I found a lot of helpful threads on this site but I wanted to get more of a straight answer.

I have a 04 2500 quad cab short bed 4x4. i want to convert it to dually for towing my trailer i am gettin for this year. trailer will be a 40-45 foot enclosed with a 5th wheel. probably pulling 12-15,000lbs a total of 30,000 miles this year.

how much is really different? do i need to get the dually front and rear axles? or only rear?

ive read that the duallys run spacers up front anyway. also read that a lot of guys towing run 19.5s for safety. so i found dually conversions for a good price, and i found out that you need to convert to 19.5s to clear the brakes, so there are places that sell dually big bolt conversions to run 19.5s. are these safe to run for my kind of setup?

 

American Force Wheel Co in Miami, Fl has direct bolt on 19.5 wheels. The 22.5 or 24.5 has an adapter that bolts on to your hub so you can run the 10 lug semi wheels.

 

I looked at a "factory" made dually at a local dealer that had a spacer in between the rear wheels made of cast iron (i think) but it used factory srw wheels and no spacer in the front , no off set or nothing


kinda wierd looking set up but it may be what you are looking for

 

I am also wondering about this. I have seen conflicting info on this forum. Do the duallys have a different size rear axle or not? Some have said it is longer and a swap is needed?

 

Check with member 'budsowner'. He converted his 2500 4x4 to a dually.

MikeyB

 

I've owned both. Yes you can get two different gear ratios but that is not tied to 2500 or 3500 SRW or DRW. I thought that the 3500s typically add another leaf but use tha same axel. I am sure someone here knows more than me but this may start things off.

 

This is what I have found in the forums. Remove front hubs. change rear axle due to being wider. Change wheels. I have been trying to find someone with a white be to swap with me. hope that helps

 

remove the front hubs and replace them with dually ones? i dont understand what you mean. does removing them disengage the the 4 wheel drive?

i think i am way to newbie for this, haha. i put too much effort into my cars and not my tow truck.