Suit My Needs Better?

[Mopar Man1]

Have any of yall drove both a D350 and a D250 truck? I had a W350 that I sold to TJ because it was just to much to drive everyday and I use a regular bed a lot more than I can use a flatbed(I haul a bunch of little junk in the bed a lot and can't really do that on a flatbed) So I sold it,found this very nice D350 that I have now,and the more I drive it the bigger it seems to get. I was wondering is there is a big difference in driving a D250 automatic truck and something like mine. I personally haven't had the chance to drive a D250 much and see if it would better suit my needs of a daily driver/occasional tow rig. So I thought I'd ask yall,I thought it would better suit my needs but would like others advice if yall didn't mind.



Jimmy(the one with the stupid questions) Oo.

 

[TWilkening]

One advantage to a 250 over a 350 would be no duals. If you really need them, they are great. But if you don't they're just 2 more tires you need to buy. Plus they have pretty crappy traction compared to single wheels. As for ride quality, I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I've rode in 250s before, but not a long enough to really judge the quality. I guess if you can find a 250 with a good price, go for it.

 

[1stgen4evr]

which truck

I am fortunate enough to have each and what I do is drive the one that fits the job. If I'm just running around and not hauling anything to speak of, I definitely like the 250. I've had a flat bed in the past but like you mention, stuff will fall off the thing. I am thinking about a western hauler or wrecker type bed for the four door but I will have some sides and compartments on it.



Hauling what I do most of the time, which is top heavy and mean to pull, I would not consider anything but a 350. I have driven a 350 truck since 1970 and I am completely acustomed to the size of the truck and (a plus) in all that time, I have never been down because of a flat on the rear or front. And I almost never haul a spare. I have had to swap one from the rear to the front to limp on to a service center. The margin of safety is paramount to me. I think also that if I didn't go so far from home, it wouldn't matter as much. The load capacity of the 250 is plenty and if you are pulling a goose neck, the balance is not a factor either.



I have a Ramcharger and I believe it would be super for a round town ride for me and the wife. With a cummins of course. But it will be after the four door that I try that project.



What is the 350 you have. Standard cab or club. My 350s are club and my 250s are standard cab. I plan to do the four door on the same chassis length as the club cab and shorten the bed to accomodate that. This for the very thing you mention regarding the sheer size of the rig.



So, if your work is light to medium duty go with a 250. If your work is heavy duty, go with the 350. Upper end of heavy duty, use a four door long bed dually.



James

 

[Philip]

About the only driving difference is the wider fenders on the dually. The 250 will ride a little better. But not by much if the 350 is a 9k GVW. If you have a 11k GVW the 250 will ride a lot better.



In my many years of driving dually's. If you can not get your fenders in some place Then you going to have a hard time getting out of your door in a narrow bed truck.



Your flat bed will stop a car a lot better than a Dodge chrome rear bumper will. LOL The flat bed is easyer to maintain. Every year or two grab a paint brush and a gallon of paint. Do a fast mop & glow on it and its good to go.



My vote is always for the duals. They are more stable with trailers and loads.

 

[dpuckett]

Personally, with today's high fuel prices, and them not seeming to ever come back down, I'd go for the SRW, but would not pass on a good dually just because of the duals alone. I have a dually because I needed it for what I was doing at the time I got it. I am no longer towing, but that is no reason in itself to sell the pickup. As for MPGs, I think you will gain 1-1. 5 at the most with a SRW over a DRW. Gearing and the weight of your foot while accelerating will have a much bigger impact. Keep your boost and EGTs down and you will be fine. The D250 I had rode MUCh better than the 350s I've had. W series trucks ride like log wagons, regardless of 2 or 4 tires in back. The D250 also got the best MPGs- average of 22. 5city- and it smoked enough to obliterate cars behind me in broad daylight if I wanted to. Saw 24mpg a time or two.



As for the size of the rig, if your mirrors clear (even the relatively small power ones), the duals will. The training wheels are intimidating to others in traffic, which has its advantages, namely them keeping their distance. True, you have 2 more tires to buy, but that is what, every 50-75K mi? That is, if it is an everyday driver, and not used to tow 10K every day with the springs flattened out (Case500D?). Do like I do, keep the danged thing, but if some fool comes along and offers you $1500 more than you paid for it take the money and run.



Daniel

 

[GBechtold]

Make your self a set of short wooden stake sides. There are also companies out there that can make you a wagon top for it (tarp and bows) just a suggestion.