right now my truck is a dump truck. I already purchased a dually bed and will be removing the dump body. I need to change gears. With the 5 speed, diesel, and the gearing I have now I hit around 65 very close to redline which is not good for highway hauling. I will be pulling a 20ft trailer with my off-road jeep so about 6-7000 lbs. The truck is mostly used for highway plowing though. What gears should I put into the truck?

Also, anything else I should watch for when swapping beds??

Thanks,
Mark

 

3.54

 

I saw a listing once that the Chassis cab dodges were a different frame length than regular box dodges. So, it could be possible the dually box won't fit. Not w100% sure on this. Maybe another member can chime in with the specs...

 

3.54 gears will be perfect for you. Good Luck with your project.

 

I talked to a few guys who told me the dodges did not come with a chassis cab, that they remove the bed and add the dump/utility bed after. I'll have to measure my mounting points and those of the bed. My brother's 3/4 ton rails look exactly like mine but I haven't measured them!

 

You don't say what year your truck is, but if it is a second gen look at the front end. The CC has an axle that is built just like a 4x4 with no gear case in the middle. If so there are frame differences, the top flange will be much wider and the bbc will be longer.

 

sorry, my truck is a 1997 CTD 5spd manual, 4x4, slt. I'll have to check things tomorrow!

 

I know that the tow truck width is different from the dually.

 

It is possible that your truck is a regular one ton with the box replaced with a dump body, but if it is a cab and chassis, the frames are different.

 

If it is a cab & chassis it could also have the wrong axle width. There are two different axle widths that could have been ordered from the dealer. The tow truck cab & chassis has the narrower rear end that will be too short to work with a dually box but depending on the style of dump box it could have been ordered either way.

The wheel base will certainly be too long if it is a true cab & chassis truck, too. You can shorten the frame and add the dually box with a little shimming here and there but you may have to swap the rear end.