Any help will be great. I am wanting to purchase a newer truck with the 6.7 diesel in a 3/4 ton and then convert that into a dually. The reason is that with the trailer that I have, if I were to purchase a dually first, the GVW of the truck combined with the GVW of the trailer would require me to have a CDL to pull it. The 3/4 ton GVW sticker is lower and would put me under the CDL rules. I don't have an issue with taking a 350 SRW then putting a DRW and bed on it as well. My question, does anyone know if the frames are the same for the 250 to the 350 and also what about the attachment for the springs. Are they in the same location for this to be just a bolt up situation. Also are there any electrical connections that need to be considered? I ask these questions so I can start looking for a truck to convert and am trying to lesson the surprises.

 

there is another poster here wanting to do the reverse...

convert a Dually into a single wheel..

just 3 days ago.

 

If you are talking pick up to pick up then yes the frames are the same...so you will need to find an axle, or put adapters on it, and buy the dually adapters for the front end as well. Obviously it will need the dually flares, and 6 wheel and tires.

If you do the swap keep this thread going please.

Sarge

 

just an fyi

99-04 DRW lug spacing is 8X170
05 to present DRW is 8X200

so be careful on which rims you buy depending on the axle you purchase

 

I'm not sure what kind of trailer you are looking at but if you get stopped and weighed it doesn't make any difference what the door sticker says it's what the scales say. If you are pulling a RV most states leave you alone but if your pulling a work style trailer it's gross weight that will get you, normally anything over 26K has to have a CDL.

Denny

 

Give us some figures, and tell us the use. If it's personal, you should be okay anyhow. Depending on if you are staying in our state, vs traveling out of state, you might be okay too. Federal is 10k and over for commercial use, but here in PA, if you stay under 17k you're fine, unless you travel out of state. Also this is about keeping under 26k combined. The scales will matter regardless of what the stickers say.

One thing Ford offers to help is you can order a SRW F350 with a 10k rating. This will have the extra spring and any other small differences between the two, but it's legally rated at 10k. Give us some numbers, your use, your state, and travel type and myself, or someone more knowledgeable within your own area will be able to better help you.

 

I can not be over 26k pounds combined. I can register the truck for less gvw with our state but the DOT goes by the factory rating. I know that the SRW F350 has a GVW of 11,800. This is what I am wanting but need the stability of the DRW.

 

Seems like these 2 outta meet

OP still didn't answer these questions

 

Not sure what questions you are wanting,

Trailer is GVW 14,000#

I would like the truck to be rated @ 11,800gvw#

This total is 25,800#. This is under the limit for CDL license, that is what I am trying to achieve. This is why I would like to add the DRW for the stability, it would not interfere with the original GVW of the truck.

I was asking if in fact the DRW would simply bolt up to the SRW truck.

 

Check out option 68 D, 10K GVWR package on the SRW F350. If you still want the stability of the DRW you will have to swap axles, but at least it gets you started with a true F350 that's been derated on the sticker.

 

Not sure what this is?

 

Its the 10k weight option on the order sheet for a SRW F350. We are telling you that is the only way you are going to get the weight rating you're looking for. You will have to build the dually yourself.

My advice would be order the truck with the 10k sticker and tow with it before you do the conversion, you may find that it pulls just fine.

Sarge

 

The simple answer to the question is yes, the DRW axles should bolt up to the SRW frame without issues provided that both trucks are either pickups or both trucks are cab and chassis. The frame is different on pickups vs. cab and chassis and things might not interchange nicely between the two. You will want to get both front and rear axles to match up the proper front track and ability to bolt on the dually wheels to the front axle (offsets, bolt pattern, etc.) as well as matching gearsets if you have a 4x4.

It might be easier to clarify things with your DOT to determine if they really do just add up the GVWR of both pieces to determine your requirement for a CDL. With a 14k trailer, I would assume that it is either gooseneck or fifth wheel, which means that somewhere in the neighborhood of 3k pounds would be getting double counted and there is no way that your actual weight would be anywhere close to 26k with a DRW F350. Also, your idea to go with an F250 to get the lower GVWR will hurt you with the ability to hook up your trailer and stay under the GVWR of the truck and the GAWR of the rear axle so an F350 would be a minimum starting point I would think.

 

Thanks for all the help, need to make up my mind.

 

Are you sure you are understanding what DOT wants, if you are over what you are plated for you will get a fine or of you weigh over 26K and don't have a CDL you will get fined but of your combined GVWR are over 26K and you don't weigh 26K but you have the tags for what you weigh there should be no problem.

When I was stopped and my work truck was weighed they weighed each axle (truck and trailer) I was under my weight tag amount so I didn't have a problem, they never looked at my truck and trailer GVWR.

Denny