2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2500 vs 3500

[Niro]

ok I know this might have been asked about before hand but I cant seem to find any specific threads



Ive been doing alot of reading and from what I can gather the difference between these trucks are, the dual rear wheels, rear springs and the axles on the duallies? is this correct?



the reason I ask is this, what accounts for all of the extra weight that duallies have over the 2500s?





say for instance we have a 5 speed 4X4 2500 (reg cab) vs a 5 speed 4X4 2500 (reg cab)



why does it seem that some 2500s are in the 6000lb range, but the duallie would be closer to the 8000s?



the reason Im asking is this



there is going to be a truck competition in sept here, and Im thinking the best platform would be a reg cab 3500 5 speed 4X4, but convert it to a 2500 for weight savings



this way it has the bigger brakes, axle, rear springs, but close to the same weight as the 2500



the competition entails, sled pulling, dynoing, drag racing and 100 mile trailer pulling(mpg recorded)



how much stronger is the rear axle on the duallie compared to that of the 2500? is anything else beefed up drivetrain wise (I know the engine and trans are the same obviously)



thanks alot guys



Carl

 

[nps]

My 01. 5 HO 2500 with a camper special package is a 3500 minus the dually wheels and fenders and front spacers. That is because they put the Dana 80 axle behind the NV5600 in the HO model. Everything else is the same.



In the case of a SO 2500 without the camper package, the differences are the Dana 70 vs 80 rear end, the sway bar, and the overload packs.



At best, I would speculate you are talking about a 300-400 lb difference.

 

[TWilkening]

I thought the Dana 80 was under all 2500s with a manual transmission and all 3500s. The Dana 70 should only be under 2500 trucks with the automatic.

 

[Nate]

Yeah I thought so.



My truck has a rear swaybar and overloads. That's not normal for a 2500?

 

[SnoKing]

Yeah I thought so.



My truck has a rear swaybar and overloads. That's not normal for a 2500?

That is the Camper Option! SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

So to have a little fun.



2500 HO or 5 speed (Dana 80) with Camper Option is SRW one ton

2500 Auto with Camper Option is SRW 7/8 ton.

2500 Auto without Camper Option is the REAL 3/4 ton one!!!!!!



SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

Oh yeah, DC just could not think beyound 8800 lbs! But the General did! SNOKING

 

[nps]

I thought the Dana 80 was under all 2500s with a manual transmission and all 3500s. The Dana 70 should only be under 2500 trucks with the automatic.

Yep - I should have said a SO with an auto trans. The 6 speed NV5600 is about 150lbs heavier than a 5 speed NV4500. I'd still guess max difference in weight is 300-400 lbs between a 2500 auto with no camper package and a 3500.

 

[NoSeeUm]

My truck is the HD model and came with sway bars. The OE tires were Michelin P265/75R 16 with 3415 pound load rating @ 80 psi.



As far as I can figure out the rear axle is a Dana 70/80 hybrid. This means it has the Dana 70 full floating axle with the larger Dana 80 sized pumpkin to handle the Cummins torque.



Does the 3500 come with a full Dana 80?

 

[TowPro]

As far as I can figure out the rear axle is a Dana 70/80 hybrid. This means it has the Dana 70 full floating axle with the larger Dana 80 sized pumpkin to handle the Cummins torque.



Does the 3500 come with a full Dana 80?

Its called a Dana 80 Hybrid. From what I understand, in the 2nd gen if you add the "camper Package" to a 2500, it adds the helper springs, sway bar and Dana 80. My 98 2500 had this and an 8800 gvw. Now my 02 3500 has the sway bar so I need to check if that's stock on all 3500's or if it has the camper package.

 

[SnoKing]

Its called a Dana 80 Hybrid. From what I understand, in the 2nd gen if you add the "camper Package" to a 2500, it adds the helper springs, sway bar and Dana 80. My 98 2500 had this and an 8800 gvw. Now my 02 3500 has the sway bar so I need to check if that's stock on all 3500's or if it has the camper package.

