Four rear tires, two on each side, are on dual trucks. Even though driving a dually has numerous benefits, some truckers choose to have only one rear tire on their vehicles. So is conceivable to convert a dually into a truck with four tires, and we have extensively studied how to achieve it.

On a dually truck, single wheels may be operated. Truck drivers may either remove the additional back tires or install single huge tires using a wheel conversion kit to go from having four rear wheels to only two. Although it is technically conceivable, going from four to two rear tires may be challenging and costly. Instead of attempting to drive a dually on single wheels, it would be more sensible to simply get a conventional one-wheel truck.

What Is a Dually Truck

A heavy-duty vehicle called a dually has four rear wheels instead of two. These vehicles are often referred to as dual-rear-wheel trucks (DRW). Dualies are mostly used for hauling large goods and construction tasks.

On a dually truck, single wheels may be operated.

Truck drivers may either remove the additional back tires or install single huge tires using a wheel conversion kit to go from having four rear wheels to only two. Although it is technically conceivable, going from four to two rear tires may be challenging and costly. Instead of attempting to drive a dually on one tire, it may be more sensible to simply buy one rear-wheel vehicle.

In 2023, several dual trucks that may be purchased include:

2023 Ram 3500 HD Ramcharger Dually XT.
2023 GMC Sierra 3500 Dually.
2023 Ford Super Duty.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Dually.

Benefits of a Dually Truck

Construction workers and drivers who must haul large goods benefit most from dualies. Yes, a dually looks more spectacular than a conventional truck, but everyday driving often does not need those additional rear wheels.

The advantages of having additional rear wheels are listed below if you are thinking about purchasing a dually or if you are debating whether it is a smart idea to convert your vehicle to an SRW:

Higher Towing Capacity

Trucks with dual rear wheels may pull larger weights than single rear wheels. Due to the additional rear wheels, dually trucks may securely transfer more weight without endangering the axle or tires. For instance, the 6.4 L V8 Hemi engine in the 2023 Ram 3500 dually allows for a maximum towing capability of 37,090 pounds. Comparatively, the Ram 2500’s single rear wheel can only haul up to 19,980 pounds.

Increased Payload

A dually is a fantastic choice if you need to transport many items within your pickup. Returning to the Ram trucks, the 3500 dually has a payload capacity of 7680 vs. the 2500s 3140.

Better Stability

The steadiness of a vehicle is essential while pulling a trailer, particularly in inclement weather. The additional rear wheels make the vehicle’s body larger and provide better road grip while hauling. Dualies are a better option for pulling trailers in windy weather since they are more stable than conventional trucks.

Safe for Fifth-Wheel Hauling

A fifth-wheel hitch is required to safely tow these bigger travel trailers. The best vehicle for towing a fifth-wheel trailer is a dually. Normally, fifth-wheels can only be hauled by 1-ton vehicles, but a dually’s additional tires enable it to hold the weight securely.

Do Singles Fit on a Dual?

Although driving a vehicle with six wheels has numerous benefits, it is not always as enjoyable as it would seem. It will be necessary to replace all four rear tires simultaneously, which may be more costly than replacing just two tires.

Additionally, these vehicles do not feel safe to operate when they are not carrying huge loads. A dually is not the ideal option if you want a pleasant ride on your daily commute.

Some truckers choose to change their dual-axle vehicles into single rear-wheel vehicles. The traction of your truck may be improved on solid roads by switching to single wheels, and some truck drivers claim that SRW vehicles perform better in snowy circumstances.

Although it is doubtful that a manufacturer would convert a dually to only one wheel, you may alter a DRW.

You may be able to ride more comfortably and save money on tire replacement by converting your dually to single wheels. Although purchasing a brand-new single-rear-wheel truck would be the simplest choice, many truck owners like customizing their cars.

There are two ways to operate single wheels on a dually:

Install large single or custom wheels.
Remove the two back wheels.

Some vehicle modifications are permitted, while others are not. Always verify your state’s legislation before making modifications to your dual wheels.

