I have a 2000 2500HD 6.0L (8600lb GVW) and noticed somewhere around 2003 the bed height changed measured to the top of the bed in line with the rear axle.

I've measured several 2001 and 2002 and they come i about 50.5" at the top of the bed. 2003 up seem to all be 54.5" to the top of the bed.

The beds are the same (19.5" deep) so what changed? A block on the rear axle? Springs? Something added 4". None of these trucks have lift kits. They are stock.

Any idea what changed? My 5th wheel has the axles flipped so it's too low in the front (bed too low). I don't want to de-flip if I don't have to.

TK

Edit: I know, go down to the used dealers and look ... ;)

The truck you have is a 2500 non hd, the true hd trucks have a bigger taller frame which makes up for the different heights. If I remember correctly it is something like 2-3" or so taller. The the '01 and up hd's should sit higher.

The truck you have is a 2500 non hd, the true hd trucks have a bigger taller frame which makes up for the different heights. If I remember correctly it is something like 2-3" or so taller. The the '01 and up hd's should sit higher.

The VIS shows it as a 2500HD 8600lb GVW. It's not a 7200lb GVW. But I think I get your point. At the same time, I don't see 4" in the frame but maybe. I will look into it. I know the frames changed around that time and maybe they got the 8600 number with just springs.

Merchandising Model : CK25953 -2000 SILVERADO LS 2500 HD PICKUP 4DR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating : 3904 kg (8608 lb)

and...
Z85 - INCREASED CAPACITY CHASSIS PACK

The hd trucks have a gvw of 9200# the 2500s have a gvw of 8600 if I remember correctly.
2001 and up is when the hds were first made. And yes 4 inches seems like a lot more than just frame, so I am not 100% sure.

the HD's didnt come out till 2001 but the light duty 2500 came out in 2000 look at the front bumper cap(the black thing) i bet the 2000 truck one is smaller in height than the 03

does your 2000 grille look like this?
http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/4/20/278/350/15716368274.278350349.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.j pg

if so its a light duty 2500


if it looks like this its a heavy duty
http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/5/6/278/565/15904820066.278565033.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.j pg


plus notice the difference in the bumper cap from the frame being taller

HDs have factory bodylifts

HDs have factory bodylifts

No they don't ;)

Ok, it's the frame. The later frames are a couple of inches taller. I ran down and looked at a couple.

As for the "HD" argument, the early "2500'" trucks were normally 7200lb GVW but GM offered an HD version (as I noted above) with 8600lb GVW. When they went to the taller frame they increased it to 9200lbs.

So all it means is that GM built an HD at 8600lb early on and later increased it to 9200 and the taller frame was part of it. They are still both HD trucks. The fact they didn't put an "2500HD" badge on it is irrelevant.

But at least I understand where they got the height which was the main question!

Thanks everyone!

I can tell you from recently cutting my 2000 2500 in half. The rear frame sections are worlds different between the 2500 and 2500HD. The 2500 is 3.5" shorter in the rear frame horns; those frames goes from 8" to 6" to 4.5".

Factory 2000 2500 frame.
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu360/eodtommy/Chummins/Chum%20Again/Framestripped1.jpg
Shortened 2000 2500 frame with McGauhy's hangers.
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu360/eodtommy/Chummins/Chum%20Again/RollingChassis1.jpg

The spring hangers are also different. The front leaf spring hangers on a 2500HD are lower beneath the frame by about 1" and the rear hangers are 3.5" lower due to the frame section height difference. This frame height and hanger difference accounts for the difference.

If you really want to get technical about it, the 1500, 2500 and 3500 are all light duty trucks. Medium duty starts at 4500 and true heavy duty is beyond that. The HD designation is just a name. Not sure of the exact years, but in the mid-90's and into 2000, GM offered one 1500 GVW, two 2500 GVW ( 7,200 # and 8,600#) and SRW & DRW 3500's. I've had several of the 8,600 # 2500's but they did not call them HD's. I think the HD badging started with the 2500/3500 body style change in 2000.

