'01 & '02 1500HD vs 2500HD differences

[jimmy88]

I'm looking to get a crew cab standard bed 4x as a DD and to tow the K5 every so often. Looking at 01 and 02, trying to stay below $20K. Anyway the 1500HD looks to be rated only about 600 lbs less GVW than the 2500HD. A dealer told me the difference is in the body-- the hood and clearance for the ally tranny or something like that. Is that true or are there more substantial differences other than just engine/tranny choices?

 

[k5james]

I believe the frame is different as well. I think it's beefier than a half ton but not as beefy as a 3/4 ton. It also has the SF 14 Bolt. I think it would be your best bet as a DD. As a matter of fact I don't know why anybody buys half ton Chevy's or GMC's when for maybe a grand more you get the 6.0/4L80E/SF14 Bolt and I think it's only a few hundred pounds heavier than the half ton. When my wife recovers from my Blazer build that's going to be my next truck.

 

[dhcomp]

Isnt' the 1500HD (the 1500 wiht the HD designation, not just the high GVWR or whatever) 8lug? THat would make it a 14bolt FF, not an SF, unless there are some crazy 6 lug SF's that i've never heard of.

Now on the tranny, i don't know which one the 1500hd comes with, but i always figured it was a 4l80e....just like the light duty 3/4 tons.....

 

[k5james]

I'm positive it comes with the 4L80E and I'm almost sure about the 14 Bolt, I could be wrong on that part though.

 

[dhcomp]

I'm positive its a 14 bolt, i was debating if it was a full or semi float 14bolt

 

[primergray4x4]

02 1500hd

In 02 I bought a1500HD to use as d/d & tow rig .My wife drives it as a d/d an says it rides like a large sedan. With the 6.0 (394) it has plenty of power to pull the 5600lb Blazer on a 1200lb trailer. With 3.73 ratio it's rated at gcwr1400#,4.10 1600#. Max trailer is 2wd 8300#or 4.10 at 10300#.Plus its already wired for trailer brakes. Of all the paper work I have it does'nt say one way or the other about the axles on he 1500HD being a semi floater.

The truck as a whole Iplan to keep it a VERY LONG time.

 

[75-K5]

FYI the 6.0 is a 364 not a 394. Great engine.

 

[crazykev4x4]

1500HD= 4l80e 14bsf 9.5" ring gear. 2500hd with 6.0 v-8= 4l80e 14bff 10.5" ring gear, 8.1,or duramax =aam 11.5" ring gear

 

[K5MONSTERCHEV]

1500 HD= heavy half ton.

 

[6.2Blazer]

I looked at both the 1500HD and 2500HD before deciding on the 2500HD in the summer of '03. When it comes to new pricing, the 1500HD wasn't any cheaper at all.

The 1500HD has the 1/2 ton frame with the 14SF 8-lug rear axle, matching 8-lug front, and the 6.0L/4L80E combo.

The 2500HD has a different frame, AAM 10.5" FF rear axle (basically 14FF), slightly different body (mostly front clip from what I can tell), larger brakes, and heavier suspension. My CC 2500HD is rated from the factory to pull a 9,800 lb. trailer which is a good bit more than the 1500HD.