Should You Buy a Coil or Leaf Sprung HD Truck? Ram 2500 vs 3500 vs Super Duty

[@mariofranklin7135]

Been watching a lot of you guys' videos and this one seems to sum up what I gathered from your content. As a big dude with big family/friends but wanting to tow/overland camp and maybe eventually a slide in camper, it seemed like the 2500 Ram wasn't the best tool for that for payload reasons. This video confirmed that when I start looking I'm going for a leaf sprung truck. Love the content, guys.

[@CJCOffRoad]

Spot on! With those goals you want a leaf rear end truck.

[@Sdukes001]

Personally I got the 3500 srw yes it’s rough in the rear but, I got this rig to haul the toy hauler and some small equipment. Carli and CJC did a great job making the ride very smooth compared to before.

[@iron-iw2ij]

More people need to subscribe to this channel…

[@christianlucas6553]

I started with a mega cab Ram 3500 dually. Although, I was thoroughly impressed with the ride quality of the Carli PinTop system, it left me wanting for a more comfortable ride. BUT! Because i tow a 12,000 lb skid steer, I had to keep it! (At least thats what my wife was told) Last year i got my daily driver, and i havent even touched the suspension yet. It rides like a dream! 2024 Ram 2500 Mega. Replaced my factory wheels and tires with some 35x12.50x17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers, wrapped around 17" fuel Zephyr, zero offset. I will eventually add the Carli PinTop, or maybe even the backcountry, and i cant even imagine what to expect. Im sure its nothing short of perfection! So, my suggestion is get both. 3500 dually for towing, and the 2500 for everything else 👌💪

[@JS-zb1vv]

lol dropping 200k

[@christianlucas6553]

​@@JS-zb1vv pretty much! By the time I buy my lift for my 2500, yes. Maybe a little more than. You gotta pay to play 🤷‍♂️

[@joshnash1076]

In my opinion if the 6.4 pulls it fine then your fine suspension wise if not then upgrade to a 1 ton diesel.

[@Wanderlust073]

Bought a Ram 2500 for a slide in camper. The coils make the rear sway too much with a camper in the bed. It’s great for off-roading (no camper) especially with carlis pintop setup but next truck is going to be leaf springs.

[@manchesterroofingsystems8016]

So we had a '19 Denali 2500 and all it needed to haul our 3,000 LB slide-in camper was a set of progressive helper springs (no impact on ride quality when bed was empty but all the support needed when the camper was in the bed). Unfortunately nobody made front lockers for GMC/Chevy so I got a Power Wagon. Even with 3500 XHD coils, track bars, sway bars, and XL7500 air bags it's just ok with the camper. If RAM made a kit to change a 2500 back to leaf springs I'd be in in a heartbeat.

[@Wanderlust073]

I think it’s not so much the rear coils as how far inboard they placed them.

[@manchesterroofingsystems8016]

@@Wanderlust073 I think you're right I was surprised when I saw where they were

[@CJCOffRoad]

It's just an odd design. The rear coils are really far inboard, the control arm geometry is a little odd, and most importantly the rear track bar design has inches as lateral movement as the suspension cycles. Just doing a better rear track bar makes a world of difference.

[@Clearbrowser]

I have owned multiple trucks and towed different types of trailers. My ford 2020 f350 Dually had the best front end when it came to hitting potholes and rough terrain but the rear felt like it had no give. Just felt stiff and felt like my rear wheels would bounce off the road . My 2022 gmc sierra 2500hd sierra has the best feeling rear suspension, but the front felt a little stiff (got Cognito ride improve torsion bars) helped a bit but not as plush as my f350. That being said , the ram 2500 was a huge piece of $.#^. Sticking to ford or gmc/chevy for my tow pigs. If gmc ever switch from torsion bars to coilovers in the front they would be the kings of all tow rigs. Fords do get death wobble on the front end also.

[@Clearbrowser]

I have owned multiple trucks and towed different types of trailers. My ford 2020 f350 Dually had the best front end when it came to hitting potholes and rough terrain but the rear felt like it had no give. Just felt stiff and felt like my rear wheels would bounce off the road . My 2022 gmc sierra 2500hd sierra has the best feeling rear suspension, but the front felt a little stiff (got Cognito ride improve torsion bars) helped a bit but not as plush as my f350. That being said , the ram 2500 was a huge piece of $.#^. Sticking to ford or gmc/chevy for my tow pigs. If gmc ever switch from torsion bars to coilovers in the front they would be the kings of all tow rigs. Fords do get death wobble on the front end also. ( I posted this before watching the whole video fyi 😅)

[@JMW-h2r]

My Ram 2500 coil rear end felt very loose & light at higher speeds. By that I’m speaking of the 70-80 mph legal speed limited in my state. I no longer have it.

[@CJCOffRoad]

Adding a better rear track bar helps a lot, but that complaint is common on the 2500 platform!

