GMC 2500 HD vs 3500 HD Waddya get?

[TPC]

Does the GM 3500 HD give you anything more than just more suspension and a stronger frame to tow with?
Do you get bigger brakes, bigger coolers, bigger anything over the 2500HD?

The website just lists spex,, nothing technical.
I miss the days of the brochure where it spelled it all out.

Thanks

 

[Waterheater]

The 3500 is a dually.

sent from the Galaxy.

 

[Riverbound]

I know on my ford the difference was one or two springs in the rear. And when lifting it they use the same springs for a 350 and 250. So essentially a lifted. 350 was the same as a lifted 250. Not sure if its the same for Chevy.

 

[pronstar]

I know on my ford the difference was one or two springs in the rear. And when lifting it they use the same springs for a 350 and 250. So essentially a lifted. 350 was the same as a lifted 250. Not sure if its the same for Chevy.

Same with Dodge - just an extra overload leaf in the back.
Everything else is identical, even the rear axle no matter if SRW or DRW.

I believe Chevy is the same but I'm sure someone who knows for sure will chime-in...

 

[mjc]

3500 will haul more in the bed than 2500. Actually some 2500's will tow more since the truck itself weighs less.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[LowRiver2]

Our 12' GMC 2500 response trucks have the same weight ratings as our 08 GMC 3500 trucks. GM basically upped the GCWR's when they dumped the Kodiak 4500's in 09. Nice thing about GM's are that as they are rated, you can tow a pintle hitch trailer without a weight distributing hitch compared Ford's and Dodge's specs, good for construction co.'s insurance wise.


We actually had bomb techs in Valencia that were getting grief in HOA communities that said they couldn't park 3500's in their driveways, police vehicle or not. The 2500's are okay:rolleyes.

 

[TPC]

The 3500 is a dually.

sent from the Galaxy.

No it's not.
Duelly is an option on the 3500 and the towing Numbers are the same as the single.

 

[TPC]

The new trailer we're ordering is 18.000 GVW and that's where the 2500 HD spex maxs.

The 3500 HD is rated at 24.000 GVW and we'd prefer to stay with the 2500HD if the 3500 only offers more rear spring.


Wife asks no lifted truck beyond stock 3" from the factory, no long beds, no stick shifts but most of all no duellys.
That's fine with me.

 

[BajaMike]

The new trailer we're ordering is 18.000 GVW and that's where the 2500 HD spex maxs.

The 3500 HD is rated at 24.000 GVW and we'd prefer to stay with the 2500HD if the 3500 only offers more rear spring.


Wife asks no lifted truck beyond stock 3" from the factory, no long beds, no stick shifts but most of all no duellys.
That's fine with me.

You can get a 2500 HD short bed, crew cab, with a 18,000 lb GVW?

 

[LowRiver2]

We had to wait on the 08 3500's in a single wheel when ordering back then, they had to get at least 50 lined up for single wheels before doing a production run (we ordered 12). Might check if that still applies.

Might want to wait for the 2014's, major cab upgrade, they beefed up the frame, suspension for 2012, and are now matching up the bigger cab in 14'. Only reason I went with the Ford was the cab space in the rear and GM is finally going to catch up.

My seats in my 12'GMC sit 1" higher than the 08's, for whatever reason, had to mod our X ray machine racks in the back seat for them from my 05' GMC.

 

[BajaMike]

This site has a good listing of tow ratings, but it looks like the newest numbers are from 2011.


http://www.onlinetowingguide.com/guidelines/towing_capacities.html

 

[BajaMike]

This site has some good info too:


http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-2500hd-pickup-truck/features-specs/capabilities.config%3Dcrew_cab_standard_box.html

 

[Slippery]

Does the GM 3500 HD give you anything more than just more suspension and a stronger frame to tow with?
Do you get bigger brakes, bigger coolers, bigger anything over the 2500HD?

The website just lists spex,, nothing technical.
I miss the days of the brochure where it spelled it all out.

Thanks

We used to get Order Guides that actually listed technical "stuff" i.e frame dimensions, brake size, cooler size, frame tensile strength ratings...only a very few of us truck geeks actually read them AND the book also made the factory liable for wrong information...so...no more books.

There isn't a lot of price difference between the two so common sense says there aren't major differences...the factory does nothing for free.

I think 2500 & 3500 - when comparing the same model in each - have the same frame.

There are some equipment differences ie. Standard stuff that differ between 25/3500 ...mirrors, wheels, tires...I believe cab clearance lights are standard on a 3500....that kind of "stuff"

A couple more "fer-instances"

2500 Crew 4x4 Short box (CK20743) VS. 3500 Crew Short box (CK30743)

BOTH use 35mm Ft & Rr shocks, 33mm Ft stabilizer bar, 4800 lb Ft axle with the L96 Engine (6.0L), and 4800 lb Ft Springs w/L96

However - when both are equipped with the LML (D-Max) the 2500 uses a 5200 lb Ft axle & springs while the 3500 uses 5600 lb Spring/axle combo.

2500 Rear axle & springs = 6200lb / 3500 Rear axle & springs = 7050

As far as brakes, coolers, & other details there are so many variations we resort to looking it up by VIN.

Realistically - there is very little practical difference between the 25/35 when comparing apples to apples ie. srw trucks with same engine/wheelbase . It's the "which is better, .270 or 30-06 ?" debate.

The 3500 lwb is available as a dually which ups the GVWR and GAWR but what a dually really provides (besides the cool factor) is stability - especially in the case of a blowout. We blew an inside rear tire while hauling a loaded 6 horse gooseneck trailer home from Colo last Oct and there was no drama; with a single rear wheel truck it could've been a different story....

So my .02 is this: I'd care more about the particular truck I found. I wouldn't pass a 2500 I liked because it wasn't a 3500 or vice-versa.

Hope that helps...

 

[TPC]

You can get a 2500 HD short bed, crew cab, with a 18,000 lb GVW?

Acording to the GM website "build your own" I understand it to be 17.800.
The 2014's will no doubt the same or a little more.

 

[TPC]

We used to get Order Guides that actually listed technical "stuff" i.e frame dimensions, brake size, cooler size, frame tensile strength ratings...only a very few of us truck geeks actually read them AND the book also made the factory liable for wrong information...so...no more books.

There isn't a lot of price difference between the two so common sense says there aren't major differences...the factory does nothing for free.

I think 2500 & 3500 - when comparing the same model in each - have the same frame.

There are some equipment differences ie. Standard stuff that differ between 25/3500 ...mirrors, wheels, tires...I believe cab clearance lights are standard on a 3500....that kind of "stuff"

A couple more "fer-instances"

2500 Crew 4x4 Short box (CK20743) VS. 3500 Crew Short box (CK30743)

BOTH use 35mm Ft & Rr shocks, 33mm Ft stabilizer bar, 4800 lb Ft axle with the L96 Engine (6.0L), and 4800 lb Ft Springs w/L96

However - when both are equipped with the LML (D-Max) the 2500 uses a 5200 lb Ft axle & springs while the 3500 uses 5600 lb Spring/axle combo.

2500 Rear axle & springs = 6200lb / 3500 Rear axle & springs = 7050

As far as brakes, coolers, & other details there are so many variations we resort to looking it up by VIN.

Realistically - there is very little practical difference between the 25/35 when comparing apples to apples ie. srw trucks with same engine/wheelbase . It's the "which is better, .270 or 30-06 ?" debate.

The 3500 lwb is available as a dually which ups the GVWR and GAWR but what a dually really provides (besides the cool factor) is stability - especially in the case of a blowout. We blew an inside rear tire while hauling a loaded 6 horse gooseneck trailer home from Colo last Oct and there was no drama; with a single rear wheel truck it could've been a different story....

So my .02 is this: I'd care more about the particular truck I found. I wouldn't pass a 2500 I liked because it wasn't a 3500 or vice-versa.

Hope that helps...

Yes,, it does help.
Really appreciate the info.

 

[LowRiver2]

I can say the brakes are best on these trucks in the class. The rear discs are bigger than the ones on our 06 4500 Monroe Kodiak pickup. A pickup trucks.com road test had the GM stopping 70 feet shorter than the ford from 60 to stop. Having the 12' 2500HD and a 12 F350, I can attest the GM brakes are much better, more positive feel.

 

[TPC]

I can say the brakes are best on these trucks in the class. The rear discs are bigger than the ones on our 06 4500 Monroe Kodiak pickup. A pickup trucks.com road test had the GM stopping 70 feet shorter than the ford from 60 to stop. Having the 12' 2500HD and a 12 F350, I can attest the GM brakes are much better, more positive feel.

:thumbsup Thanks LR

 

[Instigator]

The new trailer we're ordering is 18.000 GVW and that's where the 2500 HD spex maxs.

The 3500 HD is rated at 24.000 GVW and we'd prefer to stay with the 2500HD if the 3500 only offers more rear spring.


Wife asks no lifted truck beyond stock 3" from the factory, no long beds, no stick shifts but most of all no duellys.
That's fine with me.

In my opinion, you are flirting with disaster towing 18k even with a fifth wheel if you don't have the Rear Dual Wheels and the rear sway ba

 

[Riverbound]

In my opinion, you are flirting with disaster towing 18k even with a fifth wheel if you don't have the Rear Dual Wheels and the rear sway ba

Kinda what I was thinking. We towed our old 40' alpha with our f350 once. Then went and found our FL60 sport chasis.

 

[.boatpoor]

You"ll get a huge tax break or write off with the 3500 cause of the weight. Some law the farmers passed.