converting to tandem axle truck

[muddstopper]

I have spent the last few hours looking for a kit to convert a single axle ton truck to a tandem axle truck. I want two live axles, not one live and one dead. Does anybody know if such a kit is even availabe for lite trucks. I have seen humvees that have been stretched and a extra axle added to the rear but dont know if they are both pulling or if one is pulling and the other dragging. Will listen to ideals also.:drinkup:

[hosejockey2002]

I don't think such a thing exists. You'd need a rear axle similar to large truck tandems in which a driveshaft from the front driver drives the rear. I can't think of any practical application for what you are talking about unless you are making some kind of show truck or other weird project.

[muddstopper]

There are a few smaller overseas rigs with live tandems, but if it exsists in the US, I havent found it. I have seen the 2 1/2 ton army trucks with cab conversions and special wheels made to look like a newer one ton with a tandem, I just dont want the ride of a duece and a half. I have also seen the off roaders with 6wheel drive, just dont know what they used to make it work. You are right, its for a weird project, but certainly not for show.

Any other ideals or resources?

[elshauno]

doh double posted in the edit

[elshauno]

Dodge had a concept truck with a live tandem axle back in 97. heres a link to a picture of it. There are also links to a project with a 6x6 http://dodgeram.org/ki4cy/ram_picts/Trex.htm

[elshauno]

Actually this is a link to a site that sells kits http://usa6x6.com/

[muddstopper]

Thanks for the link!!!:clapping: I knew someone had to make the conversion, just couldnt goggle it up. I talked to Danny at USA6x6 and the conversion is straight forward, it just bolts directly to the houseing, no cutting or welding needed, except for spring hangers and drive shafts. Cost is $2750 per axle. Now to find the right project truck to put the axels under:gmctruck:

[mag360]

You can also fab it up with an extra rear axle (flipped) and a divorced transfer case.

[mower&more1986]

Actually this is a link to a site that sells kits http://usa6x6.com/

WOW:eek: I never knew that.I know now and knowing is half the battle

[SiteSolutions]

I thought you were nuts until I checked out the site; looks like they put some thought into the conversions. Anybody got an extra 10 grand lying around you want to donate so I can officially investigate their build quality?

[muddstopper]

You can also fab it up with an extra rear axle (flipped) and a divorced transfer case.


I thought of that, but placing a transfercase between two axles and then driveshafts means the axles have to be pretty far apart. That creats a lot of tire scrub during turns, ( and pushing of the front end). Also flipping the axle requires reverse cut ring and pinions and then they dont oil properly. At least that is what I am thinking, since I have never done it, I cant say for certain I am right.

I talked to USA6x6 again today. It seems that there is a little more to it than just bolting the gear-over box to the front axle. The first axle has to be shortened on one side and lenghtened on the other about 7 inches to make it work. Supposely there are Corporate 14 rear ends out there that are already offset to one side that will make parts hunting a little easier. I have fooled with a bunch of Corporate rear end trucks and I havent ever seen one that had the center section offset to that degree.

These kits only work on Corporate 14 and Ford 9inch rear ends. If you have a Dana, they can fix you up, but it aint as pretty or as compact.

[MJLsLawnCareNmoreLLC]

Isnt the reason Dodge scrapped the initial TRex design from ever becoming an option on a truck is cause they couldnt get it to turn around a corner with the 4 powered wheels in the back?

[gammon landscaping]

the guy that used to work on my chevys when i ran them built one for his boss, way back when. he worked at a transmission shop. now i saw this rig but it has been a few years ago. i believed that stacked another transfer case backwards on the back of the stock one, giving him two drivelines going to the back then used 2 straight front axles on the back but turned one up side down so that the hogs heads were on oppisite sides. then did a drive shaft to the back one that had 2 carrier bearings and 4 ujoints( three piece drive shaft. now i saw the truck a few times running around town, but i don't know the long gevity of this design. also he was running duel tandums. i know that it took alot of machineing to do all of this. but it is doable but the only question is why? i whould think that a small t300 kenworth would be alot simpler, but i assume that you want all wheel drive so i would look at finding one of the internatiol's that was all wheel drive, not cheap but will probabbly last alot longer than any kit that you could build

[muddstopper]

Let me give a little justification to why I am wanting such a truck.

Reason one is it gives a larger hualing capacity to a lighter duty truck

Reason two is most of my work sites are just to ruff to take a large heavy truck into. Having the smaller truck is why I get these jobs in the first place. I had a 2 ton truck and sold it because it just wasnt suitable for this type of work.

