I'm pondering again with the idea of making my 78 a dually as I did about 2 months a ago. I want to ask about the spacers that the conversions use. They claim the are all steel. How strong are they?
The truck will see some heavier hauling and trailer duty. If they are weak what "other" options do I have. I also have a good lead on some 77 chevy dually fenders. How do you think they would look on my 78 in my gallery sense ford never made a dually in those years so I can't find the ford fenders. I saw them on a 77 F250 Crew cab 4x4 converted dually, with a 460 and NP 435 and it gave me the idea as he had 78 chavy fenders on it and it looked REALlY nice AKA my dream truck
thanks Dustin

 

I have pretty much the same question. Can a simple dually adaptor kit with fenders change my 2000 F-350 SRW to a DRW? Is there any real difference between factory and aftermarket DRW? This just seems too easy.


reguy

 

I've seen the adaptor kits advertised but haven't messed with them. It appears the adaptor simply bolts onto the existing hub using the factory wheel studs and then has it's own set of wheel studs further out for mounting the wheels. It accomplishes the task of setting the hub face out further, but doesn't appear to enhance axle strength at all and probably degrades it due to the extension distance. That doesn't sound to good if your intention in switching to dual rear wheels is to carry more weight.

I have thought about converting my F350 to dually too, for greater stability with my camper on the truck. The truck is under the weight ratings with the camper, it just doesn't feel nearly as stable as my old dually did with a bigger heavier camper than this one.

I think the best way to do the conversion may be to swap the whole axle for a dually axle. One consideration in doing this is that 2 different spare tires/wheels will be needed unless the front hubs are also changed. Also, the legal GVWR will not be increased any by converting to dual rears.

In the case of your '78 F250, your rear axle should be a Dana 60, which was never used as a dually axle, that I know of. To carry the load of a dual rear wheel truck, you would likely be much better off swapping to a dual rear wheel Dana 70 or later model ('86-'97) 10.25" Ford/Sterling dually axle and swap to heavier springs as well.

On my F350's 10.25" Sterling axle, I *may* be able to change the single wheel hubs and drums for dual wheel hubs and drums since the F350 Dually also used the 10.25" axle in my year truck. I may investigate that possibility in the future...

Anyways, have fun with the project and hope it goes well for you.