[BBCMudbogger]

Does anybody know the difference between dually rear end and single wheel rear in a 97 F350? My buddy has a single wheel rear truck with a tool body on it and wants to run dual rear tires. I thought it was in the wheel configuration and he says its not.Does anybody know?

[big gear head]

The dual wheel rear end is wider. You would need spacers to use dual wheels on a single wheel rear end.

[sqzbox]

The dually rearend is usually larger and heavier duty. The difference is the amount of lugs on the axle. dually's come with 8 lugs and single's generally come with 5 or 6 lug's. I have seen dually conversions in some catalogs with an adapter and/or rims providing you have enough clearance under the fender wells. I think it was JC Whitney.

[BBCMudbogger]

Originally Posted by sqzbox

The dually rearend is usually larger and heavier duty. The difference is the amount of lugs on the axle. dually's come with 8 lugs and single's generally come with 5 or 6 lug's. I have seen dually conversions in some catalogs with an adapter and/or rims providing you have enough clearance under the fender wells. I think it was JC Whitney.

Don't know that lug count has a lot to do with it being a dual or not, granted most duals are 8 lug but there are many many single wheel 3/4 and one ton trucks out there with 8 lugs I guess the length answer was what I was looking for.Currently he has spacers and is having issues with them staying secure.

[prostreet6t9]

The flanges for the backing plates are set further inboard on the DRW since the drum is deeper. On a F350 both SRW and DRW will be 8 lug.

[sqzbox]

If you don't go the adapter route I guess your next option would be get a 1 ton dually rear end off a ford. Right now I have a 1 ton dually rear end in my chevy with a single 8 lug rim. If I wanted duals, I would have to tub the bed for them to fit because I have a 3/4 ton truck with a pick up bed and then, I would run into issues with the outer tire sticking out of the fender wells.
Might not be an issue with the utility bed on your buddy's truck though.

[Irelands child]

The housings are the same. The lug pattern, SRW/DRW is 8, but the SRW has a 9/16 dia lug, the DRW, has a 5/8(or 3/4). The early F350 had a 1.062 nut across the flats, the current - 13/16. The DRW lugs are much longer to fit the double set of wheel web thickness. The drums/rotors are different.

This is a better site for those kinds of questions: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

Yes, I have and have had for years, on and off, F350s (as well as 150s and 250s) as seen here :

Dave W

[BBCMudbogger]

So if i hear Ireland right would it be as simple as new set of drums with longer studs?

[Irelands child]

Originally Posted by BBCMudbogger

So if i hear Ireland right would it be as simple as new set of drums with longer studs?

.....uhhhhh, not quite THAT easy, but that's the gist.

Of course there are the special fenders, innner wells, wheels, tires, machining the hubs for the longer and bigger diameter lugs

Why screw around - there are complete rear's available - even Chebbies and Dodges would work with spring perch mods

[prostreet6t9]

Originally Posted by BBCMudbogger

So if i hear Ireland right would it be as simple as new set of drums with longer studs?

No! Just changing the drums won't work. The backing plate flanges are set further in on a DRW. The flanges would have to be moved also.

[enjenjo]

The Whitney dual adapters are junk. They are not rated for even a single tire load. I have Arrow dual adapters on my F350, no drama after 6 years on this truck, and 18 years on the previous truck. The Arrow adapter is piloted on the hub, so nothing can loosen up. They are not cheap, the adapters are $600 for a rear axle without fenders. They do come with new lug nuts and instructions for installing them. I have has as much as 12,000 lbs on this truck for short distances, and they have never come loose.