Camper Package was just the overloads and sway bar. As pointed out above the 70 or 80 followed the transmission - auto or manual. My 2001. 5 2500 4x4 has the Camper Package, the larger 265 tires, auto and Dana 70. It also has the trailer option, which was the hitch and wiring to trailer. SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

My truck is the HD model and came with sway bars. The OE tires were Michelin P265/75R 16 with 3415 pound load rating @ 80 psi.



As far as I can figure out the rear axle is a Dana 70/80 hybrid. This means it has the Dana 70 full floating axle with the larger Dana 80 sized pumpkin to handle the Cummins torque.



Does the 3500 come with a full Dana 80?

LT265's, not P265's. But if you look at the door jam sticker it has the data for the standard 245 tires rated to 3042. DC really screwed us by having things like the Camper Package and larger tires, and not adjusting the GVWR up from the standard 8800 lbs. These trucks could have easily carried the 9200 lb rating the GM puts on the 2500HD. And they do it with 245 tires. We have everything the 3500 SRW have except the sticker ratings. The Dana 70 is rated to something like 8500 lbs and the 80 is rated to 10500 or something like that. For the 2001. 5 and 2002's they could not even claim the lower rating was because of the brakes.



SNOKING

 

[NoSeeUm]

LT265's, not P265's. But if you look at the door jam sticker it has the data for the standard 245 tires rated to 3042. DC really screwed us by having things like the Camper Package and larger tires, and not adjusting the GVWR up from the standard 8800 lbs. These trucks could have easily carried the 9200 lb rating the GM puts on the 2500HD. And they do it with 245 tires. We have everything the 3500 SRW have except the sticker ratings. The Dana 70 is rated to something like 8500 lbs and the 80 is rated to 10500 or something like that. For the 2001. 5 and 2002's they could not even claim the lower rating was because of the brakes.



SNOKING

Er ya, oops LT265.



Just by searching the net I have come across Dana 70 load ratings of 7500 lbs to 12000 lbs (for an RV application). I generally use the 7500 lbs rating to to figure my (over) "weightiness" calculations and stay below that. My truck hauls my camper quite comfortably.



It took me quite a bit of head banging to figure out that the axle ratings and tire weight ratings line up to the exact pound at a given tire inflation pressure. The whole axle weight rating was in fact the tire ratings times two. However, I did ask a Dodge dealership mechanic about the axles and he said the HD 2500 and 3500 (DRW) axles were not the same. He told me that the 3500 has bigger bearings (etc... . ). So I assumed that the 3500 would have the full Dana 80.



But IMO you are right, the HD 2500 was aimed square at the Ford and Chevy SRW 3500, but they gipped us on the stickers.



If I am not mistaken the Dodge 2500 and 3500 have the same brakes?



Jim

 

[Niro]

Jim



by going off of dodgeram.org



it had showed the 3500 had larger brakes, I assume its because it would be expected to carry more of larger load?



if you check under brakes I think the 3500 has more of a larger braking area if I recall right

 

[Thomas]

Jim

by going off of dodgeram.org

it had showed the 3500 had larger brakes, I assume its because it would be expected to carry more of larger load?

if you check under brakes I think the 3500 has more of a larger braking area if I recall right

You might provide a model year to make your original question a bit more specific. Some model years have the same brakes on both 2500's & 3500's - others are different.

 

[Niro]

sorry I apologize



the two trucks Im looking at are both 94s and one is a 3500 and one is a 2500

both 4WD as well

 

[Smokin_Monster]

Me and a friend both have a 98 QC 4x4 LB 5sp mine is 2500 his is 3500. the only difference we have found yet is dually fenders, wheels(and front spacers) and clearance lights. I haven't run the VIN but nowhere does it say anything about camper option. Towing package?

 

[NoSeeUm]

Jim



by going off of dodgeram.org



it had showed the 3500 had larger brakes, I assume its because it would be expected to carry more of larger load?



if you check under brakes I think the 3500 has more of a larger braking area if I recall right

Thanks Niro, it looks like all 2001+ 2500 and 3500 have the same brakes. And sorry, for my part, I did a good job of hijacking your thread. I must learn to read better.



Jim