pros and cons for dually

[Bob W]

I'm considering a dually for my next truck. I can see that any drive thru is probably impossible; how about toll booths; parking lots; any other problems associated with a dually being a daily driver? Do toll rates change because of the extra tires? All replies appreciated.

 

[E7mack96]

Drive thru is ok

I have no problem with any drive thru in my area. Same for parking, but I park away from others and take 2 spots, lol

 

[Lurch]

Most tolls are dependant on axles not tires. However there are a few exceptions. The first few days in a dually the pucker factor is pretty high, after that it seems pretty natural. If the tow mirrors fit the training wheels will too.

I didn't mind parking at the end of the lot and walking, your opinion may vary.

Besides, they just look better.



Lurch

 

[Shovelhead]

As far as clearance through toll booths and such, I know I'm not as wide as some "Big Trucks" traveling the highways, and all tolls I've run into are based on # of axles, not wheel count.



I'll second the "First few days pucker factor when passing near anything.

But that goes away quickly as you get a "feel" for the size of the "Hips".





I also park in the "Boonies".

As you walk towards your pride and joy, you can say to yourself "Dang that's a beeeeeutiful Truck"

Training wheels are



Cons: you're buying 6 tires at a time instead of 4

 

[nh2112]

Up here the toll rates are published by the number of axles, but in a dually you pay 75 cents as opposed to 50 cents for 4 tires. Sounds like the turnpike agencies have found a way to have their cake and eat it too. Of course, if you always go to the automatic lanes it can't tell that you have 6 tires, and you're not breaking the law because it only specifies "no trailers. " I guess you could always go to a manned lane, hand 'em 50 cents, and if they demand another quarter take off with a cloud of smoke so they can't see your plate on the way out.





Dually pros: Higher GVWR, lateral stability (especially with rear swaybar. )



Dually cons: Size, extra expense at tire replacement time, not many options for installing bigger tires, poor performance in snow (IMO).





All in all, I'd say the pros outweigh the cons if you're going to be towing or hauling often, but if light loads are the norm I wouldn't spend my money on one.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I don't know why a dually would make a difference on the toll roads heck more tires per axle the better the roads will wear. After all isn't this the purpose of tolls anyway to pay for roads must be the liberals on the right coast dreaming up new ways to tax.



I was gonna get a dually because I pull my work trailer everyday and know the dually has much better stability and brakes than 3/4 tons and the trailer kinda shook and moved around the back end of my 3/4 ton 2wd first gen truck, as well as had a lack of brakes. But i didn't want to spend the extra money So i just went with the 2500 4x4 truck which and I am sure glad i did, My truck with camper package and sway bars is very stable I thought maybe getting a 4x4 would make the truck less stable cause of ride height, but my truck honestly handles the load as well as a '95 dually that i used to drive. The rear disk brakes are like night and day. Unless you need the extra weight rating stay with the 2500

 

[Cowboy Medic]

I drive my truck every day and I go anywhere I want, drive thrus, etc. No toll roads out here but I remember em from being in the navy out in virginia and ya can keep em. As for Pro's and Con's The stability and handling is awesome. I will never go back to a single rear wheel. Mine is a 4x4 so snow and ice don't phase me either, if you are driving with caution and common sense the dually will still take you anywhere you want to go. As for the paying for 4 tires instead of 6 I can agree that it was a thought but it was a very fleeting one, after being on the road pulling mom and dad's fiver and blowing out a rear tire, having the second one paid for itself just in peace of mind. Now, my brother owns a 2500 and 3. 55's where as I have the 4. 10's and I am quite a bit heavier than he is because of add ons and the 3500 package and he only beats me in fuel milage by about 1 mpg. The only reason he hasn't gone to a duallie is that he does a very large amount of trail driving and I can agree the duallie would not hold up well to what he does, but for me I figure if I am going out in that I would rather use an ATV or a horse.



All in all, if you think you want a duallie, just go for it, you will find they are everything you want them to be.

 

[crossroads]

Tolls

I have to go through the Land of the Toll Booth (NYC) to get off of Long Island. The dually is not more money than my 1500 Quad cab. We pay $24. 00 to go over the GW bridge with the trailer and $15. 00 to go over the Throgs Neck Bridge to get home. On the way out GW is free.

To go and come back is 54. 00.

