[Hotwolves5369]

Hey all I'm wrestling with some thoughts. My wife and I are planning on doing a lot of traveling snow birding. I have a really nice 97 GMC Sierra k2500. It has a 5.7l in it now but want to put in a 7.4l. And also would like to replace 3/4 ton rear axle with 1 ton dually axle. My questions are what all would need to be changed and what can stay the same?

 

[Zach Smith]

Which trans does the 2500 have? Which diff? Also, why a 7.4? Why a duelly? Maybe there are some better options, unless you are set on such...

 

[Hotwolves5369]

As far as trans all I know is it's a 5 speed it does have a spot for a PTO. Axle is a GT5 so I believe that's a 4:10? And the reason for 7.4 and dually is because we are going to be living in the camper so it's going to be at least a 40 ft. with 3 slides. So was wanting truck to be able to handle it. And in northwest Wisconsin the trucks in my price range are pretty rusted and high miles. Just thought it would be more cost effective to use our truck

 

[JTward1]

If you lay down in back of the truck, with a wire brush, and just to the right of the differential cover / Housing once you get the road dirt and dust off you should see a number. I believe it will tell you what rear you have Dana >>>>>> something. But I don't see why a 2500 set up good and using the 5th wheel bed mount that your truck with the 5.7 liter couldn't do the job. You can do a few things to get a little more out of a Vortec engine.

 

[Hotwolves5369]

We are looking at a 40 camper with 3 slides and the people I know that haul campers suggested a bigger rig. A 1 ton and either a diesel or the 454. And since I know squat about diesels lol I thought 454.

 

[Zach Smith]

I like diesel torque... When the 454 engines go into slightly larger motor homes their life expectancy drops to about 60k...just food for thought (honestly that probably has a lot to do with the type of folk who drive gas motorhomes all over also) setup right and treated right they can do just fine, but you would be asking less of a diesel for the same job) 6.5l diesel is a stock option for your truck or 6.5 t...If you are stuck on gas though... Pay attention to your gearing, well either way, but you'll want to give the 454 a fighting chance via the diff...

 

[Zach Smith]

We could help you better in knowing what needed changed, swapped if you opened the glovebox and got your RPO codes off the sticker on the backside of the glovebox door...search RPO codes...

 

[xPosTech]

If you're going to follow their advice and get a bigger truck get a dually with your engine preference. The added width on the drive axle makes for a much more stable platform. It's a much stronger unit with full floating axles. Cross winds and passing 18 wheelers have much less effect on the highway. You'll get where you're going without the white knuckles and indigestion gettin blown around will give you towing a 40' fifth wheel.

Ted