Hello, Joe here from Chicago. Looking at my first Dodge product. On the chopping block is my 2002 Duramax CC/SWB. Question is has anyone bought a dually for a daily driver and regretted it? I will only tow 10,000-12,000 lbs max during the summer months and the rest will be some city and the rest country driving so it definately would be overkill as far as towing. I was looking for a SRW 1 ton but the dealer let me drive a new 04 CC dually Cummins for a few hours and I was hooked. The truck was the awesome but I wonder if the ga ga effect got a hold of me! Just wondering.... ;D

 

Welcome Joe from Chicago! You guys beatin' up on the ole Deadskins, huh??? There's a few threads floating around here on using dooleys for daily drivers. Lotsa guys do, and the only real common issue is parking them in tight spots with the training wheels.

I used to have a dooley, it was a gasser, so the gas mileage stopped me from using it as a daily driver. But for me, it did get to be a pain to park WAY out there in the parking lots if only to find two spots open. I would NEVER be able to drive it to work and park it here in the parking garages of DC.

These trucks sure are nice though. Why not ask to drive one of those SRW's for a bit. Or is the dealer chomping at the bit to sell you a DRW? That GAGA factor won't go away with it.

 

I was wondering the same thing when I ordered mine, and I really haven't regreted it at all. Once you get use to the extra wheels it really isn't a big deal, biggest thing is it doesn't fit in my tiney garage.

The parking spots it the only real issue I have. But it is kind of a good thing to. Instead of searching the rows for a "good" spot I just park toward the end of a row in a couple of spots and walk it. Saves on door dings and stuff, easy to spot in the lot too. ;D

 

I'm on my third dually as a daily driver. It's seldom a problem. I can't get through a few drive-thru's, bank or fast food joint, so I have to go in. Parking at most places isn't a problem. I park way out and walk in anyway, regardless of whether I was driving a dually or not. I don't mind getting a little extra exercise to avoid parking lot rash. When we go out at night we usually take my wife's Suburban. It's easier to get around town.

 

Thanks for the responses so far!
I have given it as much thought as I can and for me(like most others) I park in the back anyway. The only 2 driveups I go to are my bank and Portillos(Chicago style dogs and beef's) so I guess I could use the walk myself! Also my fiance has a smaller suv if we go out to dinner or I just need a smaller vehicle I have one to use. Other than that I drove around the neighborhood and on some tight busy streets without a problem. Only thing is I keep thinking someone is gonna take out a rear fender. Man o man I am really good at convincing myself that I need something ;D

Bula-there'a a sayin that Chicago sports teams are using more and more frequently, say it with me "Next Year" :P :P

 

Like others have said, parking spots and drive-thrus are the only issues. If the mirrors clear, then the rear end will clear. Kinda like whiskers on a cat. Just takes a bit of getting used to. BTW, thanks for mentioning Portillo's. You just made a transplanted Chicagoan start thinking about a wet Italian beef with Provalone. :'(

 

For what you are pulling you sure don't need it.

Another point is that the single wheel is going to normaly ride better. You get more road roughness tranfered through the dual wheels.

Oh ya, you got to buy 6 tires when the time comes too

 

Hmmm. All I know is that after one year and three months, I still have the GA GA factor. Have not regretted the dually or the extra exercise. FWIW.

Casey

 

Welcome to the site, TurboJoe! I'm on my second dually. I used both as a daily driver, and my fifth wheel trailer is in the 10-12,000 lb range. I love my dually. The only times I don't like it are the situations above, and to be honest, they don't even really bother me. I can go through most drive-thru's, but there are some that have turns that are too sharp,etc. I always park out in the parking lots anyway. And I figure that I don't have to buy tires often enough to make it a real issue. You can see pics of my rig on page 8 of the member's photos, and my truck was the November Truck Of the Month.

Good luck with your decision!

DeWain

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

 

One thing no one has mentions is Car Washes. A dually will not go though most automated car washes, and we don't have any hand washes around here.

 

Good point, Big Bob. That is one thing that bugs me sometimes. I wash the truck 80% of the time in my driveway. Nearest "spray-it-yourself" place is 15 miles away.
It doesn't get washed enough this time of year because of climatilogical circumstances. ;D

 

I pull my 24' pace trailer with race car enclosed all over the place it's 10,000 #s. I have never used a dually to pull it. Just sold my 96' 2500 CC 4x4 and never a problem . I keep good tires on the truck , a blowout is my only concern. I am replacing my 96' with a 2004.5 3500 SRW 4-door LB 4x4 and 6-shooter.

 

I really wanted a 3500 SRW/SB/4x4/Laramie/Quad cab/CTD but it is very hard to find one. I do not want to order a new truck cause of the current rebates and I do not want the new motor. When I was at the dealer I saw the dually that someone had ordered exactly the way I would have and fell in love. My salesman is doing a 3 state search to see what is out there for a SRW but pickins are slim and the dually keeps callin me!

 

The dualie will tow a trailer and a fifth wheel better than a srw. Try pulling a trailer with a stiff side wind and get passed by a semi.

 

If you're going to do it, do it 110%! I towed 10,000lbs from Arizona to NC with my 2000 2500. No real problems but I did experience some hairy situations. Now with the new rig, I got to admit, driving around Ft Bragg area can suck. But once you get on the highway, towing or not, the stability of the dually can't be beat. It rides just as smooth as my old 2500 but doesn't get the "blow job" treatment like my old rig got from passing 18 wheelers. Overall, I wouldn't trade it for a single rear wheel. I love the looks I get. GET THE DUALLY! You won't regret it.