Dreams, and nightmares

hwcurtice · Jun 20, 2007

Funny title for a truck forum...

Anyway, my son, the one with the Cherokee, was thinking that last time we went for a load of dirt, that having a 1 ton truck would be better than the 3/4 ton. Then he brought up the idea of just changing the rear axle out to handle dualies. This is to spread the weight better.

My thought was, I might as well go find a 1 ton truck and go from there.

Now, the questions remains, other than extending the fenders, what other pains would I go through to add a 1 ton rear axle to my truck? No, not to just throw it in the bed. (I know I beat someone to it)

Truck: 3/4 ton Dodge Power Ram 4x4. 5 speed tranny. Already has overloads (3,000 lbs) on it but, getting tired of seeing the tires go really flat on the bottom when I do load it up.

Okay, all laughing aside. Thoughts?

skrause · Jun 20, 2007

How do you feel about a frame swap? :corn:

crash2 · Jun 20, 2007

hwcurtice said:
Funny title for a truck forum...

Anyway, my son, the one with the Cherokee, was thinking that last time we went for a load of dirt, that having a 1 ton truck would be better than the 3/4 ton. Then he brought up the idea of just changing the rear axle out to handle dualies. This is to spread the weight better.

My thought was, I might as well go find a 1 ton truck and go from there.

Now, the questions remains, other than extending the fenders, what other pains would I go through to add a 1 ton rear axle to my truck? No, not to just throw it in the bed. (I know I beat someone to it)

Truck: 3/4 ton Dodge Power Ram 4x4. 5 speed tranny. Already has overloads (3,000 lbs) on it but, getting tired of seeing the tires go really flat on the bottom when I do load it up.

Okay, all laughing aside. Thoughts?

What load range tires are you running?

Glenn · Jun 20, 2007

Bigger brakes? Depends on how you feel about stopping....

hwcurtice · Jun 21, 2007

skrause said:
How do you feel about a frame swap? :corn:

Not so hot. But I think I've seen people do this before. Must have involved lots of fabrication.

hwcurtice · Jun 21, 2007

crash said:
What load range tires are you running?

I need to go check the new ones the PO put on. Mostly because I plan on putting them on the rear as well.

Things that match look better going down the road.

hwcurtice · Jun 21, 2007

Glenn said:
Bigger brakes? Depends on how you feel about stopping....

Currently has 4 inch wide shoes on the rear. I've never seen shoes so big before.

Maybe heavier duty brakes and a better brake booster?

skrause · Jun 21, 2007

hwcurtice said:
Not so hot. But I think I've seen people do this before. Must have involved lots of fabrication.

Just a possible difference, some frames differ between 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. I have to wonder why you would do this just to haul a little more dirt.

hwcurtice · Jun 21, 2007

skrause said:
Just a possible difference, some frames differ between 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. I have to wonder why you would do this just to haul a little more dirt.

It means to haul more than just a bit more dirt. I have sod to haul, more brick, some rock....

The idea, I think, is not to make it easier to haul such stuff,, but to spread the weight around better.

skrause · Jun 21, 2007

hwcurtice said:
It means to haul more than just a bit more dirt. I have sod to haul, more brick, some rock....

The idea, I think, is not to make it easier to haul such stuff,, but to spread the weight around better.

Get higher load rated tires or put some more air in them if that's your problem. I wouldn't bother trying to convert it, if you have a real need sell it and buy what will work. Most flatbed trailers are pretty easy to add temporary walls to, easier to load and can carry more too. Like a spare truck. :redneck:

Lucky Jeff · Jun 21, 2007

the only difference between a 3/4 Dodge and a one ton are the axles, even the springs are the same (through 02).. That truck has load range E tires on it. And if they go flat with the amounts you've had in it. You don't have near enough air in them.

hwcurtice · Jun 21, 2007

Lucky Jeff said:
the only difference between a 3/4 Dodge and a one ton are the axles, even the springs are the same (through 02).. That truck has load range E tires on it. And if they go flat with the amounts you've had in it. You don't have near enough air in them.

I still have to replace the rears anyway.

I take it you got this info from Karl?

hwcurtice · Jun 21, 2007

skrause said:
Get higher load rated tires or put some more air in them if that's your problem. I wouldn't bother trying to convert it, if you have a real need sell it and buy what will work. Most flatbed trailers are pretty easy to add temporary walls to, easier to load and can carry more too. Like a spare truck. :redneck:

:haha: :haha: :haha:

I'll have to see if I can talk the wife into that one...

Lucky Jeff · Jun 21, 2007

nope that's from me... I know just a tad bit more about these Dodges then Carl :redneck:

hwcurtice · Jun 28, 2007

Lucky Jeff said:
nope that's from me... I know just a tad bit more about these Dodges then Carl :redneck:

And tires too? He had 'D' on the rear, and he put 'C' on the front.

Should be fun trying to get matching higher rated tires for the rear, without messing with the gears.

Of course, it just could be the amount of air I have in there too.