C30, 85 with a narrow dually

85 C30 · Feb 24, 2026

I have a very nice 85 c30 dually flat deck I just realize there’s two versions of those rears, one standard and a narrow one. I have the narrow one and if I shorten the frame and driveshaft. I could put a stock 8 foot box and clear the rear tires.

I am looking for more examples. Found one. I remember a few years ago, pulling up behind a square body with a Dooley and standard box and I thought that was pretty wild somebody narrowed the rear end that much. Has anyone done this conversion? I guess it would be real radical to have short box on it I bet the ride would be real rough.

Grit dog · Feb 24, 2026

FWIW I think the narrow dually look is cool as heck. Do it!

TotalyHucked · Feb 24, 2026

Seen it done many times, pretty cool. Can't remember if the stock tubs will clear, but there's always our 4" wider tubs from AMD you could graft in. A shorty would def ride rough if you kept all the 1-ton suspension, but it wouldn't be bad if you lightened it up or converted to air bags

fast 99 · Feb 24, 2026

Thought about doing that conversion just for safety from a blow out but never got around to it.

I think the ride would be more dependent on size of spring pack not adding another tire.

Cab and chassi dual rear, inside tire clears the spring pack by only an inch or 2 very close. Dually trucks axles much wider.

Just measured a 3/4 ton, wheelhouse is about 1 1/2" wider than spring each side. Will need wider house suggested above or modify existing. Won't clear otherwise.

85 C30 · Feb 26, 2026

You could make a custom 9’ foot box like the late 60s. Or make a custom 10 box and leave the frame uncut.

Bennyt · Feb 26, 2026

Don't some run the narrow axle(C&C) so you can run standard semi rims and not have to get custom inners???

Rickf · Feb 27, 2026

A few decades ago, I had a K30, 4 tire C&C and put an 8 foot bed on it. There was a larger than stock gap between the cab & bed when the axle was centered in the opening.
Maybe move the rear axle a few inches forward for a better look.

HotWheelsBurban · Feb 27, 2026

Rickf said:
A few decades ago, I had a K30, 4 tire C&C and put an 8 foot bed on it. There was a larger than stock gap between the cab & bed when the axle was centered in the opening.
Maybe move the rear axle a few inches forward for a better look.

Not sure about squares, but on the 400/OBS cab& chassis trucks they are 135.5" wheelbase instead of 131.5" so yes, 4" longer. This causes a gap with a standard bed, plus the frame rails are made differently to allow fitment of "standard" work bodies. I would figure square body trucks are built similarly.....

85 C30 · Feb 27, 2026

Does anybody have example pictures?

goldpack · Feb 27, 2026

If looking for pictures . Google image search . Mason dump ...without the body should reveal what those looked like, as that is what the bulk were made idually. (carrying the heavy load on top of the axel)
Vs the stability of the trailer towing wide duelly.

Blazerbiker · Mar 4, 2026

We were able to put a regular bed on a cab and chassis truck by moving the rear axle forward with an offset plate and making the bed to cab gap a little bigger than normal. It was a single wheel truck but the axle location part of the puzzle was the same. I think you'll want to plan on wheel tubs, the stock fenderwells are around 48" inside and the inside of the inside tire with the C&C dually axle will probably be 44" or less inside to inside.

kkgp81 · May 24, 2026

This one was for sale near me a while back. Almost picked it up but life was not aligning. There is a ford dent side near my house with a very similar setup.

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Grit dog · May 24, 2026

85 C30 said:
You could make a custom 9’ foot box like the late 60s. Or make a custom 10 box and leave the frame uncut.

He’ll yeah brother!!

C30, 85 with a narrow dually

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