So the truck I had my eye on sold while I was waiting on more rebates (555 short bed 3500 Sport Laramie 6spd w/ 4.10s)

So was thinking about '05s again..... However since they don't have the Sport package with the Laramie anymore, I was reevaluating....

I am not a Dodge guy, my '01 was questionable at best. I probably would have got rid of it if I hadn't found the cure to death flash.... Way too many problems, virtually all fixed under warranty. (except the no power after death flash, the steering box and the transfer case)

I have a 34' tag trailer I want to tow, will gross around 14k. (GCWR of 22 k)

I have to decide between the big three... Sadly enough I want a short bed dually and Ford is the only one offering this... Also the factory 15k hitch, and brake controller.... Basically Ford is the only one the sells the truck I need, but after checking out dieselstopped.com I don't think I want an International engine in anything ever.

Does anyone know if these could be an option in Dodge or Chevy soon? And any chance of chrome delete?

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Chevy had a few short-bed duallys back around 2000 so I bet it's a possible option . Matter of fact, there is one here in town runnin' around.

 

For not much money you could get a single wheel 3500 shorty and convert it to a dually--Have seen this done and it looks like it was meant to be that way...?

Like my Cummins a lot, would get 6 speed if woman could drive one with a loaded trailer.

 

Yes there is a Laramie Sport, you just have to order that package

 

Are you sure you can get a short bed with DRW? Ford's website won't let you pick that combo.

I just hit the magic combo. You need to have a crew cab to get shortbed and DRW.

 

I have seen firsthand shortie dually from Ford, havent seen Chebbies tho...

I think they are pretty pimp and rode in one last weekend...his 3 years for that truck is coming up in Dec and he is looking at Dodge pretty hard because he doesnt want a ford thinking they will change styles soon and his truck will look old lol. He checked my pickup over pretty close and really likes it, but his son hates anything but ford and dissed the truck the whole time. Little #*%$!

 

If I was pulling a 30'bp tr that weighed in at 14000# I would be looking for the longest framed truck I could find to give some stability to the truck,the shorter the truck the more probability of an accident.

 

A short bed dually without a bed delete??? never knew they existed.....

Learn something new everyday! I'll have to keep my eyes open for one, plenty of duallies in TX.

 

wonder if the dually flares match up on a short bed. If not i might have to find an axle haha

 

GM only had them last gen about '96-'00

The Ford is sweet but would have to order one with a 6spd, dealers all bring in autos

Yeah, they updated the Dodge site, strongly considering ordering a 3500 SRW sport.

Drove an '04 SLT dually 6spd last night....

Nice ride, rode better then the GM. With the shorter cab, the dodge turned as good the ford, was pretty happy overall... plus 41 k msrp, puts it like 10 k cheaper then ford. (42 is my xplan price on the Lariat Auto ford I drove) however no leather and such..... and it had 3.73s which I know a lot of you like, but I honestly feel the 4.10s will be more upto what I am doing. (probablyt won't chip it righ away)

Can not get Sport package on dually though, as best as I can configure on the dodge.com site, but have a sales guy checkin as well.

I don't need a truck until the spring, but am scared to death of the Getrag, so am trying to figure out my decision now so I cna buy Dodge if that is the best choice.


As far as wheelbase and towing, towed it with a 137" wb Excursion halfway across the country at posted speed limits with no handling issues whatsoever. Think a dually would be that much better. (the PSD did unfortunately blow up in nowhere Illinois but its a Ford, what can you expect?)

 

I thought about this too... If I order the 3500 srw configured the way I want and find dually flares that will work on a SB (stock won't clear gas cap) I have the perfect truck, since the legal 9900 GVWR is fine, I only am looking for stability, not capacity.

Are the rear axles the same width? Front has bolt on spacers so that is easy.

 

The one thing that stands out to me is that the fiver hitch has to be mounted a bit further back on a short bed than where the optimum position is. I don't have any first hand experience with this but I have heard others here mention this. From what I can tell, if you have a heavy fiver, the long bed is the best way to go by far to allow for proper hitch positioning without the trailer to truck clearance issues. I know I wouldn't even consider a short bed if I were to tow a heavy fiver frequently.


But of course that is just my .02

 

Makes sense for a fiver -- but I have a tag trailer (flat bed) and would consider a gooseneck if I could get a good price on my tag. Don't need a giant RV, am hauling tall vehicles so the wedge hauler won't work either. Goosenecks have room in shortbed.

 

why have the extra length to get around if u have a 5th wheel get a super glide from pull rite then it will always clear the cab