What makes a SRW 1 Ton?

[Husker Fan]

I see that Chevy is coming out with a single rear wheel 1 ton. I have a 2003

[David Utz]

Good question???????
Also, how is GVWR calculated? Why is it not front axle rating plus rear axle rating?

[CanadaKev]

Husker,
For all 'intents and purposes' you are driving a SRW 1 ton.
GM will probably replace the 2500HD emblem with a 3500 emblem. I doubt if GM will beef up the truck any more then it already is.
Kev

[ThumbScott]

They maybe keeping the rear setup of the current 1 ton's minus the duals. There is a 1000 pound difference between the 2500hd's and the 3500's in king pin weight.

See all you 2500hd's now it is official, you are not driving 1 tons. You are driving 2500hd's. There is a difference between a 1 3500 and a 2500hd.

[Husker Fan]

Ok,

So is it the extra two wheels that makes up the 1000 #s of king pin weight, or does that include some extra springs?

I don't think they're dropping the 3/4 ton heavy duty.

[IndigoDually]

The DRW 3500's have helper springs that the 2500's don't. I imagine that the 3500 SRW will have these helpers.

John

[Nixter]

Regardless of what they call them (which in my opinion is more of a marketing decision than anything else) the 2500HD is rated for as much payload as the old 3500 SRW, and 4ds F-350 SRW. GM issued a press release stating as much. That doesn't mean that they can't make a new 3500 SRW and raise the payload for it. My 2500HD handles well over a ton just fine. --Nick

[Big Tow]

The rated GVWR for the 2500HD is 9200lbs. Both my '99 F350 SRW and '03 Dodge 3500 SRW are rated at 9900lbs GVWR.

The GM's have as much load capacity as the Ford becuase they wiegh less by about 700 lbs which cancels out the heavier GVWR. I'm not sure what the new Dodge wieghs compared to the GM and Ford.

I would change the pathetic 245 tires anyway. Going to a 265 E rated or 285 D rated gives youy a good 500lbs extra capacity just from the tires. The axle will easily hold it, helper springs would be nice as I find the GM's to be kinda squishy for springs and shocks.

[DieselDixon]

The axle will easily hold it, helper springs would be nice as I find the GM's to be kinda squishy for springs and shocks.
But it sure is a nice ride unloaded. Do you think the air bags would work just the same as the helper springs?

[Husker Fan]

I can tell you that the air bags make a nice ride difference. Believe it or not, I now keep my back tires at 80 PSI constantly, and leave about 15 to 20 #s in the air bag. It rides just as nice, plus I get the added fuel economy advantage of the harder tires.

Plus, it

[Big Tow]

I've got air bags on my motorhome and I can say that they really help. It doesn't seem to hurt the ride and sure helps when I tow the car trailer.

Your right about the ride, the F-350 is a real lumber wagon and the dodge is pretty bouncy too. That is why I have a Chev for "personal" use ;)

[Manfred]

I have a 10'6 slider-out camper which brings me well over the max. GVW. Had air bags installed and needed the max 100 psi to level the truck. Ride was not very good, too much sway in the curves. I had overload springs manufactured, which only kick in with the weight on and are unloaded when driving empty. This alone fixed the problem. Additional improvements gained are the addition of Rancho shocks, set at level 9 in the rear, 5 in front made riding the rig a pleasure. With the power available, hard to catch, even on a windy road.

[IndigoDually]

I just read in August Trailer Life that the SRW 3500 will have a 9900lb GVW with the advertised 5th wheel tow capacity of 15,700lbs.

John

[Colorado Kid]

The current gross axel weight ratings on 2500HD's add up to well over 9,900#, so the only thing GM has to change to get a 3500 SRW is the GVWR sticker. It'll be interesting to see if they actually change anything else.

[Modified]

The limiter on the rear axil is the rubber.
LT245/75R16 rated for 3042lbs ea. = 6084lbs.

If GM switches to the 265, this would help raise the limit 746lbs.
LT265/75R16 rated for 3415lbs ea. = 6830lbs.

