2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 1 Ton single rear wheels?

[DDT]

Hi, I hope for some insite. I have just sold my 03 2500:{ and in the process of finding and 2 gen truck. I would rather get a 1 ton but winter driving would be a bear, I have had one before. Is it possible to single out the inside wheels for the winter and put them back on come spring. I did like the way my 3/4 ton handled on slick roads.

Wife wants a 3/4 ton just for this reason. I can find better deals on the 1 tons than 3/4t trucks. any comments are welcome.

Thanks

DDT

 

[BDaugherty]

I'm sure you could "single out" the rears for winter driving, but it seems like it would look goofy. I'm sure someone out there will correct me, but other than the dual wheels, I really don't think there's that much difference between a 2nd gen 3/4 and 1 ton.

 

[PC12Driver]

With the 3/4 ton, the rear wheels track directly behind the front wheels, and that's where the handling improvement comes from in the snow. None of the rears follow the fronts directly with a dually, so there really isn't much gain in that regard. You do double your contact patch psi however, and that could help on the packed stuff.



It is possible though. Was your last dually a 4x4? I don't notice any ill-effects in the snow when the front tires are a-pullin'.

 

[lowboy]

Super Singles for 3500?

Pardon me for hijacking the thread, but does anyone know of a "super single" alternative for the duals on a 3500?

 

[DDT]

Yes, last dually was 4x4. A road has to be very slick for me to use 4WD, there is alot of times there are dry patches and I know what that does to a drive line. Driving in fresh snow is not a problem but icy/snow packed roads are a bear with dualls.

 

[charlessmith]

Yeah, duals are not good when there are big ruts in the ice/snow.
Somebody said the inner duals don't track with the front tires - this is true only on the 3500 Chassis Cab models. On the full bed 3500s the inner dual tire tracks with the front tires.
If you were driving on really rutted roads, you could pull off the outer dual wheels of your 3500, and have the same road contact as a 2500.

The 3500 has better brakes than the 2500, and the 2500 Autos have a rear Dana 70, while the std 2500s and all 3500s use the Dana 80.

 

[MUDDY]

i use srw wheels with snow tires for winter. my winter wheels are factory aluminum wheels off of a 01 2500 and the track is a nearly perfect match to the front of my duallys.



also looks much better than just removing the outside dual

 

[LBARTLETT]

I've seen farmers do this in the winter for snow and muddy roads, works good but looks funny, not a good way to pick up chicks

 

[SnoKing]

Well if it is a late model 2nd gen and has the camper option, then you have just about everything that the later 1t SRW has. If it is a HO 6 speed you get the Dana 80 same as the dually. Auto's get the Dana 70. I regularly tow at around 9500 to 9600 on the truck without any issues or rear sag. Most of the last 2nd gens came with 265 tires also. 2001. 5 and 2002 have 4 wheel disc. 2001. 5 and some early 2002 have the front axle disconnect.



A 2001. 5 that has had it's brass bore VP44 replaced is best of bread. SNOKING

 

[DDT]

Thanks for the input guys, I will try to located a pair of 01 wheels if I get this 01 dually with PU bed soon to be branford flat bed.

PS I picked up my chick over 21 years ago, its all I need.