Dually to Single Conversion
#13
I owned a 1982 Chev 1 ton dually years ago and switched it to singles. It's not as easy as it sounds.
The rear axle is wider then a singles axle, so regular wheels bolted on will stick out way farther then the fender. So first off you will need a new rear axle. When you get a new axle you will either have to make sure it is the same gear ratio, or you'll have to swap your old gears into it. Also, the springs mount pads will most likely be welded on at the wrong width (mine were) so you will have to cut them off and have them re-welded on. Make sure you weld them on at the right angle or you'll wear out your u-joints faster. And speaking of U-joints, the rear U-joint on the new axle will have to be the same as your old one, or you will have to change out the yoke (I had to change mine). The shock mounts may have to be changed also (mine did). As for the box, I thought I could just remove the fender flares, but the inner fender is cut out real big so that doesn't work. So your in for a box change or at least a new set of box sides.
As for the front end, you could just leave it the way it is, but if you do it will look funny and you will have to carry two spares around. Not sure about Fords, but I had to find completely new front hubs from a singles vehicle and swap out my dually hubs. You may be lucky and just have a bolted on spacer for the dually rims.
Hope that helps! If I were you I would just put a bunch of weight in the box for more traction with your duallys. These days I own a 2006 GMC CC dually LB and its pretty good in the snow, as long as there is about 500lbs in the box near the tailgate.
The rear axle is wider then a singles axle, so regular wheels bolted on will stick out way farther then the fender. So first off you will need a new rear axle. When you get a new axle you will either have to make sure it is the same gear ratio, or you'll have to swap your old gears into it. Also, the springs mount pads will most likely be welded on at the wrong width (mine were) so you will have to cut them off and have them re-welded on. Make sure you weld them on at the right angle or you'll wear out your u-joints faster. And speaking of U-joints, the rear U-joint on the new axle will have to be the same as your old one, or you will have to change out the yoke (I had to change mine). The shock mounts may have to be changed also (mine did). As for the box, I thought I could just remove the fender flares, but the inner fender is cut out real big so that doesn't work. So your in for a box change or at least a new set of box sides.
As for the front end, you could just leave it the way it is, but if you do it will look funny and you will have to carry two spares around. Not sure about Fords, but I had to find completely new front hubs from a singles vehicle and swap out my dually hubs. You may be lucky and just have a bolted on spacer for the dually rims.
Hope that helps! If I were you I would just put a bunch of weight in the box for more traction with your duallys. These days I own a 2006 GMC CC dually LB and its pretty good in the snow, as long as there is about 500lbs in the box near the tailgate.
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