the 3500hd srw has the same suspension as a drw. it has beffier leaf springs. also the 3500hd srw only comes in long bed configuration. so i doubt you could make a 2500hd the same as a factory 3500hd. but aftermarket air bags or helper springs will help stabilize and give you better towing abilities.

 

I'm not sure you read the whole question. By the way, can you put airbags on a lifted truck?

 

bigger tires,beefier suspension,and steel rims,not alloy-

 

getpower, you might want to go to the suspension section here on DieselPlace. It has a great deal of info on suspension ratings, modifications, do's and don'ts regarding lifts, how lifts change the truck's weight capacity, etc...

Your last question in your first post is a bit hard to answer unless a particular lift kit is selected. It may or may not affect load capacity.

Yes, you can put air bags on a lifted truck. They are just taller airbags. <G>

 

im not sure about air bags on a lifted truck but i would check out kelderman air lifts to be sure. i know they make ford and dodge systems not sure about chevy.

 

The Gvw of the 2500HD is 9200lbs.;on the 3500SRW,it's 9900 lbs.Only 700 lbs.difference,but only on paper---I have both trucks--the 1 tonner just feels much,much beefier,although the only real difference is 1 more leaf spring.I believe the torsion bars are the same rating.So,if your towing figures are correct,I have no idea where GM came up with those numbers.

 

I was told when I bought mine that the 1 ton had same rear end brakes etc etc, Just over laod springs, the dealer told me that if I added the springs I would have a 1 ton. I wasnt that worried about it so didnt push the ? too much but that is what I was told. 13,200 is the towing capacity on our rig. Not what the dealer told me. I never looked at the truck itself. That seems low fi the 1/2 tons can town 10,000 lbs, that a 3/4ton hd diesel could only tow 3,200 more.

 

Don't forget that towing capacities are conservative + it depends on the trailer arrangement, i.e., rear receiver hitch mounted or fifth wheel/gooseneck arrangement.

 

I was told when I bought mine that the 1 ton had same rear end brakes etc etc, Just over laod springs, the dealer told me that if I added the springs I would have a 1 ton. I wasnt that worried about it so didnt push the ? too much but that is what I was told. 13,200 is the towing capacity on our rig. Not what the dealer told me. I never looked at the truck itself. That seems low fi the 1/2 tons can town 10,000 lbs, that a 3/4ton hd diesel could only tow 3,200 more.

Also has to do with weight carrying hitch vs. weight distributing one.With WD,you'll be able to pull more load.

 

The very most that I would probalbly plan on pulling would be a 26' Toy Hauler if all worked out for me. I was thinking for any lift that I would go with Cognito, Skyjacker, or maybe Kelderman(just because their kits seem so adjustable and in the case that I did get a trailer, the airbags are already there).

 

The Gvw of the 2500HD is 9200lbs.;on the 3500SRW,it's 9900 lbs.Only 700 lbs.difference,but only on paper---I have both trucks--the 1 tonner just feels much,much beefier,although the only real difference is 1 more leaf spring.I believe the torsion bars are the same rating.

Actually, I recently ordered a set of 1-ton torsion bars, which I was going to swap into my 2500 HD. Unless I got hornswoggled by the stealer, I think that means there are different TB's for the 3/4, and 1-ton trucks.

 

I don't have a lifted truck, so I cannot adequately asnwer your question on that issue.

I know it may not seem helpful, but allow me to ask a few questions regarding your question. That might better allow you to understand.

Are you in a position to buy, or have you already bought, one model versus the other? The 2500HD and 3500 HD are similar, but not the same as far as build criteria. The old addages of "1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton" refer to the 1500, 2500, and 3500 series, but they are not truly a representation of the carrying capacity that they once inferred.

Are you concerned about actual payload capacity (what you would carry in the back)? Are you more concerned about towing capacity (what you would pull from a reciever hitch)? A combination of both (such as a 5th wheel/goose neck)? How well do you want it to ride? How often would you have it loaded near capacity? These all weigh into your decision.

