Dually Drawbacks???

[xcr800man]

Thinking of trading my 2500HD in for a 3500 Dually. Anybody that has made this switch, do you ever regret it? Both trucks are crew cabs the 2500HD is a shortbox and the 3500 only comes as a longbox. I know that the dually is going to be more stable towing my 32' enclosed, but I really like my 2500. I know that the extra length and the duals will make it less nimble, but at this point, I am interested in the stability; especially in high wind that you get on I80 Westbound.

 

[Himark]

good things..

Stable. and yes it is, possible blow outs still can run in. capacity is higher.

Bad things,

Cost of extra tires, flares cause driveability problems ie banks, drive throughs, big problem with GM broken box sides...specially cold. Cant go with the big tires or lift.

 

[Highmarker]

Cant go with the big tires or lift.

seen plenty around here with lifts and big tires.

 

[havinfun]

Bad: Your buddies think the flares are a great place to rest on and talk. Meanwhile the belt buckles are doing bad things to the paint. Maintaining air pressure on inner tire. Oversize tires and chain install. Extra set of tires to buy. Alignment cost is higher. Less traction on rainy roads without load. Compact parking spaces. Entertaining to drive on rutted snowy road.

Good: Stability with camper, trailer, sled deck. Load capacity. More exercise from walking from far end of parking lot.

Has better stability when towing or with camper been mentioned???

The good outweigh the bad.

 

[Eyelasers]

The good out weigh the bads IMO. Pull like a dream, they do not feel that much bigger than a regular crew cab. I love the duallies I have had. Wind is not a problem with a dually. Buying 6 tires does suck, especially the 18's and 17's they have now. Used duallys are a better deal than new ones because the market for people that will buy a dually is not as big. So you can normally work a deal. New, well, who knows. Never bought a new one.

 

[Ultra]

I have 2 duallies now, have had 3 total. Big loads it the only way to go. I can load everything I own on it and behind it, still 75mph and it doesn't even flinch. Six tires on the ground last 30% longer to, as long as you keep them rotated. I will never be without one again.
The only con's are air pressure on the inside and driving around town but in my case I also have an extended cab 4x4 with a v6 for around town and work.

 

[Tec]

The only draw back I've found on my dodge dually, is the gearing. 4:10's and 32" tires is pretty lame for hwy driving. Other than that, it's been the best tow rig I've had .

 

[NorthMNSledder]

What about when breaking trail? ie deep snow and you are breaking trail on the front tires and again for the wider rear duals? Would this be more of a problem or not enough to care about?

 

[Eyelasers]

I never had a problem breaking trail with my duallies. Cannot remember ever having to with more than 8 to 10 inches of fresh on top. But if a single wheel truck can break through it I bet any dually could too.

 

[Ultra]

One of my duallies is a 79 4x4 with an 8' straight blade fisher snow plow. With chains on all fours I was able to plow my way into a buddies cabin in the north fork of the flathead basin last Christmas. Most of it was four feet deep. The trick is to put some weight on it, a rack and two sleds works amazingly well.

 

[Snorider]

it's worth the dually, I hated having to stop using it for the most, but off season work and where i stay the parking stalls are narrower than the flares(i would hang over but the concrete pillars stop me from doing so.

Not everyone wants a stupid pirus or mini pooper, so now a 3500 SRW eclb is what i use, miss the 2 extra tires at times towing though.

 

[graham_r]

Mabe think about a 3500 with a single rear axle. The truc will be more stable because it is a 1 ton. My F-350 hauls mini excavators and skid steers no problem with a single. better in the snow to. All though Duallies are sweet

 

[I'LL WIN]

The ony drawback to a dualy is you cannot go through most automatic car washes.

 

[ccoleman77]

Dually is worth it if you haul loads. Have had both and the dually is sure to have less brown stains on the seat from windy days pulling a trailer. Like everyone said car washes drive thoughs downtown parking all will take time to get used to but the benefits greatly outweigh the negatives

 

[Coldfinger]

I've never owned a dually, but I've been around them enough to know they are the only way to go if you are pulling big trailers or hauling heavy loads.

I imagine they will suffer a little on the MPG compared to SRW trucks.

In deep snow, SRW is the best because you don't have the extra wheels sticking out in the snow. If you are trying to follow tracks cut by SRW vehicles, it is still tricky. On the other hand, if your trailer wheel track outside the SRW track, then it may not make much difference because either way you've got tires cutting new tracks in the snow whether it is the truck or trailer.

The narrower your tire width, the easier it is to get thru snow (most often anyhow).

 

[Snorider]

I've never owned a dually, but I've been around them enough to know they are the only way to go if you are pulling big trailers or hauling heavy loads.

I imagine they will suffer a little on the MPG compared to SRW trucks.

In deep snow, SRW is the best because you don't have the extra wheels sticking out in the snow. If you are trying to follow tracks cut by SRW vehicles, it is still tricky. On the other hand, if your trailer wheel track outside the SRW track, then it may not make much difference because either way you've got tires cutting new tracks in the snow whether it is the truck or trailer.

The narrower your tire width, the easier it is to get thru snow (most often anyhow).

if you did what i used to do when going up sledding it was awesome, I used to bolt a sheet of steel directly to the frame in the bed.(you don't want that coming through the back of the cab if you happen to get in an accident). it went around like a billy goat.............a BIG billy goat.

 

[DaveB]

I agree with everything said....but what nobody has mentioned is that the dualys spread the weight out on the rear and really get worse traction in the slick stuff. In the spring and fall when you have to drive up the logging roads to unload, this is very apparent. I run with a guy with a Dodge 1ton dualy and a buddy with a GM 1ton dualy and in the slick cutline conditions, my 1/2 ton towing a 2 place trailer goes further than both of them with sleds on the deck.

 

[F-Bomb]

Not a direct comparison for your question but generally speaking from my experience of a 1ton SRW (long WB) versus a 1ton DRW (short WB).

drawbacks...cost of extra tires..parking..fuel economy..seriously ice rutted roads..getting through narrow mtn roads or trails

plus'..towing..stability..appearance ie if you aren't going compensator style it still looks good..beer resting hips..mine did better in dEEEEEp snow..with 6 studded snow tires it's pretty safe feeling and acting on very slick roads.

Note that I went from long wheel base single to short dually and I love the short. Long was a bugger in little sled parking lots with the trailer. Goose and shortie is really nice.

 

[Tec]

Tires on a dually don't really cost any more money! If you have a lifted SRW on 35's with 18" rims, your 4 35's cost more than my 6 31.5" tires.

 

[jrusher]

I went to a dually duramax this summer sold my 2500 crew S/B duramax.. Its alot more stable pulling my toyhauler and nice to be legal weight wise when toying heavy!!
My 2500 pulled it with ease too though but I'll never have a shortbox again its so nice to have a slip tank/toolbox and fifth hitch and still alot of cargo room..
Downsides harder on fuel need to get rid of the DPF filter, alittle rougher ride.. Not sure how she'll do in the winter yet towing??
If your only towing sled trailers I wouldnt switch..