Chev Express Van 2500 vs 3500

woodhog wrote:


Thanks... this type of thing is what I was looking for, it would appear then that there is a real difference between the 2500 and 3500 designs in these vans, so far larger brakes on the rear and a completely different rear axle.

On our Dodge truck everything on our 3500 was the same on the 2500 except the helper/overload spring addition on the 3500 series..

I was thinking of changing a 2500 to a 3500 by just adding springs to a 2500 van but that won't work with these vans now as there appear to be major differences from 3/4 to 1 ton express vans...

GM does things differently than Chrysler does (did?). Chevy and GMC trucks can be a 2500 or a 2500HD. Only the HD gets the full floating axles. The 2500 is mostly a 1500 with heavier springs and brakes. On Dodge trucks, the 2500 is a full floating rear just like a 1 ton. My Ram 2500 pickup has the heavy axle.

If you can find a 2500HD, it would be a good candidate. While my B has the semifloating axle, I've never really liked using those for heavy loads. I've seen the axles shear under really heavy loading. The full floating, if it's properly maintained, I've never seen one fail except under severe abuse. I think the truck was being used to pull a freight train or 10 loaded rail cars and was bouncing on the track cross ties.