Single to Dual??
 

I've been thinking a long time about this.

What I'd like to do is make my single rear wheel, a dual rear wheel.

My question (after searching the site several times) is, has anyone already done this?

Will it increase my towing capacity?
I'd want to build it right, not just stick some wheels on it and call it a dually....

I'm thinking I'd have to license it as a reconstructed vehicle in order to get the higher towing capabilities.

I thought about just buying a 3500, but that's too easy.
Additionally, I'd have my towing capacity in a short bed, that I could still plow snow with during the winter and haul my 5th wheel around with during the summer.

That is assuming the change would actually increase my towing capacity.

What do you all think? All comments and advice are appreciated... THX.

BTW: the 5th wheel weights in at 13,962. That's loaded with essentials, but no water or propane.

i have not a clue on the laws but i changed my old 91.5 to duals years ago. i bought all 4 spacers and bud wheels. my spacers are real heavy. i have saw some that i would not trust. it made a big diff. in my truck.

I'm not opposed to buying a replacement 3500 rear. I'll likely bag it to get the extra support. I'll look into the adapters too. THX.

I may be going down the wrong road, but I need to do it if possible. I have to be able to legally pull the trailer, but I love my truck and would rather convert it to DRW than run a second truck.

if you could find a rear end that would be a option. you still might want to do the spacers on the front end to run full reverse (bud) wheels all the way around. check car-part.com out for a salvage rear end.

there are a lot of people running spacers but my .02 is to swap rear ends i think it is safer .
to bad you aint closer i would sell you mine cause im wanting to put a 4500/5500 rear axle on mine

i have not saw any spacers like mine that are this heavy. i believe i would swap a dually rear end as well. :tu:

I'll check out car-part.com

Thx for the offer. I have a line on a salvaged 3500 rear and they are local. I haven't gotten a price yet. Seems like "no one" just wants the rear.:argh: They didn't know the gearing yet either.:s:

What else would I need?

its not the spacers themselves that worry me its the fact of the extra weight that is placed on the lug studs. once you add two wheels + spacer that is quite a lot of weight

if its 4x4 and the rear gears are different then change the front gears to the same ones

are you gonna do a air bag set-up or just leaf springs.
air bags - there is a write up in dieselpowermag this month that looks like a good deal

leaf springs- find a set of 3500 springs or get a custom set of springs.

I'm hoping to match the gearing. thx.

I will likely go with bags eventually. For now, just the 3500 leaf springs.

It's looking more and more like I should simply spring for a 3500 rear.

The stock rear axle in a 2500 is a Dana 70, if you wanted to do it right get a Dana 80 out of a 3500 ram.

If your truck is a manual, it should already have a Dana 80. I have been thinking about doing this very same thing to my truck, only I was thinking of trying to find a set of axles out of a 3500 with an automatic trans, because I was told they had 3.73, and I only have 3.55 now. Deffinately keep us updated, what were you planning on doing to cover the tires since they will be sticking out a little further

My truck is an automatic.

I'm looking at a couple of options for fenders. However, if I don't want to slap (2003 and newer style) rear fenders on it, I'm limited to adapting OEM replacements to the truck. Either way, the tires will be covered.

I thought about a flat bed too, but I'm not sure I'm doing that right now.

Mine was a dualy, replaced with 250 rims, works great.

http://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w98/saab9k/?action=view&current=IMG_1528.jpg&newest=1

Just an FYI, if you plan on plowing with a dully, you'll need some WEIGHT. Terrible in snow...duals spread the weight out so there is less ground pressure.

Would the axle from a dually be a direct bolt in swap? As in all the brake lines, shocks, and swaybar, and anything else I may be forgeting? I would really lose my arse if I sold my truck to get a dually, and I'm not really after higher weight capacity, just more stability for the load.:humm:

I would trade you axles straight across if you had disc brakes on it, Mine was a dually, and now it isn't. for what I do, might as well of had a sled in the mud and snow as to have a dually. I like it better this way... but I did just put brand new brakes and rotors on her a while back

Just found a company that I'm going to call, they appear to offer exactly what I'm looking for, not an increased towing capacity (because it is not a different axle), but increased towing stability. The company is Arrowcraft out of MI. if anyone else is interested.:hellox: