Huh, missed the 5 lug in your original post, sorry bout that. My '96 1500 is 6 lug, so I assumed yours was too, weird.

My MC pulls an almost 8k pound fiber splice trailer while still getting 13-14mpg, better on flat roads, that doesn't seem too bad to me, and it cost a LOT less than a diesel, and I almost never tow loads that heavy, so it's pretty smart for my needs

 

I havea fewideas for you, but both probably will not be very cost effective but anything is possible.
(Didn't know that Dodge made 6-lug axles)


1. go to a junk yard and see if you can score a 2500 rear axle and graft it in place of your 1500's axle you would be way ahead on the strength game plus you have your 8-lug. Then see about getting the whole front suspension and do a switch of that to yours actually see if you can get the rolling chassis from a 2500. and swap what you need over to the 1500.

2. Get incontact with Dana, Tom Woods (I think) or Moser the axle people and see if the can build youa couple of 8-lug end axle shaftsthat can go into your 1500 rear endthese would be bulletproof and get you your 8-lug ends. The shaft ends are just drilled and tapped for the # of lugs you need, right?.

3. Or get in touch with a local foundry/machine shop maybe they can forge and build you some 8-lug axle shafts like I described in # 2. who Knows maybe you could start a business building/selling these. I'd by a set

Good luck, H-

 

sounds pricey to me, that is to just install a set of 8 lug wheels on a 1500. Here is a site:

http://www.skulte.com/product_info.p...products_id/79

 

firemedic i would have posted the full link but was on iphone and no way im gonna type all that crap, figured skulte.com was good enough.. what did you think of the wheels?

oh and michael not to single you out again, but i thought a 96 1500 was 5-139.7 so i dont know where youre getting all your info, the stockers on a 96 were 16" wheels and either 225/75 or 245/75 265/75.... please explain... you had to have used an extra hand to count 6 cause last time i checked i only had 5 fingers...

 

you know I didn't even pay attention that you posted skulte.com or I would of just agreed with you- guess thats what I get for half assed reading. But anyways I still don't think its worth it to buy 8 lug wheels-im pretty sure there are knock offs available in a 5 lug style close enough to em. Oh yeah when did they make 6 lug wheels, i missed that year?

 

think that was the year that dodge stole fords axles to save money.....

 

Hmmmmm?
[img]
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...0/6fingers.jpg
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you know that bastard can prolly give a narley surfs up sign.

 

The Durango and Dakota were once SIX lugs.
As for the question at hand, they do make 5 to 8 wheel spacers.The only downside is the freakin thing is like 1 1/2to2 inches thick.Your wheels will stick out like a **** with the spacer and what ever offset the wheel may have.

 

Yeah, that's what I got to thinking about. I don't want them to stick way out. I guess I'll keep looking for some nice 5 lug wheels. I just need to start reading 4 wheel and off road instead of diesel power....more pictures of 5 lug trucks in that mag.