Pulling heavy with 04 2500 non HD?

[Wyatt99]

Recently was in the market for a 2500hd and and ended up finding a deal on a 04 2500ld that was too good to pass up (in the rust belt and its CLEAN) Its gonna end up having to haul a car hauler thats 7-9k lbs fairly regularly and possibly more occasionally for short distances, and im a little concerned about how dinky the rear of the frame is on it, I plan to put a class 4 receiver on it and ive considered boxing in the rear of the frame but im not sure if im just worrying too much. I know finding a hd truck would be the best option but clean ones are few and far between here. Just looking to hear thoughts on towing with the ld truck.

 

[stutaeng]

You already have the car hauler? How about a gooseneck option? The pin weight goes directly to the axle, instead of though the frame at the hitch. Will be more stable as well. Just throwing ideas out there...

 

[Wyatt99]

You already have the car hauler? How about a gooseneck option? The pin weight goes directly to the axle, instead of though the frame at the hitch. Will be more stable as well. Just throwing ideas out there...

Unfortunately I do already have the trailer

 

[Marky Dissod]

... considered boxing in the rear of the frame, but I'm not sure if I'm just worrying too much?

Pretty much regardless of whatever else you do, if boxing the rear of the frame helps you worry less, just do it.
Bonus: tell us about it so we can learn something.

 

[stutaeng]

The difference in GVWR between the 2500HD and the 2500LD was 9200 lbs vs 8600 lbs, so 600 lbs.

The 2500HD had the deeper frame, as you mentioned, but IDK how much of a difference there was back there. Another difference was the 9.5" SF 14 bolt vs 10.5" FF axle. That may be worth an upgrade, as they are direct swaps, so long as you stay GMT800 with the rear disc brakes.

And if you don't have 4.10s, get a donor axle that does. I believe the standard on the 2500LD was 3.73 with 4.10 optional, whereas 2500HD were 4.10 standard. The brakes were the same AFAIK.

Is this a 4x4 truck?

 

[Wyatt99]

The difference in GVWR between the 2500HD and the 2500LD was 9200 lbs vs 8600 lbs, so 600 lbs.

The 2500HD had the deeper frame, as you mentioned, but IDK how much of a difference there was back there. Another difference was the 9.5" SF 14 bolt vs 10.5" FF axle. That may be worth an upgrade, as they are direct swaps, so long as you stay GMT800 with the rear disc brakes.

And if you don't have 4.10s, get a donor axle that does. I believe the standard on the 2500LD was 3.73 with 4.10 optional, whereas 2500HD were 4.10 standard. The brakes were the same AFAIK.

Is this a 4x4 truck?

Its a 2wd truck, it has 3.73 but im already looking into acquiring a 10.5 4:10 ratio rear end for it, I want to help the 6.0 as much as I can. Frame necks from a 8" frame rail down to 5" and appears to be thinner as well. Im seriously considering boxing it in for some additional strength, ive seen too many 1/2 ton trucks bend the receiver down with too much tongue weight

 

[stutaeng]

Its a 2wd truck, it has 3.73 but im already looking into acquiring a 10.5 4:10 ratio rear end for it, I want to help the 6.0 as much as I can. Frame necks from a 8" frame rail down to 5" and appears to be thinner as well. Im seriously considering boxing it in for some additional strength, ive seen too many 1/2 ton trucks bend the receiver down with too much tongue weight

If you remove the bed, probably not that difficult to do that. I'm assuming you have fair/decent welding skills? A 1/4" plate in the width required is probably not that expensive TBH.

Just cut/cope around the round crossmembers and what not. You could take the box-in to the cab, but I think some fuel lines and brake lines run inside the frame channel, no? Or you'll just box-in the rear portion?

As @Marky Dissod mentioned, it would be nice to see photos of how you do this...

 

[99Sierra2500]

It's 8,300 out of the manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/7...ado-2004.html?controller=view&page=368#manual

4.10's will bump it up to 10k, nicer hitch, and external cooler for the transmission will help.

 

[ORVietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon. Going to the full float 4:10 gears is a good thing to do. You might want to consider a load leveling hitch as well and sway control. I had an 03 Duramax that I towed an off road rig with and it was a 73 Blazer loaded down with full roll cage, 38" tires and lots of equipment and the trailer handled much better with the load leveling and sway control.

 

[Wyatt99]

If you remove the bed, probably not that difficult to do that. I'm assuming you have fair/decent welding skills? A 1/4" plate in the width required is probably not that expensive TBH.

Just cut/cope around the round crossmembers and what not. You could take the box-in to the cab, but I think some fuel lines and brake lines run inside the frame channel, no? Or you'll just box-in the rear portion?

As @Marky Dissod mentioned, it would be nice to see photos of how you do this...

Ill absolutely be removing the bed to do it, I just plan to box where it necks down back, so essentially from directly above the rear axle. I see no reason to do more than this and I dont want to make it too rigid and crack a frame rail. I wouldnt call myself a professional welder but I do have quite a bit of welding and fabrication experience.

 

[AuroraGirl]

The difference in GVWR between the 2500HD and the 2500LD was 9200 lbs vs 8600 lbs, so 600 lbs.

The 2500HD had the deeper frame, as you mentioned, but IDK how much of a difference there was back there. Another difference was the 9.5" SF 14 bolt vs 10.5" FF axle. That may be worth an upgrade, as they are direct swaps, so long as you stay GMT800 with the rear disc brakes.

And if you don't have 4.10s, get a donor axle that does. I believe the standard on the 2500LD was 3.73 with 4.10 optional, whereas 2500HD were 4.10 standard. The brakes were the same AFAIK.

Is this a 4x4 truck?

3.73 was standard on 2500HD at least in 2005, 4.10 optional. im glad mine came with it