Hello, I know the difference is obviously that one is a 1/4 ton and the other is a 1/2 ton. And that the 2500 sits higher. But what specificly are the differences because I'm looking at a 2500 for the winter beater. My buddy had a 2500 chevy and the brakes were way more expensive to replace because they were heavy duty. I'm just wondering if this will also be the case. Anything that you know of that is more expensive than 1500 to replace?
Thanks.

 

1500 is half ton. 2500 is 3/4 ton. (although, I have carried 5000 pounds of dirt in my 2500.... barely even made it squat.)

2500 has meaner springs (wider, and higher spring rate), slightly reinforced frame, larger axles, bigger brakes, and a heavier duty transfer case. (low range is still the same ratio as the lighter truck though.) Parts prices are pretty comparable. I got calipers for mine for about 20 bucks..... Rotors/drums will be more expensive than the half ton counterparts, as will wheel bearings and such. Aside from those, everything else is pretty much the same.

 

2500 has the heavier dana 60 axles and much heavier springs. if you ever wanted to put a snow plow on it, the 2500 is what you want. the wheel bearings are more expensive.

 

Haha sorry on my typo about the weights.
Anything else you can think of?

 

Aside from some of the running gear, as detailed above, everything else is the same.

Oh, wait..... The badges on the side of the truck are different.

 

my buddy has a 3/4 -same year and I noticed he has 8 bolt wheels and way more ground clearance height (as previously mentioned)

 

Yep, eight lugs. (come on the heavier axles) and like two more inches of ground clearance.....

 

As I look at the pictures, it looks like it has 5 lug axles. Can you get a 2500 with 5 lugs or is this one just have the badges and this guy doesnt know any better?

 

Someone may have just swapped the badges.

However, on earlier Rams (1994-1995 I believe), there was a 2500 LD, or Light Duty, model that had the same axles (5 lug) as the 1/2 tons. After that, to my knowledge, you could not get a Light Duty 2500, they all came with the heavier axles. What model year(s) are we talking?

 

do you have the VIN number?

here's the decoder -
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/specs/VIN_decode.htm

cut/paste for you.
4th Gross Vehicle Weight
E 3,001 - 4,000 lbs
F 4,001 - 5,000 lbs
G 5,001 - 6,000 lbs
H 6,001 - 7,000 lbs
J 7,001 - 8,000 lbs
K 8,001 -9,000 lbs
L 9,001 - 10,000 lbs
M 10,001 - 14,000 lbs
W Bus/Incomplete Vehicle with Hydraulic Brakes

6th Series
1 Ram 1500
2 Ram 2500
3 Ram 3500
6 Ram Misc
1 Dakota Base
2 Dakota Sport/SLT