Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Trucks / June 2006

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

2500HD vs 3500

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
cew - 02 Jun 2006 15:39 GMT
I'd like to buy a D/A 3500 4x4 SRW extended cab shortbed -- but they
don't make one. Apparently not for '07 either. The longbed will not
reasonably fit in my garage -- and I ain't moving. So, I'm looking at a
2500HD. The axle capacity is 2300 lbs less - 6900 vs 9200 for the SRW,
but the limiting factor seems to be the spring capacity - 6084 vs 6500
lbs. Not so much difference.
What is real, stock difference in cargo capacity? Why? Any difference in
the drive train?
Thanks,
Cal
SnoMan - 02 Jun 2006 22:45 GMT
>I'd like to buy a D/A 3500 4x4 SRW extended cab shortbed -- but they
>don't make one. Apparently not for '07 either. The longbed will not
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>Thanks,
>Cal

You are mistakien, The ONLY difference between them is tha the 3500
has 265E tires,  one more leaf on either side and the label on the
door. Axle, chassis and brakes are all the same. Add one leaf to
either side and you will have the same truck and given that at 9900GVW
that you will only need to put about 5900 lbs on rear axle (tire
capacity for 245E is 6168 for the pair) with 4k or more on front axle
(it will likely have more up front if it is a diesel which means even
less in rear if you go by  GVW rating) it is debatable if you even
need the 265 tires. The 2500HD has less spring anyway than a 8600GVW
OBS truck for a softer ride so it would be a wise addition. I have a
2000 OBS SRW K3500 andit is rated at 9200 too and it has more springs
than the 2500HD does. During the winter I have had it over 5 tons more
than once with plow and salt load with no problems at all and I have
been doing it since 99.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
cew - 03 Jun 2006 00:28 GMT
>  
>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>www.thesnoman.com
>  

I'm reading directly from the '06 brochure --- which doesn't mean that
it's right. But why would they advertise a lesser axle rating? Doesn't
matter anyway, since spring, wheel and tire ratings are all less than
the axle.
2006 2500 and 3500 owners: what is the rated cargo capacity for your truck?
SnoMan - 03 Jun 2006 01:13 GMT
>>  
>>
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>the axle.
>2006 2500 and 3500 owners: what is the rated cargo capacity for your truck?

Both the Corp 14 bolt 10.5 and the AAM 11.5 SRW are good to about 4
tons as far as the axles themselves. The dualies has a different axle
housing than the SRW and that may be where you are confused. Both the
2500 and 3500 SRWuse the exact same rear axle and brakes. The factory
rating for the GAWR is based on the rating of the lowest rated
componet which is usually the tires or the springs. A single 245R16 E
has a rated capacity of 3084 lbs and a 265E is rated at about 3570 per
tire. It get better yet because the 1500 HD has the same chassis and
springs and tires as the 2500HD. The only difference is that it has a
9.5 inch rear axle rated at about 3 tons for the axle itself but it
has the same springs, tranny, tires and engine (if you are talking
6.0) as the 2500HD yet it is oownly rated at 8600 GVW but truth be
know it will care the same weight that a stock 2500HD will with same
ease.  Are you confused yet?  BTW, I have GM dealer manuals and the
parts I mention are the same but they are vauge about that in
brochures because they want you to spring for the more expensive
model. They do this to reduce parts needed and cut costs while
boosting profits. Just go look at a 1500HD from side in rear and then
a 2500 HD and it has the exact same springs as it is plain to see.  
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
Jonathan - 03 Jun 2006 14:56 GMT
Is it possible that the rear axle gear ratio also contributes to the axle
capacity?  IIRC, back in '04 when I bought my 2500HD with the diesel and
Allison tranny the stock rear axle was 3.73:1, but the stock ratio on the
3500 with the same motor and tranny was 4.10.  I'm sure that spring and tire
load capacity have a major say in axle capacity, but perhaps the OP should
look to see if the ratios are the same on the axles he's comparing between
the trucks as well.

Cheers - Jonathan

> Both the Corp 14 bolt 10.5 and the AAM 11.5 SRW are good to about 4
> tons as far as the axles themselves. The dualies has a different axle
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com 
SnoMan - 04 Jun 2006 13:27 GMT
>Is it possible that the rear axle gear ratio also contributes to the axle
>capacity?  IIRC, back in '04 when I bought my 2500HD with the diesel and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>look to see if the ratios are the same on the axles he's comparing between
>the trucks as well.

Axle ratio only has some effect on effect GCWR, not the axles GAWR.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
Ron Recer - 07 Jun 2006 05:58 GMT
> Is it possible that the rear axle gear ratio also contributes to the axle
> capacity?  IIRC, back in '04 when I bought my 2500HD with the diesel and
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Cheers - Jonathan

In '01 and '06 all the Duramax came with a 3.73:1.  I thought that was all
any Duramax had.

Ron
cew - 03 Jun 2006 15:34 GMT
>  
>
[quoted text clipped - 66 lines]
>www.thesnoman.com
>  

Thanks for the info -- but  I'm not confused about reading the brochure.
Let me be more explicit: what is the factory rated cargo capacity for 1)
a stock '06 2500hd 4x4 extended cab SB D/A 3.73 axle ratio with all tow
and camper equipment, and 2) a stock '06 3500 4x4 extended cab longbed
with the same equipment.
calhoun - 04 Jun 2006 03:21 GMT
   
 Thanks for the info -- but  I'm not confused about reading the brochure.
 Let me be more explicit: what is the factory rated cargo capacity for 1) a stock '06 2500hd 4x4 extended cab SB D/A 3.73 axle ratio with all tow and camper equipment, and 2) a stock '06 3500 4x4 extended cab longbed with the same equipment.

 GVW for a 2500HD is 9200lbs
 GVW for the 3500SRW is 9900lbs.
 Cargo capacity is determined by subtracting the weight of the unloaded truck from the GVW. A reg cab 2WD will carry more weight then an extended cab 4x4 because it weighs less to begin with. Both have the same GVW (Gross vehicle weight)
 This is the same for towing capacity. There is a GCW (gross combined weight) rating for all vehicles. The more you load up the truck the less you can tow. To meet most manufactures claims about towing capacity only the driver can be in the truck (no cargo etc)
SnoMan - 04 Jun 2006 13:41 GMT
>Thanks for the info -- but  I'm not confused about reading the brochure.
>Let me be more explicit: what is the factory rated cargo capacity for 1)
>a stock '06 2500hd 4x4 extended cab SB D/A 3.73 axle ratio with all tow
>and camper equipment, and 2) a stock '06 3500 4x4 extended cab longbed
>with the same equipment.

The ONLY difference between the two trucks mentioned here is that the
2500HD has 4 leafs plus a booster on each side in rear and the 3500SRW
has 5 leafs and a booster. Axles, brakes, engine tranny, and chassis
are the same. The 3500SRW comess with 265 E tires too but in a Dmax EC
you will hit 9900GVW before you will exceed the capacity of the 245E
tires if you make your 2500 into a 3500 by adding on leaf to each
side. The irony of all of this is that HD  2500 OBS truck that was
rated at only 8600 GVW, had more springs in the rear than the new
2500HD dies. I have a 2000 K3500 SRW OBS (not a silverado) and it is
rated 9200GVW but it too has more springs than the new 2500 HD rated
at same weight. Things are not always as they seem and most do not dig
into it and I do commend you for taking the time to try to make a
informed decision and better understand it. A freind of mine wanted a
3500 SRW Dmax CC but we could not find one the way he wanted it so we
built him one. He bought a 05 CC Dmax and we dropped the rear axle in
my driveway and added a leaf to each side. It was quick work using air
tools (about 1 hour for start to finish)
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
cew - 21 Jun 2006 00:50 GMT
>  
>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>www.thesnoman.com
>  

Do you have part numbers for the springs, and/or a recommendation as to
where to get them?
Thanks/
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.