I don't tow as much as I used to anymore and I don't want to get rid of my truck as I love the hell out of it. Being that replacing six tires is more expensive than four, and the dually adds added drivetrain loss which affects gas mileage, well that and the truck is so darn big and hard to park downtown I have decided to down grade the truck to a single tire pair rear end.

I wanted to ask some questions before I started to do my research on tires and what not. From my understanding the front and rear axles are the same as those on a regular 1 ton without duals. The front and rear end have adaptors on them to accept the rims they use for duallies, is that correct? If so all I would need to do is take off the adaptor plates and purchase new rims and tires along with new lug nuts to fit the new setup. Now for the dually flares I am planning on taking off the stock flares and putting on the bushwacker flares matched to my stock paint. Lastly, I would need to have the dealer program my truck to the new tires and rims to make the speedo correct.

Let me know if I left something out. I'm really banking on not having to change the axles out. I am really looking forward to being able to rotate my own tires.

 

You may want to ask Greg Boardmen over at TDR...he did it. It seemed that he had to do some body work on the bed...the wheel cut outs are different on a dually bed once the flares are removed...don't know if fender flares will cover it.

 

I think you'll also discover that the rear axle is indeed wider for an OE DRW truck versus an OE SRW truck.
Greg

 

Your axles will be fine, the AAM's are the same widths whether they're SRW or DRW, all you would need to do is remove the spacer from the front. As far as the bed, you may better off just looking on eBay for a SRW replacement. I looked at a write up from a guy that had done it before and it looked like a big pain in the rear. There are quite a few holes on the bedside that the dually fender attaches to. And if I remember right I think he did use fender flares. But the body work was fairly extensive from all the bondo and repainting. I'll see if I can dig up that article for you...

 

Actually I found out that the DRW axle is a bit wider than the SRW axle. I would also have to replace my entire bed as Maynard3 has stated.

 

This is the guy you were referring to.....the DRW axle is wider. Here's a link to a TDR thread.........

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/f...srw+conversion

Greg

 

Yep thats the one. I don't like the fact that the rear is wider than than the front. Sounds like to much work to not get the result I want. I guess I will stick with the duals. Maybe a few years down the road as more parts become available such as axles and beds I might consider the swap. If anything I may change out my front rims so that my truck will track right in the snow as the front wheels on the dually don't track with road like it should as most cars and trucks have a smaller wheelbase. That sucks. I wonder if that guy can still go through the auto car washes or not with the wider wheel base.

 

My rear axle on my 03 dually is exactly the same length as those on the 3500 SRW... it would be too pricey for dodge to make that many different types of axles. Even my 2000 dually has the same length axle as the 2500 SRW.

 

If that is true, why could this guy not use a stock single rear wheel on a dual rear wheel axle and still use the center caps ? Why does the rears track wider than the front ? There is a difference !

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/u...=11308&width=3

Greg

 

The dana axles were deffinetly different widths, but I have read quite a few times that the AAM's are the same width. Anyone with a SRW 3500 in the Northern VA area? I'll supply the DRW and we can settle this once and for all...

 

My neighbor has an 03 3500 SRW, we measured them, even put his wheel on my rear (with cap). Same.... I can get the measurements... didn't keep them, it was about 8 months ago. It doesn't make sense for Dodge to have different axles on these heavy duty trucks. Economically it wouldn't make sense, and we all know they are out to make money.

 

even if it is a different size, i would think that you could pull the axle and send it to a specialty 4x4 shop to get it cut down,and resplined? i dont think it would be to expensive?

 

I am Fdavid on TDR (above pics and link) who did the drw to SRW conversion.

For the fronts, you just gotta remove the bolt on spacer and your good to go. Any 03+ 2500 or 3500 srw wheel will then fit perfect.

Next, You will have to replace the bed as the dually bed is all cut up under the fenders.

The rear is a different story now. TDR members, Greg Boardman, Fred Swanson and I have all done this conversion and its the same result in the rear. Its DIFFERENT than the SRW axle. 1st, Your brakes are no longer inside the rim. 2nd, the rear wheels will stick out a few inches more than the fronts (fender flares are a good idea here) , and 3rd the hub coming out of the center will stick out significantly. Its absolutly not the same as the 3500 SRW.

On another note the ABS is configured differently on the SRW and DRW trucks, so if you do this, its a good idea to get the ABS reflashed as a SRW.

I am much happier with my truck now that i got rid of the training wheels and since I have the DRW rear end, I can switch back anytime.

Dave

 

Thank you.
Greg

 

Its hard evidence that they are not the same. Heck the pictures on the conversion even prove they are not the same.