Also consider that the 2500HD and 3500HD are equipped differently when it comes to the support systems. Usually, but not always, there are different bearings, bolts, springs, spindles, wheel sizes, and even frame thickness dimensions that all play into the capacity ratings from the manufacturer. Sure, the two trucks look the same, but are they actually the same? The manufacturers rate them differently for a good reason. The two trucks do come with different rear differentials; I can assure you that the don't just do this for the fun of it, they are rated for different capacities for a reason. The bearings in the wheel packages most likely are uprated for the heavier truck. At one point, I remember that you couldn't get 265 tires on a 2500HD, and many people wondered why not. Well, larger wheel/tire packages place different stress levels on the associated components such as the bearings, spindles, caliper bolts, etcetera. The list is nearly endless. I know for a fact that Ford rates its F series superduty's in a progressive fassion because the actual frame section thickness is different as you go up the line (comparing F250, to F350, to F450) even though all the frames appear to be made the same. You see, they use the same body for the superduty series, so all the body mount locations must be the same, but the load and pulling capacities are different based upon the actual components built into the vehicle. The axels are sized diffently, the bearings, and ring gears, and so on. I can assure you without a doubt that the GM products are engineered the same way. The farther up the series you go, the heavier the components get based upon the expected capacity ratings. For some components, they do use interchangeable parts because they are deemed more cost effective to use one for multiple applications, but the towing/carrying/pulling items such as frame, bearings, wheel size, axels, etc are size for an application. The applications sometimes even overlap. A 2500HD with a snow-plow package might be as "beefy" in the front end as a 3500HD, but not so in the rear.

To truly get the answers you might desire, you'd have to get the "spec books" that actually define the components involved, and you'd see that there are some siginificant differences between the trucks. These are what aftermarket companies use to build up vehicles such as RV's, emergency vehicles such as fire/rescue trucks, and industry trucks such as you would see plumbers/carpenters using with aftermarket beds on them.

Now what you need to decided is do you need a 2500HD or a 3500HD? The ride is not as nice on a 3500HD, but it can take just a bit more in most catagories. Also consider that if you are going to be near the limits of the 2500HD, you might feel more comfortable with the capacity buffer by stepping up to the next level in a 3500HD, giving you some piece of mind in not overloading/overstressing your truck. Or if you don't really need the beef of a one-ton, how much do you really want to bounce around when empty?

Don't forget that when it comes to maintenance, such as tires, bigger costs more too.

I bought a 3500HD because I don't use it much from day to day. I use mine to pull a travel trailer. I bought mine off the lot, as a left over 2006 model, and got a great deal. I really wanted a 2500HD CC with a short bed, but I setteled for a 3500HD with a long bed because I couldn't pass up the deal they made me, and it was hard for me to locate what I wanted at the time, and I looked around a lot.

If you are honest with yourself and decided how you're going to use the truck, you'll be able to get what best suits your need. Or you might be like me and decide to alter your decision based upon a great deal that would sway you in another direction.

 

The difference is in the rear suspension and the rims/tires.

A lift kit on a 3500SRW comes with replacement hangers for the leafs. The capacity would remain the same if the kit is well made.

 

Alot of the ratings are based on tires like McRat pointed out. Our boat trailers have just tire changes on the next up tow capacities.

 

Actually, I recently ordered a set of 1-ton torsion bars, which I was going to swap into my 2500 HD. Unless I got hornswoggled by the stealer, I think that means there are different TB's for the 3/4, and 1-ton trucks.

I do believe you got hornswoggled.The 700lbs. difference comes from the 6th leaf spring vs.5 for the 2500HD

 

I do believe you got hornswoggled.The 700lbs. difference comes from the 6th leaf spring vs.5 for the 2500HD

I don't know if the torsion bars on SRW and DRW 3500s is the same, but I know for a fact that a 3500 dually CC and 2500HD CC/SB have different FAWR (at least the two I've looked at did). The only way I can imagine they would rate the 3500 higher is with stiffer t-bars.

