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Convert dual rear wheels to single

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Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby Anomalou5 » Fri Aug 03, 2018 9:34 am

I am working on plans to convert a Mk6/Mk7 Transit luton body to a camper.

I've done a fair bit of research into the pro's and cons of dual Vs. single rear wheels, and would like to convert the dual rear wheels to single to reduce weight.

Does anyone know what's involved with this? Apart from changing the wheels, would I also need to replace the rear axle? Are the front wheel hubs different as well or just spaced?

You expert help would be much appreciated.
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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby knobby1 » Fri Aug 03, 2018 10:51 am

The complete rear axle is different....I'm not sure about the springs either. The front hubs/bearings are also different.

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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby dumper » Fri Aug 03, 2018 1:39 pm

If you manage to do the swop to reduce the weight of the van you will also reduce the gvw as well
remember campervans when built and loaded for a holiday can soon become overloaded plus you will have to notify DVLC to have the van down rated which is not cheap and straight forward and now in the days of stricter mots you may have difficulty in getting it tested my own conversion from bus to campervan with the correct logbook when logged on for the test he was not sure which class to test it at the tester did it but took a load of photos of it just to cover himself
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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby V184 » Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:00 pm

dumper wrote:If you manage to do the swop to reduce the weight of the van you will also reduce the gvw as well
remember campervans when built and loaded for a holiday can soon become overloaded plus you will have to notify DVLC to have the van down rated which is not cheap and straight forward and now in the days of stricter mots you may have difficulty in getting it tested my own conversion from bus to campervan with the correct logbook when logged on for the test he was not sure which class to test it at the tester did it but took a load of photos of it just to cover himself


Surely if you use the right wheels/tyres it shouldn't be a problem its still going to be 3500kg isnt it ?
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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby dumper » Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:51 pm

Your probably righ V184 but what’s the highest rateing single wheel axle you can get for a pickup/box van if you try to fit a axle out of a van I think you have to move the mounting points on the axle and if you get the back done you really need to swop the front hubs and wheels if you don’t you will need two spare wheels so not saving much weight
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1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby Jim Archer » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:08 am

Both of my Jumbos were/are single rear wheel and rated at 3500GVW. Not sure if the rear axle weight rating is any different to cover the extra overhang.

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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby paul2012 » Mon Aug 06, 2018 6:06 pm

Take the box of the Transit Luton. What you're left with is a chassis cab :roll:

Twin wheel rear axle has a higher plated weight than single wheel rear axle.

I would advise against changing rear twin wheel axle to a single. (It's not a straight swap) - You'll could end up being overloaded - not on GVW but on rear axles plated weight.
Plus twin wheel rear axle have rear anti-roll bar. Single rear wheel axles don't have a rear anti-roll bar. Which is not good when a Luton has a higher centre of gravity :idea:

& yes front axle is different too :wink:

Bearing in mind a Transit Jumbo has a higher payload weight than a Transit T350 Luton...
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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby Anomalou5 » Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:30 am

Thank you all. This is exactly what I was after.

Sounds like the conversion is do-able, but may not be such a great idea, i.e. 1 step forward and 2 steps back (at least 1.5 steps back).

Really appreciate the information and for taking the time to reply.

If anyone else has any more/different detail, don't hesitate to post.
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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby MercedesVario814 » Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:50 pm

dumper wrote:If you manage to do the swop to reduce the weight of the van you will also reduce the gvw as well
remember campervans when built and loaded for a holiday can soon become overloaded plus you will have to notify DVLC to have the van down rated which is not cheap and straight forward and now in the days of stricter mots you may have difficulty in getting it tested my own conversion from bus to campervan with the correct logbook when logged on for the test he was not sure which class to test it at the tester did it but took a load of photos of it just to cover himself


Down plating your Twin wheel Transit is NOT an expensive or daunting project. The cost is exactly £144 start to finish. My Twin Wheel minibus Mk7 2013 weighed 2790kg empty. It was plated at 4300. Once I removed the seats this reduced the empty weight to just under 2480kg. Conversion completed took my overall weight back to £3135kg leaving a whopping 365kg for luggage! I filled up the fuel tanks, both diesel tanks (heater), 150litres water, gas etc. Then you apply to SVC specialist vehicles services. you fill out the forms yourself, send a weigh ticket and photo's and they send you a chassis sticker which goes next, not over but next to your original one showing new weight go 3500kg. Takes a couple of weeks. Send it to DVLA and they send you a new V5. This takes about 8 weeks. Total cost £144.
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Re: Convert dual rear wheels to single

Postby knobby1 » Sun Aug 21, 2022 8:18 pm

MercedesVario814 wrote:
dumper wrote:If you manage to do the swop to reduce the weight of the van you will also reduce the gvw as well
remember campervans when built and loaded for a holiday can soon become overloaded plus you will have to notify DVLC to have the van down rated which is not cheap and straight forward and now in the days of stricter mots you may have difficulty in getting it tested my own conversion from bus to campervan with the correct logbook when logged on for the test he was not sure which class to test it at the tester did it but took a load of photos of it just to cover himself


Down plating your Twin wheel Transit is NOT an expensive or daunting project. The cost is exactly £144 start to finish. My Twin Wheel minibus Mk7 2013 weighed 2790kg empty. It was plated at 4300. Once I removed the seats this reduced the empty weight to just under 2480kg. Conversion completed took my overall weight back to £3135kg leaving a whopping 365kg for luggage! I filled up the fuel tanks, both diesel tanks (heater), 150litres water, gas etc. Then you apply to SVC specialist vehicles services. you fill out the forms yourself, send a weigh ticket and photo's and they send you a chassis sticker which goes next, not over but next to your original one showing new weight go 3500kg. Takes a couple of weeks. Send it to DVLA and they send you a new V5. This takes about 8 weeks. Total cost £144.


Thread is over 4 years old now...and "Anomalou5" hasn't been back on here for well over 12 months.

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When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather, not screaming like the passengers in his car..!
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