In looking at a lot of vans, I *thought* I had a quick way to tell a 1500 from a 2500, that the heavier-duty chassis had 6-bolt wheels. That seems to have been wrong, though, as I started occasionally seeing 250/2500 models with 5-bolt wheels.
Is there a good way to quickly see the difference between 1500/2500/3500 vans?
Is there a preference 1500 or 2500 for ordinary passenger use? I read one advertisement that claimed that the 2500's had a better ride quality than the 1500's. That comment surprised me since I'd assume a 2500 would have stiffer springs...
[edit] I just saw noticed that our own Navy vans are 2500's with 8-bolt axles. Go figure.
van-nut
02-15-2008, 08:42 AM
Hi Marcus -
I'm not sure if your looking at specific years, but the following applies to all 1998 - 2003 models: all 1500's had 5 lug wheels and all 2500 and 3500's had 8 lug wheels.
Earlier than that, all 1500's still had 5 lug wheels but the 2500's could have either 5 or 8 lug wheels. I think all 3500's have always had 8 lug wheels, too.
Going back into the 80's and 70's I'm not sure.
No full size Dodge vans have ever had 6 lug wheels, that I'm aware of.
Pete
Intrepidacious
02-15-2008, 10:55 AM
Yes I just noticed today that our Navy vans had 8-bolt.
Some of the Dodge vans do seem to have had 6-bolt axles, if I'm counting correctly -- maybe it was just pre-'98 versions though.
I went back on eBay and found a couple with decent enough wheel pictures to count the lugs: do a search on auctions 250215631360 (fourth pic) and 200199145990. I had to supersize or copy/paste the pictures elsewhere and enlarge them to make sure, though, but they appear to be six-bolt wheels. They're early 90's though.
Seems oddly funny to me to see a 2500 series van with short wheelbase and V6, but I see 'em sometimes.
Dodgevanman
02-15-2008, 11:50 AM
No Dodge van ever had 6-bolt axles...5 or 8 only
Prior to '98, B150's (1500) and B250's (2500) were 5-lug and B350's (3500) were 8-lug.
Beginning '98 the GVW ratings of the 1500 models was increased. This allowed conversion companies to build on 1/2 ton chassis' rather than 3/4 ton chassis and they still retained 5-lug axles. The 2500 models' GVW ratings were increased as well necessitating 8-lug axles.
Intrepidacious
02-15-2008, 01:34 PM
OK, perhaps all the six-bolt Dodge vans I've been seeing on eBay and elsewhere are actually just fake hubcaps or something, covering 5-bolt or 8-bolt real hubs, like the one shown here.
Ah...yes. My '94 B250 had wheels exactly like that when I bought it. I thought it was six lug until I popped the cap off...guess what? 5-lugs. Deceptive.
B-300
02-16-2008, 01:41 AM
The old fake hub-cap trick eh?
I have seen 6 lug wheels on newer Dakotas and Vipers though, and even the mitsibushi pickups. I know these arent vans, but wheel removed from them are 6 lug.
I do argee with what Nate said in post#4.
