Dually on Singles

[DonTX]

A Winter Texan type stopped by to chat, saw my 2nd gen sitting in the yard. In talking trucks, he directed my attention to his dually - with the inside dual removed! While his is not working, he removes the inside dual. Claims mileage increases 1. 6 MPG, and it then rides like car.

I have some problems with that, the springs are still the same for ride, and does anyone find the mileage going up that much with the inside dual removed?

 

[John - K5AWO]

I never tried that. First reason is too much trouble, 2nd reason is it just plain looks dumb! 3rd reason, the tire wear will not be equal on the inside/outside tires when he puts the inside tires back on.

I used to have a friend though many years ago, that found or had made, some special wheels for his dually. He ran singles with a tire that looked big enough to be a drag slick, but it had highway tread. didn't look half bad that way.

As for mileage improvement? Maybe a tenth or so, but I doubt it would be measureable. Most of our problems with the duallies is the extreme bearing pressures that create so much friction. That and brake pads/drums...

I just put new tires on the front of my truck, and wondered a lot about how much bearing load there is on that front wheel. Took a good hard twist to turn the hub with the wheel off.

 

[rweis]

I think the off set of having both tires is so the weight can be properly centered on the bearing system. Removing only one tire wiuld distort the weight distribution to the bearing. Maybe not significantly if empty, but I would question decision vs economy.



Bob Weis

 

[DonTX]

Some good points there. I had another friend that took off the OUTSIDE dual for the winter, the charge going and coming across the Mex border is FAR less if you don't have duals. Now THAT looked stupid for sure. It is hard to notice the inside dual not there though so far as looks are concerned.

 

[Okie-Go]

Sounds like a lot of trouble to me. I just leave mine on the truck. That is why I bought a dually.

 

[jelag]

If you notice the new class 8 trucks and trailers... . they are starting to move to a wider, single wheel where their dual set used to be... .

Lighter, less expensive(over the life of the trailer), better fuel economy, are all reasons they are designing these trucks and trailers this way... .

They've moved from snap ring wheels to one piece wheels, from tube type tires to tubeless, and now to singles...

It used to be a problem for the tire companies to make these wide heavy tires and make them balance, and handle the load... its now almost standard...

We'll see the same changes down the road I'm sure. .

 

[steved]

Anyone remember the "fleetside" dually GM made back in the 70s/80s??? A lot of guys would buy those and flip a 33x12. 50 under the rear in place of the duals. . they looked sorta cool... like a hotrod, so to speak...



I think, as already noted, the strain on the bearings would be very bad... but at the same time, you know for fact that occasionally a loaded dually rig rides on either the inner or outer tire for short distances.



steved

 

[MEby]

I ran mine for a couple months last winter with the inner duals removed. Looked really stupid and it changed the way it drove on gravel roads. I didnt like it at all. I didnt notice any difference in ride or fuel economy either.

 

[Ragain]

Its gonna take a lot more convincing for me to consider "super singles" on my big truck. I am still seeing those poor guys driving the fleet trucks set up with those and sitting on the shoulder of the interstate with a blown tire. I just dont see where they're saving any money!!!

 

[steved]

Its gonna take a lot more convincing for me to consider "super singles" on my big truck. I am still seeing those poor guys driving the fleet trucks set up with those and sitting on the shoulder of the interstate with a blown tire. I just dont see where they're saving any money!!!

From what I've gathered, drivers hate them in snow...



steved

 

[Cattletrkr]

From what I've gathered, drivers hate them in snow...

steved

I was just going to say that. Fat tires are worthless on snow/ice. Doesn't matter what the tread is. Fat tires are not phat.

 

[BILLVO]

Its gonna take a lot more convincing for me to consider "super singles" on my big truck. I am still seeing those poor guys driving the fleet trucks set up with those and sitting on the shoulder of the interstate with a blown tire. I just dont see where they're saving any money!!!

So your the one that doesn't pay attention to your rig and when the bomb goes off you leave the rubber shards alover the road and keep going. #@$%!

 

[Ragain]

So your the one that doesn't pay attention to your rig and when the bomb goes off you leave the rubber shards alover the road and keep going. #@$%!

Oh no, Not me!!!

Its hard enough to make a profit out here, especially if you leave it laying all over the road. Only virgin rubber on my rigs and I routinely check pressure/treads. (And I dont mean just a tire thump!)

Many times I've seen guys pull back out on the roads after their off duty time with a flat. I try to contact them via CB, but with no response. Makes you wonder just how many actually do their pre-trip walk around!!!

 

[BILLVO]

Oh no, Not me!!!

Its hard enough to make a profit out here, especially if you leave it laying all over the road. Only virgin rubber on my rigs and I routinely check pressure/treads. (And I dont mean just a tire thump!)

Many times I've seen guys pull back out on the roads after their off duty time with a flat. I try to contact them via CB, but with no response. Makes you wonder just how many actually do their pre-trip walk around!!!

I believe its more a problem with the fleet drivers as you pointed out earlier. attitude of its Not my truck, Who cares I'm not paying for it.

 

[steved]

Makes you wonder just how many actually do their pre-trip walk around!!!

Not many do a pre-trip...



Just look at some of the rigs running down the road and the obvious stuff that should NOT have been "overlooked"...



steved