Reason three is I am getting sick and tired of hooking a dozer to my 2005 4500 truck ( with just 10,000 miles on it) to pull it into places that sooner or later are bound to tear up my truck.

Reason 4 is that using deuce and a half axles would be a lot cheaper and easier, but they increase the weight of the truck considerablely, are all extremly low geared, and require makeing special wheels to mount smaller tires instead of the big military tire. These axles and wheels alone are as much or more $$ than the USA6x6 conversion and we havent even started considering the cost of brakes, another 2-1/2 ton front axle , special steering. I think you get my drift.

Reason 5 is that with my current 3500 chevy truck, parts on hand, and the parts available at the local scrap yard, plus a little elbow grease, makes this conversion somewhere in the $3-4000 range, and I end up with a truck that is more capable than a deuce and a half conversion when it comes to off road, more highway friendly on the hiway, and will use less fuel than a 2 1/2 ton conversion.
Reason 6, it just plain looks cool. Getting the publics attention is half the battle when it comes to advertiseing. Having the equipment to actually do the demanding jobs is a big asset. If you were a grading contractor, would you want to hire someone to do your hydroseeding that you where going to have to spend your time, your equipment and your fuel to drag into places that the EPA says you've got x number of days get the erosion control on or else?, or would you rather hire a guy that can do the job without tieing you and your equipment up for a day or two? It called a competitive advantage, being able to do what your competitors cant.

[muddstopper]

Isnt the reason Dodge scrapped the initial TRex design from ever becoming an option on a truck is cause they couldnt get it to turn around a corner with the 4 powered wheels in the back?

I dont know the answer to that question, but I have driven many a one ton with a dead tandem and even larger tandem rigs, yes the tire scrub can make the front end push. Wheel base has a lot to do with it. the longer the better. The Trex was a prototype concept vehicle and many things where learned I am sure. I do know that USA6x6 has done several redesigns of the conversion since the Trex, including rearwheel steer. They are a little vague on details when you call them. I plan on several more phone calls before I place an order. In fact, I might just drive out there to look a few trucks over before I drop down a wad of cash.

[SiteSolutions]

There are probably a million vehicles or more out there with tandem rear axles. They turn. I would say almost every single one of them can turn. The tighter you want to turn, of course, the more tire scrub you will have, but I would hope anyone pursuing this conversion would understand the concept and not buy one for driving it in a maze. So what if you have to park a little farther away from the grocery store because you can't whip it into a sub-compact parking space? I like to park away from other cars anyway, so they don't ding my doors and, I admit, because I like to look at it and like other people to look at it... I like people to look at anything with my name and phone number on it!

If you really want to experience loss of steering, try turning a tri-axle dump truck with the 3rd axle down... tandems turn just fine.

[hosejockey2002]

Muddstopper- I can't say that a project like this is one that I would consider, but it sounds like your thoughts on it are all dialed in. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the project progressing and hearing about how the truck works for you.

[BrandonV]

sheer crazyness

[muddstopper]

I am having a little trouble sourceing the right width axles to make this conversion work. I know a dually pickup rear axle is wider than a standard one ton and a motor coach axle is a little wider than a dually axle, but cant seem to find a chart that gives the measurements. This makes it hard to look for if you dont know what vehicle you need to find.

I know I can have a machine shop shorten and lenghten the axle tubes, and also buy special lenght axles, but I would kind of like to keep this conversion junk yard friendly. ( I'm known to break things)

Basicly I have to shorthen one side about 7 inches, and lenghten the other side the same amount. This allows you to keep the driveshafts in the factory line for both axles. I am hopeing to be able to use one axle tube and axle from a wide rear end, and one from a narrow rearend to allow me to move the centersection off to one side, and still have stock, ( read as findable in a scrapyard), axles.

Anyways, I will be sure to take tons of pics once I find all the right pieces to get started with.

[twj721]

You are looking for what is called a cut off basicly you unbolt your rear end and then roll the new tandem frame and all to the end of your frame and reweld it more involved but this might expalin it sorta
Good luck but this applies to 2.5 ton and above trucks not for sure about anything smaller

[tnmtn]

mudd,
came across this and didn't know if it would help you.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1993-Ford-F350-crewcab-turbo-diesel-tandem-axle-6x6_W0QQitemZ300161561850QQihZ020QQcategoryZ39416QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
good luck