Hey Guys,

I have decided to take the lift out of my truck and the 38s as well. I am going to sell the lift and tires, go with a 2.5" leveling kit in the front and do a dually swap.

I plan on running 255/85R16 tires on a set of eagle alloy rims:



I am just wondering if any one has done the swap???

looking at these 2 places:

http://www.arrowcraft.com/

http://www.chromewheel.com/

Would love some feedback/help!!!!!

thanks guys!
Bob

 

You need the axle, and the dually rear fenders(I can't think of anything else to call them). You might some other MISC. things but thats all i can think of right now. Why do you want to swap?

 

If you check out the arrowcraft site they offer spacers for the diffs... I will probably go that way untill I find the proper axle for a good price....

they also supply the dually fenders too...

As for why.... right now my wife and I have a Joyco Baja 10Z trailer, but soon are looking to go to a camper so I can get a flatdeck trailer to to my bronco around. Sadly my bronco has become so modified that it is not very streetable any more...

So I would love to have the dually setup for the camper and trailer combo.....

 

i have called airowcraft..very nice people..the kit comes with every thing you need but the tires..it does not up the GVW on your truck cause of the axel under it..but it does stable the load you carrie now..the kit is rated for 30k lb...i may do this next spring..and if i do i will add this as well
http://klmperformance.com/dynatrac-hub-conversions.htm

 

Mr bob I run those 255/85's on my 7.3 F250, they work great unloaded. I dont think I would run those if I was towing anymore then 10000 lbs. Too much sidewall..Too much flex..

Yes you can get the adapters, it makes the truck more stable..call Bob Riley@dieselsite.com, He had the dually conversion on his truck at one time.

Good luck.

 

Thanks Mach1, I sent Bob Riley an Email

 

Im not sure how much the spacers cost, but if you have the budget, I would really try to look into geting the dana 80. When they made the 10.5 sterling, im almost 100% positive they never made it in a dually configuration. And Im almost sure the reason why is because of the reduced spacing between the bearings at the hubs. If you look at the older 10.25, which was offerered in both srw and drw, and look at the spacing between the bearings, its quite a bit more, and its the same scenerio with the dana 80. It might not be an issue for a while, or ever really, but I just dont think its a good idea for the 10.5 sterlings to be drw. If thats what the budget allows then by all means do it, I think you would be further ahead looking for a 80 and getting the better differential, because not only do you then have better spacing out at the hubs, you also eliminate the pinion/bearing issues people have had with the sterlings aswell.

 

Well, In the long run the 80 is my personal choice too.... but I dont think you can get a dually with 3.73 gears either, so I would have to change my front gears too.....

For now spacers will be my solution... as soon as a dually diff comes available to me then I will do that swap....

 

Well once you get your 80, you might be better of regearing it for 3.73s unless you have an itch to go to 4.1s. I actually wish i had 3.55s even with my 285 tires for running interstate 70mph to get the rpms down, but you might be just the opposite for towing and keeping rpms up and egts down.

 

Yeah... I will be honest in saying Im not exactly too sure what I want to do yet...

 

The dana 80's came with 3.73's or 4.10's in the duallys..

The sterling 10.5 was used as a dually in the OBS trucks..

The Dana 80 would be the choice, although the tow rating for the sterling is well with in the relm of a fifth wheel.

If you have the ability and resources, a Dana 80 can be had from the salvage dealer for a good price and then installed in the truck. You could then use whatever leafs/rear suspension as well.

Hope this helps..

 

The sterling 10.25 was used in OBS both srw and drw, like I said above, on the sterling 10.25 the spacing between the bearings at the hubs is significantly greater, closer to the spacing of an 80, and I think thats why it was used as dually aswell. Im almost certain 10.5 sterlings never came in a dually config, and I believe that is due to the narrower hub bearing spacing.

 

You do realize that adding the DRW won't increase your "legal" payload, right?

It's just for looks...

 

I am aware that there is not legal benefit to a dually swap.... I do realize that the dual rear wheels will help with stability....

 

i just went from a dually to single, the rear end is a 10.50 sterling, with 3.73 gears my rear axle length is 73.5 inchs long so i added 2 inch spacers on each side to the front to match the length. all you need is 4 inch spacers in the front both sides to have the inverted rim and a 2 inch spacer on each side on the rear and you will have it. try to find a wrecked dually and get the front stock spacers they will bolt right up to your lug nuts you have now. 99 -04 will work they are 8-170 bolt patern hope this helps.