Dually rear end swap question

[wellcraft]

Has anyone in this group done a dually swap on a Ford Ranger, specifically using a Toyota RV rear end?

I have a 2002 Ranger 2WD extended cab, and I'm looking to do a dually conversion. It's just for looks, I'm not looking to tow anything heavier than the Ranger is rated for.

I already have the whole rear end from a 1986 Toyota RV, and I would like some info from people familiar with the swap, like how to work around the ABS sensor, e brake and speed sensor.

I just learned that the 2002 model has the speed sensor in the dif instead of the transmission, is there a workaround or because of this, i won't be able to do the swap?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I start working on this project, just trying to gather as much info as possible before taking things apart.

Thanks in advance.

JR

 

[JoshT]

IIRC the dually Rangers I've seen were done with adapters on stock axles. Been a long time since I last saw a dually build documented.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Has anyone in this group done a dually swap on a Ford Ranger, specifically using a Toyota RV rear end?

I have a 2002 Ranger 2WD extended cab, and I'm looking to do a dually conversion. It's just for looks, I'm not looking to tow anything heavier than the Ranger is rated for.

I already have the whole rear end from a 1986 Toyota RV, and I would like some info from people familiar with the swap, like how to work around the ABS sensor, e brake and speed sensor.

I just learned that the 2002 model has the speed sensor in the dif instead of the transmission, is there a workaround or because of this, i won't be able to do the swap?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I staThrt working on this project, just trying to gather as much info as possible before taking things apart.

Thanks in advance.

JR

I dont think there is a work around for the electronic stuff. The speed sensor reads a tone ring inside the diff and unless you can crack open the yota axle and add one somehow, ontop of drilling a hole for it in the right place, etc i dont think it can be done.

From a strictly mechanical standpoint it wouldnt be hard, probably just relocating spring perches and brake fitting stuff. Athough finding a Ujoint might be a bitch

 

[arse_sidewards]

Has anyone in this group done a dually swap on a Ford Ranger, specifically using a Toyota RV rear end?

I have a 2002 Ranger 2WD extended cab, and I'm looking to do a dually conversion. It's just for looks, I'm not looking to tow anything heavier than the Ranger is rated for.

I already have the whole rear end from a 1986 Toyota RV, and I would like some info from people familiar with the swap, like how to work around the ABS sensor, e brake and speed sensor.

I just learned that the 2002 model has the speed sensor in the dif instead of the transmission, is there a workaround or because of this, i won't be able to do the swap?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I start working on this project, just trying to gather as much info as possible before taking things apart.

Thanks in advance.

JR

There's basically nothing that an obscure 80s mini truck rear end (with a bolt pattern for which reasonable rims and tires are pretty much unobtainable no less) when you can move spring perches on a "narrow" 60-something inch 8x6.5 truck rear end and have something that is a reasonable width and, rims and tires are readily available for. And if you pick a 90s or newer application most of them are gonna have a speed sensor already.

And if low ride height is what you want use 16" van tires like on the euro vans, they're good for ~3k each.

The rear end itself is the cheapest part of the build.

IIRC the dually Rangers I've seen were done with adapters on stock axles. Been a long time since I last saw a dually build documented.

There's no reason to do a dually build when a pair of standard truck LT tires are good for 3-4k each. There is literally no universe in which you need more tire than that on the back of a Ranger.

I dont think there is a work around for the electronic stuff. The speed sensor reads a tone ring inside the diff and unless you can crack open the yota axle and add one somehow, ontop of drilling a hole for it in the right place, etc i dont think it can be done.

From a strictly mechanical standpoint it wouldnt be hard, probably just relocating spring perches and brake fitting stuff.

Put a tone ring and a sensor on the transfer case flange. Not rocket science.

Athough finding a Ujoint might be a bitch

Yeah. He'll inevitably wind up with a drive shaft that uses different joints on each end if he continues on the current path.

 

[JoshT]

There's basically nothing that an obscure 80s mini truck rear end (with a bolt pattern for which reasonable rims and tires are pretty much unobtainable no less) when you can move spring perches on a "narrow" 60-something inch 8x6.5 truck rear end and have something that is a reasonable width and, rims and tires are readily available for. And if you pick a 90s or newer application most of them are gonna have a speed sensor already.

And if low ride height is what you want use 16" van tires like on the euro vans, they're good for ~3k each.

The rear end itself is the cheapest part of the build.


There's no reason to do a dually build when a pair of standard truck LT tires are good for 3-4k each. There is literally no universe in which you need more tire than that on the back of a Ranger.


Put a tone ring and a sensor on the transfer case flange. Not rocket science.

Yeah. He'll inevitably wind up with a drive shaft that uses different joints on each end if he continues on the current path.

Did you even read his post, or did you just reply to the title?

He clearly said that he wanted it for looks. He's not the first or only.

Even the narrowest D60 is too wide to fit a Ranger, so no not that simple. In addition to relocating the percher, he'd need to have it narrowed and get new custom axle shafts made.

