Question: Which will tow 13k trailer better: 2500HD or 3500HD

Iceman56

New member
Jan 19, 2009
867
0
0
Madison, SD
I prefer the single rear wheel , dually is awesome but there are alot of down falls the 350 days out if the year your not towing , I just put 1400 miles on my crew cab long bed towing a 48ft flat bed goose neck with another dmax and a side by side on it , tows like a dream and have air bags so the rear spring capacity is the same or better than a 3500 and rides soft when i dont need the extra.

Couldn't have said that better myself Trent... The days your not towing a dually or 3500 would be pointless... 99% of the trucks out there put more miles on not towing then towing. With airbags you get the best of both worlds
 

MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
3,948
1
0
Connecticut
You guys are just wimps ,to scared to drive a truck with big hips! :roflmao:


In saying that with the amount of towing that I do ,although I luv the extra weight carrying capacity, I'd buy a 2500 HD next as it's easier to mod tires and suspension then a 3500 Dually.

That would be the only reason as Duallys are awesome. :thumb:
 

Trotorx2

Member
Sep 21, 2006
699
0
16
71
Beaumont, Texas
I pull a 35' 5th wheel 12k-13k depending on how its loaded with no problems in my 2500.
If I were retired and lived in it traveling I probably would have a 3500 dually.
 

dieselson

Active member
Oct 14, 2006
1,544
4
38
30
Huntington Beach, CA
We pull a 13k pound tow behind with our 2500HD, and it does just fine, even when it was stock it was adequate. One thing though, air bags on the back are a must on the 2500HD for towing heavy. With the mods we have now, we can easily hit 75 mph on the cajon pass with no problems.
 

chrisjbell

Permanent FNG
Mar 27, 2011
1
0
0
Sierra Foothills, CA
I had a 6.0 gasser, traded for my Duramax 2500 and the difference towing is night and day. 2x on the difference in mileage and fuel costs - I've fully paid for the upgrade to the diesel with the better mileage.

One of the big reasons I didn't do a 3500 was that they are (were, at least) only available in longbed. I've got a crew cab - already plenty long, thanks. It's my daily driver and is already a PITA to park.

I tow a 12K 5th wheel with my 2500 and it works just great, FWIIW.
 

dirty-b

KCCO!
Jun 5, 2010
337
0
0
Central MN
Ask anyone the tows with a Dually and ask them if they'd trade down to a 2500 series.Or anyone who has gone from a 2500 to a 3500 for towing! You'll have your answer. :thumb:

I went from a 3500 to a 2500! I have a 32ft 13000lb 5th toyhauler that I used to pull with a Crewcab dually until I got my 01. I would go back to a dually in a second if it would fit in my garage! Dose my 2500 handle my camper great yes, as well as my dually, no. Yes it would not be convenient to drive everyday, but I didn't have to drive it everyday with two other vehicals to use as needed. But when pulling they couldn't be beat!

So you just have to ask yourself, what are you willing to give up? how offen are you going to drive the truck without a trailer? Like Trent said "350 days out if the year your not towing". In the end you have to make the choice and be happy with it.

Good luck,:thumb: Jamie
 

2wd_Sled_Puller

Heavy Equiment mechanic
Feb 19, 2008
1,356
0
0
Florida
you cant beat a dually when pulling hands down. like everyone eles has said 2500 will pull it but a dually is alot more stable. When i pull my mud truck with my old 2500 when id go to go around a curve it would fill like my back tires were going to pop off the rim. Doing it with my dually i can take the curve like a sports car. How ever i wouldnt reccommend doing that:thumb:
 

sengli

New member
Jan 3, 2012
4
0
0
northern Indiana
Had a 2010 2500 6.0 gasser towing a 10K fith wheel, was getting 8.5 MPG. It pulled the trailer just fine. Just bought a new 2011 3500HD dually to replace it, haven't got to try it yet
 

Maricopaagent

Glamis Anyone?
Oct 10, 2011
257
0
0
Arizona
Had a 2010 2500 6.0 gasser towing a 10K fith wheel, was getting 8.5 MPG. It pulled the trailer just fine. Just bought a new 2011 3500HD dually to replace it, haven't got to try it yet


Diesel or gas?


I dont mind the extra fenders or long lenght.. I actually prefer the look of a nice dually.. BUT, the "dually buck" gets to me after a short preiod of time..
 

Rhall

Old Skooler
Aug 12, 2006
2,241
0
36
41
Texas Y'all
The 2011s have new wider leaf springs, theyre not suppose to squat as bad as the old 2500s. I weigh about 28k loaded headed to the pulls, we usually hit 2 or 3 pulls a weekend during the season, some 10 hours away. I had an 01 dually, went to a 2500hd crew cab long bed, put air bags on it, and i decided 1 season was enough, now i have an 08 dually. When hauling they dont compare, when your loaded heavy they just seem to roll down the road easier. I dont care what anybody says, even with airbags, a 2500 sways and humps more than a 3500 dually. Hauling less than 10k it might not be as noticable, but when your hauling a big load, theres no comparison. Also it might suck to buy 6 tires but they will last longer if your towing frequently.
 

llybyppe

New member
May 11, 2009
238
0
0
Had a 7.1 dually the. Went to 2500hd with air bags. Yes the dually felt more stable but the diesel pulls it like butter. My 05 pulling my 40ft weekend warrior fully loaded 18,700 and it just would flat out run.
 

bigmackmiller

Active member
Nov 30, 2008
1,046
2
38
Kokomo, IN
Lotso towing get the dually occasional tow get a SRW, i'm not a dually fan but if I was hooked constantly I would prefer to have it than not
 

derrickmanx1

I'm that guy
Dec 30, 2010
56
1
8
central texas
I pull my 40' weekend warrior ftl4005 with my 2500 ccsb w/no problems. Power is not the concern it is the brakes and suspension. If I towed it more often I would want a 3500. Since I tow it every couple of months it works fine with my bags and upgraded brakes.
 

AubleAK

New member
Aug 5, 2011
781
0
0
30
Glennallen, AK
I vote 2500hd. I towed a 23000lb 5th wheel trailer with a load of logs 400 miles, ext cab short bed, no airbags or leafs, no problem thru alaska. Hills, tight corners, etc. cant complain a bit. Driving a dually is also more of a pain thru cities and stuff too. Just my .02 cents
 

ndxt

New member
Mar 23, 2012
22
0
0
We have drw 3500 and srw 2500 for work, and if your planning on any mud or snow/ice, get the srw, 2500 or 3500 not much difference, and getting the diesel should not be a question, you pay more and get much more

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