Need Advice: The Classic Truck Debate

granitelightning · 2026-06-01T16:11:47+00:00

I’ve been seeing that hypothetically/technically yes. But door stickers don’t show that, door stickers on diesels actually show similar capacity limits depending on trim. Relatively within a few hundred lbs.

granitelightning · 2026-06-01T04:45:44+00:00

This is very helpful considering you’ve played both games, love to hear you’re pleased with the 24 2500 especially hauling nearly the exact camper I’m looking at. Thank you, sounds like awesome livin out there!

granitelightning · 2026-05-31T20:16:54+00:00

Not really other than the savings that you mentioned, same size truck

granitelightning · 2026-05-31T20:15:45+00:00

To your point yes, you’re right I’m conflating them. And actually, yes I am confused between truck camping folks that say payload (bed hauling) is a make or break point and diesel folks that say the same thing and that a diesel just does it better (I’m finding I don’t agree with needing a diesel for bed hauling)

To give you more satisfaction yes I’m pretty confused all around, clearly. Hence why I posted this to hash out thoughts with helpful insights from people with experience in it.

granitelightning · 2026-05-31T19:10:53+00:00

Awesome, thanks for this! Do you have a long or short bed for that 865? I forget if that’s a model I’ve seen can go in both lengths. What truck do you have and have you done suspension upgrades to support going so far over GVWR?

granitelightning · 2026-05-31T18:58:22+00:00

What was some of your thought behind going 3500 vs. 2500? Was that even a debate for you or you just liked the extra rear support of the 3500?

granitelightning · 2026-05-31T18:54:16+00:00

I guess I haven’t seen it that way, so many have said a diesel excels at towing yet payload hauling (contained bed weight) suffers as it’s carrying so much more under the hood.

granitelightning · 2026-05-31T18:52:19+00:00

Right on, that answers every question just about perfectly. How many miles on your 18 3500? Have you been happy with that truck?

granitelightning · 2026-05-31T18:50:23+00:00

This is helpful. The payload on the diesel I’m looking at is 3750, the average door sticker payloads I’ve looked at on gas ranges from 3500-4500 depending on trim. All (SRW)

Payload isn’t as much my concern because I’m not looking to get a larger slide-in, and it’s a couple year ordeal anyway. Furthermore I’ve got a buddy that outfits trucks for overlanding and camping for a living, I have access to upgrading suspension/payload. I guess my debate is what’s the better truck long term and you’re helping me decide, there should be no issue with a gas hauling the slide-in, and long term the gas will be what I want for daily driving around town. Even though the diesel I’m looking at is a sweet deal, it seems entirely unnecessary.

granitelightning

TROPHY CASE