2500HD vs 3500 I need help?

GoldRush · March 18, 2002

Please help this potential DMAX owner

I cannot get a straight answer from the local Chevrolet dealer

I am looking at the Durmax/Allison solution, and I think the 3500LS Dually makes sense for me

The dealer salesperson has told me the only difference in the 3500 and the 2500HD is additional rear springs on the 3500

Is this true?

Shaners · March 18, 2002

The DMax and Allison should be the same on the 2 trucks. I don't know about the rear end as to whether it is the same one (gear ratio is the same though).

Certainly there is a heavy payload capacity in the dually. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1800 lbs more. (approx 3700 lbs vs 5500 lbs)

Ball hitch trailering is the same, but that is because of the 12000 lb limit on the class V hitch. And fifth wheel towing is actually higher for the 2500HD by a few hundred lbs. (15100 vs 14900)

So if you are buying a truck for towing then it shouldn't matter (although the dual rear wheels offer more stabillity in cross winds etc). If you will be filling the bed up, then the 3500 is the way to go.

Raven · March 18, 2002

I am almost certain that the brake sizes are different between the 2500 and 3500 (the 3500 has much bigger brakes), that the Transfer cases are different, and that the rear axles are larger diameter on the 3500. If you can get your hands on a Commercial Truck catalog, I'm pretty sure you will find a lot more detail.

Hope this helps.

kengsxr · March 18, 2002

salesman is a duma**

2500hd is single rear wheels

3500 is dually

different payload & trailering

one fits in the garage

same rr axle

similar brakes but not exactly the same

JEBar · March 19, 2002

GoldRush I can understand and identify with your stated concerns. During the months prior to buying a 3500 Duramax I test drove 7 2500's and 4 3500's that were on various dealer's lots. I also road and test drove an additional 3 2500 (with gasoline engines) that belonged to friends of mine. The deciding factor for me was the ride. I do not know why but in every case the 3500's I drove gave me a better ride than the 2500's. When I would drive a 2500 down one particular county road near my home it would literally hurt my back. The 3500's that I drove and the one I now own won't our ride a luxury automobile by any standards but from my experience they put a 2500 to shame. I often drive long distances in my truck (meaning oneway trips of 1000 miles or more) so ride is very important to me. Suggest you consider the above recommendations ... all of which seem to be very valid to me but be sure to spend some seat time in each. Don't think you will regret doing so.

March 19, 2002

I have a '95 3500 4x4, single rear wheels.

Here's what my mechanic told me. The 3500 (1 ton) trucks have the full floating rear axle and huge rear brakes. Full floating means that the weight of the truck does not ride on the axles at all. It sits on the hubs.

2500 trucks have semi floating rear axles which means that there is some payload weight on the axle, I don't know if semi floaters carry all the weight on the axles like light duty or cars.

The brakes on the 2500 are smaller than the 3500.

This may or may not be true anymore. We were speaking strictly on my year model truck.

Hope this helps.

GoldRush · March 19, 2002

Please help this potential DMAX owner
I cannot get a straight answer from the local Chevrolet dealer

I am looking at the Durmax/Allison solution, and I think the 3500LS Dually makes sense for me

The dealer salesperson has told me the only difference in the 3500 and the 2500HD is additional rear springs on the 3500

Is this true?

My thanks to each of you responding to my message request

Different perspectives from different experiences along with quality inputs from people with real knowledge, that's what this forum represents to me

Thanks again to each of you

--Gary

BlackSilver · March 19, 2002

What Friz says makes sense.

Looking at 5th wheel towing capacity, the 2500HD is actually rated higher than the 3500 in all configurations for equivalent engine/rear end. Since the 3500 is heavier, this is logical, since 5th wheel towing capacity is mostly driven by engine/transmission/rear end (in other words, POWER).

On the other hand, the 3500 is rated a huge 2,200 pounds MORE than the 2500HD in GVWR. GVWR is of course more a measure of frame/suspension strength.

Which is a long way of saying the 3500 is a hauling brute, and the 2500HD a pulling brute.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

:baa:

Colorado Kid · March 19, 2002

At the risk of beating a dead horse...

I hadn't heard that the 3500's rode better, but I have an explanation anyway...the 3500 hav 3 stage rear springs while the 2500HD have 2 stage...when the 2500's hit the 2nd stage they can give quite a jolt.

I'm pretty sure I have a handle on 2500HD vs 3500. Assuming both are LB (the only way 3500's come) Duramax/Allisons the following are different.

2500HD has steel bed sides

3500 has composite bed sides and fenders (one piece per side)

as mentioned above

2500HD has 2 stage rear springs with lower weight rating

3500 has 3 stage rear springs with higher weight rating

2500HD has single rear wheels, and 4 245/75R16 tires

3500 has dual rear wheels and 6 215/85R16 tires

Rear hubs are different because of dual vs single, otherwise same rear axels.

Frame, t-cases, front diff, front suspension, brakes (except for hubs) and many other parts are identical.

Rear axel load is limited by tires in both applications.

What it comes down to in the real world is 2500HD's are easier to park, and are available as short beds 2500HD will not haul as heavy a bed load, and have a tendency to run out of hitch bearing weight (also known as pin weight) in big 5th wheel/goose neck applications. There is near agreement that 3500's are more stable in towing, but 2500HD's are not bad.

DaveRuane · March 19, 2002

And if you compare the 2500HD to the previous bodystyle 3500 - the new 2500HD has a better GVWR!

raventai · March 20, 2002

the gmc 2500HD with a the 6L has semi floating 14 bolt with 10.5 ring not shure is the chevy is the same, the chevy w/ 8.1 or dmax has the 14bolt full float 11.5 ring

Colorado Kid · March 20, 2002

the gmc 2500HD with a the 6L has semi floating 14 bolt with 10.5 ring not shure is the chevy is the same, the chevy w/ 8.1 or dmax has the 14bolt full float 11.5 ring

Actually they are both full floaters, but you are right about the difference in size. Chevy and GMC are the same in this respect.

Some 2500 (not HD) have 9.75" 10 bolt Semi-floaters...I'm not sure if the difference is 2WD or manual trans, as the one I saw had both 2WD and NV 4500 (standard cab 2WD LB 6.0L)

Jpshostr · March 24, 2002

Goldrush, I didn't see what your application for this truck will be listed anywhere. Could you indulge in that a bit?

Personally, I would only consider a dually if I was towing on the road 75% of the time or more as this is really the only place four rear wheels help you, as they reduce the tire heatup under load and really cut down on sway and to an extent being affected by wind. The ride in some ways is better as you have a much larger width on each side of the axle to "carry" you over potholes and such, one tire can float right over since the other is still on flat road.

For the uses that we see a truck in, SRW is the way to go. They go through the mud better than a dually since the rear wheels somewhat follow the tracks the front tires make, with a dually the outsides are pushing a wall of mud. Width is also a concern. As with any truck you will get used to driving it no matter what the config is, but its a lot easier to find space in a lot, garage, or in our case go through the occasional narrow gate for SRW than for a dually.

As the other guys have written, there isn't a whole heck of a lot difference between these two trucks. Pretty much comes down to whether or not your uses warrent 6 tires or if 4 will suffice.

March 24, 2002

One more disadvantage to the dually;

An extra $250.00 when you buy tires! Every once in a while I wish my truck was a dually, but two weeks ago I had to buy tires. I was glad that I had a single rear wheel axle!