Have not went anywhere in the dually without the trailer so I'm not sure about higher fees with the dually. I'll pay the extra for the extra safety and towing ability.

 

[csevers]

I vote for the dually

I like the look of the dually better I think you can get a better ride out of the dually depending on the set up, more rubber on the road is good more rubber to pay for sucks better stability with bumper pull trailers or implements. I like heavy dually trucks for pulling heavyer loads down steap hills. It is mostly preferance or money do what works for you I have seen people do what i do with 3\4 ton truck but not with the saftey margin and sometimes with white nuckles.



good luck with your decision

 

[WadePatton]

CON: They get stuck easier off road. 4X4 included. The extra tires out back keep it from digging down and getting traction. If you are off roading or feed-lot driving much I'd stay with four tires.



PRO: MORE WHITE SMOKE when you melt the tires at lift-off!!!

 

[Pit Bull]

I think you know this, but a Dodge CTD dually 4x4 is the best looking truck on the road If looks are important to you buy the dually. I also agree with what the other dually owners said.



It's BIG, BAD, BOLD, and BEAUTIFUL

 

[Bob W]

my wife has another con; her exact words: "they look goofy. "

I tried to sell the aspects of safer towing when we get a fiver, but she still has the "goofy" comment.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Bob W

my wife has another con; her exact words: "they look goofy. "

I tried to sell the aspects of safer towing when we get a fiver, but she still has the "goofy" comment.

Bob that is not a "con" that is a "pro", maybe she will be like my wife and never want to drive it. See what I mean



Some additional advise from DR. Phil "never listen to a women when you are buying a truck"

 

[Shovelhead]

Originally posted by Pit Bull





Bob that is not a "con" that is a "pro", maybe she will be like my wife and never want to drive it. See what I mean



Some additional advise from DR. Phil "never listen to a women when you are buying a truck"

P. B. I gotta agree

Wifey would always drive my 1500 gasser and leave me with an empty tank.

She won't drive the 3500 at all 'cuz it's too big. :-laf

 

[WadePatton]

I forgot

WAIT a minute, it doesn't have to be a wide-arse dually, you can get a flat-bed dually--I like those much better. The rear wheels don't stick out at all and you can put the manly man bed on there that fits you best. No fabuglass fenders to knock off.



That's what I'll get when I get one--need a spare truck or two ya know.



PRO Flat bed!

 

[illflem]

Another con: when offroading fist sized rocks can get wedged in-between the tires and later eject at 70 mph causing major damage to your truck or anyone around you. Good idea to check them before reaching speed after a dirt road.

 

[GSchlegel]

I was looking for a 3/4 ton when I stumbled across my dually - couldn't pass up the deal. I've put 180,000 miles on her and now wouldn't consider a single rear wheel truck.



Cons:

I don't go through drive-thrus, they can't hear me.

Sometimes I have to walk a little further across a parking lot. I can always use the excercise.

Yes, I have to buy 6 tires at a time, but I get more miles out of each set.

Needs weight in the box to get around in the snow, I put in 1,600# of sand bags each winter and haven't been stopped.



Pros:

As others have said, looks like a real truck.

More stable, comfortable, and durable.



Gene

 

[JoeyD]

PRO's You can leave 4 black marks on the ground. If doing 2 is fun 4 must be better.

 

[Bob W]

Thanks Pit Bull; I like your approach to what I thought was a con.

Gotta love the TDR!!!

 

[rrl989]

If you want to haul or tow anything substantial, go with a 3500. I drive mine daily, its only as wide as the OEM mirrors, Around town, I let other drivers watch out for the extra Michelins. Plenty of traction in snow, but just like all pickups, need to have weight in the bed to get it. As far as tolls, I too get raped when I leave the Island. %50 of the time the toll collectors don't know any better and charge me like a car, even with the slide-on loaded. The other times, even empty, I pay almost double, one collector says it commercial, other says all commercial over 8k lbs, others say "don't matter, your 8 feet wide", & some say, "what do you usually pay". I owned a trucks before, the best drivabily issue with the DRW's is the stability in turns. Would not consider a 2500 (IMO) for use with a slide-on of any size. Not much choice in tire sizing, but with 860mm's (1998) of rubber in the rear, we have plenty of stopping power when loaded.



Ron