2500hd Vs. 3500 Srw

Fish mojo · January 27, 2009

What is the difference in a 2004 2500HD vs. 3500 SRW? An upper leaf spring? I've been trying hard to find 3500 SRW ext. cab Dmax LB, but they hard to find. 2500HD's are more common. Can I buy the 2500HD and do some spring work and have the same capacity? Lookin for a rig for a slide in camper- hate the Fords!!

MKWL · January 27, 2009

It is my understanding that the ONLY real difference is another spring in the rear leaf pack (maybe 2) to boost the GVWR from 9200 to I believe 9900. So in this sense, yes, you would be with the same capacity to add another spring or 2 to the rear coil pack. Frames are identical.

builderpaul · January 27, 2009

What is the difference in a 2004 2500HD vs. 3500 SRW? An upper leaf spring? I've been trying hard to find 3500 SRW ext. cab Dmax LB, but they hard to find. 2500HD's are more common. Can I buy the 2500HD and do some spring work and have the same capacity? Lookin for a rig for a slide in camper- hate the Fords!!

The 3500 comes with bigger (265) tires and wider wheels. This adds to the GVW rating. The rear end in the 8.1 and dmax 3500 is larger than the 2500HDs.

Ranger · January 27, 2009

If you got a Duramax or 8.1L (which you can't anymore, big blocks got axed after the 07 classics) in the 2500hd they get the same beefy 11.5" axle...If the motor was a 6.0L it would be a 10.5", which is pretty strong in its own right, they're all 14 bolt FULL floaters.

Kodiak450 · January 31, 2009

Yes , the 3500 comes with an additional spring in the rear. I had a HD 1/2" additional spring added to my rear about a month ago and what a difference! Gave me 3" and handles 2 tons like childs play now. Actual my truck with 2 tons in the bed will still stand higher vs a stock 2500HD with an empty bed. The ride is much better too! Especially when you go over pot holes or ruff roads, it feels as if the truck has a much harder time trying to kick out as it used to do stock. So before spring install, I measured 9" from top of wheel to bottom of fender flare, after spring installed I measured 12". And with that HD 1/2" spring, it is equilivant to adding two OEM springs, as my 2500 now sits higher then a 3500 or an F350.

Swang · January 31, 2009

Yes , the 3500 comes with an additional spring in the rear. I had a HD 1/2" additional spring added to my rear about a month ago and what a difference! Gave me 3" and handles 2 tons like childs play now. Actual my truck with 2 tons in the bed will still stand higher vs a stock 2500HD with an empty bed. The ride is much better too! Especially when you go over pot holes or ruff roads, it feels as if the truck has a much harder time trying to kick out as it used to do stock. So before spring install, I measured 9" from top of wheel to bottom of fender flare, after spring installed I measured 12". And with that HD 1/2" spring, it is equilivant to adding two OEM springs, as my 2500 now sits higher then a 3500 or an F350.

So total hijack here...but where did you get this 1/2" HD spring? And what did you do to the front to raise it up as well? I'm definitely curious. And did you get new shocks? Sorry for the hijack.

Kodiak450 · January 31, 2009

Yes , the 3500 comes with an additional spring in the rear. I had a HD 1/2" additional spring added to my rear about a month ago and what a difference! Gave me 3" and handles 2 tons like childs play now. Actual my truck with 2 tons in the bed will still stand higher vs a stock 2500HD with an empty bed. The ride is much better too! Especially when you go over pot holes or ruff roads, it feels as if the truck has a much harder time trying to kick out as it used to do stock. So before spring install, I measured 9" from top of wheel to bottom of fender flare, after spring installed I measured 12". And with that HD 1/2" spring, it is equilivant to adding two OEM springs, as my 2500 now sits higher then a 3500 or an F350.

So total hijack here...but where did you get this 1/2" HD spring? And what did you do to the front to raise it up as well? I'm definitely curious. And did you get new shocks? Sorry for the hijack.

I got the work done at a local spring shop for $400 cash. They specialize in springs and suspensions. The front was already raised up from torsion bars, but the new spring did slightly bring front down but is not noticeable. The only thing I noticed is that my headlights don't blind smaller vehicles in front of me as much. I didn't have to get new shocks, I wasn't raising the truck, just strengthing the rear. It did make the cab a little higher as it felt higher up getting in.