Hey guys,<br>I'm still searching for that perfect CTD truck. I have looked at dually and SRW trucks and was curious what you guys thought about them. To me the 2500 SRW truck seemed sportier and quicker on the take-off which makes sense because of weight and rolling resistance, etc... The dually I drove was a turd so it was not a good example for me. I plan on hauling stuff, firewood etc.. and doing some towing of gooseneck trailers loaded with my off-road Blazer ;D and gear. Do I really need a dually, or would a 2500 work just fine for me. Is there a big MPG difference between the two. What other differences can y'all think of? Thanks for any guidance.<br>Sincerely,<br>Chris 8)

 

Well if you get a dually you might be teased here about having training wheels. <br>The 2500, techically, has more towing capacity than the 3500, because the 2500 and 3500 have the same GVCW and the 3500 weighs more due to the extra wheels, but the 3500 has more payload capacity, due to the dual rear wheels.<br>The 3500 is going to be a little more of a hassle to park and keep on your side of the road on narrow roads.<br>The extra weight will contribute to less fuel mileage. I don't know by how much but someone here will chime in with their knowledge of this.<br>The 3500 looks tougher than the 2500. Gotta love how that dually looks!<br><br>Chris

 

This is my first dually but so far I like it.<br><br> For me the pros are better stability when pulling the camp trailer. No more wandering all over the road like a drunk sailor. This was real important to me traveling across the USA.<br> I think the traction is great if I need to pull in the dirt or snow. More meat on the ground when I need to brake.<br><br>Cons are a big fat a$$ to try to wiggle in the mall parking lot and you have to pay closer attention to driving down a narrow road. Tire rotation is a little more involved and it is gonna be pricey when it is time for new tires.<br><br> Overall, I am satisfied with the dually scene. I don't even mind the &quot;Training wheel&quot; comments. <br><br>PISTOL

 

OK, so the gist of it comes down to what I'll be towing. It sounds like that for my needs I would be just fine with the 2500. Would I be able to haul my 13k lb. military 6x6 : behind a 2500 on a good goose-neck with brakes? Thanks for all the comments guys.<br>Chris

 

I love my Dually.<br>You will loose about 1-1 1/2 MPG with &quot;training wheels&quot;<br><br>Parking spaces at the mall were designed for Geo Metros so park in the Boonies, and walk.(or take the Wifey's truck ;D)<br><br>Get the 4:10 rear gear.....the 3:54 will give you a little better milage, but the 4:10's will get your weight movin'.<br>(Hey...if I wanted 40 MPG I would'a bought a Honda) <br><br>Duallys look 8), but there are 6 tires to replace when needed.<br><br>I'll buy another Dually if anything happens to this one. ;D<br><br><br>

 

I agree with the above. This is my second dually. I pull a bumper pull horse trailer that we have put 5 horses in with a camper on the back. I also pull a gooseneck for hauling hay and tractors. You can feel the difference, the dually is more stable, tracks straighter with less sway and roll. However it definitely doesn't feel as quick, it takes getting used to (as far as turning, parking etc), tires are more expensive and the mpg is lower. Re tight spaces in parking lots I even park my Tahoe in the boonies and walk as I hate door dings. If I were to replace my truck it would be with a dually.

 

This is my first dually, I don't think I will every have anything else! I love it! Throw a couple mods on it and you'll be rolling down the road just fine. As far as MPG, I avg 19.xx in summer time, currently (avg 15-25* outside) I am getting 16.xx MPG. That's not so terrible is it? I had 2500 prior to this, and I would say the 3500 tows a heckuva lot better!<br><br>Tony

 

I have driven several different type and brands of both SRW and DRW towing a gooseneck horse trailer.<br><br>The DRW is great for a 4 to 6 horse trailer. Good pulling in the dry ok in the wet and no sway. I did not like pulling the DRW in snow when rutted or wet snow. Feels like no control and get bumped arround a bit. I have rarely seen a DRW without fender damage either by the owner or because of a parking lot problem.<br><br>The SRW is great for anything up to 10 to 12K lbs and in a gooseneck trailer their is no sway. Get the camper package and you will be very happy. In the snow, it is the champ and not much can stop it with the 1000 lb engine in the front and in 4X4 mode. I could never get a dually into my cabin so think about where you will tow it.<br><br>Both have their place but I went for the SRW here in MN.

 

Since I haul heavy most times... I prefer a dually its more stable towing and in cross winds with more rubber on the ground... and it seems the duallys hold resale value better then the 3/4 tons...as far as being too wide for the road or parking Ive not had any troubles and I run back mountain roads all the time once you get use to driving a dually you will not have any troubles staying in your lane...but I do admit once in awhile I will clip a curb too close ;D

 

Dually is the way to go if you are planning on hauling. I tow a 25ft corn pro flat that stays loaded. I mean loaded. The dually is firmer and more stable in curves. When empty, she will absolutley haul (donkey). Never slow down for curves. I have a lead foot. They look mean when coming at you, and at night those lights look great.<br><br>Only drawbacks are the buying of tires, and rotation. Who cares though. I would recommend a quad cab too. Love the room even though I dont haul people back there much, its sure nice to put coats and crap. Pillows and blankets. OOPs I out grew that parking in the moon light stuff. HEHEHEHE! ;D

 

If you're worried about dually fenders getting torn up, buy a cab and chassis and put a flatbed on it. It's great especially if you pull trailers frequently. Not so good if you're trying to keep stuff on the bed. We've had 2 CTD flatbeds and will never go back. <br>ERIC

 

This is the first dually I've owned and so far so good. I have mine loaded with a steel slide on tool box full of gear and a quad in there as well. My weight is at 10100 lbs so I have not had a traction problem yet - even in soft or muddy fields. I'll be getting chains for the winter, if we ever get a winter this year. I have to agree with the comments about stability. The steel tool box adds a lot of height and I've never noticed any sway in the windy south of Alberta. Cornering is flat and controled. As shown in my signature, mine is 4x4 quad cab and I manage 17 - 18 mpg at 70mph 2000 rpm.<br><br>Pat

 

PistolWhipt,<br>I believe that rear wheel traction is less with duals than with singles. The smaller the surface area on the road, the more traction.<br>Andy

 

Getting back to the original question, and followup post, what is the difference in licensing for the weight he plans to pull, 13K?<br><br>Does the 3500 get licensed heavier, or does it just depend on state. I have heard that some states will not license any higher than factory specs, which may get him into trouble pulling that weight.<br>In Virginia, my 2500 has a 10K GVWR but is curiously blank in the GCWR field. I guess that means I can pull as much as I want? <br><br>Chris