Finally got my Rickson Wheels/Tires DRW -> SRW Conversion

[bobmette]

The wheels look fabulous , I'm getting ready to do the same to my 2006 DRW. A couple of questions:
1. You are running 265/70R, will the spare fit in the stock location, I was under the impression that the 265s won't fit in the spare location?
2. I am taking my bed and bumpers off and need to sell it, what did you do with yours?
3. The paint job on you chassis looks great, who did it and what did it cost?

Thanks
Bob

 

[User113]

1. You are running 265/70R, will the spare fit in the stock location, I was under the impression that the 265s won't fit in the spare location?

It is very tight, but my traction tires fit. Haven't tried my steers.

2. I am taking my bed and bumpers off and need to sell it, what did you do with yours?

I am buying a completely refurbished SRW bed (paint, line-x, undercoating, new lights, new bumper) and the people selling me the new bed will be buying back the DRW bed. I also have 6 OEM wheels with new tires for sale if anybody is interested.

3. The paint job on you chassis looks great, who did it and what did it cost?

It was $600 at Ziebart; $100 for their "Rust Eliminator" treatment and $500 for the "Sound Deadener" undercoating. The frame, axles and underside of the cab were all treated. The bed I am buying will be undercoated as well, so the truck should look good for years to come.

 

[AH64ID]

It is very tight, but my traction tires fit. Haven't tried my steers.

Do you have an anti-sway bar? Stock hitch? Stock diff cover?

 

[bobmette]

I will install an after market anti-sway bar and have the stock differential cover and hitch, do you think the 265s will fit?

 

[bobmette]

The Toyo tires are 34.4", will be more inflated I guess.

 

[User113]

Do you have an anti-sway bar? Stock hitch? Stock diff cover?

As far as I know, everything is stock. I do know that some of the cross-member pieces seem to be slipping into the sipes.

 

[AH64ID]

As far as I know, everything is stock. I do know that some of the cross-member pieces seem to be slipping into the sipes.

Most folks who run 19.5s will also run aftermarket sway bars, so I wonder how that will effect fitment.

 

[User113]

Most folks who run 19.5s will also run aftermarket sway bars, so I wonder how that will effect fitment.

My wife thinks I've spent enough so far. I don't have my camper yet, so sway does not seem to be an issue, but I will keep this in mind if that changes, once the extra 4,000 lbs. is on.

 

[User113]

Update - Photos with bed

It's been some time now, here are some updates.

I finally got a SRW bed on it and got it painted. Here is what it looks like now:

Now all I need to do is make some custom scaffolding so I can work on it!

 

[algonaman]

Can Ricksons still be purchased? I don't see any ordering info on their site. I'm late to the 19.5 party but added a flat bed trailer to haul a jeep on my truck camper trips.

 

[promisedland]

You might need fender flares..... With the rear tires sticking out the some.

 

[User113]

Can Ricksons still be purchased? I don't see any ordering info on their site. I'm late to the 19.5 party but added a flat bed trailer to haul a jeep on my truck camper trips.

You're going to need to call them, leave a message, and wait for them to get back to you.

You may be able to find 19.5's for your 2500 from other vendors. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be many other choices for dually owners if you want wheels rated at 5000 lbs or more.

 

[User113]

You might need fender flares..... With the rear tires sticking out the some.

You can (barely) see my flares in that photo in the bed of the truck. Maybe I'll get them installed sometime this summer.

 

[MBesen]

Greetings!
I'm planning to do a DRW->SRW on a 2018 3500 cab chassis (84CA only available as DRW) for a flatbed camper conversion.
Any wisdom you can share from your experience? I want to match existing tread width distance, but can't find info on wheel mounting surface spacing fr/rr to spec wheel offset.
Thanks,
Matt B

 

[User113]

Greetings!
I'm planning to do a DRW->SRW on a 2018 3500 cab chassis (84CA only available as DRW) for a flatbed camper conversion.
Any wisdom you can share from your experience? I want to match existing tread width distance, but can't find info on wheel mounting surface spacing fr/rr to spec wheel offset.
Thanks,
Matt B

The DRW axle is a bit wider than the SRW axle for sure. When you say "match the existing tread width distance" I believe you mean that you want the new single rear wheel track to match the front, right? However, if you measure the track width of the front and rear wheels on any 2500 or 3500 SRW truck I believe you will find that they do NOT exactly match. For the actual specs, I would suggest you inquire at an alignment shop. They will probably be able to look up the exact front to rear offset of a SRW truck for you. If you want the front and rear tracks to match there are a few ways you could come close.

1) One would be to swap the DRW axle with the rear axle from a SRW truck. You would then exactly match the factory setup of a SRW truck, and you get to use the same wheels front, back and spare.

2) You could have custom wheels made such that the backspacing for the front wheels have a different offset than the rear wheels. This also has the potential of exactly matching the factory SRW layout. Of course, then what would you do for the spare? Maybe two spares, one of each?

3) You could use look for wheel spacers to step out the front track match to the rear track. That would not be an exact match to the factory layout, but you could come close to having the same track (provided you can find suitable spacers). That would also allow you to use identical wheels on each axle; but personally, I am not a fan of wheel spacers, plus moving the front wheels out would undoubtedly adversely affect the truck's handling.

Of these, I think the first option would be the best, that's what I plan on doing if I ever win the lottery. And I would install an air locker into the rear axle at the same time. However, I have not noticed any problems on my truck with the mismatched wheel tracks, so I haven't started playing the lottery yet.

 

[Ozymandias]

Even on a bone stock SRW the Front and Rear doesn't have the same track width, Rear is narrower by an Inch or so.

 

[imaybail]

Are those wheels hub centric or did you switch to the lug centered type?

 

[Chris Hluchan]

How does this ride with the g rated 19.5s? Any trouble off road?

 

[lpennock]

How does this ride with the g rated 19.5s? Any trouble off road?

No such thing as airing down.

 

[Ozymandias]

How does this ride with the g rated 19.5s? Any trouble off road?

Offroad and on rough Dirtroads just horrible, Truck is beaten to dead more then I can stand.

That's why I switched back to the 17" Rims.