 

I don't know if the torsion bars on SRW and DRW 3500s is the same, but I know for a fact that a 3500 dually CC and 2500HD CC/SB have different FAWR (at least the two I've looked at did). The only way I can imagine they would rate the 3500 higher is with stiffer t-bars.

Josh--we're talking 2500HD SRW vs.3500SRW,NOT DRW's. I've got both trucks presently--they look externally identical--I'd be really surprised if they had different #'s

 

I know that's why I said I wasn't sure if SRW and DRW trucks have the same t-bars or not, but I'm pretty certain that the DRW and 2500HD aren't. Since you have both could you look at your vehicle loading data tag on the drivers side door and see what the FAWR on the 3500 is and see if it is the same as the 2500HD? I can't think of any way to raise the front axle rating without changing the t-bars.

 

I believe the only difference for trucks built after the 2006MY is tire, wheel, and shock tuning. I can confirm with the engineers at work next week.

 

I know that's why I said I wasn't sure if SRW and DRW trucks have the same t-bars or not, but I'm pretty certain that the DRW and 2500HD aren't. Since you have both could you look at your vehicle loading data tag on the drivers side door and see what the FAWR on the 3500 is and see if it is the same as the 2500HD? I can't think of any way to raise the front axle rating without changing the t-bars.

I'll be out plowing tonite{we've got a full-on genuine Nor-easter as I write--up to 14'' they say-YAHOO,KA----CHING},so tomorrow at my shop,I'll check on the 2500--

 

The 3500 srw has heavier rear springs and in the front uses the same torsion bar and GAWR as the 3500 drw and if you based it on rim and tire capacity the srw could technically handle more weight on the front than the drw. My 3500 has a higher front end capacity than my 03 2500HD had. The frames also have differences. The 3500srw and drw share the same frame which does have some mounting points the 2500 frame does not. I don't know if there is any strength differences between the two frames.

 

I do believe you got hornswoggled.The 700lbs. difference comes from the 6th leaf spring vs.5 for the 2500HD

Ooh, I hate being hornswoggled. Well, looks like I'm gonna hafta look it up!

My guess is that if they're going to upgrade the rear end's suspension for greater capacity (i.e., by adding another leaf spring) that it makes sense to add extra capacity up front as well, in the form of heavier duty torsion bars...not that making sense is something GM always does!

If they have different part numbers for 3/4 and 1 ton TB's, that's some evidence.

Since I never installed the putative 1 tonners I got, I suppose I could weigh'em. Insurance co. already dragged my 2500 HD away.

Anybody wanna remove their 2500 HD torsion bars and weigh 'em so I can compare? :evillol:

 

I've got that info--sorry for the delay.On my 2500HD--FAWR---4670lbs.
On my 3500--FAWR 4800lbs. So for that small 130 lb difference,it's hard for me to believe that there would be 2 different bars.I'm going to be at my dealer Thurs..I'll ask at Parts.

 

You guys have to remember that the 3500 swr has 265 tires and the 2500hd has 245 tires I read in another thread that both the 2500hd and the 3500 srw has the same rear end rated at approx 7000#. With only a 130# difference in the front ends I have to believe it is the tires that make the difference and the springs and tires on the rear

 

I haven't checked with my dealer yet. I do know, that, short of weighing them, we could read each other the numbers/codes stamped on the ends, see if those are different.

I only bought them because a very good local repair/mods guy whom I trust mentioned it as an option to help my 2500 with the load of the front winch I was carryng around. "Put 1 ton torsion bars in, swap out the ones you have", he said.

When I went to the stealer, I emphasized that I wanted the torsion bars for a 1 ton truck.

So, my guy could be mistaken, my dealer could be taking advantage, and I could have gotten snookered! Is there a smiley with a lollipop head?

I would expect to see a larger than 130# capacity difference if they were different bars, fer sure.