Go to http://media.gm.com/ for the following info. This was found under GMC.I would assume Chevy would be simular, but they didn't go into this much detail.

The new available single-rear-wheel (SRW) axle makes the 4WD 3500 Series models ideal for customers who need one-ton capabilities in an easier-to-maneuver configuration. Sierra C/K3500 dual-rear-wheel models, rated at 11,400 pounds (5,171 kg) GVWR, will continue to be available in Regular Cab, Extended Cab and Crew Cab configurations for those who need the extra payload capacity.

The new K3500 Series Chassis Cab (box-delete) models offer the easier-to-maneuver single-rear-wheel configuration to customers who require one-ton capabilities with special service bodies. These trucks also have a standard G80 locking rear differential for increased traction, when required. A 4.10 axle ratio is standard with the Vortec 6000 and Vortec 8100 and a 3.73 axle ratio, standard with the Duramax 6600. The new one-ton SRW trucks use a specially designed three-stage multi-leaf rear suspension and custom shock absorption system to provide the optimal combination of ride, performance and handling.

[Nixter]

So if I am understanding this correctly they will not offer this in the standard fleetside configuration. I think they should, if for no other reason than to have a clearly defined competitor in that market segment. I can attest from personal experience that the 2500HD handles heavier weights better than a F-250 SD, yet most consumers probably equate the two as directly competing desighns. If GM offered SRW model with a 3500 nameplate it might earn them slightly better sales figures. IMHO anyways. --Nick

[Colorado Kid]

From the same article quoted above:
"Three very Professional Grade 3500's
Also new in 2004 is the 3500 series single-rear-wheel one-ton Sierra, available in Regular, Extended and Crew Cab configurations as a 4WD long box, and rated at a no-nonsense 9,900 pounds (4,491 kg) GVWR. These new heavy-duty models, slated for introduction in the first quarter of 2004, are also available in a chassis cab, "box-delete" configuration."

So I'd say they will be available both with and without beds.

[Diesel Dad]

Based on what I read on the GM Media web site, my best guess is:

1). The 3500 SRW will be the same as the 3500 DRW except for a 2500 HD Long Box bed and wheels.

2). It will have the same springs as a 3500 DRW (e.g., overloads).

3). It will buy you very little in curb weight over a 3500 DRW (6239 vs. 6459).

4). Will probably even have the same wheels as a 2500 HD since it still gives more capacity (6084 lbs.) than is needed with a 9900 GVWR.

5). Since it weighs more than a 2500 HD (6239 vs. 6056), the gain in carrying capacity will be less than 500 lbs.

All in all, disappointing. No new parts -- just a rearrangement of existing parts.

The more disappoing aspect is no short box 3500 SRW. Most people who buy SRWs buy short boxes.

Maybe 2005 ?

Glad to have a dually now !

[Doc Robbs]

Well I talked to the dealer this morning as I was thinking about switching my order. He indicated the only addition was in the springs on the back end.

Told me it was going to increase the price more than just adding the overload springs would to the 2500HD badge.

It is kind of a pride issue in wanting the biggest truck out there though. That little bit of having a 3500 badge helps in that area.

Don't think I'll be changing my order though

[saywhat]

The 2004 3500 SRW comes with LT265/75R16 tires which raises the payload and GVWR.

[GMCTRUCK]

I still don't understand how changing the tires will increase GVWs. If you add up the load rating of all 4 245s it comes to over 12,000#s. Unless they only use a percentage of the max tire rating to determine GVWR.

[AbqGeorge]

One of the best held secrets in the automotive industry has got to be GVWR and GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating). Sure wish an automotive engineering type would come in here and enlighten us.