Converting a Dually to a Single-Wheel Truck

For many dual vehicles, the suggested tire size is 255/85/16r. Many truck drivers may utilize wheel spacers to safely increase tire size because they desire even larger tires.

It is important to remember that a dually has distinct wheel diameters but the same tire sizes. The inner rear wheels are steel, while the front wheels and two outside rear wheels are aluminum. Running single wheels on a dually involves more work than just sizing the tires, and it is not yet clear whether or not this is a smart idea. Some truck drivers argue that converting a DRW to an SRW is completely safe, while others think the time, money, and effort are not worth it.

The following is what you can do, nevertheless, if you came here because you wish to utilize single wheels on your dually truck:

Use a Conversion Kit for a Single Wheel

It is feasible to convert the four rear tires to two, but you will want various equipment to complete the task.

Dual vehicles have broader bodies to accommodate the extra tires, so you must select super-size tires that properly fit in the available area. Alternatively, you may buy a wheel conversion kit with fender flares and cutting equipment. This creates more room for bigger single tires.

A dually has a distinct front and rear axles, and when switching to an SRW, the rear axle will need to be adjusted. All the tools required to get the two axles spinning in time with one another may be included in conversion kits. To accommodate the bigger tires, it may be required to raise the truck cab’s height. You will need a lift kit to do this.

A solid wheel conversion kit will include all the components required to replace the rear wheels and tires as you go from having four back wheels to only two. No ordinary tires will fit onto two of the rear wheel rims.

Dual operation with single wheels needs significant effort and tactical adaptation. Incorrect execution of the method might overload your new tires or damage the wheel rims and axle.

Online retailers provide single-wheel conversion kits, some of which include everything you need to get your dually functioning on four wheels rather than six.

Removing extra rear tires

Although the second approach is a bit simpler, it has its drawbacks. Some truckers have simply removed two of the rear tires to make the conversion to an SRW.

Truck enthusiasts will explain that removing the incorrect wheels from your dually will increase the chance of it rolling over if you check in any DRW online community. However, the conventional wisdom is that you should bolt the bare wheel back onto the hub after removing the tire from the inner rear wheels.

It is not feasible to operate a dually without the outside wheels and tires, but it is conceivable to do so with only the inner rear tires. However, the towing capability and tire life of a dually truck will be impacted by operating it in this manner.

Duallies were designed to run on six tires, and losing two from the back might lead to uneven side wear on the rear tires.

Reasons to Convert DRW to SRW

You may wonder if changing your dual to an SRW is the best move now that you know it can be done. As we have discussed, the main advantage of dual vehicles is the increased towing capability. However, there are a few explanations for why switching to an SRW can be advantageous, such as:

Better Off-Roading

Although a dually has more tires, which might increase traction on regular roads, these vehicles are not ideal for off-road driving. On sloping terrain, rocks may become wedged between the back wheels, harming the rims and tires.

Additionally, one of the rear tires may not touch the ground on uneven terrain, which greatly lowers traction. Two big tires will have more traction off-road than four dually rear tires.

Cheaper Tire Maintenance

The likelihood of developing a flat tire or a puncture that requires repair increases with four rear tires. It is crucial to change them all when you replace one rear tire. To achieve equal wear and optimal performance, you will thus need to pay for four tires if only one tire has to be changed. Two tires may be replaced significantly more quickly and cheaply than four.

Conclusion

Drivers that need to pull more weight or wish to transport huge items should use dual trucks. Dualies are among the greatest vehicles for pulling fifth-wheel trailers since they have six wheels instead of four. However, some drivers choose to operate a dually with just one wheel.

A dually may be transformed into a single rear-wheel vehicle. Using a wheel conversion and raise kit or removing the tire from the inside of the rear wheels are the two best ways to do this.

Whatever approach you choose, do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Driving a dually has several advantages, and moving to a single set of rear wheels is not always essential.

Running Single Wheels on a Dually: Is It Possible?