Replace dually with single wheel

[Koa Man]

Does anyone know of a single wheel replacement for the dually? I would like to run a single rear wheel that has at least the same weight carrying capacity as the load range Es I currently have, 5540 lbs per side. All the concrete trucks around here are running single wheels on their tandem axles, 4 wheels instead of 8.

 

[DieselB59]

Weld wheels and Centerline both make a super single wheel for drw trucks. We contracted Weld wheels to build single race wheels for the A. W. D. 3500 racer. The problem with this is that there aren't many options due to our trucks' being real trucks with 8 lug design. Most of the manufacturers cater to the five lug crowd. They are out there though.

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Chris Timochko
AUTO WURKS DIESEL R&D TEAM
1997 5sp 4X4, Rhino Linings, Espar Heater, A. W. D. HX40 turbo, ATS 3pc Manifold, BD 4" Brake, Marine Compression, A. W. D. Custom Tuned Injection Pump, A. W. D. Intercooler, A. W. D. 370B Injection Nozzles, Delivery Valves, Governor & AFC Spring Kit, Psychotty Air, A. W. D. Water Injection, NOS Diesel Kit, A. W. D. 6" Chrome Exhaust System, BD No Smoke Valet Switch, McLeod Dual Disc Clutch, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins Chrome Kit, Optima Red Tops, Hadley Bully Horns, Hurst Line Loc, Goodyear Wrangler AT/S 305/70/16s.
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Project U96 - 1996 3500 2WD racer. A. W. D. Marine Ultra Low Compression, A. W. D. Teflon-coated Pistons, A. W. D. High Lift Camshaft, Ported and Honed Cylinder Head, Intake and Exhaust manifold; A. W. D. HX40 Turbocharger, ATS 3pc Exhaust Manifold, A. W. D. Water Injection, A. W. D. Custom Fabricated Fuel System, Race Spec A. W. D. /BD P7100 Injection Pump, A. W. D. Custom High Flow Fuel Injection Nozzles, BD Auto transmission and Custom TC, Weld Draglites, Goodyear Eagle Drag Slicks, 5" Single Stack Through The Bed, Mag-Hytec on Rear and Transmission.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

To get tires heavily rated enough, you probably will have to go with 19. 5 or taller rims. Check Rickson for custom wheels. Others may also make wheels you can use, too.

 

[illflem]

Koaman,a buddy of mine has a new 1 ton PSD that he bought with single rear wheels. He told me to change over to duals only required new wheels. It has 8 lug wheels. You might want to check with a brand F dealer and see how they do it,the Ford wheels may even fit our Dodges.

 

[willyslover]

I posted this in another post but here is a place that will do whatever you want in custom steel wheels . . don't know if they can do any other material. .
Stockton Wheel . . can be found in the advertiser section of most four wheel drive mags. www.stocktonwheel.com

 

[Koa Man]

I'll check with Ford to see what the weight carrying capacity is of their single F350 wheel. I looked at Ricksons website, but I'm too cheap to pay for alloy wheels on a work truck. Trying to find plain steel wheels. Had new tires put on this past weekend and the biggest size I could get was 235/85-16 due to space limitations between the dually tires. Tire shop did mount 255s to check it out and it only had about 1/4 inch clearance with no load in the bed. I would like to get a tire about 34" tall. The 215s I had originally were 30. 5" and the new 235s are 32".

 

[QRTRHRS]

Check out the tires on The Turtle Expedition's F550. 40. 7" Michelin's on 20" Stockton Wheels.
http://www.turtleexpedition.com/Vehicle/turtle5.html

 

[outlawram]

The ford and dodge 2500 8 bolt pattern is the same. I know this for sure. So you would think the same be with the 3500.

 

[Koa Man]

Checked out the turtle website. 40" tires are a bit TOO big for me. Max tire height I would like is 35", with 34" being the ideal for me. I'm guessing that would put my effective gear ratio at around 3. 70 with my 4. 10 rears.

 

[pcorssmit]

Originally posted by outlawram:
The ford and dodge 2500 8 bolt pattern is the same. I know this for sure. So you would think the same be with the 3500.

