I currently own a 1997 F250 (not "heavy duty"). Am going to buy a Ram. It won't be a "work" truck but will be required to pull a 45'trailer with boats (outrigger canoes). I will also need it to periodically pick up loads of topsoil (roughly around 2 - 3 yards..I'm told roughly 2 ton), rock, etc. My F250 performed just fine. A friends F150 sagged. My dilemma: The dealer wants to sell me a 1500. Says it should handle the load w/o any problem. I've been pushing for a 2500 with options (apparently harder to find for them). I'm worried about payload, tongue weight. Not so much worried about power. Any thoughts? I really don't want a diesel.

 

Look into a 3500 single rear-wheel Hemi. 4,000 lbs is a lot. I am told they are not a lot more costly than a 2500.

The 2500 is only about $2000 more than a similarly equipped 1500.

Beef up the suspension with a 1T RAS kit for about 300 bucks.

I checked out dodge.com. The ST is around $38,500 USD to start. I always hear about the crazy rebates/deals available down there - can probably get a few thousand off that price.

Dave

 

I second what dave said.

but dont cut yourself off from the possabilities of the diesel. I love mine and get better mileage than both the hemi and the 4.7

 

when I orded mine last year I discoverd these things

3500's are $4,000 to $5,000 more than the 2500 due to the fact that the deisel is your only engine choice for the 3500

my 2500 was only $500 more (msrp) than a similarly equiped 1500. reason being that most of the options I wanted came standard on the 2500. I saved the build sheets in pdf format if you want them. just PM me.

I figured for only $500 I got slightly higher towing, a solid fron axle (IFS sucks[:'(]), and a 4.10 rear end instead of a 3.93.
$500 well spent. IMO

 

Boulee. . .Ive seen some 3500's SRW and DRW have hemi's.

yea, it's impratical to have a hemi in something like that, but to each his own.

infact, theres a guy not far from where I work that has a 03-04 3500 SRW with the V10 in it.

 

or buy a used 3500 02+

 

***edit*** nevermind

 

Typically, you can disregard most if not all the salesperson says. Recommendations are typically for their benefit and NOT yours (assuming, of course, that they even have a clue as to what they are talking about in the first place).

Next, I found I could special-order just as cheaply as getting one from a dealer in Bumtwittle, somewhere. With such you don't know how it was used or what shape it's in if you cannot personally inspect it, let alone worry about how it is going to be delivered to your dealer--by a 16yo on steroids? (I know, I worked for a Chrysler dealer as a kid and delivered vehicles dealer to dealer; he, he!)

Finally, if you have the slightest doubt, get more truck than you think you'll ever need. I've never seen anyone disappointed doing so, but many have been going the other way.

All the best.

 

For the work you are wanting the 1500 shouldn't be a consideration. None of them are rated to haul 4000lbs in the bed.

According to DC website

Model/Max Payload/Max Towing

1500, 1490, 8950
2500, 2730, 13100
3500, 2850, 15850

 

good luck finding a truck that has a payload of 4000