3500 questions

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I am in the thinking stage of going to a 3500 and have never ridden in one let alone driven one. Clue me in on what I need to know.
Questions.
1. How does it do in snow and mud compared to the srw?
2. Do you chain inside,outside,or both?
3. Are there difficulties in mud ruts where only srw vehicles have gone?
4. Is fuel mileage less than srw?

Thanks in advance to all responses as you can see I am at ground zero on knowledge.

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Bert
"97"SLT,CC,4x4,3/4,5spd,3:54,60gal Aero tank,E-brake,Primelock
Lund running boards,Espar htr,Powervision Mirrors.

 

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The 3500 is liked for its stability in carrying a camper and pulling a 5er. This is due to the wide rearend track. Because of this additional width they can be a pain to park. I would get the 4x4 if your concerned about snow. Ive heard the MPGs are slightly lower than a 2500 but I cant confirm that. You need to get to a dealer who has one on the lot and take it for a spin. BTW,we dont worry too much about snow down here in the valley.

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2001 HO 6spd,Quad cab,LWB,4x4,Flame Red,all options except for leather,Westin Brushguard/Push bar,Painless wiring,Radio Shack CB( so what it works},my own designed CB mount,Smittybuilt nerf bars,NW Custom rocker covers(more to come)

 

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I agree with Micheal,if your not towing a big 5er or having a big camper on the rear ,imho i would not get a dually. I live in Michigan and we get a little snow here, mine is a 2x4 and thus far no problems. But if i didn't need the duals for stability i would own a srw.

 

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I've got to say ditto to the others. I have a dually and I frankly got it because I like it. I don't know about mud or snow but the weight on a dually is spread out because of four tires vs two. (less lbs per sq in) My truck would just spin the tires on a wet boat ramp. I had to set there til it dried to get my boat out of the water, so I would think that it will not do well in mud or snow. I still love a dually though. Hope this helps.

Steve
Y2K 3500 2x4

 

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Thanks for the replys.

Yes it will be a 4x4 and because of the overweight issue I have with the slide in and also the 5th wheel.

Just a matter of weighing the pros an cons not to mention the bucks.

I will check out the dealer and go for a spin. literly!

 

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Dually's are generally known to be bad in the mud. Mud packs up in between the rear wheels. I've stuck both a 2500 and a 3500 pretty bad, so I (emphasis on I) don't feel either do well. But I have seen some 2500's mud bogging and doing well.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, 245/70-19. 5 Michelin's, Ranchhand bumpers, DeeZee toolbox, "Scotty Air", TST PowerMax2, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake

 

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hey Bert, I have a 99 3500, (see signature), love the on highway handeling. no sway even in heavy cross winds, just great! however in mud, and sand and I would assume in snow as well, gets stuck in a flash, (see my post on the 24V engine/drive train topic). 4WD would help a lot!

jmho, good luck!

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1999 3500 quad cab, auto aero fendor trim and running boards,
bugflector II, K&N filter, Geno's monster tip

 

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... . and, if you use your truck for driving other than toting the camper, a dually will NOT fit in a drive-thru bank teller! They are hard to park with the extra width. I pulled a big goose with my 2500 with no troubles. Cowboys tell me that its not the weight thats the problem, its livestock shifting their weight from one foot to the other that requires the stability of a dually!

 

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Happy Camper,

1. We get a "wet" snow around my neck of the woods. The front tires tracks in the middle of the duals. The duals try to ride up on the snow that the fronts spread on either side. Makes for a squirrlely ride. May be just my tires.

2. You can buy chains that go over both tires. Watch your clearance of course.

3. Can't help you there.

4. My 12 valve gets about 17mpg. I run 60-70 most of the time. My setup has more than the normal amount of wind resistance.

I can also tell you that my truck is rock solid in the rain, loaded or empty as far as hydroplaning. What kind of driving do you do? Prepare to park away from buildings so you don't get parked in which is smart anyway. When you go about your daily routines, think about that extra width. Would it be a problem? Maintenance costs are a little increased over SRW.

As for me, I love my dually. It is my daily driver, my work truck, my hotrod, you name it!

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97'3500 SLT CC,4x4,5 spd,4. 10,88K,EBY aluminum flatbed,Dee Zee running boards,Dee Zee Platinum drop boxes,Mag-Hytec,BD Brake,Pyscotty,Jardine 4",Geno's monster tip,TST plate,Bilstein,Isspro,PIAA Superwhites,Tekonsha Sentinel,on the bench;Roadmasters,370injectors,more.

 

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Thanks for the info. I don't plan on doing much mud and snow only when I can't help it. 99 per cent of my driving is on blacktop except when I pull into my drive way.

You are not really stuck until you climb out your window because you cannot open the door. Been there,done that, not a pleasant experience digging out and raining and family waiting for a miracle!!! Miracle was I didn't have a heart attack digging out. If I can come up with realistic figures (mine not theirs) I will spring for a dually as I weigh 7400 and a 2800 camper puts it over the door plate by a considerable amount.

