Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I guess I might as well throw in my comments;
- There has been alot of good advice here, and I also tend to agree with Casey's post (I usually do too, Dean!
) The trailer and stuff that you've indicated hauling doesn't seem to require DRW's. The camper that you've mentioned could easily be a different story, though. I don't have any idea what the camper weighs, but after hauling a 2713 lb camper on my '01 2500 (with custom overloads, sway bar, ranchos, etc). on dozens of trips, I can tell you that I wouldn't go much heavier with SRW's. Doesn't really matter how many times your going to use it IMO.
Keep in mind that things change. What are the odds that you may use the camper more in the coming years, or buy a bigger one? Or change to a 5th wheel or? These are questions you need to answer for yourself. Three years ago, I really wanted a dually six spd. HO. but I didn't need a dually with a 24' TT or a 6 spd for a 7500 lb load. Things change. Now, with a 2700 lb camper and a 16' cargo trailer grossing out at about 15,500 lbs, the dually is the right choice. Make sure that you buy a truck that will meet your needs both for right now and in the forseeable future. If I had done a better job figuring that out, I could have saved myself $10,000. 00 or so.
As far as advantages/disadvantages go, I think that parking (if you live in a large city), off roading (advantage goes to SRW) and perhaps winter driving if you have a 2WD are the biggest disadvantages of a dually. The dually only really has one advantage and that is the ability to haul more weight safely. I can't imagine being concerned over spending $400. 00 extra for tires every couple of years after spending $50,000. 00 on a truck. I'll spend more in a year at the car wash! The extra rolling mass is real, but insignificant IMO. I am already getting 2-4 mpg better in the new truck than my '01 2500 auto and the '03 isn't broken in yet.
As always take this post with a grain of salt and make your decision. Hopefully this thread has provided some insight.
Dave
- There has been alot of good advice here, and I also tend to agree with Casey's post (I usually do too, Dean!
) The trailer and stuff that you've indicated hauling doesn't seem to require DRW's. The camper that you've mentioned could easily be a different story, though. I don't have any idea what the camper weighs, but after hauling a 2713 lb camper on my '01 2500 (with custom overloads, sway bar, ranchos, etc). on dozens of trips, I can tell you that I wouldn't go much heavier with SRW's. Doesn't really matter how many times your going to use it IMO. Keep in mind that things change. What are the odds that you may use the camper more in the coming years, or buy a bigger one? Or change to a 5th wheel or? These are questions you need to answer for yourself. Three years ago, I really wanted a dually six spd. HO. but I didn't need a dually with a 24' TT or a 6 spd for a 7500 lb load. Things change. Now, with a 2700 lb camper and a 16' cargo trailer grossing out at about 15,500 lbs, the dually is the right choice. Make sure that you buy a truck that will meet your needs both for right now and in the forseeable future. If I had done a better job figuring that out, I could have saved myself $10,000. 00 or so.
As far as advantages/disadvantages go, I think that parking (if you live in a large city), off roading (advantage goes to SRW) and perhaps winter driving if you have a 2WD are the biggest disadvantages of a dually. The dually only really has one advantage and that is the ability to haul more weight safely. I can't imagine being concerned over spending $400. 00 extra for tires every couple of years after spending $50,000. 00 on a truck. I'll spend more in a year at the car wash! The extra rolling mass is real, but insignificant IMO. I am already getting 2-4 mpg better in the new truck than my '01 2500 auto and the '03 isn't broken in yet.
As always take this post with a grain of salt and make your decision. Hopefully this thread has provided some insight.
Dave