[@Dazza-u4c]

Great video. Thank you

[@Russellmeine]

So what’s the cutoff? If you are going to be putting 500lb in the back on a regular basis do you go with the 2500 coil or 3500 leaf? How about 1000lb, 1500lb, 2000lb?

[@Rommer2258]

Anything over 1000 pounds with soft coils is a stretch. I'd go with a 3500

[@fredv7487]

Well if we were all smart we would replace all those springs with air ride like the semi's use. You can have your cake and eat it to. But I didn't buy my 3500 dually to ride like a car.

[@TW-pq3hn]

@@fredv7487that air ride would negate the offroad capability most of us are looking for. The goal is a balance between hauling and offroad capability.

[@fredv7487]

@TW-pq3hn That's not true my 2020 Rebel has air ride and it hasn't slowed it down off roading. Matter of fact I have the capability to raise mine an 1 inch higher then the stock Rebel. Now I would think that some type of shield might be needed to protect the air bag. Also if you use separate controls on each bag you could make the axle make contact when a spring axle would not.

[@TW-pq3hn]

@@fredv7487 good luck with your airbag setup. I’m sure it works great for you. Look at literally any Offroad sport. Literally ANY and you will NOT find a single air suspension out there. I’m glad you are happy with your setup but, you are literally commenting on a performance suspension channel for mostly Carli equipped diesel trucks. Carli does make a compatible pintop kit for the Ram with factory air suspension but, it is not a preferred option as they don’t even mention it in this video. Please call the guys at CJC for further education. Enjoy your Rebel.

[@Alyosha00]

If I go with a 3500 (aiming for better payload), are there any options to install an aftermarket locker?

[@CJCOffRoad]

There are, or if you go Super Duty then the trucks come with a locker from the factory. Kinda hard to beat that!

[@KevinDaniel-m9y]

What about for a 6k boat (dry weight) occasionally driven from Ohio to Florida with potentially 5 passengers and their stuff for a week? Tongue weight should be around 630 lbs plus ~830lbs of people, and their luggage in the bed? Total weight should be around 1460 plus luggage. Payload rating on a loaded 2500 should be around close to 2200 lbs. I would assume air leveling would also help give a bit of buffer as well. I’ve been looking mainly at 3500s but was wondering if a 2500 would also work and not be too close to the edge of payload, especially if I do suspension. Appreciate the thoughts.

[@daleburnett9935]

Coil-sprung 2500 is just fine for a load like that. Well within the capabilities, and it’ll ride very nicely. It’s when you’re hauling a lot of weight (like a couple thousand pounds, or sometimes less if it’s up high like a slide-in camper) ALL the time where you might go, “Ok, I should have bought a different truck.” Towing a properly loaded trailer up to 10-12k, or putting 1000 pounds of people and stuff in the cab and bed is no problem.

[@daleburnett9935]

For perspective, I’m located in Missouri and have a 2022 2500. I tow a 33’ 8k (loaded) camper, and almost always have a full bed, bicycles, and kayaks on a rack when doing so, plus 4 people in the cab. That setup has been to Colorado, the UP of Michigan, and Disney World via the Smokies. It rides like it’s on rails. Yeah, you know you’re hauling and towing, but I doubt it’s due to the spring setup. Now, much more, or much taller (fifth wheel) and I’d want a 3500.

[@CJCOffRoad]

This may sound crazy, but depending on how you option the truck, that will be getting close to max payload on a 2500. For example, most Laramie quad or mega cabs only have a max payload of about 1,600-1,800 pounds. You can absolutely do it, but you'll probably want to make some upgrades to have it handle without any sacrifices. A leaf rear truck would handle that weight without even blinking.

[@KevinDaniel-m9y]

@@CJCOffRoadthanks, I appreciate the feedback!

[@TimGtmf]

also you can only get the HO Cummins in 3500! in 2500 its the weaker version of the engine and transmission combo.

[@gopackgo69]

2025 they all have the HO motor and 8 speed trans

[@TimGtmf]

@ yeah they,re switching to one motor combo in 2025! I guess that’s good, no more trying to figure out what motor it has.

[@redtitan29]

​@@TimGtmf That's not complicated. All 2500 5th Gen Rams are equipped with the standard output Cummins and 68RFE trans. On a 3500, you simply pop the hood. If the oil dipstick is on the passenger side it also has the SO Cummins/68RFE. If it's on the drivers side it's the HO/Aisin.

[@rustydusty1111]

Depends if you use the truck like a truck and haul/tow. Or if you use it like an SUV and grocery getter.

[@skwlogistics3698]

My 2500 is equipped with factory air only

[@CJCOffRoad]

Yep! 2500s have the option for air 4 link or coil 4 link, and 3500s have the option for air assist leaf or standard leaf.

[@loveracing1988]

I've had both. There is not much difference in ride quality. If you have no real use for a truck get a 2500. If you want to actually haul things get a 3500.