So I bought a truck last year befor I knew anything there is to know about trucks. Now I’m at a point where I need to haul more weight than I can with my 15 F350 SRW. Is the frame the same in both SRW and DRW? Will a DRW 10 bolt axel bolt in place?

I understand gearing situations and having to do both front and back axle. Just want to see if they bolt up and what I’ll need before I dive in.

 

How much weight do you need to haul? You'll be amazed at what the SRW can handle.

 

I would go check out the towing guide and then compare the weights you want to haul verses the SRW and the DRW. As stated by 90pioneer, you might not need to try to update.

RV & Trailer Towing Guides | fleet.ford.com

 

The difference in frame would be if the 350/450 is a cab and chassis vs pickup. The frame on the c/c is narrower than a 350/450 pickup.
The 350 dually uses the Dana 80 rear axle, which has an 8 bold pattern. The front is the same Dana 60 that is in your 350, but has wheel spacers to set the front wheels at the correct width to match up tp the rears. This set up *should* bolt right up under your 350, unless the rear came out of a cab and chassis truck. The Dana 80 will carry all the weight you can *legally* carry in your 350 and you would not need to go to the 10 bolt pattern, but would need to change out all wheels to dually type wheels. Good luck in your endeavor.
Personally, for the cost involved, I would check out trading vehicles also. But that might be just my idea.

 

I will add my opinion.
first, a two year old truck in good condition should still be worth a decent amount. Yes, you will lose a lot trading it in, but how about selling it yourself? You might even be able to find someone with a dually who want to downsize.
second, all the money and time you put into making it a dually will make the truck worth less money and be harder to sell later. People dont want a truck that has that much of a modification.
Some will argure that you cant "legally" haul any more becase the door sticker will still show its a SRW.
In the long run I believe you will be money ahead to just sell what you have and buy a dually. It wouldnt cost you anything to post it for sale an sites like Craigslist and see what happens.
If you haven't driven a 450 or a 350 DRW with the wide front axle you need to. They turn MUCH sharper than a SRW truck. I can U turn my F450 crew cab long box on a two lane road without backing up.

 

I’m in the ball park of towing 25k with about 6-7k hitch weight.

 

You are definitely into the DRW field then. As Bob mentioned, I think you will be better off trading/selling, and buying a DRW F350/F450.

 

The issues I’m having with doing that is well my credit it **** and I have 150k put on the truck in the past year so I would get nothing for it. they would want a payment of around $1800- 2100 a month for a DRW. So if I take all that money and sink in to what I’m stuck with. All I want to do is put 10 bolt DRW with better gearing both front and rear axles.

Do do I need to do gearing on my transfer case?
Do I need to change transmission?
Do I need to change drive shafts?
Can I find a manual trans anymore for this year of truck?

 

Gotcha King. Hopefully someone more knowlegable will swing by and answer your questions.

 

The f350 Drw trucks are 8 bolt st 200mm bolt circle. A quick list is 7 wheels and tires, dually rear end (DANA 80), front wheel hub extention, a dually bed or fenders, or a dually flatbed, new gears for the front ( with that much weight I would go 4.10 or 4.30 gears). Transmission and transfer case will not need to be changed
then a lot of unknowns. Like parking brake cables, rear driveshaft modifications, heaveier front springs.
I am sure there is more. You will probably be on your own for most of this, there probably hasn't been a lot of this modification done.

 

King lol sounds like I’m cocky but it’s my dogs name.

 

i chatted with a friend that ordered is F350 with 10 bolt axles. He said said it was a 2015 F350 ( not cab and chassi ) with a 450 suspension under it. I wander if that a factory order thing only

 

I have a buddy that did this. He has a 350 with 350 axles, but has the turning radius of the 450. Great way to go, but I believe it is only a factory order option (which he did).

 

No transfer case or tranny change needed - same from the 250 to the 550
Drive shaft should be the same, but the U-joint size would need to be matched. May require a new yoke on the axle pinion (depends on the new axle year and source)


Manual tranny - no way. Unless you want to go back to the 6.0.


Regarding 8 or 10 bolt axles. I'd get whatever you can source from a wrecked truck. If you can find a wide track front go for it, otherwise the 10 bolt is just going to cost you more money and limit your options. Less wheel options (and more expensive), less tire choices, less donor vehicles. A lot of patience may net you the running gear from a wrecked 450 pickup, but it may be a LOT of patience. Also, remember it needs to be a pickup, not a C&C unless you can do some welding and metal fab. Much slimmer pickings.
As far as the bed - the dually fenders simply bolt to the bed. Drill come holes, touch up paint and bolt up donor fenders.
Have fun!

 

I've got a a pair of F350 dually axles with 4.30 ratio from a 2015 for cheap. Don't know your location.