Ram 5500 super single options

Frostbit907

Frostbit907

New member
I know the topic is pretty well covered and I've read a fair number of threads on here but I can't find the answer about options other than 20 inch wheels and MPT81's for example.

Our plan is a Ram 5500 build with Sherptek custom flatbed and keeping our Bigfoot 10.4 camper.

I spoke with someone the other day who mentioned 37's as super singles but I haven't found any information on ones with a load capacity that will safely replace the dual rears with one tire. The only references I've found is for the Fuso type rigs.

We don't want to go with the major conversion involved to go with the very heavy 20 inch wheel super single set-up most folks seem to have.

Any options? Thoughts?

Thanks
Jim
 
D

danneskjold

Active member
It’s not a major conversion, it’s just wheels.

There’s no option for the duallies but the heavy steel wheels OR the aluminum MRAP wheels. I guess you could run regular wheels and a ton of wheel spacers to achieve the correct wheel track but that’s stupid and dangerous.

Continental makes a 38 inch tire, which is probably what you’re referring to. It might be too narrow for the regular super single wheels.

Unfortunately you bought a big truck and are sticking a big camper on it. That all weighs a ton and regular light truck tires are no longer compatible.
 
A

andy_b

Well-known member
Trail Ready wheels will custom make wheels of much higher quality than others: https://www.trbeadlocks.com/

They can make you wheels with the right offset/backspace, bolt pattern, width, and bead profile (although two years ago they did comment on difficulty getting a profile to work with MPTs).
 
Frostbit907

Frostbit907

New member
danneskjold said:
It’s not a major conversion, it’s just wheels.



Unfortunately you bought a big truck and are sticking a big camper on it. That all weighs a ton and regular light truck tires are no longer compatible.
Click to expand...

There's no one right rig. I've learned that with boats. trucks, camper/RV's, and airplanes. All you can do is build for your main purpose/wishlist and do your best with the contingent uses. We are not trying to end up with a go anywhere overland rig as much as a comfortable, fairly self sufficient rig that can go down the road as well as boondock here in Alaska and the lower 48 (7 month road trip every other year).

We love our Bigfoot and now have it running solar/lithium without a hitch. As you see in the picture it's sitting on a '06 3500 dually and is at GVW. Hence the initial plan to build up a 5500 Chassis Cab with Sherptek flatbed and thus eliminating the GVW issue and increasing the exterior storage and customization.

We have boondocked in some fairly nasty places up here with the "ORKA" as you see it in the picture but figured since we are building on a new truck just to look at a single wheel conversion that still keeps the 19,500 GVW. Only option I see is the 20 inch wheels and tires like the MPT81's. Perhaps I'm wrong but that conversion requires front fender well cutting and a different ride characteristic. Not to mention tires/wheels that weight a 100 pounds more than we do. :ROFLMAO:

Looking at our road vs. boonie ratio I just don't think it's worth it.

Thanks
Jim

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Last edited:
Darwin

Darwin

Explorer
You could go with 22.5 singles tires, certainly better on the highway but less offroad than the 20's. There is not many options for tires with the 20" rim to meet the capacity of the duals. I have heard mixed results as far as the MPT's go.
 
Frostbit907

Frostbit907

New member
Darwin said:
You could go with 22.5 singles tires, certainly better on the highway but less offroad than the 20's. There is not many options for tires with the 20" rim to meet the capacity of the duals. I have heard mixed results as far as the MPT's go.
Click to expand...


Thanks. Probably sticking with the duals unless something develops in the next 12-15 months.
 
Ninelitetrip

Ninelitetrip

Well-known member
Have you gone through RAM5500 CAMPERTHING thread on his build?

expeditionportal.com

2020 Ram 5500 DIY Composite Panel Camper Build Thread

Hey All It FINALLY arrived after a 9 week wait. I am itching to get started on it! Its POURING out now, so can't get many pics, but ill be adding a ton soon and on my YouTube and IG (links in my sig). Ill add pics here too as time allows and the process progresses. 2020 Ram 5500 CA84...
expeditionportal.com expeditionportal.com

With a @11,500 to @12,500 payload capacity what tire in 37 or 38 inch size is available above say 4000 pound payload without dropping the payload capacity?

Cooper DISCOVERER AT3 XLT LT285/75R18 is 4080# for example.

Look at the grey RAM that Sherpa has on their Instagram page. 3 foot garage, dual cab, slide out trays, the bed alone is 900# and it is on dual rears.

If you like your current truck, and are not trying to add another 1000# of stuff, have you looked at say a Carli suspension upgrade, with Deaver rear springs and maybe airbags?

CJC off road has some good YT videos on their Carli installed upgrades.

Like the Bigfoot, solid truck campers.
 
Frostbit907

Frostbit907

New member
Ninelitetrip said:
Have you gone through RAM5500 CAMPERTHING thread on his build?

expeditionportal.com

2020 Ram 5500 DIY Composite Panel Camper Build Thread

Hey All It FINALLY arrived after a 9 week wait. I am itching to get started on it! Its POURING out now, so can't get many pics, but ill be adding a ton soon and on my YouTube and IG (links in my sig). Ill add pics here too as time allows and the process progresses. 2020 Ram 5500 CA84...
expeditionportal.com expeditionportal.com

With a @11,500 to @12,500 payload capacity what tire in 37 or 38 inch size is available above say 4000 pound payload without dropping the payload capacity?

Cooper DISCOVERER AT3 XLT LT285/75R18 is 4080# for example.

Look at the grey RAM that Sherpa has on their Instagram page. 3 foot garage, dual cab, slide out trays, the bed alone is 900# and it is on dual rears.

If you like your current truck, and are not trying to add another 1000# of stuff, have you looked at say a Carli suspension upgrade, with Deaver rear springs and maybe airbags?

CJC off road has some good YT videos on their Carli installed upgrades.

Like the Bigfoot, solid truck campers.
Click to expand...


The truck handles the Bigfoot fine. As far as doing a suspension change to carry more gear the problem is insurance. If your rig is over GVW and you are the cause of an accident NO INSURANCE will honor your policy. Our first rig was an Alpenlite Camper on our '96 Cummins 12V SRW with two rear leaves per side added. GVW was 8,800 stock. I weighed the rig with camper and it was 12,100 :oops:

I learned later from both my insurance agent and a trusted local RV place when we bought our Bigfoot, about the insurance issue. I kept the 12V but bought the '06 DRW 3500.

I have followed the 5500 CAMPERTHING thread as well as his videos. He and I have talked on the phone. He's been a big help in our planning.
 
RAM5500 CAMPERTHING

RAM5500 CAMPERTHING

OG Portal Member #183
I second keeping the duals

I have a 2020 5500 with the super single conversion and the MPT81

Finally just did my first real road trip (1500 miles) with them. The droning and noise was a bit more tiring and annoying than i expected.

I will use them until they wear out, which might take awhile, but when the MPTs are worn out, i will be looking at other options and likely not running them again.

I'm still not convinced keeping it a dually and just running all terrains inst a better option all around honestly. So my stock wheels are sitting in my backyard and will until i figure out exactly what i am doing

Also, regarding SHERPTEK... They make a great product and are great folks, but they have a major design flaw in my opinion. The backside of their setup is left open. Meaning, whatever you out in those nice drawers from the outside will be subjected to the elements. I brought this up to them when looking at options for my last truck, and they said that is how they want it, and didnt seem interested in making it a sealed unit. Which i found odd. But they were great folks regardless
 
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