Dually or not ?

[Danimal]

i am looking to get a used 1 ton dodge and i am wondering the pros and cons of a dually, i know one thing it would be to big for my garage, any others ?

i will be going to a diesel this time

dan

[acadianbob]

I see you live in Michigan. I've never owned a dually, but my impression is that they are worse in the snow and ice when "empty". Perhaps someone with actual experience can be of help on that issue. The real question is; how much rear axle capacity, tire capacity, and load capability do you need to tow what you want to tow. I wouldn't do it unless I really needed a dually.

[Dave_Monica]

A 1 ton SRW or DRW is way more than you need for your current camper...are you looking at bigger 5th wheels in the near future?

Dave

[cardinal4fun]

I have a 06 DRW with 8' bed. The biggest con is parking. In the winter (maybe just me) driving the city streets gets alittle tought as the plows make the streets narrower. Pros: I like the stability while pulling camper, to me its just a better feeling, more rubber on the road kind of thing. I think somethings more is better

[extremebike]

I'm with Cardinal4fun. I have an 04 dually and the truck definitely has control over the trailer even in the wind and on curves. I would not give it up, but then I use the truck primarily for towing the 5th and parking usually means walking a bit further.

[Danimal]

A 1 ton SRW or DRW is way more than you need for your current camper...are you looking at bigger 5th wheels in the near future?


i am not looking to upgrade the camper, and my 05' 1/2ton does an ok job of towing now the only thing that bothers me is the rear springs they are only 2.5'' and i think thats my weakest link , so iam thinking of going to a diesel (used) and i figure with a 1 ton i wont need to add leafs or air bags and should be a plug and play

[donn]

Since you say you are NOT looking to upgrade in the future I would shy away from a dually and get a SRW. Heck, if you are not going to upgrade why not get a 3/4 ton?
If you are going to upgrade during the life of this truck to a large fiver, then get the dually.

[Sgt. Schultz]

One of the other things with 1t - 10k+ GVW - here they require an annual safety inspection and certification every year = $$, I would check to see if your area req. the same.
Maint. is going to be more than your 1500 for every thing from oil changes, brakes, shocks, tires etc = $$
for the above it does not matter if it is SRW or DRW on the pro side as others have said it does make a difference when towing & you can't put $$ on that IMHO.
BTW one option if you really want a dually is something like what these guys offer: RV Hauler class 8 conversion sport truck alternative puller toter might be a bit of overkill for you current trailer but it might keep the weight police off your back & it's a heck of a dually

[Cinrock]

Can't add much more to what the other guys said. With a diesel in it, you can't get a more enjoyable towing experience. Is it worth the parking hassle, tire cost, etc? You need to be the judge.

[Rugged Brown]

"Do le or not do le", that is the question.

[Slowride]

The added safety of having an additional tire on each side is that a rear blow out will result in a casual drive to a convenient spot to change it. (because you can easily tow your rig with a SRW.)
The dually also eliminates the sway. However, the active sway in my straight-line does a great job of that even with a short wheel base.
I personally like dually diesel trucks. I have absolutely no need for one. I didn't need a RV trailer either!!

[wayne anthony]

Seems like my wife's brother-in-law only buys duallys. My cousin, Who has been towing a 5th wheel from Minnesota to Arizona for about 20 years, has Single rear wheels. His contention with duallys, Your buying 6 tires instead of 4 at a time. Seems like (at least a few years back) the weight of the dually subtract from the load carrying ability of the truck. Wayne

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

"Do le or not do le", that is the question.

That's funny . . . .

[Cajundjb]

Most DRW 1 ton pick ups I've seen have ~ 4.10 gears in the differential which will probably lower your MPG somewhat even when you don't pull your camper. IMO 3/4 ton diesels have ~ 3.83 gears, mostly, with 4.10 gears available. Also, it will be very hard to park at Sonic restaurants, automated car washes, etc. If you are pulling your camper with a 1/2 ton truck now, a decent 'step up' would be a 3/4 ton diesel. I'm looking at a 3/4 ton GMC Denali right now with 10,000 # hauling capacity.

Quite a few flats on duallys occur because of low tire pressure which can cause both of the tires on the same side to blowout if the tires touch while driving down the road. IMO

Good luck!

[Danimal]

lots of great and funny inputs, thank you..... now i guess i will to start the search for a nice used dodge diesel, i think i will pass on a dually just because it wont fit in my garage and i like to store my truck for the winter
thanks again

dan

[Danimal]

RV Hauler class 8 conversion sport truck alternative puller toter

your right i do need one of these but i am sure my wife would give me my walking papers if i came home with one ;-)

[flyrotor]

I've never owned a dually, but my impression is that they are worse in the snow and ice when "empty". Perhaps someone with actual experience can be of help on that issue.

This is due to the amount of actual weight per square inches, the surface contact is less with a dually

My cousin, Who has been towing a 5th wheel from Minnesota to Arizona for about 20 years, has Single rear wheels. His contention with duallys, Your buying 6 tires instead of 4 at a time.

This is true, but comparing duals to singles, the tire mileage on the dually will last longer due to the pounds/square inch on the road. The greatest factor on tire wear is friction, thus a truck with appropriate alignment, the tire wear comes from acceleration and weight (both cause increased friction). By distributing the weight amongst 6 wheels, and distributing acceleration to two wheels (rear axles are accelerating only one side at a time), the tires will last longer. Overall, dually's do not use more tires than singles, given the same weight, they will last about the same. Proper tire rotation is necessary to acquire this.

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by flyrotor

Overall, dually's do not use more tires than singles, given the same weight, they will last about the same. Proper tire rotation is necessary to acquire this.

Assuming the truck is actually used enough to get the miles out of them and not have them rot instead. Just towing an RV a few times a year you will never get the miles out of them before you have to replace them for safety reasons. Now a full timer well that would be different.

[southernsky]

I've had 3/4 tons to pull my 5er and now have a dually. The dually is a much more stable and pleasurable ride. As far as parking lots I always park away from the front doors anyway to save the dings and dents. A little walk never hurt anyone. It may be tight but it fits in my garage

[Danimal]

its the overall length that may give me problems, right now i have a quad cab short bed dodge and i have about 20'' in front of the truck with the back bumper touching the wall, if i could get a dually with a short bed it might work