2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Now that Diesel is high...training wheels...

[EagleEye]

I figured I would try it. Removed my 2 inner rear wheels, and am running only the outers. Looks kinda funny, but I would like to see if I see ANY mileage improvement.



I know my real-time axle weights, and the tires that are left have MORE than enough capacity.



It is a little harder to launch now. Spins alot more freely.



I tried a search, and didn't come up with much. ANYONE been running with 'training wheels' removed for awhile, problems, gains, and what did you notice different?



I figure the torque/weight on the lug nuts are about the same, and the disk brakes are a bit more exposed. But, I noticed less unsprung weight right away (them stockers are a bit heavy).



Feedback/Comments???

 

[Missouri Mule]

Does't sound like a good idea to me. But it would seem to me you would have better handling if you left the inner ones on and took the outer ones off.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

harder on wheel bearings

 

[Grizzly]

You may notice a slight difference in fuel mileage, but I don't believe it's worth it. Just drive less miles. Consolidate your trips. Keep a few more # of air in your tires.

 

[ronnyM]

I considered doing that but was told by the service manager at the dealer that it would place undue stress on the rear wheel bearings.

Ron

 

[bigdaddydieseldan]

good luck with that :-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[EKlem]

You should see a noticeable mileage gain. As stated above, you need to worry about you wheel bearings. If you remove the outers and leave the inside wheels, then you will put a lot less stress on the bearings. However, the truck will be like a 2500 because of the loss of stability due to having a narrower track. You should get better mileage with the outers removed rather than the inners because of where the air is already turbulent and where it is undisturbed. If you aren't loaded heavily, it sounds like an interesting experiment.

 

[EagleEye]

Can ANYONE tell me HOW it would place MORE stress on the bearings? The distances and points have not changed any, and anytime you go up a rise at an angle, the OUTER tire is holding up the inner tire, axle and truck.



Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't think mechanical engineering and trigonometry have been re-written recently.



I am not hauling anything heavy with 'em removed, and wouldn't try it anyway. I've had the pleasure of hauling a camper with my old 2500 and with my current 3500... what a difference.



I don't think I would run on just inners... seems like you would lose alot of track.



What am I missing here? Please enlighten me.

 

[BTilson317]

i say, go ahead what the hay. . if it helps increase mpg whatso ever then go for it. buutit cant be that big of a deal. . c mon just deal with the four wheels and save the questioning from others and criticizing. lets not make this a rocket science expierement ya know? just thinkin out loud, but sounds dumb. . pointless

 

[DonTX]

Down where I live, they charge LOTS more when going across the international bridges if you have duals. Many winter Texans just take off their outers for the winter for the cost savings. Don't seem to make any real difference in anything.

 

[EKlem]

EagleEye,

The reason that it places more wear on the bearing is that the geometry has changed a little. When you are running duals, the normal force on them can be considered to be coming from between the two tires. When you remove the inside tire, you are moving that force out to the center of the outside tire. This creates a greater moment arm which means more stress on the bearing. If you are running empty, this is probably not a huge deal. If you were to remove the outside tire and leave the inner, you would move the force in, bringing it more in line with the bearing making it better. I hope that this explains it. I don't think removing one set of tires is a bad idea at all.

 

[EagleEye]

Thanks EKlem... I can see the reasoning from your argument. Overall, from what I can figure... the stresses are minimal from the change (but there can be more or less depending on the circumstances).



It will be awhile before I know if it makes much of a difference. I have 100gals on board, and will run a couple of tanks thru before I will have a decent mileage comparison.



The truck rides ALOT BETTER over the bumps and such with some unsprung weight removed (and less tire width to hit those bumps). It rides like a 2500, and cornering hasn't changed any.



I'll be trying this for awhile. So far, so good.

 

[hilda]

Regular offset wheels?

What if you ran a set of regular offset wheels? That would keep the weight centered over the bearings. I don't think fuel will ever get back to the good old days, so I'm willing to entertain ideas for better millage.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Can ANYONE tell me HOW it would place MORE stress on the bearings? The distances and points have not changed any, and anytime you go up a rise at an angle, the OUTER tire is holding up the inner tire, axle and truck.



Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't think mechanical engineering and trigonometry have been re-written recently.



I am not hauling anything heavy with 'em removed, and wouldn't try it anyway. I've had the pleasure of hauling a camper with my old 2500 and with my current 3500... what a difference.



I don't think I would run on just inners... seems like you would lose alot of track.



What am I missing here? Please enlighten me.

w/ the duals or a single, the load is spread evenly over the bearing... take one off, and the load is offcenter. same reason cheap aftermarket wheels w/ the wrong offset are harder on bearings. It's simple physics

 

[AClayton]

So this all means that the front wheels with the same offset are actually harder on front wheel bearings. A duelly should have duels up front alsoI'm glad I don't own a duelly

 

[AClayton]

Oh... . and what about the guys that unbolt the outers to dyno those big numbers... . gotta be harder on the bearings

 

[Forrest Nearing]

well... yeah, it is



most times the outers are removed because the duals won't fit on the dyno properly, but it will help power numbers.



seriously, do you guys not understand leverage?

 

[hilda]

Maybe someone should make narrower dually fenders, so switching over to 2500 wheels would be simple.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

the dualy rear is only an inch wider per side on the 2nd gens... you can remove the front adapters and bolt 2500 wheels on and not need dualy fenders

 

[AClayton]

well... yeah, it is



most times the outers are removed because the duals won't fit on the dyno properly, but it will help power numbers.



seriously, do you guys not understand leverage?

I was not referring to power numbers on the dyno... . the original topic on this thread was what,if any,mileage figures were to be expected if the outers or inners were removed and no significant load is placed in the bed. I'm thinking a big Dana 80 with no load in the bed can handle a little extra stress on the wheel bearings. They use these big rear ends in Class A MH chassis' and I'm sure at 18K GVWR's , that is much more than an unloaded dually. If you have offset wheels on the front axle of a dually... . then why on earth does it not affect wheel bearings there?That was my example and question..... I posted about the dyno readings to further exploit my point that there would be no significant effect on wheel bearings on the rear-end. If a truck can handle a dyno pull with big HP and torque going to the axle,then I'm confident that a Dana 80 in an unloaded dually pick-up will be able to deal with the extra stresses of having the inners or outers removed for a mileage experiment.