Hi I'm new here. been reading up a bit, and have not been able to find an anwser to my question. Maybe someone here can help me.

I have a 2005 chevy 1500 ext cab, with a 1800 lbs camper on the back of it. I would like to swap out the 1500 leaf springs for some 2500 or 2500hd springs. Will the 2500 springs bolt right up? and will the 2500hd leafs bolt up? Also what kind of height difference would there be with the camper off the truck?

Thanks for any help
John

 

I would not do the swap for the simple reason that it would ride rougher - I would invest in either a helper spring or air-ride control set-up - just a thought

 

Helper springs would be your best bet. Air bags aren't a bad idea. either. the HD springs aren't a direct swap. I'm unsure on a 2500LD. Springs off of a 1500HD may swap.

 

Thanks, I know it will stiffen the ride, it's a truck so I'm not to concerned about the ride. I had air bags but it got stabbed by a stick off road. Don't really feel like going down that road again. I take the truck out camping quite a bit and, while I don't do any real off roading since it's not a 4X4, i do get off the pavement as much as possible. I've got overload springs on it now, but don't reall like the set up.

I just need to know what will fit. LD, HD, express van, etc.

 

My bet would be an 2500LD, or a 1500HD. If you can find 'em in a junk yard, take a tape measure and see. I wish I had better answers for ya.

 

springs from the same year or era of truck will bolt in. with the 88-99 trucks, alot of guys have swapped out the 1500 springs for the 2500 springs just for the increased capacity. although air bags are easier, sometimes cheaper, and don't stiffen the ride.

 

It will bolt right up. You will need longer u bolts and if you use the ubolts on the 2500hd then you will need to drill out hole on bottom plate so the ubolts will fit. The bottom plate on the 2500 wont work because of axle tubing size diffrence. I did it on a 2002 1500.

 

I added a double leaf set of SuperSprings to my 2500HD to increase its payload capacity from 2800 lbs to 4000 lbs. and it took me all of one hour to bolt them into place and no need to jack the truck off the ground. The people at SuperSpring are very knowledgeable and very helpful. I bought the double leaf set and initially installed only one leaf per side. With the 3700 lb camper load I soon found that I needed to use both leaf springs on each side to get the load support that was needed.

Need to also verify the load capacity of your two rear tires. On my 2500HD the factory tires were rated at 3095 lbs and I replaced them with ones rated for 3750 lbs for a payload capacity increase at the rear axle of 1300 lbs. or 7500 lbs in total.

 

I have been looking for an answer on if I can swap the springs because mine got overloaded and aren't exactly the right shape anymore and everyone keeps saying add an overload spring which doesn't help when my normal springs are messed up

 

I know that this is a really old thread, however I'm trying to do the same thing so did it work in your application? Just wondering because I blew up my rear end and my leaf springs are flat. So my intention is to put 2500 Lee string and rear end while maintaining the same brake system and 6 lug pattern that I currently have. Any suggestions?