Posted 2006-08-16 1:40 PM (#46742) Subject: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 5
I am looking a new Dodge Megacab, 4 x 2, diesel and can't decide between one ton and 3/4 ton. I pull a 2 horse LQ which weighs about 7000 lbs without horses. I figure 3000 lbs for horses and another 500-1000 lbs for stuff which takes the load to 10-11K. Most of the use for this truck will be daily around town errands. I will do some hauling in mountains. I would consider a jake brake. I test drove one and liked it. What difference would the one ton make over the 3/4 ton?
Posted 2006-08-16 1:52 PM (#46743 - in reply to #46742) Subject: RE: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by dfsaz on 2006-08-16 1:40 PM
I am looking a new Dodge Megacab, 4 x 2, diesel and can't decide between one ton and 3/4 ton. I pull a 2 horse LQ which weighs about 7000 lbs without horses. I figure 3000 lbs for horses and another 500-1000 lbs for stuff which takes the load to 10-11K. Most of the use for this truck will be daily around town errands. I will do some hauling in mountains. I would consider a jake brake. I test drove one and liked it. What difference would the one ton make over the 3/4 ton?
Hi and Welcome to the Forum.
If you're asking about 3/4 ton vs 1 ton SRW, I'd guess you just get a heavier spring pack in the rear and not much else. If you're asking 3/4 ton vs a DRW one ton, the answer is stability and better ability to float out on soft ground, e.g. meadow parking lots at events, without making ruts. If you go 2x4 at least make sure you get some form of limited slip diff.
Posted 2006-08-16 2:06 PM (#46745 - in reply to #46743) Subject: RE: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 5
I am looking at SRW with limited slip. I was thinking 3.73 axle ratio, mostly for better gas mileage. I may encounter mud, but I am in the desert--we don't have soft ground. Meadows are things in pictures. I don't want 4 x 4 because I am vertically challenged and it is 4.5 inches taller.
I get an additional leaf spring, heavier brakes and additional reinforcement in the rear frame with the one ton.
Posted 2006-08-16 2:10 PM (#46746 - in reply to #46742) Subject: RE: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
I dont think the Mega comes in DRW..It comes only in a short box....(correct me) Look over the turning issue with your trailer. Taper nose will be no problem. The axle spring pack is the same on the 2500 and the 3500. they add a overload pack that picks up the 1/4 ton. I have owned a 2500 SRW and a 3500 SWR and can't really tell the difference empty....maybe on very rough roads it will get into the overloads and seem a bit harsh. Pulls my gooseneck fine. Is it worth it?.......not sure...I pulled the same trailer with the 2500 and it handles about the same. Get limited slip for sure! I believe the brakes and frame are the same....The 3500 comes standard with a 11.5" American axle rearend. The 2500 comes standard with a 10.5" axle, can be optioned to a 11.5" ....I would recomend the 11.5" either way.
"Dodge Ram Mega Cab™ has the largest brakes in a crew cab"
Posted 2006-08-16 2:52 PM (#46751 - in reply to #46745) Subject: RE: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by dfsaz on 2006-08-16 2:06 PM
I am looking at SRW with limited slip. I was thinking 3.73 axle ratio, mostly for better gas mileage. I may encounter mud, but I am in the desert--we don't have soft ground. Meadows are things in pictures. I don't want 4 x 4 because I am vertically challenged and it is 4.5 inches taller.
I get an additional leaf spring, heavier brakes and additional reinforcement in the rear frame with the one ton.
Odd, maybe I've been living in Massachusetts too long.
Well, I'm sure it HAS been too long - for other reasons.
I guess "desert" doesn't necessarily mean "sand", "mud" doesn't necessarily mean "soft ground". As someone just typed, that oil burning motor is a lot of weight to be sitting out atop unpowered wheels, I think you WILL get stuck with the 2x4 if you venture off road, but its your choice. I think most of us with horse trailers get off the blacktop more often than we had planned, places to ride almost REQUIRE some amount of trailering off road. There are running board and step options to help with the added height of 4x4s.
Posted 2006-08-16 3:03 PM (#46753 - in reply to #46742) Subject: RE: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 671 Location: THE GREAT NORTHWET, OREGON(THE REAL GODS COUNTRY)
Talk about desert, when i used to live in the desert it would come a big rain and the ground would be so slick you would just sit there and spin.
Had a guy buy a travel trailer from Me and he backed up to about 3 feet of it in my back pasture, it was dry and grassy,as soon as he stoped that was it,on level ground,in the grass he was going nowere.
I pulled him back out front and hoocked on to the trailer and moved it around, then he was ok.
I had gotten stuck more times than I wish to think about with My 2x4. Somethin about that trailer and diesel that 2 wheels even positrac won't move.
So I vowed to get 4x4 and havent regreted it.
One thing nice about 4x4 is low range for slow backing in tight spots.
Posted 2006-08-16 5:31 PM (#46771 - in reply to #46758) Subject: RE: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 76 Location: Cowboy Cradle of the Southwest
Originally written by xyzer on 2006-08-16 2:27 PM
Originally written by AZPenner on 2006-08-16 1:00 PM
Originally written by xyzer on 2006-08-16 1:10 PM
I dont think the Mega comes in DRW..It comes only in a short box....(correct me)
You are both right and wrong. The Mega does come in DRW but only in a short bed for now. Looked at one yesterday.
I believe you......I heard the rumor they did. Dodge needs to update there website!
Not only do they need to update their website, they need to better inform their customer service agents on the 1-800 number. I had some questions regarding the new 3500HD and the nice lady told me to call my local dealer because they would have more information on it. Huh???? Didn't I just call the manufacturer?
Posted 2006-08-16 8:53 PM (#46785 - in reply to #46742) Subject: RE: One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
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Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
The late model Dodge diesel are ALL 11.5 rear end.The 10.5 is a gasser only.Some of the Dodge info is WRONG.The 2500 and 3500 SRW is just a differant OVERLOAD spring.Un loaded the ride is about the same.Loaded is where the extra spring comes into play.I'd get the SRW 3500.
One Ton or 3/4 Ton?
