besides the 3500 being DRW what else is different between the two trucks?

 

The 3500 dually has a 5" wider rear axle than the 2500.(the 3500 cab and chassis has the same axle as the 2500)
As far as I know the spring packs are the same.
the rest is the same I think....someone will chip in here if I'm mistaken

 

In my 99 they didn't offer a 1 ton per say in single rear wheel but because my truck is a manual tranny it came technically listed and a 2500HD that had the same axles and drive train as the 3500. The only differeance being one leaf spring less in the rear pack on the 2500 then the 3500 had. Shortly after 99 they started offering the single wheel 3500 though.

If you have the Automatic tranny they came with lighter axles and no top over loads on the rear leaf springs and a few other small differences that I'm not remembering right now. The weight rating were lower for the auto then they were for the manual tranny.

 

i already added a couple leafs to the rear pack to stiffin it up. so if i were to put a set of dually axles under my truck it would be the same as a 3500?

 

Yeah,if you put a Dana 80 DRW axle under there it would be about the same,you'll have to get a dually box though,or the axle would look silly.
You can get a axle out of a manual equipped truck,and it's the same axle,but the same width as yours. (bearings and stuff are the same in the DRW/SWR Dana 80 axles,just different width)your truck should have a Dana 70 axle if I'm not mistaken,not sure how much actual difference there is between the 70 and 80.

was the confusing enough?

 

There is a few variables here. Do you have the Dana 60 front end an the Dana 80 rear end in your truck. And the problem with converting to duals is that as i have been reminded of a few times, the duallies come with a narrower frame. So whatever you have to do to compensate for the width difference. And then of course comes the issue with registaration with your local Secretary Of State and getting your door tags adjusted.

 

5 and 6 speed trucks came with Dana 80 rear axles,auto trucks like yours came with the Dana 70.

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Are you sure about that? the boxes are the same width between the wheel wells.

 

SSSHHHH don't ask this question out loud. I been beat up a few times for even insenuating they might be the same. And every time I get told in no uncertain terms that the duallies are on a narrower frame. So do I know this personally, no. Have I been told this by several folks, quite a few.

 

I will measure this and let you know.
I am sure that they are EXACTLY the same. (let the beatings begin!)

 

oh crap for the record i did not have sexual relations with that women....!!!! damn wrong comment....i meant i did not start this war...........i have a dana 70 rear and i will measure the frames as well i know where there is a second gen 4x4 on a lot near me for sale....as for the bed i would like to put a nice alum flatbed on it....