Looking at new truck

[ronchp]

I have an '04 Chevy 2500 with Duramax I am considering trading soon. I need a diesel due to the multiple hills and mountains pulling my horse trailer here in East TN. I am still leaning toward another Chevy/GMC primarily because I like the GMC automatic locking differential over the electronic locker design that Ford uses. Makes a difference between going home or calling a friend for a pull when trying to get my trailer out of some spots.

 

[700R]

2500 plus airbags does not get you bigger bearings, or brakes or tires or rear GAWR all of which is key when your pushing heavy pin weights from 5th wheels

3/4 and 1-ton trucks are identical in every way except for the rear springs. 1-tons generally have an extra overload..but that's it. Now, when you step up to a DRW, then you get a heavier axle.

Many 3/4 tons have a "camper package" you can option them with that will give you the 1-ton springs...

 

[motownbrowne]

3/4 and 1-ton trucks are identical in every way except for the rear springs. 1-tons generally have an extra overload..but that's it...

Well, not exactly every way. They also differ in how much the sticker on the door says you can legally haul. Yes, you can upgrade the springs, but to the best of my knowledge, there's no way to change the legal definition of your GVWR.

 

[toddbailey]

Buy the truck rated to pull the loads you require, from the best dealer in your area no matter what brand! I have a 2014 2500hd duramax the exhaust break is awesome, combine that with Allison transmission and it sure does give you confidence when hooked to big load?

 

[Ken45101]

With a gooseneck trailer, watch out for the tongue weight. We had a 3/4ton and when we bought the horse camper, the rear axle was overweight even without water or horses! We upgraded to a 1 ton (2007 Chevy) and have been happy with the truck. I can't say about anything newer, we haven't looked at trucks in 8 years and don't plan to.

Our 2007 C3500 rides good. My only complaint is that a crew cab dually is hard to fit into shopping center parking lots! It's also a tight fit with oncoming traffic on our one lane roads here.

 

[Ken45101]

With a gooseneck trailer, watch out for the tongue weight. We had a 3/4ton and when we bought the horse camper, the rear axle was overweight even without water or horses! We upgraded to a 1 ton (2007 Chevy) and have been happy with the truck. I can't say about anything newer, we haven't looked at trucks in 8 years and don't plan to.

Our 2007 C3500 rides good. My only complaint is that a crew cab dually is hard to fit into shopping center parking lots! It's also a tight fit with oncoming traffic on our one lane roads here.

 

[kevinwak]

With a gooseneck trailer, watch out for the tongue weight. We had a 3/4ton and when we bought the horse camper, the rear axle was overweight even without water or horses! We upgraded to a 1 ton (2007 Chevy) and have been happy with the truck. I can't say about anything newer, we haven't looked at trucks in 8 years and don't plan to. Our 2007 C3500 rides good. My only complaint is that a crew cab dually is hard to fit into shopping center parking lots! It's also a tight fit with oncoming traffic on our one lane roads here.

yeah, I am pretty much stuck on a SRW one ton. The 2500 sure was nice to drive, but the payload ratings on it were not much more then the current half tons.

Right now there are three options I am looking at:
*Pick out one of the three brands and buy in the next six months, currently my preference is towards the Chev
*Wait until the 2017 super-duty is available and then go shop the three brands
*option three, there is a dealer advertising an XLT new at $18000 less then the SLE GM I drove, with similar options, both diesel. It is also $13,000 less then my nearest Ford dealer. I am going to talk to them and if the deal is as is, and not just a gimmick to get me in the door, then I think a new Ford will be in the near future.

 

[Ken45101]

Agreed. It may handle the load but get pulled over withe the GVWR exceeded and your busted.

Chris

I am less worried about being pulled over than I am about overloaded tires blowing out. With a dually, you have four tires to share the weight. When we bought our horse camper, I could feel the rear end "give" on very gentle curves with the F250. I got it weighed and we were 300# overweight on the rear axle with an empty trailer. The C3500 dually is totally stable. It's not overloaded.

You can add air bags and you might go to more ply tires but that isn't going to get you what two additional wheels will give you.

Ken

 

[kevinwak]

Deleted

 

[crashz]

That's news to me. A duelly in MA needs commercial plates due to the definition of commercial vehicles in MA. More than 4 tires touching the ground is commercial (there is more to it) . A single rear wheel one ton does not meet that definition so it should not need to be registered commercial. Unless there was a change in the law that I'm not aware of. Some of the inspection stations will try to scam the more expensive inspection for vehicles over 10K, but if it is not registered commercial it should be $35.



View attachment 441738

Thanks for the reference. This contradicts what I've been told at the registry though. My dually 87 dump in my avatar was registered with personal plates, where as my friends newer SRW F350 pick-up had to be commercial. The registry told the both of us that is was based on the manufactures rated GVWR. May truck was rated 10K lbs and his was over. I registered mine in Wilmington I think. The registry in Springfield made him get a notarized statement indicating that it would not be used for commercial purposes.

This was about 5 or 6 years ago though, so it may have changed. I wish it was more clear cut.

I should also state that I heard that GM GVWR thing from a dealer, so that could be total malarkey. Should have prefixed my post above with: "A rumor I once heard..."