various info of your choice), remote radio controls (those in the back seat can control the radio functions NOT being used by the front controls and listen through headphones), various controls on steering wheel, fog lights, front hooks, console and a bunch of other goodies. The XM radio and Onstar were options as was the various towing 'stuff'.

I didn't get off road tires, skid plates, sun roof, DVD entertainment or navigation systems.

I have had Line-X sprayed in bed liners on my last two pickups and highly recommend it. In my part of the country that runs about $400-$425. I had my old 20k Reese hitch installed, new rails, bolts and brackets were require by all installers I spoke with. They also added a plug for lights and brakes inside the bed between the tailgate and fender well on the drivers side and installed my old 'prodigy brake controller. I had it done at a Camping World in south Texas. Including sales tax on parts and labor it was around $525 (using their Presidents Club discount) other places I spoke with wanted $575-$600 for the same work.

Ron

Reply to
Ron Recer

Guys like you towing doubles and tripples in that kind of wind do the same thing to me so I guess we are even!!

Ron

Reply to
Ron Recer

Life was to short for me to play with doubles and tipples. Though I did play suicide jockey more than a few times, and not always fuel tanker, sometimes with things that make much bigger bangs. I spent many an hour sitting at the Pilot in Winslow, Arizona waiting for wind to die down.

Whitelightning

Reply to
Whitelightning

Thanks, don't look very well

Reply to
cew

Now that I see the tech specs, I have one more question: is there any difference at all in the drive train - specifically front differential, transfer case, or rear differential? These won't necessarily affect weight ratings, but might affect reliabiltiy. I know (by looking at the factory repair manual) that older ('97) 3500s had a stronger, BW transfer case than 2500s. Cal

Reply to
cew

I'm towing a 30 foot jayco with the old weight distributing hitch and sway control with my dually and I couldn't agree more the stability of the dually is great. Just towed mem day weekend with a decent cross wind and it was solid as a rock. And plus the dual wheels just look cool :-)

George wrote:

Reply to
89GMC

I guess it's just strictly subjective on the looks of a dually. I'll be getting a newer truck than my '93 2500 Chevy before long and it will likely be a SRW 3500 GMC or Chevy. I think the wide rear end on a dually is seriously butt ugly. It's in the eye of the beholder.

Garrett Fulton

Reply to
gfulton

Actually it is a health benefit. When you park at Wally World, or any other large store, you are forced to park miles from the front door and then you walk for your health. So you see there is a benefit to a dually other than lateral stability. YMMV

Reply to
George

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