I am going to build a flat bed for my f-250. I did a search and didn't find what I was looking for so I thought I would ask.

I was thinking if I didn't have a bed no longer if rear duel wheels would fit? Then I would build my new flat bed to just cover them. I know the 1 tons are alot wider but they look like they may fit after I remove the oem box.

I thought I would ask the see if any one else has tryed this before I go out and buy some wheels.

Starr

 

I have a DANA dually rear axle w/ 3.55 gears PM me if interested - Im in Buffalo, ny

 

Factory duallies ( 37.5" frame) with a pickup bed have an axle housing that is 4" wider than what comes on the SRW trucks.
Just changing the wheels to dually wheels will have the tires into the springs.

Factory cab and chassis ( 34" frame) trucks use the same rear axle as the SRW trucks, but the frame is 3.5" narrower which still lets the tires clear the springs.

 

Thanks: I didn't think it would work O-well.

I will just have to run with srw I just like the look of the duels better with a flat bed.

 

Find a dually axle, the rear Sterling is not that expensive.
When you look, it has to come out of a truck that had factory duals and left the factory with a pickup box installed.
Frame width is 37.5" outside to outside.
Single rear wheel axle is 53.75" backplate to backplate.
So the dually axle would be 57.75" backplate to backplate.

I think I took my measurement on the back side of the axle from a high spot to a high spot on the backplates.

A local salvage yard had one a while back, 400 was the asking price.

Even if the gearing is wrong, you can always swap your gears into the dually housing.

Another thing to think about, two more tires to buy, more rolling resistance and more wind drag also go with dual rear wheels.
That all translates to lower MPG.

I just dropped 835 dollars for 4 new tires last week, dual rears would have put it close to 1260.

 

I was thinking the same about fuel mpg and power. I think singles will have to do it will also give me more custom wheels to choose from.

 

Watch custom wheels, the weight rating can be very low.
I have seen 8 x 16 8 lug wheels with a 2000 pound weight rating.
My truck is heavier than that.

Never mind what they have on them when I dump 3 or 4 tons of stone on the bed.

 

My friend wanted a dually set up and went with the adapters that you can get from JC Whitney and Ebay and other places around the internet. Sitting still it looked...OK. But im sure it makes it hard on the drivetrain. If your going to be hauling, which im sure you would be with a flatbed. I would spend the extra money and get a dually axle. It would be more expensive but alot more reliable.

 

I just looked up those wheel adapters for you. At JC Whitney they are priced at $389.99 - $439.99 depending on vehicle specs. For that price, like Dave S. said. get yourself a no shoot dually axle. Not a quick fix. good luck

 

Straight from my driveline guy who only does manual trannies, transfer cases, axles and power dividers for trucks.

Dual wheel adapters are fine if you are going for extra stability while towing trailers.
But if the weight will be on the truck, a dually axle is a much better choice.

The reason is the adapters move the center of bearing load from between the hub bearings where it is now to the outboard side of the outer bearing.
So after the adapters are installed, the outer bearing supports all the weight.

After looking at a truck with adapters installed on it, I see what he is saying.
All the hub sticking through the wheel now is gone.
The end of the axle is almost flush with the wheel.

 

I was also looking at them but I didn't like all the hoopla spacers and such. The two tires I have now will haul the weight I am going to haul I just tought it would look better and drive a little better with the duels.

I was planning on makeing my bed 4" wider then the cab on both sides.Then mounting my stacks to the front of the bed on the outsides of the cab like the real tractors.

Starr

 

Like this.

 

Yea! kinda like that. But I am planing on haveing them come out right from under the super cab right in back of the rear window then have them turn out like yours.

Have you seen any 60" tall 3 or 4" chrome stacks on the net?

 

I have seen them in real life, so I know they exist from somewhere.

The ones I saw had the 90 degree ell at the bottom, then about 65" tall stack ending with a turnout that was not angled quite as much as mine are.

The fellow that had them on his truck had a tall utility bed on his truck with a ladder rack above the bed.
The stacks looked very good on his truck which was a Red 99 Stroke.

Since mine has a dump bed, I had to mount my stacks to the channel that supports the under bed tool boxes.
Also with all the mud I have been known to drive through, I had to keep the exhaust as high as I possiby could so it did not get ripped off.

 

looking for stacks? check ebay seller by name of chromeroom or justsearch ebay...plenty of them....i got mine 4 ft tall at 5" dia. x 2 for 100 bucks plus shipping...priced at the local semi store they wanted 175 ea.