[WillowCreekStable]

Only basic engineering involved, you really need the marketing explanation. :rolleyes:

[David Utz]

The engineer smile.gif probably gives the actual number and then it

[Nixter]

I just figure that if it looks safe, and seems safe it probably is. No need to count ounces just use common sense. I have worked for several years in different construction phases and most recently in steel. I see these trucks SERIOUSLY overloaded 5 days a week. Just today I saw a guy put 3k pounds onto an F-350 that was already clearly overloaded. I once saw a guy haul 6k pounds of beam on his rack that was 40 feet long right down the highway. Recently I saw a 2500HD D-max haul 6.5k pounds in the bed. And another guy towing a gooseneck flat in a 2500HD that rolled across the scales at 46k pounds total. His pickup had an 8.1 and an allison. I don't advocate this behaivior, I'm just saying that it seems frivolous that some folks would leave thier daughters teddy bear at home to stay under advertised GVWR. I would have no problem running mine a little overweight, and I know from personal experience that it would be fine to. I don't expect the 3500 SRW to haul remarkably better than a 2500 HD. If loads in excess of 10k GVWR are probable a dually is better than either. --Nick

[wxmn6]

I just was doing some searching and came through this and thought that I'd bring it back up. I would like to comment that I think there are some more advantages than just added GVWR and larger tires. A day or two ago I was reading one thread where a member stated that GM said that Allison repair warranty would not be honored if the wheels/tires are modified to another size. For example if you have 2500HD with stock 245, and you upsized it to 265, then I'd assume that the Allison warranty would be void. I believe it is due to change in shifting point or something like that? Anyway by going with 3500 SRW, you already have 265 tires so that mean there should be no hassle to have the dealer reprogram the computer for ABS and getting your own programmer to adjust the speedo caliberation. In that way, Allison warranty should stay intact because that is the way it came out of factory.

I read that some members said that Duramax/Allison on 3500 SRW will be the same as on 2500HD, but could it be possible that Allison may be programmed a little differently due to increased in 3500 SRW 265 stock tires?

[Heartbeat Hauler]

The wheels on the new 3500 SRW will have to be wider to accomodate the 265 tires. I bet they will be just wide enough to fit the 265s and not anything wider. Also, who wants to bet that GM will change something on the new 3500 SRW wheel so it won't fit on the older 2500 trucks & suburbans thereby eliminating the possibility of using the 265s safely on the older trucks. Any takers? :rolleyes:
JP

[AVfan]

This has been an area of great interest to me also. I have asked around about the differences between the 2500HD and 3500 and everytime people think that the important parts are the same. However, if one reads the "Battle of the Titans" article in the Feb. 04 Four Wheeler, it states that the "Tubing Wall Thickness" is 0.212 in. on SRW and 0.56 in. on DRW. In addition it states that this thickness can be changed for what GAW rating the manufacturer needs. Until I read this article, I do not remember anybody taking into consideration this difference which is very important to ratings.

[mtomac]

the 3500 SRW has the exact same main spring pack as the 3500 dually but it has one less overload spring on the top mounted second stage. It has painted steel rims with 265 tires.

[kavik]

Really if you want to tow heavy you should consider the available DRW chassis cab duramax/allison and put a bed on it. Duallys in general if you are hauling trailers are way, way more stable than a srw. The chassis cab gvwr stock is over 13,200 (mine is an extended cab). Comes with much better than standard shocks (I think equivilent to aftermartket replacements), 2 gas tanks, and I would guess different springs front and rear for the GVWR (not sure if same axle), and load range E tires. It is a bit of a pain because if you want a "regular" length bed, you have to shorten the rails a bit.You usually need to order the configuration also, they don't aren't found sitting on the lot unless you are in a rural area. I just bring it up becausa lot of people buy the 3500 drw planning to consistently haul/tow really heavy, and some take off the bed to put on a flatbed, so IMHO, this is a much better way to start.

[matt-max]

not sure if you can put a standard pickup box on a cab & chassis truck as the frame is different too (straight).

as long as you don't mind a non-stock bed, it's the way to go for heavy hauling or towing with a pickup-looking truck.

matt

[JB6600]

Get one of these bad boys!!!!!!!
http://www.chevrolet.com/medium_duty/kodiak/images/c4500_business/th_versahauler.jpg