converting 2500 to 3500

[walkerkd]

hey guys got a question for anyone.. would it be easier to convert my truck to a 3500 or buy 19.5 set up and keep single rear wheels... my loads are getting heavier and yea yea i know i should have bought a 1 ton in the get go but im hard headed.. hee hee.. but anyway does anyone have and ideas?????
thanks

[Diesel Dad]

Residual values for Duramaxes are strong. I sold my 2500HD with 12,000 miles on it and bought an identical used 3500 for a difference of about $2K. The 3500 has XPS Ribs, J&J boards etc., so maybe I just lucked out.

If your 2500HD is a longbox, then you could get a conversion kit from Arrowcraft, replace all the wheels and get a takeoff box from an upfitter and replace the box. Much cheaper and easier to just sell and buy in my experience.

[8.1PWR]

You can put 3500 springs on your 2500HD. I did it and they bolt right in. The only weight limiting factor are the tires now.

[jeffbentleyreich]

8.1,

Where did you buy the 3500 springs and what kind of a no-load ride difference do you see?

[ryeguy]

> You can put 3500 springs on your 2500HD. I did
> it and they bolt right in. The only weight
> limiting factor are the tires now.

What did you do about stoppers for the overloads? And the rear anti-sway bar that is on the 3500 but not on the (my) 2500HD?

--Rob

[stretch]

IMO I would put air bags on your truck and if you are surpassing the load rating on your tires, go with the 19.5 single wheel combo. If that doesn't cut it, trade in and go 3500. ;) tongue.gif :cool:

[8.1PWR]

Jeff, the no load ride is the same as the 2500 springs because the overloads don't ride on the stops. With the springs and the camper on the truck just about all the sway is gone even in the wind. The reason I went with springs instead of air bags is reliability. I don't have to deal with the problems that can happen with air bags like a line blowing off or the top being ripped off when the truck is put on a lift for service or a stick going thru the side of a bag. I purchased everything at the dealer and is covered under the warranty. So far the only draw back I see is that the truck when empty sits up in the back end like a dually. Even with my camper and horse trailer I am still under the axle/tire rating of 6042lbs. The 11 1/2 inch rear end is the same one in the dually only without an extra set of tires.

[Maverick]

I should mention that 8.1PWR stopped in at my house up here in Alaska (nice guy & wife)on his little adventure and we talked about this also. If you have a long box 2500HD the holes in the frame are already there for the overload stops. My 2500HD does not because it is a short box. The 2500HD long box has the same frame as the 3500 so this is why the holes are already there. Make for a simple switch out for the bigger springs and overload stops.

I would go for the 19.5's also for the SRW. In doing research for my 19.5's I found out that a 19.5 steel rim is not any stronger that a 16" steel wheel. They where still around the 2500lb mark. This was another reason for going aluminum as they were rated at 6600lb each. This is for a dually so your application may have different results. My 14ply 19.5 tires are rated at 3900 single vs your low 3000ish 16" 10ply. So there is a gain to be had.

[ 10-24-2002: Message edited by: Maverick ]</p>

[01F350SRW]

Hey 8.1, to get rid of that high sitting rear end, you can find out what I did to get rid of it in the "I dood it" post in the Duramax section. Works extrememly well, does not sacrifice ride at all. Truck looks and rides great.

[glamisboy]

8.1PWR
Can you post the part numbers for the springs and stops you used. I have a friend with a 2500HD that is very interested in doing the same thing.
Thanks

[8.1PWR]

Glamisboy here are the GM part numbers.

springs 15063185, stop front 15754062, stops rear 15754061, you need two of each. U bolts 15048186 you need four you use your old u bolt nuts. stop bolts 15659430, stop nuts 11509156, you need 16 of each. When I ordered the parts the nuts bolts were back ordered so I went too the bolt store and bought grade 8 fine thread nuts and bolts I don't remember the length I used the one that they had in stock for size. I think they were 1/2 X 1 1/4.

[glamisboy]

Thanks 8.1, very much appreciated.