Can you use just 1 rear tire on a dually?

[OTRPU]

Just returned from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in my crummy 2WD CC Dually. Didn't have any trouble with any snow I encountered. Course, it was my 96 PSD, but I had two complete Cummins engines in the bed. Couldn't decide which I wanted so brung one of each, a 24V and a 12V. Ford wasn't squatting too bad, but declined a backhaul trailer cause the transmission is singing to me. DOC says OTR PU will be back on the road by Friday sure. All it takes is money.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[fkovalski]

Originally posted by GOgle

Ok. . I just ordered my truck today I will use it to snow plow... So can I use a single wheel off a 2500???

I was speaking in theory only. I would use the wheel combination that the truck was set up from the factory.

 

[lil red cummins]

the whole debate about offset loads is a little over done here. the man KNOWS he has to reduce the total weight he is going to put on the truck. if he keeps the max weight to half of what it normally is, the whole bearing load issue is meaningless. tapered roller bearings when preloaded correctly, SHOULD distribute the load evenly around 1/2 of the bearing surface. even if the offset in the rim causes the inner bearing to load on the "top" side as being suggested, (assumes we are running the outer tire only) then it really doesnt matter folks. again keep in mind that that fkovalski KNOWS he is going to reduce his max load. any load on the bearings, either singularly or total will be less than when he has both tires and a full load.



what do you think happens when you run with a flat tire on dual axle??? the bearings survive dont they??

just my 30+ years as a humble mechanics' opinion.



jim

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by lil red cummins

the whole debate about offset loads is a little over done here.

Jim,



Relax. It was just a few engineers having a water cooler technical discussion, OK?



Rusty

 

[TowPro]

I agree with Fkovalski.



Look at it this way, the axle if floating on a bearing, which we will call the fulcrum. Anywhere you locate the lifting pressure (wheels) onto the outside of the fulcrum, it will always still be the same place, the place the wheel (or wheels) bolt to the axle flange.



Of course you realize that the weight carrying capacity of the truck will be decreased by the load range (weight carrying stamp) on the tires you removed.



I have found my Dually does better in the snow then my 2500 did.

 

[DPelletier]

TowPro,

Where you guys are getting confused is by considering the mounting point of the rim into the issue. The force is exerted by the weight of the truck (GAW - rear) pushing upwards on the axle. That force is given leverage by the distance from the center of the wheel to the center of the wheel bearing. On a dually the "center of the wheel" is actually the mounting flange. With the inner wheel missing, you have moved the leverage point by approximately 5 1/4" (farther out). As Rusty pointed out, the mounting flange position is irrelevant (unless you want to start calculating the force on the wheel studs and lug nuts). The wheel is bolted to the hub and becomes one single part as far as calculating force on the wheel bearings is concerned.



Before anyone gets excited, No the truck isn't going to fall to the ground in the 1st mile you run it with only one wheel, but all things being equal (GAW - rear) the bearings WILL wear faster than with both wheels. How much faster, I don't know, but I won't be running my truck around all winter with only two wheels on the back. If I was going to run with only one wheel, I'd use a SRW rim with the proper offset. If you're going to be lightly loaded or empty, you'd likely not live long enough to see the wheel bearings actually fail.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[GOgle]

Whew I am sorry I started all of this... Thanks to all... garth

 

[fkovalski]

Originally posted by GOgle

Whew I am sorry I started all of this...

No apologies reqiured. We all learn something here, albeit spirited at times. But its all good.

Got me thinking about this single tire thing... I would not run just 1 tire only off a dually on the rear with it's radical offset (though I still contend it won't make a difference. ) But you raised the question of running a single tire/ wheel combo from a 2500 on the back. I see this as working if the situation calls for such a set- up. You would still need the dually type wheeel with proper offset for the front 'cause a 2500 wheel on the front of a dually truck would prolly cause problems when steering. ... and it would look wierd too!

 

[GOgle]

I thought I would just buy 2 regular wheels to run on the rear for winter only... Alot of people here say a dually is not that good in the snow... Of course I will TRY the dually first and find out for myself... But I just wanted to have a back-up plan ready Again thanks to all