Avrumo

Hello everyone! This is my first post. I have browsed through but have not seen this...can't figure out the search. I just got a 04 3500 Laramie CTD quad cab short bed. It has the 3.73 gears i am pretty sure. Anyway I was wondering wether it was the 04 or 04.5 and what the differences are. I see in all the sigs it always seems like 04.5 is a bragging right. My truck was mfg it 05/04. How would i find out witch year it is...Thanks for any help and i am sure there will be more ? for you guys as the months rack up.

Avram

Avrumo

Anyone? Not even a friendly "hi"? oh well

derek840378

howdy, and yes your truck would be an 04.5

Avrumo

Thank you...so what are the differences between the 04 and 04.5? Also I asked the dealer what the GVCWR was and the guy said he did not know around 20K. That was NOT the answer I was looking for..how would I find the GVCWR, pin weight, and towing wieght. those are not on the door pillar.

Thanks

derek840378

'04's were built between 6-03 and 12-03. 04.5's were built 1-04 through 5-04. 6-04 they started building 05 models

torquefan

Welcome to the site. The answers to your weight questions should be found in your owner's manual. I believe the only difference between an 04 and an 04.5 truck is the power rating of the engine. To find out what yours is for sure, you can read the engine data tag on the front of your engine. An 04 would've been either 250 or 305 HP, and an 04.5 would be 325 HP.

Avrumo

I went through the owners manual but found nothing on towing wieghts and GVCWR unless i am really that blind. All I could find was things saying " do not exceed ratings. on the truck all I could find was the 9990GVW and in the glove box about the axle, tranny ect. Where is this sticker on the motor located. I only found the one about AC and coolent. Thanks for all the help

RamRunner

Oh really?? So why does my '03 with a 07/10/03 build date not share certian characteristics found in the '04 service manual? The '04 TSB for the Infinity speaker wiring does not work for me since my truck has the '03 wiring runs because of it's build date.

TexasCTD

Howdy and welcome to DTR! The main differences between the 04 and 04.5 include: 4'' exhaust from the turbo all the way back to the exhaust tip on the 04.5 but including a catalytic convertor before the stock exhaust. Some minor changes in the pistons and valves for oil circulation and power increase.

Either one if fine and will serve you well. Some guys like the 04 better as they usually give a little better fuel mileage. The 04.5 trucks are generally a little more powerful, while stock.

Look at the top driver side of your engine on the valve cover.....and if it says it is rated for 325hp at 2900 rpms...........it is an 04.5. The 04's say 305 if they are a HO model or like 245ish if they are an SO model.


Since you have 3.73 gears.........your GCWR is 21,000lbs total. If you had 4.10s it increases up to 23,000lbs.

Since your data plate says 9900lbs GVWR....your truck is a 3500 Single Rear Wheel truck.........which basically means it cames stock with cab clearance lights and has 2 extra overload springs on the rear compared to a 2500 Single Rear Wheel truck.

Good luck..........hope that helps....enjoy your truck. Just starting reading this board and you will learn alot of info.

Avrumo

Well thank you Texas CTD that was all the info I was looking for. Thanks for all the help people and yes i will keep watching the forums.

derek840378

guess i was wrong.