Hey guys, I have a deal on the table for a new 2006 megacab 3500 DRW. This thing is LOADED, Infinity stereo system, 6-disc CD changer, DVD player, power everything. This is going to be a RV hauler (10%-20% of mileage) and daily driver. This is going to be a family truck also (wife & 4 kids) BUT, it's an automatic with 3.73 gearing. I'm not going to be towing super heavy weight, just 32 -35 ft 5'er. The dealership is asking 39,000. I think I can get 38,000. Sticker is $50,000 and some change.

What do you guys think about this?

 

In my opinion, 4.10 gears would be better, but I think it will work for you just fine. And yes...thats a good deal.

 

Sounds like a deal to me.

I tow a 33' 11,000lb 5th wheel with 3.73 gears, and it does very well. I'd suggest swinging a deal with the salesman to add in the Jake Brake at the time of purchase; you should be able to get it installed for about $1400--it really adds a huge measure of safety.

 

I paid 39.6k for mine....back in Mar of 2006.

If you feel you need more gear, you can always have 4.10's installed or go to a gear vendors over/under drive.

Ditto on the jake...I wouldn't have it any other way!

I think you are about spot on!

Tony

 

Ok, appreciate the feedback! I'll see if I can't get them to work in the J-brake. As far as the dually goes, I've read several posts on this forum, which is an amazing forum by the way, regarding some of the pro's and con's of driving a DRW. My only concern is the icy roads around here when I'm not hauling anything. Is this something to be worried about, or is it just something that you get used to and adapt the driving technique?

 

Yeah, that is a good deal. The only con to a DRW IMO is if you do a lot of in town driving it's not always easy to find a place to park. But for towing it is definately a pro and I think it handles just fine on snowy/icy roads. I think better than an SRW would b/c of the added weight back there the main problem with these trucks is that they are so front heavy, the more weight and traction you have back there the better it will handle...Even when using 4WD

 

I've heard of some people (in snow country) putting 1-2kip in the bed for traction purposes. Steel plates; sand bags; I think his name was Hoss, even poured a 3" slab of concrete into the bed.

HTH

Tony

 

I had to put about 10 sandbags in the back of mine to get it to "behave". It still isn't as nice as my SRW 3/4ton was on snowy/icy roads. Deep snow is real iffy with the duallys as well. It works a LOT harder to break that extra set of tracks. Was picking up a trailer from my parents acerage yesterady and noitced that my sister's '01 1500 had a much easier time plowing thru the snowy fields than my dually did.

Parking is not a huge issue. The '01 dually actually turns sharper than my '92 3/4ton did. So I was used to parking at the back anyway. Just have to keep an eye on the fenders, drive thrus are usually where I worry the most. If the mirrors clear the fenders will too UNLESS you turn too sharp and then back cuts in.

Since you only tow about 10-20% of the time 3.73s are the better choice. Daily driving with 4.10s will seem "buzzy" after awhile having the RPMs up there all the time.

 

My duallies have been some of my best snow vehicles. It's all about the tires. I have been able to go anywhere I have wanted to usually in 2WD and only in the most extreme stuff do I even even need 4wd. The front tires under all the weight of the engine, are just beastly in the snow. You WON'T be dissapointed!

Congrats on the Mega Dually!!! I think you will love it as much as I love mine!

 

Some duallys have a limited slip differential and it makes a lot of difference .

 

my dually is awesome in the snow!! past 2 weeks it has been nasty here and the 07drw behaves much more civil than my 05 srw does. i have had the 05 in 4wd since it snowed and my wife in the 07drw maybe used 4wd the first 2 days. both have ltd slip rearends & 3:73.

 

Ditto on D's, Rick's, and SRTs comments on the duallys in the snow-we have gotten a lot of it here lately in NM and haven't had any issues at all-heck, I see plow drivers lookin at the truck with envy Seems a lot more stable than other trucks I have driven.