Well, I'm not sure about the 2014 1500s vs 2500s, but we have owned an 07-13 1500 as well as the same body style 2500HD, and recently got a 2015 2500HD. What I will say, is that the ride quality isn't necessarily worse than the 1500, but you know you're driving a 2500. I personally LOVE the ride of the 2500HD, because you don't sacrifice too much quality, but it feels sturdier, stronger, safer, and just bigger in general. If that's what you're into, and can dish out the extra money, or features, go for the 2500HD. Just remember that unless you get the diesel, which will set you back 10,000 dollars, then you will lose quite a few MPGs. By the way, our 2015 2500hd was feeling kind of rough at first, but we just levelled it, and now it handles/rides much better, if you're buying a brand new truck, the $300 to get it levelled are probably worth it.

If you don't feel like reading that: Yes you lose some ride quality, but if you can find a use for the 3/4 ton over the 1500, it's worth it, and feels much stronger.

 

Thank you....that is pretty much what I expected to hear.

 

ones a light Cadillac and the other one is a heavy Cadillac....I guaranty it, just like I guaranty smart cars can tow 10k pounds without modification

 

Smart cars make nice grill decorations for trucks.

 

If you get a 2500, put the smart car as your hood emblem and the ride should get better

 

Yeah... as long as the wifey agrees to the color matches!!!
I like what you've done with your '05. In the past, I owned an '86 GMC K3500 reg cab, SRW, 4WD, 454, 4 spd with the 241 and Dana 60 front and Corp 14 bolt rear with 4.11's.
I had a Gear Vendor on it for much of the time I owned it and I got 14 mpg with it. Hard riding (I could feel every grain of sand), but it was bullet-proof.
I did manage to break the main shaft in the GV once....got snow stuck and broke it in reverse trying to get unstuck. Sounded like a 12 ga went off under the floor. Drove it in front wheel drive only for a couple of days until I got parts.

 

I just recently traded in a 2014 Sierra 4x4 2500 for a 2014 Silverado Z71 1500. The ride quality is much improved, and its not even close. As far as MPG goes my 2500 avg. economy was always at 12.9, my 5.3 is averaging closer to 20mpg. As far as power goes the 6.0 is rated at 360hp and 380ft lbs, the 5.3 is rated 355hp and 383ft lbs. If you look at 2014 2500's make sure it doesn't have the optional 3.73 gears, it lowers your max tow down to 9400lbs instead of the 13000 that the standard 4.10 gears get. My 1500 is actually rated to tow 200lbs more than my 2500 was because of the gears. I think they dropped the 3.73 option for the 2015 trucks.

EDIT: This is all assuming your looking at the 6.0 and not the diesel.

 

Thank you!!!!!!! Your comments on your personal experience are just what I wanted to hear when I started this discussion.....and they are just what I expected to hear.
We're not looking to add another diesel to our fleet.......I love the Cummins (500hp/900lb-ft, 21 mpg running empty), but these diesels are not cheap to operate or maintain. They pull great (awesome, in fact), but you have dues to pay with them....and I keep paying them, over and over. We'll keep our diesel as long as we own a big trailer, but when the trailer fun is over and the trailer goes away, so will the diesel go away.
Since the 2500 trucks only offer the 6.0 gas and the 6.6 diesel, I don't think my wife will go for the lesser economy of the 6.0 compared to the 5.3. So....now the choice comes down to the final drive ratio on the 1500: 3.42 or 3.73 (assuming both are still offered). We would likely go with the 3.42 for the improved highway economy.
Any thoughts in this area?

 

trust me, your pickup diesels are cheap lol

compare that to a Peterbilt 13L Paccar or FreightLiner 15L Cummins and dual 300 gallon Fuel tanks ( at $3.80 a gallon) and 5-6mpg..ill take a 5.9L maintenance and fuel consumption any day lol

 

I have 3.42 in mine. If I could have found one identical to this one with 3.73 I would have gotten it. I don't know what kinda mileage the 3.73 trucks are getting but I would imagine it's about the same as the 3.42. I was reading an article recently and they were interviewing a gm automotive engineer and the engineer claimed that final drive ratio minimally effects mpg.

 

if final drive ratio minimally effects mpg then 5000 should be a good cruise rpm for best mileage as well.. what a dumb@ss..heres your sign..this is the incompetence people are hiring today

 

Well.......yes, but you're comparing apples to oranges!
I no longer own this pig, but I once owned an '07 Ram 3500 dually 4WD with the "last year" of the 5.9 and for economy it gave 14mpg on a good day (that is rolling downhill with the engine turned off with a tailwind) and as bad as 6.5 mpg (no joke, 6.5mpg) towing. THANK YOU EPA.
On a different note, about a month ago, I had to help a pal who lost the water pump on his '02 Ram Cummins---easiest water pump to change that I ever messed with: 1 guy holds belt tensioner to loosen the belt, 2nd guy removes 2 (yes only 2!) bolts and the old pump comes off and the new pump goes on....no gaskets to scrape, O-ring is used and can be re-used. Of course, coolant needs to be drained down and then replaced, but what a piece of cake job. Kudos to Cummins for this design. New pump at O'Reilly's was $50.

 

Here's a similar article about gear ratio and mpg:

http://www.trucktestdigest.com/axle%20ratios.htm