 

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Bert, go to the dealers lot, get a dually then go profiling in it for awhile, you'll love it!! Find some big plate glass windows to see the reflection of a good looking rig in!! #ad
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Regards Pete

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99'3500,quad cab,4X4,a/t
3:54,all the right packages!PROPER VALVEMENT

 

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Pete Peterson,

You have got that right! I did not want to go there but what the heck. You pull up in a Cummins powered Dodge dually and everyone stops to check you out! Does the word "smug" mean anything? Heh Heh. Only thing better is when you are pulling a nice camper or a trailer with your favorite toy on it!

 

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HRTRHRS, I don't consider myself smug, I feel I'm downright arrogant!!! #ad
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Pete

 

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PETE!

I thought I was the only one that goes by those big windows and look as if a pretty girl was walking by. heheh Still got to keep one good eye on the road.

I like the bright silver metalic!!!!!!

 

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Bert, I like the silver also but I have a 2500 in the amber fire/ silver on order. Plus I ordered a 3500 sport in flame red!!!!
Not sure which one I like the best. I'll wait till they get here probably in Nov. Have to make up my mind then #ad
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Regards Pete

 

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If your set on a dually,which by your camper weight would be required,then go all out and get the HO 6spd. You wont regret it.

 

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I bought my 3500 because it met the other criteria I was looking for (4x4, diesel, auto, loaded, CHEAP). Didn't like the daully due to the parking problems, the cash machine problems, the fast food drive up problems. As for mud, never been and would like to keep it that way. But snow... .
I bought mine to pull our enclosed trailer to snowmabile races. We have to go in all weather conditions. I never appreceated 6 wheels until I saw the complete side of my trailer in the side mirror at about 50 on ice one night. I wouldn't have known it was swinging if I hadn't just lost a trailer axle but that's another story. In wet snow over about 2-3 inches up to about 6 inches it is challenging but on ice and normal snow I wouldn't have a 4 wheeler.
As for traction, at the Scheid rally last year, the daully's out distanced the non daully's fairly consistantly (except of course for that white contraption).
Ditto on the HO 6 spd.


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'94 3500 4x4, 201,000 miles, Never had a cat, Auto w/shift kit (currently under remodification), 3. 54 Gears, TST #5 plate, 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro gauges inplace of cupholder & Amsoil Bumper to Bumper. NRA member.
"Warrantee? We don't need no stinking warrantee!"

 

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As far as all this talk about not fitting places... if your mirrors will fit, the duals will too!


-dm

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'01 Eth 3500 dually, no mods planned except maybe an amsoil filter & guages. See My Truck and also be sure to read What tools & methods to use for an easy 1st oil change!!!

 

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dmurdock is right, just watch the mirrors. I fit through my bank drive through, ATM's, McDonalds, etc. Just watch the mirrors. Once you go dually, you will never go back.

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2000 3500QC 4x4, 6-speed, 3. 54, Patriot Blue, SLT+, Rancho 9K's, Mag-Hytec

 

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If you've never owned one before , the first few days may be intimidating. It will seem like over night someone down-sized all of the driveways and parking spaces. It will fit in most places, I have not had to back out yet, just remember the archetechts are designing the world for econo boxes.

It's comforting to know when you are hauling a big load that you have the bigest , badest & best looking Dodge truck made to get the job done. The 3500 will peg the cool meter!!
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As for your questions,
#1 it depends on how deep the mud or snow is, with the narrow tires a dually requires and the extra weight of the mighty Cummins , the front end will sink like the anchor of the Queen Mary in the deep stuff. A 215 or 325 85/R-16 is far from a floation tire.
#2 I chain the out side rears and if it gets ugly I slip a set on the front. I use the Quick fit diamond chains they go on in about 30 seconds and no crawling under to hook the back side.
#3 same as #1
#4 As you probably are already aware if you've read the mileage posts some are just better than others . Driving habits , production irregularitys , alignment of the planets , who knows . I'm happy with mine.

Like most have said you will be glad you got the dually to haul your toys and 4x4 is almost an automatic select in this State when you order a truck.

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99,QC,3500,Sport Black,4x4,Auto,3. 54,Anti-spin,Camper pkg,Carpet delete,all options except leather.
Silencer ring?? We don't need no stinking silencer ring!!!
Self installed goodies,
OEM Running boards,Mud flaps&Bed liner, Tinted windows,Jacobs E-Brake,BD Torque Loc. Whimpy stock class 4?? hitch fell off-replaced it with a Super Hitch(1200# tongue,15000# trailer) on the house from DC thanks for the recall!!

Installing-Trailer brake controller.

Next-BD Pressure loc and one of those really cool mag hytec transmission pans.