Solid Axle Swap? Done Before?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Jeepwalker

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2017
Posts
3,138
Reaction score
3,331
Location
WI
Ram Year
2012 Reg Cab, 4x4
Engine
5.7 Hemi
It would be fun to do. I haven't personally seen a detailed account, but hopefully someone will post one.

An owner would probably be far better off just buying a 3/4 ton tk bc it would save a ton of work/time and get it right the first time w/o years of costly headaches to iron out. And with the 2500 you get all the other HD gear and lose some electronic nonsense (on the new tks), even though it would be more up front $$. But at least the engineering would be 'right'.

But then again, with a Ram there's a body of parts (axles/steering/suspension) from older rams and 2500's to tap into or adapt which should (hopefully) reduce engineering and guesswork that other SAS guys face. A lot of SAS swaps on Toyotas, Hummers, etc I've read on 4x4 forums ...honest owners quite often say they never got their swaps to handle very well on the road (off road they're great), and many end up selling and going to 3/4 ton rigs anyway (and advising owners to consider living with the IFS limitations).

Sorry this post isn't very helpful ...probably stuff you already know.
 

Burla

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Posts
23,115
Reaction score
44,461
Ram Year
2010 Hemi Reg Cab 4x4
Engine
Hemi
I was quoted 3500 for this from local shop, we didnt get into details on what to do with the block in the front, either use it if I went up high, or cut it off. It is a bummer trucks don't have a SA as an option anymore. There are some examples of light SA's in the market place that are working, Wranglers for one, some foreign 4x4 we cant get here. If you ask me being what it is, mise well go up to a 2500 and get a SA standard. I think most guys would prefer it and yet we cant get it, just another example of the market place not ruling the supply/demand issues.
 

Burla

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Posts
23,115
Reaction score
44,461
Ram Year
2010 Hemi Reg Cab 4x4
Engine
Hemi
Cost of the axle and labor side 3500, it literally would cost the same to move to a 2500, but you get a lot more for the 6 grand then just an axle. But yeah if there are some guys with the know how and spare parts, it would be nice to see if ram forum has an example of this...
 

DILLIGAF

Senior Member
Military
Joined
May 28, 2016
Posts
4,218
Reaction score
7,551
Location
Canada
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
One guy did it on the other forum a while back. his verdict ; Its cheaper to buy a 2500.
 

22hemi13

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Mar 20, 2013
Posts
3,805
Reaction score
5,795
Location
Tucson AZ
Ram Year
2014 2500 4x4
Engine
5.7
Buy a cheap used gasser 2500 and go to town. You get the heavy duty frame. All the right components are there and you’ll end up cheaper in the long run for a truck that works right. Mine was a long bed. I’d go 6’4” bed route and keep it looking like a truck. But mines a toy
 

Attachments

  • 59C1C12F-AF17-4E82-B22F-5455B06E1794.jpeg
    59C1C12F-AF17-4E82-B22F-5455B06E1794.jpeg
    148.2 KB · Views: 22
  • 95266ED5-EF4E-4021-9324-265D9F30C874.jpeg
    95266ED5-EF4E-4021-9324-265D9F30C874.jpeg
    163.1 KB · Views: 22
  • 21348A52-B984-42EE-B306-C4C8D5EE0337.jpeg
    21348A52-B984-42EE-B306-C4C8D5EE0337.jpeg
    143.2 KB · Views: 28
  • 4D361CC2-31B5-4A18-8133-964133D17AC3.jpeg
    4D361CC2-31B5-4A18-8133-964133D17AC3.jpeg
    260.5 KB · Views: 22

Burla

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Posts
23,115
Reaction score
44,461
Ram Year
2010 Hemi Reg Cab 4x4
Engine
Hemi
Buy a cheap used gasser 2500 and go to town. You get the heavy duty frame. All the right components are there and you’ll end up cheaper in the long run for a truck that works right. Mine was a long bed. I’d go 6’4” bed route and keep it looking like a truck. But mines a toy
nice truck man
 
OP
OP
Sasquatchtdg

Sasquatchtdg

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2019
Posts
288
Reaction score
168
Location
Moncks Corner, SC
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7L
I see it done a lot with the Chevy's, half the time just to get more lift for YEE YEE purposes, not legitimate off road capability. I'd bet that 75% never have the front drive shaft installed. It sucks that they did truck guys dirty with their almighty wisdom behind making a front diff that you can't change ratios without a unit swap in the 1500s. Just a bored at work thought.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
194,927
Posts
2,864,183
Members
155,296
Latest member
VLG6963
Top