I can tell you from recently cutting my 2000 2500 in half. The rear frame sections are worlds different between the 2500 and 2500HD. The 2500 is 3.5" shorter in the rear frame horns; those frames goes from 8" to 6" to 4.5".

Factory 2000 2500 frame.
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu360/eodtommy/Chummins/Chum%20Again/Framestripped1.jpg
Shortened 2000 2500 frame with McGauhy's hangers.
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu360/eodtommy/Chummins/Chum%20Again/RollingChassis1.jpg

The spring hangers are also different. The front leaf spring hangers on a 2500HD are lower beneath the frame by about 1" and the rear hangers are 3.5" lower due to the frame section height difference. This frame height and hanger difference accounts for the difference.

Wow, thanks for the specifics! I was thinking there had to be more than just the frame height.

I just wanted to know what changed. I really don't care what they called it. :)

Thanks again for the pics and details. I saved them in case someone else asks.

No they don't ;)


I thought they did- sort of. The 01-02 trucks had to have the hood that was bumped up to make more room for the engine and the allison trans. In '03 they made the frame a bit taller to allow for more room for the engine and running gear. Then the hood could sit back down and become "normal".

At least that is what the article I read when shopping around for mine said. I tried finding it again and I can't.

The 2500HD's showed a body raise right on the window sticker. The reason they did it was to fit the duramax and allison. If you open the hood on a gasser of each one you will see that the firewall is a couple inches up from the engine cover on a hd. If you also looked at the clearance between the floor and the top of the transmission you would see the difference also. They didn't actually put spacers in between the body mounts, its the way the mounts are on the frame. If you look at a 03 newer gmc the hd has that extra black plastic filler strip between the grill and bumper. On the chevys the hd's have a taller plastic fascia on top of the chrome bumper.

The '99-~'01 8600 lb were classified as 2500HD (badges were 2500), when the the 2500HD (9200 lb) was released they removed the HD from the window stickers/etc.. There was some overlap where you could get a 2500HD in 8600 lb (lighter frame 2500 badging) or 9200 lb (heavier frame, 2500 HD badging)

Oddly enough the ~'03 or so 1500HD is the 8600 lb truck (same as a 2500 crew cab)

Sorry for the rambling. The key is the 9200 lb truck has a totally different frame and significantly different drive train options then the 8600 lb.

I can tell you from recently cutting my 2000 2500 in half. The rear frame sections are worlds different between the 2500 and 2500HD. The 2500 is 3.5" shorter in the rear frame horns; those frames goes from 8" to 6" to 4.5".

Factory 2000 2500 frame.
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu360/eodtommy/Chummins/Chum%20Again/Framestripped1.jpg
Shortened 2000 2500 frame with McGauhy's hangers.
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu360/eodtommy/Chummins/Chum%20Again/RollingChassis1.jpg

The spring hangers are also different. The front leaf spring hangers on a 2500HD are lower beneath the frame by about 1" and the rear hangers are 3.5" lower due to the frame section height difference. This frame height and hanger difference accounts for the difference.
Wow Josh, thats your Chummins? That is gonna be sweet!!

No they don't ;)

I can't say if it was all of them but MINE surely did. Here is my build sheet, pulled by VIN, by a friend of mine at Chevrolet motors. Look at code HVY.

CK25943 -2005 SILVERADO 2500HD 4WD CREW CAB
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating : 4177 kg (9210 lb) Order Number : HQXQS2
Build Date : 10/15/2004 Build Plant : 15F43

