Nick Dolphin Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 Good evening, I will try to keep this short, apologize if I fail. So, my family and I inherited a 1985 Toyota Dolphin 22re with the infamous 5 lug rear. The vehicle has about 40k mi on it and, with the fuel system gone through, runs quite well. I know that this might be perceived as fishing for answers that I want to hear, but I truly am looking for solutions. Regarding the rear axle, most info I have come across is 6 years old or more. Is it fair to assume that finding the proper, full floating rear in a scrap yard is becoming less of a likelihood? And if so, has anyone come across any other solutions, such as a rear axle from another vehicle that is up to the task of handling the weight of the dolphin? In the short term, I would be happy to be able to use the vehicle without filling the water tank (that's gotta be a good bit of weight right there). If I remove the Onan generator and avoid using the water tank, would that possibly be enough of a weight reduction to make the 5 lug foolie rear sufficient? The camper definitely needs some work to resolve damage incurred from leaks in the roof; this alone doesn't dissuade me as I am quite capable of these repairs. I just don't want to waste a lot of time on something that, at the end of the day, isn't legitimately roadworthy. Not that it matters, but our use of the vehicle will be for frequent, short distance travel. If money were no object, I'm sure these issues wouldn't be insurmountable....my daily driver pickup is a 1967 Dodge D200 Sweptline "Camper Special" (ironically) that I acquired as a rolling chassis and retrofitted a 5.3l vortec / 4l60e combo from an 02 Silverado. I mention this only to demonstrate that I am capable of doing the work. In the case of the Dolphin, I just need a little direction. Thanks and Happy New Year! Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted December 31, 2021 Share Posted December 31, 2021 (edited) The 5 lug will always be unsafe. Don’t take a chance with it. Start by getting your mh weighed. Both total weight when loaded and weight over just the rear axle(also when loaded). This will allow you to determine if you can move to single rear wheels. If the over rear axle weight is 4K lbs. or less, you can use singles. If not, you’re going to need duels. There are still ff Toyota axles out there, but getting harder to find. Edited December 31, 2021 by fred heath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86Dolphino Posted December 31, 2021 Share Posted December 31, 2021 To me the best way to find a Toyota FF axel is start looking on Craigslist, the FB Marketplace and look for Toyota utility trucks and old Toyota u-Hauls they all have them I’ve seen them come up in the Reno area in the past. You can find one. The real question is time and money vs the condition of your rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john*thomas Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 It would seem you are up to the task but I would have to think there would be something else that would fit. I can't recall ever seeing anyone swapping out anything else but it would be simply finding a rear axle out of something close to the same size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewanderlustking Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 (edited) Axle conversions to other makes have been done and I think there is even some suggestions in the axle thread. There is (or at least was) a Toyota FF 1ton at my local scrappy. They do show up. I really should have snagged it when I was there last. Edited January 1, 2022 by thewanderlustking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86Dolphino Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 You may want to call these folks and see what they say. https://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/full-floater-conversion/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 (edited) Not sure of bolt pattern or spring mounts, although nether is insurmountable. The bolt pattern thing would not be any worse than the 5/6 86 trucks Toyota rear axle widths 79-95 PU 2wd 5 lug...56" 95 1/2 up Tacoma... 60.75" 93-98 T-100 PU...66.75 The T-100 axle would give you the width of the fake duels with singles for better handling. Edited January 1, 2022 by WME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewanderlustking Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 I just want to say that those fake duallie wheels are the worse wheel I have ever put tires on. Tied with the Humvee H1. At least if I see one now I know to tell my service advisor to go pound sand. Oh I mean -=cough=- “Sir your vehicle is a liability we can’t touch it.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 Looks like this place might have the full floater you need. Sometimes these listings can be old though so just call them. Ask if they still have the wheels too. You need them. Home (aaautorecycling.com) seems far but many have gone farther to get the correct axle. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinMan-Scarecrow-Dolphin Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 On 1/1/2022 at 12:20 PM, 86Dolphino said: You may want to call these folks and see what they say. https://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/full-floater-conversion/ Thank you, I'm going to check this out. Same person, but I forgot my password and the recovery process was down at the time, so I just created a new axcount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 Front range off road conversion is very expensive and complicated. Used more for the 4x4's so they can use a larger off road wheel and tire. It also uses a lot of parts from a toyota 4x4 truck front hub that you would have to source. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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