Dually Van setup

[RAM MAN]

here's a thought:

http://www.vanangels.org/6928.html

[Dodgevanman]

That is f'n awesome. I bet it will keep those fully loaded 15 passenger vans from flipping over.

I'd like to do that to my '94, but alas I don't have 8-lug wheels.

[QQB825]

that rocks.

[stev]

Was that a photo chop job or a custom vehicle chop job? The photo is too good to tell. :)

[RAM MAN]

took that pic from their website

they say " .....The fender flares will have to be installed by a body shop, since it does involve some cutting of the existing fenders, riveting, painting, etc......"

[stev]

That's some money to upgrade to a dually setup.

I took the less costly method and got the RoadMaster MKII-XXF kit for the rear and the Timbren boots for the front.

Those B3500 15-passenger vans have toooo looong of a rear end beyond the rear axle. My B2500 12-passenger is just right for size.

[DANVAN]

Theres 2 guys on vannin.com with ford vans that are dulleys, 1 is a 75, that he did himself, used an ambulance axle, the other is a 2000 converted by Quigley into a dulley and 4x4. The guy with the 75, also converted his gas v8 to a 7.3 turbo diesel with a newer style dash and all the electronics of a 99, lots of work.

[dodges 3]

You used to be able to buy conversion kits. Years ago I almost converted my '88 S-10 pickup, to a dually. It worked with any bolt pattern for the wheels. I don't know if they are still available. I've seen a Chev. fullsize van, here in Ontario, for sale, that was a dually. It was owned by the OPP(Ontario Provincial Police) They were selling it for, I think, $4500, and it looked awesome, for a Chevy.

[Dodgevanman]

If you go into that website more, you can see WHY this conversion kit was produced. Pretty sad read really.

[dodges 3]

Here's a "photochop" of that same pic. from above, can you tell.....

[van-nut]

That is pretty cool. A buddy of mines Dad also used to have a Ford dually van. He did a lot of horse trailer towing with it. I can't remember all of the details, but I believe he used an entire ambulance chassis and put the van body on it. The fender flairs he used were O.E.M. Ford off of a period correct dually truck. If you didn't know better, you'd swear it came from the factory like that. Wish I had some pics of it.

Pete

[RamVanMan]

Ram Man, thanks for posting this. I read the Van Angels site you found the dually set up on, very tragic story !

I think Stev is right, too that the Roadmaster set-up on the rear springs & Timbren SES rubber springs on the front would accomplish the same improvments in a less costly fashion.

Some Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks in the rear or Bilsteins would go a long way to help out, too.

The 4 heavy E rated tires on those vans can support about 12,000 # at their load rating, so what is likely happening, is most of those 15 pass vans are loaded very unevenly, overloading one tire (Left rear, according to that site story) significantly, then after overheating, allowing tread separation which starts the disaster.

(Any sudden swerving motion could initiate it, not just tire overloading)

I guess the dually would divide that 'overloaded' tire weight, thus at least addressing that aspect of the problem.

I wonder, too, if there aren't any options for heavier tires to be designed to fit the exisiting rim sizes. Like say, a load range F or G type tire, but in a 16 " diameter, so stock rims can be retained ?

For example, my 2500 Cummins Ram truck had the same 'E' rated tires the vans run - 3042 lbs max load @ 90 psi.

Fine & dandy unloaded or with light loads, but dangerously 'squishy' fully loaded - downright frightening when overloaded.

My truck being a single rear wheel 2500, I needed heavier duty tires - what to do ?

So, I upgraded to the 19.5 size rim & tire package aftermarket - don't know if it would fit the vans - either in terms of Rim bolt pattern or wheel well dimensions - but I can tell you that the difference is NIGHT & DAY vs the stock 16" LR E tires.

I now handle overwieght loads with ease - the tires barely know the truck is there. Plus you get 3x the life with these heavier tires. Absolute rock solid stability, empty or loaded !!

These are the 'small' semi-truck tires you see on dually UPS vans & many motorhomes, FYI.

With this upgrade, my truck is more stable VS a normal 'Ram truck dually 3500, IMHO.

The guys who sell these 19.5 conversions for the trucks, are at www.RicksonTruck.com last I checked.

I bet they'd fit the Ford cause the wheel wells are bigger than the Dodges, at least that's my perception. How hard would it be to do a slight 1-2" body lift on our vans if it was needed to accomidate these larger tires ?

I know at least 4 families that use these larger vans and if I had one, I'd do some or all of the above to ensure road stability.

David B.

[RamVanMan]

Just read this on the Rickson Truck site:

WHY UPGRADE TO 19.5" WHEELS AND COMMERCIAL DUTY TIRES?

Direct Replacement - No Adapters!
Haul-Rites Allow You to Run Commercial Duty Tires with Load Ranges F, G and H
Built for Dodges, Fords and GMs, Singles & Duallies, 2WD or 4WD, 3/4-Ton and 1-Ton
Pickups Trucks, Vans, Cab & Chassis and Class C Motor Homes 2- 4 Times Better Tire Mileage than 16" and 17” Light Truck (LT) Tires
Radial, Tubeless Commercial Truck Tires - Run Cool Even Under a Load
Increased Margin of Safety
Incredible Handling and Stability, Loaded or Unloaded
Tire Sizes and Tread Patterns to Fit Any Need
Install Larger Tires - OR - Install the Same Diameter Tires with a Shorter Sidewall
Great Looks - Fill Those Big Wheel Wells!
A Must for Heavy Loads, Towing, Slide-ins
Huge Tire Selection / Tires also Readily Available at Local Truck Tire Centers
No Suspension or Fender Modifications
Use Your Factory Lug Nuts & Center Caps in Most Cases
Wheels and Tires Professionally Match Mounted and Balanced and Shipped to Your Door
Installation is as EASY AS CHANGING A SPARE
Speedometer Correction Available for All Makes & Models


So, they apparently do fit some vans - I know my 2500 would be a 'no fit' due to small wheel wells, but alas, it doesn't need them.

Our friends B-3500 Ram Van appears much taller, much larger wheel wells compared to our B-2500, too.

Another idea for 15 passenger van stability & safety ?