DRW conversion to SRW?

[Jim Ross]

Has anyone done a conversion of a 3500 (4WD) dually to a single rear wheel? Is this a relatively simple swap of the rear axle? Do the mounting points for the springs, shocks, etc. match? Would I need the rear axle from another 3500 or would an axle from a 2500 work? Oh... . the wheels on the 3500 are different than on a 2500... . right. Are the wheels the same on a 3500 regardless of whether it is a dually or single rear wheel model?

We needed a dually when we bought this truck because we pulled a 27' 5th wheel Arctic Fox, now we have a 28' bumper pull Desert Fox and I hate the dually when trying to do anything in 4 wheel drive... ... . no traction at all in mud, snow, etc. Hence the thought of maybe doing a rear axle swap.

Your thoughts, please.

 

[mfurrh55]

Just put 3/4 ton wheels on it, all you have to do is take the front wheel adapters off, They unbolt, Change out the bed or take the fenders off, It is really not a hard thing to change it to a SRW, Monte

 

[Jim Ross]

I'm running a Bradford flatbed. I guess I also need to measure the track width of the rear tires to see how the singles set-up will look under the flatbed.
Thanks, I never thought about the front wheel adapters! Good idea.

 

[Jim Ross]

Anyone have a favorite place to shop for axles? Local salvage yards?

 

[NIsaacs]

Is your dually a pickup or cab/chassis? The pickup axle will be too wide for the front axle if you go singles. The cab/chassis will be close enough to match. Any 2500/3500 single wheel will bolt up to your truck. I think singles look funky with a flat bed, but that is just me. Since you have a 4x4 I don't see the issue with traction. If it were me I would not change, but I like duallys.



Nick

 

[Hoefler]

I too have a 4 x 4 dually, and never had an issue with traction. It could be your tire choice, if you use the same style tread on a single wheel, you most likely will have the same issue.

 

[AH64ID]

The front axle is the same on SRW's and DRW's, the DRW's have a spacer than can be removed.

The rear axle will need to be changed, but the SRW axle will bolt right up. As long as you get an axle from a diesel 3/4 ton it will be the 11. 5" (if your shopping some 03's diesels had a 10. 5" axle so check the year).

The SRW wheels are the same for 2500/3500, but DRW wheels are different and all 4 corners will need new wheels once you remove the wheel spacers.

DRW's do have a traction issue over SRW's, hence the reason many remove the outers in the winter in places like Montana.

 

[Jim Ross]

My truck is a pickup, not a chassis/cab.
I am assuming that I need to be looking for a rear axle from a 3rd gen truck... correct? Pickup only or will the axle from a chassis/cab work, too?
Are there any issues with the rear brakes that have not been discussed so far?

 

[AH64ID]

The 3500 C&C uses the same axle, but IIRC the spring perches are at a different width.

With an 11. 5" the brakes will be the same 03-09, and are different from a 4th gen.

 

[mfurrh55]

Since you have a flatbed, just put some 3/4 ton wheels on it, see what they look like, It will be pretty expensive to change out the rear end , especially if you don't need toI ran a chevy 1 ton with flatbed on 3/4 ton single wheels, worked just fine,Monte

My truck is a pickup, not a chassis/cab.
I am assuming that I need to be looking for a rear axle from a 3rd gen truck... correct? Pickup only or will the axle from a chassis/cab work, too?
Are there any issues with the rear brakes that have not been discussed so far?

 

[Jim Ross]

That is exactly what a friend just told me. Put different wheels on my axle... . way easier and cheaper than swapping axles!

 

[Wertles]

Here is a cheaper (maybe) but definitely easier option for you while maintaining the ability to convert back to a dually if you want to sell or tow heavy again.

http://www.ricksontruckwheels.com/drw-to-srw.php

 

[cerberusiam]

Since you have a flatbed, just put some 3/4 ton wheels on it

You cannot just throw a set of regular wheels on it and expect it to work well. The track from front to rear has to be the same or it is worse to drive in mud and snow than a dually.

The Rickson wheels that match the track front to rear are about the best single wheel option available.

 

[mfurrh55]

They make spacers to remedy this

 

[Jim Ross]

Yes,... I was thinking about spacers with 3/4 ton wheels to make the track width close to equal. Not sure yet what I will do... if anything. I may just opt to put on a more aggressive set of tires. One thing is sure... . this truck handles like a bicycle on wet ice whenever it is used on wet pavement or even worse on mud or snow.
Thanks everyone for your ideas!

 

[AH64ID]

Are you airing your tires down when your not hauling?

 

[cerberusiam]

Spacers = bad idea. Nuff said.

 

[mfurrh55]

Nothing wrong with spacers, i ran them on my o1 dually between the wheels and never had a problem, also i have an 07 mega c dually, i had to get an aggressive tire, hiway tread just doesn't cut it

 

[Jim Ross]

I generally do reduce the pressure in my tires when not towing. I am running a "mud+snow" tire, but the tread is not very aggressive. That is most likely the biggest part of the problem... . at least in off-road situations.
But... . the spacer idea..... I would like to hear more of the good/bad of that idea.
IF spacers are OK... . why couldn't I just remove the outside duals and put a spacer between the rear brakes and the inside duals as a way of moving the inside wheels out far enough to match the track of the front wheels? On the face of it, this would seem to be a simple, inexpensive solution (plus better tires, of course).

 

[AH64ID]

If you are going to use spacers I would remove the front spacer, and get SRW wheels. Then get the spacers for the rear to match the SRW track width.

That would be a good short term solution to determine if you like the SRW setup, but long term I would try to avoid spacers.

You may consider adjusting your tire pressure, it has a HUGE impact on traction.