Difference between '04 3500 and 2500HD

Hacksaw Hilliard · October 15, 2003

I was reading through a brochure at my GMC dealer and they only difference between the 2500HD and the single rear wheel 3500 was the 700lbs difference in GVW. The GCWR is the same at 22,000lbs. Does anyone know of any other differences such as suspension etc.?

robsawatsky · October 15, 2003

4.10 axle is standard with the 8.1 on the 3500, 3.73 is standard with this engine on the 2500HD.

The 3500 is also a touch taller.

The 3500 has different standard tire sizes.

I believe the 3500 SRW is also 4WD only.

Hacksaw Hilliard · October 16, 2003

4.10 axle is standard with the 8.1 on the 3500, 3.73 is standard with this engine on the 2500HD.

The 3500 is also a touch taller.

The 3500 has different standard tire sizes.

I believe the 3500 SRW is also 4WD only.

So does that mean if I get the 4.10s, 4WD and the same tires on the 2500HD, it'll be the same as the 3500? I'm thinking there has to be more than that.

MCourson · October 16, 2003

My GUESS would be different rear leaf springs.

Hacksaw Hilliard · October 19, 2003

Okay I had another opportunity to read the brochure more throughly when I was in to have the passenger door speaker replaced: came out of it's brackets.

The main difference is with the rear torsion bar. On the 2500HD, it's rated for 6800 pounds. On the 3500, it's rated for 9200 pounds. Don't quote me on those numbers; it's what I recall but I know they're within +/- 100 pounds. The axles are the same and the springs are upgraded from just over 6000 pounds to 6500 pounds.

95_2500HD · October 20, 2003

3500 SRW will come with 16x7" wheels with 265/75/r16 tires to compensate for the added gvwr. It is available in reg cab, ext cab, and crew cab, but only with a long bed.

Mega Dogmeat · October 21, 2003

I don't understand why GM even bothered with this whole rigamarole badge job thing....

I mean seriously, why didn't they just stick with 1500, 2500, and 3500 so everyone knew what was what?

So basically the only differences between the 2500HD and 3500 is the 3500 comes with slightly bigger tires and slightly stiffer springs and a 3500 sticker?

IS that really deserving of being called it's own model?

Kinda dumb if you asked me, heh

Roofer · October 21, 2003

I agree. They may as well just drop all the HD models. The whole HD thing was just a selling point. Kind of like "Superduty". Even the Dodge guys did it with the HD badges.

The load range between a 245 E rated tire and a 265 E rated tire is about Hmmmmm........700 lbs. Maybe I'm on to something.

Ag Teacher · October 22, 2003

I don't understand why GM even bothered with this whole rigamarole badge job thing....

I mean seriously, why didn't they just stick with 1500, 2500, and 3500 so everyone knew what was what?

So basically the only differences between the 2500HD and 3500 is the 3500 comes with slightly bigger tires and slightly stiffer springs and a 3500 sticker?

IS that really deserving of being called it's own model?

Kinda dumb if you asked me, heh

They are offering a single wheel 3500 because ford has a single wheel f-350 with a 9900 GVW and dodge has a single wheel 3500 with a 9900 gvw. Since GM had the 2500HD rated at 9200 GVW, they didn't have a model to match the dodge and ford models. The RV guys that stress over GVWRs only had dodge and ford to choose from when towing some of the hitch heavy fifth wheels if they didn't want a dually. That's why I think they brought the 3500 SRW back. Remember, they sold a SRW 3500 up until 2000 in the C/K models. It was only rated at 9200. That was also when a HD 2500 was rated at 8600 and a light duty was rated at 7200.

Hacksaw Hilliard · October 23, 2003

I don't understand why GM even bothered with this whole rigamarole badge job thing....

I mean seriously, why didn't they just stick with 1500, 2500, and 3500 so everyone knew what was what?

So basically the only differences between the 2500HD and 3500 is the 3500 comes with slightly bigger tires and slightly stiffer springs and a 3500 sticker?

IS that really deserving of being called it's own model?

Kinda dumb if you asked me, heh

They are offering a single wheel 3500 because ford has a single wheel f-350 with a 9900 GVW and dodge has a single wheel 3500 with a 9900 gvw. Since GM had the 2500HD rated at 9200 GVW, they didn't have a model to match the dodge and ford models. The RV guys that stress over GVWRs only had dodge and ford to choose from when towing some of the hitch heavy fifth wheels if they didn't want a dually. That's why I think they brought the 3500 SRW back. Remember, they sold a SRW 3500 up until 2000 in the C/K models. It was only rated at 9200. That was also when a HD 2500 was rated at 8600 and a light duty was rated at 7200.

It's all marketing and has nothing to with the RV folks complaining. The 2500HD will still allow 22,000 GCVWR. Now if you're looking for a higher GVR to accomodate the higher hitch loads fromt he really big 5th wheels, the 3500 will give you 700 pounds more capacity to rest on the axle. But dang, the 5th wheel would be so darn big, you'd want a dually for the stability anyways.