When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Ok aside from the obvious (an extra set of tires and a different set of rear end gears) what other differences are there between the single rear wheel F350 and the dually version?
and how difficult would it be to convert my SRW to a dually? I know JC Whitney sells adapters to run a second set of rear wheels but I don't want some cheesy add on - I want to do it right. I tow a fifth wheel and would like the extra capacity.
I have a 2005 F350 DRW CC, but I don't know what's different from the SRW, other than 4:10 gears. Unless you're so attached to your truck you don't want to give it up, I suggest you trade for a DRW. I can't imagine there being any conversion, within a reasonable price range, that would take your truck from a SRW to DRW and make it look like it came from the factory that way.
Don't you hate it when people answer a question with advice?
Actually I am quite attached to my truck - I have spent a good deal of money on getting it just the way I like it. If I was to get another truck, I would keep this one and get an F-550 hauler thus solving my own question.
I was just wondering if I could affordably convert my truck so I had a bit more capacity and make towing my fiver a bit easier.
I think I recall seeing that adapter in JC Whitney, is it available for the 05? In 05 they changed the bolt pattern on the DRW to a 8x200 along with enlarging the hub. I would imagine that you would have to use 2004 or older rims. Converting to DRW would probably be pretty expensive, first the adapters, 4 rims and tires, changing the rear-end gears, new dually fender flares and painting them, the lights and wiring for the dually fenders. Any type of adapters can be hazardous by coming loose. I would buy a dually vs. converting, just seems like too much drama. If your wanting to keep your F-350, try putting some airbags and some higher load rating tires.
Or, if you want to convert, see if you can find a dually that's been wrecked/totaled due to front end damage and grab all the rear-end components that way. Bonus points if it's the same color, so the fender flares will work...
before '05 there wasn't too much different, but in '05 on up they gave the dually a bigger diameter axle, so I think you'd want to get the whole rear-end to do it right. If yours is a 4x4, remember if you go changing axle ratios ya' gotta' do the front too!
Well, thanks for all the replies folks. It sounds like this is going to be more than I care to get into which is kinda how I figured it anyway.
As I said, the truck does the job just the way it is now, and for the little bit of help the dually setup would give, it's not worth the expense and aggravation!
I'll probably wind up with a suspension upgrade of some sort and chipping it for a bit more performance.
The only real increase you are going to see with DRW is if you have a 6.0 SRW 3.73 and go to the DRW 4.30. All others only gain a couple hundred pounds.
15,900 SRW compared to 16,100 DRW. I'd expect more but the chart speeks for itself.
But not only rear wheels, you would have to change the front wheels also to match. I have a 2000 srw F350 Crew Cab and would love to convert it to drw. I checked into a rear end from a wrecking yard but they want $2500 for it. No wheels or fenders. I want to keep my 3.73 gearing. It pulls my 38ft horse trailer great. Just the tonge weight makes it squat. My wifes 2004 Dodge drw doesn't squat hardly at all. Are there and difference in springs?
Dual rear wheels aren't going to help you much with squat. They're mainly there to provide more lateral stability when you're towing something that can exert significant force on the truck (big horse trailer, travel trailer, etc.)
If squat is your issue, why not look into airbags? That should provide the extra support you need.
If you really want a DRW conversion, try Arrowcraft (http://www.arrowcraft.com/). I use a set of wheel spacers from them and the quality is excellent.
But. . . People are right, you aren't going to get any "extra" capacity from the conversion. In fact since you'd be using a less stout rear axle than a factory DRW and adding more weight to it, you'll technically be loosing capacity. You'll get exactly what Tim mentioned, stability. And lots of it. The difference between towing a large load w/a SRW and a DRW is night and day. On the other hand, if you heart is set on having that truck a dually, the Arrowcraft folks can set you up w/ the complete kit, fenders and all.