2500 to 3500?????

[MLee]

Is it fesable to convert a 01-2500 two wheel drive to a dulley, to accomidate the new 5th wheel a guy just bought that makes his truck a little underrated. (GVW?GCVW) (over weight) He now is at approx. 20K I am sure he would need new wheels,hub-extentions front,drums/extentions rear,and new brake shoes, and the new fender extentions, He already has air bags installed on the rear. How much is to much?? loves his truck as is now, but wants to be safe.

Marv.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I would have him go find the rear axle and wheels from a dually.



He will have to know that he is going to have to cut some metal out of the fenders and then buy the dually skirts for it.



I would install the skirts, use the skirt as a template and draw a line on the paint. Pull them off and then cut the metal out.



The springs with the dually might not be bad to purchase either. But that depends on if he needs them to support the extra load. Personally, I would prefer to stay with the 3/4 springs and use the air bags he already has to lift the trailer weight. That way, he can tow the load, but still have a nice decent ride when empty.



Believe me, I hate the springs under my dually. They are coming out in a couple of weeks and air bags going in.

 

[SRadke]

Easiest thing to do is find a rear end out of a dually, it should bolt in. My personal opinon is if he's not over weight on the rear axle of the 2500 the GCWR is more of a recomendation than the law



-Scott

 

[bmoeller]

dually box

It would most likely be cheaper to buy a dually box, than buy the fenders and do all the work. Lots of guys put on flatbeds or sevice bodies, so there ought to be plenty around. I think generally, new take-offs are in the neighborhood of $12-1500. Fenders alone can be $500+ per set. Then you still have to cut the box sides, repaint, the fuel fill and vent hoses will probably need to lengthened, and what not. Would be MUCH less work to do.

 

[MLee]

Thanks; for your replies.

This is a guy I just ran accrosed traveling to San Diego to do a hosting job next month, we got talking, told him of the TDR and suggested what he might do. hopefully he will see this, and read these suggestions. so far his truck was handleing the load. probably will be alright, he just goes from one place to an other and works there as host two to six months at a time.

Thanks again.

Marv.