The difference in the axles is that on the 2500 you have a floating rear (and front on 4x4). This means that your weight is being supported by the axle housing and not the shaft. It is obviously much stronger and as long as your axle nut is installed properly you can lose a shaft and not the wheel. This beefier set up takes more room which is why you see the larger hubs that protrude through the wheel. A 2500 is referred to as a 3/4 ton, but the capacity can be much higher. My truck has a 3800lbs payload. A 1500 can have a low of 1400lbs max payload. Obviously that is based off the configuration of the truck. A quad cab will have a lower capacity than a regular cab.

The 2500s sit higher for two reasons. The springs obvioulsy give lift, but they also have blocks on the rear axle. Similar to what you would find in inexpensive lift kits these blocks sit in between the springs and the axles to provide more clearance. In the off road world people tend to shy away from blocks because of the problems you can encounter, but these factory blocks seem to work ok.

This site has some good info on the specs of the various models. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/index.php

 

The LD 2500's (7400# GVWR) had the Dana 44 and Chrysler 9.25 (same as half ton) but they had 8-lugs rather than the 5 of the half tons.

 

All 4x4 front axles (that I am aware of) are full floating by design. This includes the Dana 44 of the ram 1500's along with the Dana 60.

Axle nut? On the front maybe but the axle shafts on full floaters rears are held in with a number of bolts. But it is true that on a FF rear you can break an axle shaft and not lose a wheel.

Ram 1500 4x4 also have factory 3" lift blocks in the rear.

 

So I'm confused, someone said that it can have 5 lug axles because it is in fact a 1994. But someone else said that you can't get 5 lug axles in the 2500, only 8 lug. So who is correct?
I just called the guy to get the vin so we can figure this out before I go to look at it.

 

Your 1500 4x4's have a 3in block and the 2500 4x4's have a 5in block, and IIRC the dana 44 is a semi floating setup

 

I think this is the easiest way to describe the difference from the half ton to the three quarter ton:

Drive both.

The rig that made your kidneys hurt is the 3/4 ton.

 

Unfortunately.... this is an all to accurate assessment. Unloaded, my truck rides like, well... a truck. With a load on though... MUCH nicer.

 

I have personally seen a number of the 2500 LD's even though they are some rare beasts. All were 8-lug half ton axles one was even a 1994. In first gen dodges, earlier fords, and GM's, a large number of the 3/4 ton trucks had 8-lug (big bearing) Dana 44's and an 8-lug semi floating rear or a FF dana 60. Dodge had the 8-lug chrysler 9.25 and GM has the 9.5" semi floating 14-bolt (don't know what axle for Ford). The LD 2500's were 7400# GVWR while the HD's were #8600 GVWR (either one may be off 200lbs).

I always understood the definition of a full floating axle to be the axle shaft transfers power and the bearings support the weight. In all 2nd gen Dodge front axles the front axle stub shaft supports no weight; thus making it a full floater. Is my definition or understanding wrong? I understand that if the stub shaft breaks that the wheel will fall off but only because it holds the bearing together, not because it supports the load of the wheel.

Did not know the 2500's had a larger block, I guess I never looked at them that closely.

 

1500= oversize station wagon. 2500= truck

 

Full floating: Axle only transfers power, supports no weight. (99% of 4x4 front ends fall into this category.)

Semi-Floating: One end the axle actually supports weight. Typical of most half ton trucks, and almost all live axle, rear wheel drive cars.

Non-floating: These are found at the bottom of some body of water.