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.

 

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. They didn't know the gearing yet either.

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.