OPTION CODES
AE7 - 40/20/40 SPLIT BENCH RECLINING FRONT SEAT AM7 - FOLDING REAR SEAT
AU0 - KEYLESS REMOTE DOOR LOCK AU3 - POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM
A31 - POWER WINDOWS B30 - CARPETING, COLOR-KEYED
B32 - FRONT COLOR-KEYED FLOOR MATS B33 - REAR COLOR KEYED FLOOR MATS
B71 - WHEEL FLARES B85 - BRIGHT BODY SIDE MOLDINGS
CJ3 - AIR COND., DUAL ZONE MANUAL CMD - ASSEMBLY PLANT - FLINT, MI
C49 - ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER C6W - GVW RATING - 9,200 LBS
DF5 - ISRV MIRROR W/COMPASS & TEMP DK7 - INTERIOR CUSTOM ROOF CONSOLE W/ MAP LIGHTS
DL8 - DUAL PWR HEATED OSRV MIRRORS E2C - ORDER TO DELIVERY - EXPEDITE
E63 - FLEETSIDE BODY FE9 - FEDERAL EMISSIONS
FT2 - ARM TORS BAR SPRING ADJ FT3 - ARM TORS BAR SPRING ADJ
GT4 - REAR AXLE - 3.73 RATIO G80 - LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL
HVY - IDEN 2 INCH BODY RAISE,HD MODEL JH6 - 4 WHEEL POWER DISC BRAKES, HD
KC4 - ENGINE OIL COOLING SYSTEM KNP - HD AUX TRANS. COOLING SYS
KUP - THROTTLE CONTROL ELECTRONIC K05 - ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
K34 - CRUISE CONTROL K47 - HIGH CAPACITY AIR CLEANER
K68 - 105 AMP ALTERNATOR L18 - BIG BLOCK VORTEC 8100 V8 ENGINE
M74 - ALLISON 5 SPD AUTOMATIC TRANS NP1 - ELECTRONIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE
NP5 - LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL NT9 - EMISSION SYSTEM FEDERAL TIER 2 PHASE OUT
NZZ - OFF ROAD - SKID PLATES PY2 - CHROME STYLED STEEL WHEELS
P03 - CHROME CENTER WHEEL CAPS QIW - LT245/75R16/E OOR BW TIRES
R9Z - POMS EXPEDITE-SOLD ORDERS SAF - SPARE TIRE LOCK
SLL - SOLD ORDERS TR3 - CHROME GRILLE
UB0 - AM/FM STEREO W/CD PLAYER (REPLACES STD/OPT RADIO) UQ3 - ENHANCED AUDIO SPEAKERS
UY2 - CAMPER/5TH WHEEL TRAILER WIRING PROVISIONS VB3 - CHROME REAR BUMPER
VG3 - CHROME FRONT BUMPER VR4 - WEIGHT DISTRIB. PLATFORM HITCH
VXS - COMPLETE VEHICLE LABEL V73 - STATEMENT OF VEHICLE CERT.-U.S. /CANADA
XGK - LT245/75R16/E OOR BW TIRES-FRNT X88 - CHEVROLET CONVERSION
YD3 - BASE EQUIP FOR SCH GVW PL-FT AX YD6 - BASE REAR SPRING
YE9 - SILVERADO YGK - LT245/75R16/E OOR BW TIRES-REAR
ZHH - LT245/75R16/E ALS BW SPARE TIRE ZY1 - SOLID PAINT
Z82 - HD TRAILERING EQUIPMENT Z85 - HEAVY DUTY SUSPENSION
1SB - LS DECOR INCLUDES: * DUAL PWR HEATED OSRV MIRRORS * REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER * AM/FM STEREO W/CD PLAYER * CHROME STYLED STEEL WHEELS * POWER LOCKS & WINDOWS * REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY WITH CONTENT THEFT ALARM * ISRV MIRROR W/COMPASS & TEMP * LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHL * BODY SIDE MOLDINGS 1SZ - PREFERRED EQUIPMENT SAVINGS
50U - SUMMIT WHITE 6GL - FRONT SPRING
69D - DARK CHARCOAL 69I - DK PEWTER INTERIOR TRIM
7GL - FRONT SPRING
1GCHK23G65F848180
VEHICLE INFORMATION
Merchandising Model : CK25943 -2005 SILVERADO 2500HD 4WD CREW CAB

But its not a traditional body lift in the fact that the mounts are just higher on the frame, instead of spacers.

Wow Josh, thats your Chummins? That is gonna be sweet!!

Check this out......Chum Again (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=372272)