Tandem wheel assembly and tandem wheel kit

A tandem wheel kit for a work vehicle comprising:

• a central chain box having an inner wall and an outer wall defining an internal volume and extending between a first box end and a second box end, the inner wall defining as a unitary part of the central chain box an annular inwardly extending pivot portion having a box opening disposed about a pivot axis and communicating with the internal volume, the pivot portion configured to couple the central chain box to the work vehicle so as to pivot about the pivot axis, the central chain box having at the first box end a first box flange with a first box flange face about a first opening that is at an angle to the pivot axis and having at the second box end a second box flange with a second box flange face about a second opening that is at an angle to the pivot axis;
• a first wheel end casing having a first wheel end flange with a first wheel end flange face mateable with the first box flange face, the first wheel end casing defining as a unitary part of the first wheel end casing a first wheel mount extending from an outer wall of the first wheel end casing and defining a first wheel end opening disposed about a first wheel end axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis and in communication with the internal volume of the central chain box when the first wheel end casing is mounted to the first box end, the first wheel end casing defining a first length from the first wheel end flange face to the first wheel end axis;
• and
• a second wheel end casing having a second wheel end flange with a second wheel end flange face mateable with the second box flange face, the second wheel end casing defining as a unitary part of the second wheel end casing a second wheel mount extending from an outer wall of the second wheel end casing and defining a second wheel end opening in communication with the internal volume of the central chain box and disposed about a second wheel end axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis and in communication with the internal volume of the central chain box when the second wheel end casing is mounted to the second box end, the second wheel end casing defining a second length from the second wheel end flange face to the second wheel end axis;
• a third wheel end casing having a third wheel end flange with a third wheel end flange face mateable with the first box flange face, the third wheel end casing having a third wheel end opening in communication with the internal volume of the central chain box and disposed about a third wheel end axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis and in communication with the internal volume of the central chain box when the third wheel end casing is mounted to the first box end, the third wheel end casing defining a third length from the third wheel end flange face to the third wheel end axis, wherein the third length is different than the first length;
• wherein a configurable tandem wheelbase is defined by selectively mounting to the first box end of the central chain box either the first wheel end casing or the third wheel end casing.