1500 HD vs. 2500 HD

I'll try to keep it short. My brother has the 1500 HD 6.0 4x4, I have a 2500 HD 6.0 4x4. Besides the frame, rear axle and brakes, what is the difference. I was thinking that the programming for my engine was different than his because my truck seems a little bit stronger than his. His has a K&N FIPK & a FlowMaster. Mine just has a FlowMaster. We both have 4.10's. My 2500 HD is stronger.
I'm getting ready to buy a 23 foot Toy Hauler, I was just curious if his 1500 HD could pull it like my 2500 HD.
***His is a crew cab, mine is the extended cab, mine still weighs more.

I'll try to keep it short. My brother has the 1500 HD 6.0 4x4, I have a 2500 HD 6.0 4x4. Besides the frame, rear axle and brakes, what is the difference. I was thinking that the programming for my engine was different than his because my truck seems a little bit stronger than his. His has a K&N FIPK & a FlowMaster. Mine just has a FlowMaster. We both have 4.10's. My 2500 HD is stronger.
I'm getting ready to buy a 23 foot Toy Hauler, I was just curious if his 1500 HD could pull it like my 2500 HD.
***His is a crew cab, mine is the extended cab, mine still weighs more.

The 1500HD is actually an 8600 GVWR 2500 (non-HD). In base form, it has the 6.0/3.73 package. 4.10 is optional. (4.10 is base with the 9200 GVWR 6.0 2500HD package)

According to my information sheet, the max tow rating for the 6.0 1500HD is 8300 pounds. Max tow for the 6.0 2500HD is 12000 pounds. Payload for the 1500HD is 3139 where the 2500HD is rated at 4074.

The 2500HD frame is taller, and also thicker stock at .197". 1500HD frame is .157". (standard 1500 is .106") Supposedly, the 1500HD sits
2 1/2" lower than the 2500HD version due to both the suspension and the frame height.

Far as I can see, both trucks use the 300 hp 6.0 and the 4L80E transmission.

Oh, and the rear axle's are the same, and the brakes are basically the same except the 1500HD actually has thicker rear rotors- 1.4" thick opposed to the 2500HD's 1.1" thick rear rotors.

so what's the difference in the 1500HD and the regular 2500?

so what's the difference in the 1500HD and the regular 2500?

Not a whole helluva lot. Option levels. Correct me if I'm wrong, but between the two vehicles, if it is a crew cab, it's a 1500HD. If it is an extended cab, it's a 2500.

It's a screwy thing that GM did. I work with truck suspension and frames, and it threw us for a loop a few years back. At that same time, GM went to a dually-only 3500 setup, and started calling the single rear wheel version the 2500HD.

It's a screwy thing that GM did. I work with truck suspension and frames, and it threw us for a loop a few years back. At that same time, GM went to a dually-only 3500 setup, and started calling the single rear wheel version the 2500HD.

Interesting! So in other words, my 2500 HD is acturally a 3500 with single wheels in the rear.

actually

I'm confused. I thought the 2500 was a 3/4 ton and the 3500 was a 1 ton.

so what's the difference in the 1500HD and the regular 2500?
Different suspension and frame height.

Interesting! So in other words, my 2500 HD is acturally a 3500 with single wheels in the rear.
No the 3500 has beefed up suspension and they come in single r wheels also.

Not a whole helluva lot. Option levels. Correct me if I'm wrong, but between the two vehicles, if it is a crew cab, it's a 1500HD. If it is an extended cab, it's a 2500.

It's a screwy thing that GM did. I work with truck suspension and frames, and it threw us for a loop a few years back. At that same time, GM went to a dually-only 3500 setup, and started calling the single rear wheel version the 2500HD.
No the 1500HD is a 1500 with 2500 powertrain 6.0L only.The GM torque monsters rnt aval.(Duramax/8.1L big block) and 2500 suspension.You can get a crew,single or ext.cab on all GM trucks.2500HD's are 3500's with some scaled down suspension parts.The 2 HD's are not the same.1500HD Is pretty much a rebadged 2500 (non HD)

I'm confused. I thought the 2500 was a 3/4 ton and the 3500 was a 1 ton.

It is very confusing. The 2500 IS a 3/4 ton (8,600 GVWR), and the 3500 IS a 1 ton (11,400 GVWR). However, the 2500HD is somewhere between at 9,200 GVWR. Your guess is as good as mine.

Different suspension and frame height.

Spud, the 1500HD and the regular 2500 (non-HD) use the same frames and the same suspension. There is no difference. They are both 8,600 GVWR as well.

It's the 2500HD that has the taller suspension and frame.

No the 3500 has beefed up suspension and they come in single r wheels also.

The 3500 does have heavier suspension, but the majority of the GAWR increase is due to the dual rear wheels being able to support more weight.

You got me on the single rear wheel being available on the 3500. I do see a listing in the 2005 brochure. On RV and towing forums, it looks like 2004 was the first year the SRW 3500 was offered. For the first few years they were DRW only. GVWR for the SRW is 9,900 instead of the dually's 11,400 (700 pounds more than the 2500HD)

No the 1500HD is a 1500 with 2500 powertrain 6.0L only.....

1500HD Is pretty much a rebadged 2500 (non HD)

You seem to contradict yourself with these two statements concerning the 1500HD...Your second statement is correct.

The 1500HD IS NOT a half ton at all, and is not simply a 1500 with a 2500 powertrain. The frames on the 1500HD and the regular 2500's are identical. Base option for the 1500HD is indeed a 6.0 engine with a 3.73 axle.

I like to equate the 1500HD to the "Heavy Half" and "Big 10" options of years passed. I still wanna know where's the diesel in the 1500 and 1500HD?

Another quick thing that I noticed is; The 1500 HD comes with something like a 2 1/4" exhaust and the 2500 HD comes with a 3 1/2" exhaust. Both have the same 6.0. That might explain why the 2500 HD has a little bit more power.

VTISC007, are the trucks the same year? GM has changed the programming in the PCM and parts in the newer engines. Just my :2cents:.

1500 HD is 2003, 2500 HD is 2004.

I've also noticed the difference in exhaust size both being 2004's & 2005's.

You seem to contradict yourself with these two statements concerning the 1500HD...Your second statement is correct.

The 1500HD IS NOT a half ton at all, and is not simply a 1500 with a 2500 powertrain. The frames on the 1500HD and the regular 2500's are identical. Base option for the 1500HD is indeed a 6.0 engine with a 3.73 axle.
Ya i dont no wat i was thinkin when i wrote that post.

I like to equate the 1500HD to the "Heavy Half" and "Big 10" options of years passed. I still wanna know where's the diesel in the 1500 and 1500HD?
The diesel will be on all the GMT-900 next gen silvys.Today they announced that the 06 HD duramax's will have 360HP and 650TQ.