The Ford 8 lug pattern is the same through '97. The '99+ Super Dutys do NOT have the same bolt pattern. Chevy, Dodge, and pre Super Duty Fords all use a lug-centric, 8 on 6-1/2" bolt pattern. The Super Dutys use a hub-centric, 8 on 170 mm bolt pattern.

I believe the Ricksons are steel wheels with optional simulators.

Koa Man, I'm not sure what year your truck is, but I've heard that the Dodge Dually wheels on the 2001s and maybe the 2000s have slightly more offset than the older ones. I have seen a couple 3500s with 255s that do not rub, both trucks carry heavy loads and run 285s on the front (same height as a 255). While I'm not a fan of them, you could probably also use a small spacer between the duals. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a size lot of variation between manufacturers for a given tire size. You may be able to find a "skinny" 255.

Some Ford Box vans (E350) came with 245/75R16 duals (I used to drive a '95, not sure what other years). I beleive these use the 8 on 6-1/2" bolt pattern.

Pete


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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I found this picture in TDR's Readers rides.

#ad

 

[Koa Man]

Pete,
Thanks for the info on the lug bolt patterns and the offset for the later rims. I'll check into that. At the tire shop I looked at several different brands. My orignal choice was BFG but even the 235s was too wide. I ended up getting Chapparrels. Never heard of them before but it is an American made tire. So far they are pretty good. My dually is a '96.

HEMIDart,
I wonder how much weight that rim and tire in the picture you posted can carry. It might be just a rim for running racing slicks. I would like to find something that can support as much weight as my current dually wheels, although I could go as low as 4500 lbs per side.

 

[EZ94]

Koa Man:
By chance would those concrete trucks say "HC&D" on the side?

Too many memories... been gone too long.

 

[Koa Man]

EZ94,
All the cement trucks here run single wheels. HC&D, Ameron, Island Mini-Mix, and Hawaiian Cement.

BTW Pete, regarding spacers, I looked into that also, but I would have to put in longer studs as I only have about 1/3 of an inch from the top of the lug nut to the end of the threaded area. I also don't really like the idea of putting spacers between the wheels.

 

[red1ton]

As a dually owner, I can't help but ask why?

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2001, 3500, 2X4, QC, SLT, Auto, 3. 54 gears, camper and tow packages. Lance model 1130 camper. Rancho 9000 5 Speed shocks. BD Brake, autoloc, pressureloc. Hadley air horns. OEM bugshield w/eyebrows and dash cover. Member San Jose Ram Runners.

 

[Koa Man]

red1ton,
The main reason I wanted to go to a single wheel is to be able to run a taller tire. I would probably keep my dually wheels IF I could find a 34 inch tire that would have adequate clearance. The tire shop mounted the narrowest 255/85X16 tire they had on the rims and when they set the truck down with no load in the bed, it had at the most, only 1/4 inch clearance between the two tires. A little load in the bed or if tire pressure was only slightly low they would touch. Running single wheels would eliminate clearance problems and also be cheaper replacing 4 tires instead of 6.

 

[illflem]

Koaman,I understand your reasons for wanting to go single,but have you thought of how it's going to look?You may needed to get concrete truck type tires& rims to fill in that huge empty space! #ad

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The tallest and narrowest 255-85-16 I know about is the Cooper Discoverer LT. I have used it for about 100K miles. Good tire, but I don't know if it is narrow enough for your stock wheels on the rear. I'd avoid a spacer if possible. There is a chance of movement as the wheels "work" on each other, and you are moving the centerline and slightly reducing the weight capacity of the diff.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by illflem:
Koaman,I understand your reasons for wanting to go single,but have you thought of how it's going to look?You may needed to get concrete truck type tires& rims to fill in that huge empty space! #ad

Koa Man, As I recall don't you have a flatbed? If so then the look with singles especially fat singles can be pretty good.

I did see the Turtle Expedition trucks tire size. I thought the look and the reference to Stockton Wheels would be of interest.

 

[WOWZY]

Koa, If you can handle running Swampers, They make a set of 9. 00x16 that a friend of mine put on his Ram Dually and had no problems. They're extremely narrow,9. 00= 228mm wide. They're also 34" tall.

If I was gonna go the single wheel route, I'd have to go with Weld wheels for insurance.

[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 01-27-2001). ]