2500 CC vs. 2500HD CC

[Sandaholic]

I did a search on here and came up with nothing. I also serched GMC/Chevy web site and no info.

My friend just picked up a new 04 2500 Crew Cab and I am trying to see the difference between my 2500HD crew cab.

I know the obvious is he has a 6.0 engine with a gm trany. But what else is different? Rear end? Suspension? Brakes? Frame? I know his overall capacity is down, but thats expected with the engine trany combo.

[Colorado Kid]

If you search for 1500HD instead of 2500 you'll get the whole scoop . . . GM changed only the name from 2003 1500HD to 2004 2500 Crew Cab.

2500 comes with only the 6.0L engineand 4L80-E tranny. 10.5" 14 bolt full floater rear end and 86000 GVWR. Torsion bars are marginally "softer" and Front GAWR is a few pounds lighter as a result.
3.73 and 4.10 axel ratios are available, and autotrac T-case. Also quadra-steer is available but that comes with a Dana rear axel and maybe different rear brakes (I don' know).


6.0L 2500HD can have NV4500 tranny or 4L80-E, has the 10.5" 14 Bolt, but only 4.10 gears. 9200#GVWR. Same wheels, tires, brakes as 2500.
Frame has been argued back and forth ad-nauseum. I THINK they are the same. 2500HD Sheetmetal is about 2" higher relative to the bumper . . . this may be because of a different frame, or it may be because of different body mounts. I don't know.

Empty weights for similarly equipped 2500 and 2500HD are virtually identical.

2500HD with D-max or 8.1L have heavier 11.5" rear end. Same wheels, tires, frame etc. as 6.0L 2500HD.

All of the above is from my observations and (Highly unreliable) memory. Since you have access to both trucks you may wish to verify these observations for yourself.

[roger350]

I believe that back in 1999-2002 there was a 2500 and the 2500HD that came out as an '01. Then in 2003 the 2500 changed to the 1500HD, and now is back to a 2500 in '04, with no real changes in there except that the '99-'02 2500's weren't available as Crew Cabs. If this assumption is correct, that the '04 2500 is the same as the old '99-'02 2500, then I can say the frames are different, and the axle is the 9.5" 14 bolt which is not a full floating axle. Now my information is based on comparison of an '01 2500HD Ext. Cab and an '01 2500 Ext. Cab. I took measurements of the frame section in various places, and the HD did have a bigger frame all around.

I do not know if they changed to the HD frames when they brought out the 1500HD/2500 Crew Cabs though, so my information may be useless.

All I know is there used to be a significant difference between the 2500 and 2500HD. The sticker on my 2500HD frame reads K3500, which I believe way back in '01 everyone on this board felt meant the 2500HD had the same frame as the 3500HD, which makes sense since it is closer to the GVW of a single axle 1-ton anyway.

I guess looking back, this post has added nothing but more confusion, sorry.