Just thinking, and wondering what are the pros and cons to using adapters to make a SRW a DRW versus swapping in a true DRW axle? For discussion sake, I am talking about a SRW D80.
My guess would be everything ending up wider then a true Dual rear wheel axle would be a CON...unless I have been led astray the true DRW axles are narrower.
The other would be the lack of spring pack already in place that would carry the weight dual rear tires would safely carry. It would add stability but not much on overall load rating unless you ran a really high ply tire in SRW compared to two lower rated tires in DRW. Really heavy ply tires and weaker springs from a single rear wheel truck don't make much sense.......This is thinking from a 3/4 ton though.
1 ton conversion all I see is the width difference. I might be over thinking it.
DRW axles are generally wider to keep the tires out of the rear springs. I don't recall for sure with the Dodges, but I know for sure that Len had to change his rear axle when he went DRW. He also changed the spring pack to a higher rate set in addition to the airbags he already had.
Hopefully all 6 rims are the same so you can rotate them. I'd never be one of those guys that leaves the steers in place until they chop out or wear the outside edges off and then replaces them. I want a 6 to get worn and get my damn money's worth!
That means you'd need to get the dually adapters for the front.
I would be hesitant to run rear spacers. I would look for a drw truck to pull the springs and axle. Possibly overloads and mounting as well.
On a side note dually axles are generally always wider as the front and inner rear tires are on the same track. Only dually axle that could/would be narrower would be a c&c or van.
Thanks guys. I am just brain storming and thinking of options. I have already looked at part numbers and new leaf packs in the 4k variety are the same part number for my 2500 and a 3500. I am not sure how much a new dually D80 would run me, do thats why I am worndering if I can make my current single wheel D80 work
Depending which 2500 you have it may have the heavy duty spring pack in it already. If it was like my old truck (97 2500 ctd) it had a 80 and the same leaf pack as the same year 3500. I guess there were a couple of suspension options back then. Best bet would be to scrub C-list or FB market place and find a complete 3500 DRW and swap it over springs and all. You could even go newer and try for disc brakes. Sell your d80 to make up for some of the cost. Hell a u-pull-it might do a deal/discount to swap yours for theirs.
Depending which 2500 you have it may have the heavy duty spring pack in it already. If it was like my old truck (97 2500 ctd) it had a 80 and the same leaf pack as the same year 3500. I guess there were a couple of suspension options back then. Best bet would be to scrub C-list or FB market place and find a complete 3500 DRW and swap it over springs and all. You could even go newer and try for disc brakes. Sell your d80 to make up for some of the cost. Hell a u-pull-it might do a deal/discount to swap yours for theirs.
Yeah, what Troy said. I am not as concerned with the weight as I am swaying side to side. This camper is a tall drink of water, and I just thinking of waysto keep it from being a big jiggley blob of jelly going down the road
A full axle with springs and the gear set is in decent shape I don’t see why $400-600 wouldn’t be a bad price. I forget is your truck 4wd? If so it might be hard finding a matching gear or have to factor in a re gear price also. What are you going to do about the bed? I guess if you wanted to they make reproductuon dually skirts for 2nd gen dodges and could just make your bed into a dually bed.
A full axle with springs and the gear set is in decent shape I don’t see why $400-600 wouldn’t be a bad price. I forget is your truck 4wd? If so it might be hard finding a matching gear or have to factor in a re gear price also. What are you going to do about the bed? I guess if you wanted to they make reproductuon dually skirts for 2nd gen dodges and could just make your bed into a dually bed.
It is 4wd, and I think it is 3.54 ratio, so to help with cost, I am looking for an axle that won't have to be re-geared. As for the bed, I am open to options, adding the dually fenders skirts or finding a whole new bed.
I sat here and dragged the search radius around the map on fb market place and all the dually D80 axles with springs I could find were in the $500 ish neighborhood so I guess it isn’t a bad price at $600 and maybe the dude is negotiable.
