2500 conversion to DRW

[CLWilliams]

Bought my truck because it had on it what I wanted except cab lights and wantedt to buy before the new 6. 7's with the EPA choke hold came out in the chassis-cab version. I want to install a utility bed on my truck but would like to install one for a DRW truck because of the extra space gained with the bed. Has anyone ever converted a 2500 over to a DRW version? Of course the bed is of NO concern because I am switching it. Is it better to install DRW adapters to the existing setup? Are the adapters a quality conversion? Is the change simply changing the rear end and springs? Any help out there? Besides trading or buying another truck... ... smart *****'s.

 

[HOBrian]

Well if the bed is gone anyway buy yourself 7 rims and tires and some air bags and call it a day! Of course you can only carry the weight designed for the 2500, adding the training wheels does nothing for "legally" adding more weight capacity.

 

[rbattelle]

I don't think those el-cheapo DRW adaptors are a good choice. It would be better to swap out the rear axle for a DRW one.

And Brian's got a good idea with the air suspension. That would obviate the need for the 3500 overload springs.

Ryan

 

[Gaylord]

I've BTDT. The dual wheel adaptors from Arrowcraft work great, provided your happy with the rear end ratio. Easy, cheap solution..... and as stated before, they do NOT increase your GVWR... ... but they sure add stability to any towing. HTH

 

[CLWilliams]

I DO like the airbag idea. I normally install those on my SRW anyway. Just haven't had the time yet. Will a dually rear axle bolt right up to my truck? I was assuming that it would. Does the dually rear end also come with 3. 73 ratio like my current one? Any driveshaft concerns????

 

[rbattelle]

I believe the dually will simply bolt in place with no other changes.

Ryan

 

[smokejunkie]

too bad you don't live closer to me. I just made my dually a srw but want to change the rear axle so my rear tires don't stick out farther than the fronts.

 

[MillerR]

too bad you don't live closer to me. I just made my dually a srw but want to change the rear axle so my rear tires don't stick out farther than the fronts.

smokejunkie: Sorry to briefly highjack this post, but you are just the person I came on here to look for. I have an '03 2500 that I'm wanting to convert to a dually. Would you seriously consider a axle for an axle swap?

 

[smokejunkie]

smokejunkie: Sorry to briefly highjack this post, but you are just the person I came on here to look for. I have an '03 2500 that I'm wanting to convert to a dually. Would you seriously consider a axle for an axle swap?

Absolutely. mine is 3. 73 with 58,000 miles. where do you live?

kris

 

[MillerR]

Absolutely. mine is 3. 73 with 58,000 miles. where do you live?

kris

smokejunkie: Mine is also 3. 73. I'm just under 105k. I live in Ridgefield, WA. just north of Portland, OR. but I'd be willing to make the drive. Just to clarify... you have a "dually" axle with 3. 73 ratio that you'd like to swap for a 2500 (SRW) with 3. 73? I'm not sure about all the particulars of whether these are direct swaps or not. I thought duallys had larger brakes, so I'm not sure if that would make any difference to the ABS systems. I guess we could get expert opinions and take measurements to compare everything first. What do you think would be the easiest... (axle 4 axle would be 4 U-joint bolts and 8 axle mount bolts? or springs included would be 4 U-joint bolts and 4 shackle bolts?). Then there's also the tire/wheel issue we'd need to sort out. Do you still have the dually wheels, front spacers, etc... ? So we don't have to tie up this thread, you can e-mail me at -- email address removed -- (that's eight_2nd_ridr at yahoo dot com) or contact me at (503) 260-8104