Is it possible to put 2500 Leaf Springs on a 1500? I have a 2000 2wD 5.9L 1500 Reg Cab Short Bed. I have bought new performance Rancho RS9000XL shocks and I have been told by 3 different people that I can swap out my old leaf springs for 2500 leafs.I just want to stiffen up my ride for a little better towing.

 

There have been several posts about this subject here in the 2nd gen section. Yes you can do the swap, but I think that there are easier ways of improving your towing ability. Firestone air bags with air pump or Hellwig LP-25's or 35's. I have the LP-35's on my truck and when I get my next truck I will just remove them and install them on it.

 

Even without lifting/lowering? I want to keep my stock height.

 

My Hellwig LP-35's augment the current rear leaf springs without any additional lift. I suppose if you tighten up the system as much as possible it will lift the truck a little more than stock. I have mine set near the middle and the lift doesn't feel much different than it did before the install.

 

I could be wrong but i'm pretty sure that the leafs on a 2500 with a 5.9 v-8 is the same springs on the 1500 with the 5.9 I know they're both 2.5 inches wide anyway.

Now on the 2500s with the v-10 or the cummins the leaves are 3 inches wide. So those would be the ones I'd shoot for.

 

consider these. awesome load carrying, w/o adding height or unloaded stiffness.
https://dodgeforum.com/m_717587/tm.htm

http://www.timbren.com/
http://www.colterdistributing.com/default.asp

 

I have 2500 springs on my 1500 & it went up 2 inches.
It's a stiff as can be in my op. With a larger tire, I have
almost 3 inches.
But, the ride trade off is I plow with the truck and there is no sag
to speak-of with my Boss 7-6 plow on the front. i also load the back with about
25 bags of salt too when the snow hits.

 

Thanks for the feedback on how the 2500 springs affected your ride. I guess I didn't physically measure mine when I put the Hellwigs on. The seat does seem just slightly higher as I slide into the cab, but I don't think it went two inches.

 

I don't really want to "augment" anything or add extra parts to my truck such as "add a spring". I believe that is kinda like jerry rigging to some extent. Like oh my leaf springs are worn and need to bereplaced, but instead of replacing them I just "add a leaf" kind of thing. Mind you my truck has 160K miles on it hence why I need new shocks and springs. I want to be able to tow nicely with good shocks and good springs. I've already added my pair of badass shocks. Now for springs. I am not much of a fabricator, but I can wrench pretty good.

Iknow there isthe 3 inch shackle swap. Is that pure fabrication or is there a place to actually buy different shackles. I have seen on JCWhitney that there are 6 spring heavy duty leaf springs that are 2.5". Stock springs on the 1500 are 4 leaf so I am thinking I might go with those although I have to find out wether or not it will give me any kind of lift.