Convert 3500 dually to SRW?

[BigCarl64]

Has anyone tried this? Or is it even possible? I would like to keep my truck, but the dual rear wheels have become a hassle getting around town. I originally bought it to pull a trailer, but my work has changed and no longer necessary. I am empty 99% of the time.

Thanks.



BigCarl64

 

[Chaw]

I have been investigating this for a couple of weeks. This last weekend I mounted up some wheels off a 2500 to my dually. The rear wheels will stick out 15/16” farther than on the 2500. It appears the front wheels will bolt right up after the spacers are removed from the front axle. I have been looking for a patriot blue long bed and want swap the DRW bed. I have also been looking for the 2000 up factory wheels and tires.



Yes, it looks like this swap is possible. Who says there is not a Dodge 3500 SRW?

 

[Pit Bull]

Sell your trucks and buy a 2500. Please don't butcher the best looking truck made!!! Next thing you know you guy will be trying to turn a silk purse into a sows ear

 

[markn]

I agree with Big Toy; this is a waste of time and money. Sell it and buy a 2500. Your cash outlay and headaches will be far less.

 

[dresslered]

There is a guy local to me that has done this. I have never talked with him but he immediately put on some "big" wheels and tires right after he got the truck. He has retained the rear "dually" fenders and his new tires fill them fully.



I too, can't understand why anyone would want to do this. I have seen several posts of people wishing to go the other way (2500 --> 3500). Why don't you guys hook up?

 

[Chaw]

Well, things change. When I bought the 3500, I towed everyday. Now I have not hooked to a trailer in a year. I drive 50-100 miles a day in the city. I have done quite a few things to the truck that are not in the sig.



You guys are making this sound so hard. How fast can you rotate tires? This conversion takes changing the wheels, remove spacers form the front hubs, and change the bed.



Seems like it would be more of a headache to de-bomb the truck, take a hit on the trade, buy a new truck and have to re-bomb, and still not have 4 real doors. Maybe I am wrong.

 

[Pit Bull]

Chaw

The dual wheels only make the truck about as wide as your side mirrors are, i don't see the big deal. It is the best looking truck on the road. Drive it and look good, whats a few inches At least that is what I have been telling the girls all of my life

 

[Extreme1]

I've seen 1 truck this was done to. The only reason I noticed was because of the dually brake drums.



You might try an ad in the classifieds, there are people looking to go the other way ( ) and it should be worth something ($) as they are coming out ahead. To get the wheels to fit the 2500, you would need to trade rear ends as well but that's only a few more bolts. You do need to trade a 2500 stick so you get the same size axle though.



I considered this myself a few years ago, I had a friend offer both sets of wheels (one aftermarket) and tires and the lift kit out of his plus painting the bed for me. I'm glad I kept mine DRW but only obout 3 months out of the year.

 

[mikel]

Whatever you do

Please, Please don't just take the inside tires off the back end and drive around like that. I saw a truck (another brand thank goodness) going down I10 near Houston the other day like this. It looked absurd and didn't do anything for the width anyhow.





Mike

 

[CJ Johansson]

I've actually done this...

Well, I do it for winter. With all the mud and snow out on the ranch, the huge contact patch on the rear end doesn't do much for traction. With only 2 tires on the back, it'll sink down and grab some more solid mud under the really greasy stuff.



Of course, since the front tires track right between the rears, either taking off inners or outers leaves the rears riding on the edges instead of in the ruts of the fronts. So, get a set of stock 2500 wheels ($30 used at a local tire store, call around). I use the dually offsets on the front and the 2500 rims on the rears with a set of pretty aggressive mud tires.



Once we get back to "normal" dirt/mud/gravel, I switch back to all 6 tires again...



-cj