Thinking about a dodge 3500 dually to super single conversion is usually the result of one too many times getting stuck in the mud or just being tired of that "pizza cutter" look in the rear. If you've spent any time off-road with a dually, you know the struggle. Those two narrow tires back there love to trap rocks, and they act like a pair of skis on soft ground rather than digging in. Swapping them out for a single, massive tire—a super single—changes the whole personality of the truck. It's not just a cosmetic choice; for a lot of guys, it's about making the truck actually functional for where they drive.
Why swap the duals for a single wide tire?
The most obvious reason people jump into this is for better off-road performance. A dually is a beast on the highway with a heavy 5th wheel, but the second you hit sand, deep snow, or thick mud, those rear tires start fighting each other. One of the biggest headaches is "stone drilling." If a rock gets wedged between your duals, it can chew through your sidewalls before you even realize it's there. By moving to a super single, you eliminate that gap entirely.
Then there's the flotation factor. A single, wider tire has a much larger contact patch that's distributed differently than two narrow ones. Instead of two separate tracks, you've got one wide footprint that stays on top of soft surfaces better. Plus, let's be honest—a Dodge 3500 with a super single setup looks incredibly aggressive. It gives the truck a "military" or "expedition" vibe that you just can't get with standard dual wheels.
The technical side of the conversion
You can't just pull off the inner and outer wheels and throw a wide tire on the stock rim. A dodge 3500 dually to super single conversion requires specific wheels designed to handle the offset. Since the dually axle is wider than a standard single-rear-wheel (SRW) axle, a normal wheel would stick out way too far or sit too far in.
Finding the right wheels
Most people go with a 20-inch wheel, often looking at companies like Stazworks or Buckstop. These wheels are built to line up the center of the tire with the wheel bearings. That's a big deal because if your offset is wrong, you're going to put a massive amount of stress on your hubs and bearings, and you'll be replacing them way more often than you'd like.
You also have to decide between aluminum and steel. Aluminum is lighter and looks cleaner, but if you're doing serious overland trekking, some guys prefer steel because you can hammer out a bend in the rim if you hit a rock too hard.
Tire selection is everything
Once you have the wheels, you need the rubber. Common sizes for this swap include 37-inch, 40-inch, or even 41-inch tires. Military-style tires like the Michelin XZL are popular for their durability, but they can be a nightmare to balance and are loud as hell on the highway. If your Dodge is still a daily driver, you might want to look at something like a Nitto Ridge Grappler or a Toyo Open Country M/T in a 13.50 or 15.50 width. Just make sure the load rating matches what you plan to haul. You're moving from four tires carrying the load to two, so those two tires need to be "Load Range E" or "F" at the very least.
Dealing with the fenders
This is where things get a bit tricky with the bodywork. A dually has those big, flared-out hips to cover the two tires. When you switch to a super single, the tire usually sits somewhere in the middle of where the duals used to be. Sometimes the tire will look a bit "lost" under the massive dually fenders, or it might stick out just enough to throw mud all over the side of your truck.
Some owners choose to swap the dually bed for a standard SRW bed, but that's a lot of work and expense. A more common route is keeping the dually bed and just living with the look, or installing custom fender flares to bridge the gap. If you're building a flatbed or a service box, this isn't an issue at all, which is why you see super singles so often on "overland" builds with custom campers on the back.
How it changes the drive
You're going to feel the difference the moment you pull out of the driveway. First off, the steering might feel a bit heavier if you've also upgraded the front tires to match. But the biggest change is in the rear. On the highway, you'll notice a bit more "squish" if you're used to the rock-hard sidewalls of four high-pressure tires.
Braking and acceleration
Rotating mass is a real thing. Those giant super single wheels and tires are heavy. It takes more energy to get them spinning and more braking power to stop them. You might find that your Dodge 3500 feels a little more sluggish off the line. It's often a good idea to look into a brake upgrade or at least some high-performance pads once you've done the conversion.
Stability while towing
This is the one area where you might lose a little bit of ground. Dual rear wheels are the gold standard for towing because they prevent "sway." With two tires on each side, the truck has a very wide, stable base that resists side-to-side movement from a heavy trailer. When you go to a single tire, even a very wide one, you lose some of that lateral stability. If you're still planning on towing a 15,000-pound trailer every weekend, you'll need to be aware that the truck might feel a bit more "active" behind you.
Maintenance and long-term costs
One of the perks people don't talk about enough is that you only have to buy four tires instead of six when it's time for a replacement. That sounds great until you realize that one massive 40-inch super single tire can cost as much as three regular truck tires. It usually balances out to be about the same cost in the long run, but the "per tire" sticker shock is real.
You also need to keep an eye on your air pressure. With a dually, if one tire has a slow leak, the other one can kind of carry the load for a bit (though it's not ideal). With a super single, if that tire goes down, you're on the rim immediately. Investing in a good Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that can handle the higher pressures of a heavy-duty truck is a smart move.
Is the conversion right for you?
At the end of the day, a dodge 3500 dually to super single conversion is a specialized modification. If you spend 99% of your time on the interstate hauling a car hauler, you're probably better off staying with the duals. The stability and safety of that extra rubber are hard to beat in a highway setting.
However, if your Dodge is a work truck that spends its life on job sites, ranch roads, or deep in the backcountry, the super single swap is a game-changer. It turns a truck that's prone to getting stuck into an absolute tank. You get better clearance, better traction in the soft stuff, and a look that sets your rig apart from every other dually on the road. It's a commitment, and it's definitely not a "budget" mod, but for the right driver, it's the best thing you can do for a 1-ton Ram.