From a technical standpoint there's no more reason to swap to a D60 than there is a dually. Heavy duty truck tires are pretty pointless too. Legally these trucks have a capacity rating that the stock components are rated for. No amount of parts swapping by us is going to change that.

 

[Curious Hound]

Has anyone in this group done a dually swap on a Ford Ranger, specifically using a Toyota RV rear end?

I have a 2002 Ranger 2WD extended cab, and I'm looking to do a dually conversion. It's just for looks, I'm not looking to tow anything heavier than the Ranger is rated for.

I already have the whole rear end from a 1986 Toyota RV, and I would like some info from people familiar with the swap, like how to work around the ABS sensor, e brake and speed sensor.

I just learned that the 2002 model has the speed sensor in the dif instead of the transmission, is there a workaround or because of this, i won't be able to do the swap?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I start working on this project, just trying to gather as much info as possible before taking things apart.

Thanks in advance.

JR

I don't think I've ever read of anyone doing that. The Toyota RV axle sounds like a good starting point. We would love for you to document the project here on TRS so we can follow along your adventure.

 

[pjtoledo]

show us a few pics of the Y'ota axle, curious minds want to know
axle specs too please.

in the " we warned you" department, if you're gonna drive it at freeway speeds get ready to pucker-up when that very heavy rear axle hits a bump
and gets kicked up at 70 mph.
flight training, specifically landing, might be advisable.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

show us a few pics of the Y'ota axle, curious minds want to know
axle specs too please.

in the " we warned you" department, if you're gonna drive it at freeway speeds get ready to pucker-up when that very heavy rear axle hits a bump
and gets kicked up at 70 mph.
flight training, specifically landing, might be advisable.

If itll even get to 70...didnt those come with like a 4.88 gear?

 

[arse_sidewards]

Did you even read his post, or did you just reply to the title?

The title that didn't even include what rear end he was swapping which I specifically addressed

Maybe you're the one who can't read.

He clearly said that he wanted it for looks.

Then he should just buy wheel adapters.

Even the narrowest D60 is too wide to fit a Ranger, so no not that simple.

He needs the extra width. Stock is 59-60ish. He needs at least an additional 3-4" per side in order for the inner dual to clear the leaf spring depending on what wheel and tire he runs. That puts him in the ballpark of a slightly under 70" WMS which is about what most SRW pickups run.

In addition to relocating the percher, he'd need to have it narrowed

No, he wouldn't. Unless he picks a rear end to start with that's wide to start with.

and get new custom axle shafts made.

They're readily available for $300ea. I bought one last month. Probably the easiest part of the whole project.

From a technical standpoint there's no more reason to swap to a D60 than there is a dually. Heavy duty truck tires are pretty pointless too.

Pretty easy to meet but not exceed the ~1500-2000lb each that most lightly rated 15-16" SUV and crossover tires are good for considering that these trucks can realistically haul around 2k and depending on options and whatnot have ~2k sitting on the rear axle to begin with. At 3k+ per tire truck/van tires are overkill but I can see how some would want that for peace of mind.

Legally these trucks have a capacity rating that the stock components are rated for. No amount of parts swapping by us is going to change that.

Hahahahahahahaha. Do you follow the speed limit too? Nobody here cares about what our vehicles are rated at. If we did we'd all be over on the Tacoma forum circle jerking about paying a dealership to change our brake pads. We care about what they're realistically capable of, which far exceeds the ratings even for a bone stock truck.

 

[arse_sidewards]

OP, post up the WMS of that axle you got. At the very least you need to make sure it's wide enough that the tire sidewall will clear the springs.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There's no reason to do a dually build when a pair of standard truck LT tires are good for 3-4k each. There is literally no universe in which you need more tire than that on the back of a Ranger.

You must be new here, welcome to the universe in which you need more tire than that on the back of a Ranger.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You must be new here, welcome to the universe in which you need more tire than that on the back of a Ranger.

I had load Es on my grand cheroker for christ sake lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I had load Es on my grand cheroker for christ sake lol

We had a lady when I worked at Chrysler that I don't know what kind of gravel she ran but she had to have E or D's on her Compass. BFG AT's only.

They were like dinky little skid loader tires to carry around lol.

The camper guys have them for redundancy and stability. The wider stance really helps with stability and if one blows you still have one more.

 

[sgtsandman]

IIRC the dually Rangers I've seen were done with adapters on stock axles. Been a long time since I last saw a dually build documented.

From what I understand, the reason the dually conversion went away was that it was destroying bearings. I don't know what Ford or the conversion shops did to address that issue in the RVs and what not that came with the dually axle.

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

I just learned that the 2002 model has the speed sensor in the dif instead of the transmission,

Wait, what? I thought '98-'00 were the only years with the speedo running off the RABS sensor. Before that is gear-driven trans (or tcase) sensors, and after is magnetic reluctor trans sensors.