[quote author=Mcmopar link=board=11;threadid=20972;start=0#msg197235 date=1066244474]
Both the 2500 and 3500 Dodges have full floaters.
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Well, by golly maybe I dreamed it. Been known to happen before.

One reason I steered clear of a DRW was because when it came time to retire I would have to replace 6 tires instead of 4. Pretty flemsy reason I know but Bush cut down my money tree. :-

I pull a 27' fiver and have plenty of stability.

 

My dually is my daily driver, and I love it. 20K miles per year, and most of it solo. Also, I don't have any facts, but I have my doubts about the 2-3 mpg less for the dually. I have the 4.10 gears (one differential, not two) and I get about 16 around town, and as much as 20 mpg on the highway, solo. If you are going to be towing more than 10,000 lbs or so, go for the dually.

JMHO

DeWain

 

I LOVE my training wheels, I haven't had any for almost 45 years, and even back them I fell over. We use the dually mostly around town also, and get 17-18 mpg, IF I don't smoke and thumpers at the red light, about the best I've seen on the hi-way is 20-21 mpg. I'm able to haul most of the pumps we repair in the bed, but did put a 4k lb one in it and still got 17 mpg with the air on and running 70-75 mph. I'm like everybody else, it's makes my rear end pucker when I get in traffic in a narrow lane. They where working on I-20/59 in town the past few months and narrowed the lanes to be able to have room to work, I almost wiped out the rear fenders more than once, but thank the man up stairs for the way they make the concrete dividers, (big at the bottom and small at the top), I could feel the back tire start to ride up on it when a big rig squeezed me over Sides of the tires aren't too pretty but they still roll.

 

Love my dually and I just got back from a 1000 mile round trip. Filled up once and have been riding around on the leftovers for 4 days now. Still got just under half a tank. I have a very happy right foot most of the time and have a sneaky suspision that everyone on the road wants to race me. hehehehe! Thats my story and I am sticking to it. Lots of construction around the 59 and I10 exchanges and I know all to well about those dividers. Put a lump of charcoal between my cheeks and spit out a diamond. LOL It corners better than any other truck I have owned and trailers like a dream. Not that I have done a lot of pulling but what I have done is great. I want some velvet ride and some more ponies but this truck will be in my family for a long time to come. Call her bertha and love those wide hips. Kinda like being the heavy on a dance floor. If you need more room,just throw a hip at em'. Get a dually and park in the back of the lot. Good exercise and saves on the door dings anyway. 8)

 

If your hauling lots of weight the dually is the way to. for stability and if you lose a rear tire you can still drive. As far as the daily driver part my wife has no problem with her's. If your only hauling light loads then the srw will work for ya. Had a kid working for me tow my dump trailer with the skidsteer in it it weighs 9800 by itself . he did tend to wander the road a bit with his 2500.

 

More stable! Stability is decided in the suspension not the # of wheels. Leaf springs, overloads and sway bars sum it up. More wheels can mean less stability on a road rutted out by heavy traffic. I admit they look great but my next will be a srw 3500. I run heavy in all sorts of equip combo's both on and off road and my experience says a pickup truck with trainers is just a waste with nothing less than excuses to try and justify the purchase.

 

[quote author=juicedcummins link=board=11;threadid=20972;start=15#msg198245 date=1066444275]
More stable! Stability is decided in the suspension not the # of wheels. Leaf springs, overloads and sway bars sum it up. More wheels can mean less stability on a road rutted out by heavy traffic. I admit they look great but my next will be a srw 3500. I run heavy in all sorts of equip combo's both on and off road and my experience says a pickup truck with trainers is just a waste with nothing less than excuses to try and justify the purchase.
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Try running a High CG rig like a big cab over camper and you'll find the outboard wheels add LOTS of stability. Sidewall flex and tread squirm are greatly reduced. Geometry is much better with outboard wheels producing the effect of a lower CG. Been there..done that. After running 10 years with a SRW, I would NEVER go back to SRW with this type of rig.

 

I've had people in different places stop and watch me back into a parking space just knowing I was going to hit the next car or truck. Once you learn to live with the fenders, it's easy. Mine is worthless in the snow though and on wet grass.

 

My dually is my daily driver. It's like driving a go kart.

 

It takes a little while to get used to a dually, but not bad. I knew that I'd figured it out when one day I whipped into a parking spot that a Honda Civic had just pulled out of. Whipped -- didn't stop or slow down in the approach. My wife screamed a little, but was rather impressed.

Wouldn't use anything else to tow my big trailer. I do have some trouble parking in small spaces at work from time to time, but I usually just cut across the grass to get a straighter approach.

 

This is the first dually I have owned (or driven for that matter) and can tell you, without a doubt that they are the best thing for stability. While moving from California to Florida, we towed our 29' TT over the Rockies with a SRW truck ... traded it for this dually in Missouri and then towed the same TT through the Smokies.
SRW truck would swerve all over every time a semi truck would go by ... not an issue with the training wheels.
I also felt more confident with higher speeds while towing.

Just my .02 worth,
PISTOL

 

I just traded my 98 dualley for my 03 3500 SRW. I can tell you that it pulls just as easily although you may get blown around a little more when a tractor trailer goes by. If you stay at or under 65 it really doesn't matter anyways. I always thought dualleys were cool so that's why I bought the 98. But the trans was crapping out and it was gonna cost a thousand bucks for 6 tires soon so I took that $$ and got the 03. I'm happy as I can now fit in a regular parking space. Contrary to what others say on this board though, my 2nd gen had a tighter turning radius than this truck..
All I can say is get what you want. The dualley can be had for the same price as the SRW. Don't let anyone pressure you into one or the other. You are the one who has to drive it..

 

"My gooseneck fully loaded will weigh between 11-12000K max. This new truck will be almost entirely a hauling vehicle. I do lots of highway driving and occasionally do haul in the mountains."
This was the requirements for his truck. Now dose anyone really believe a SRW truck is better for this? :

 

Dodgezilla,
Man what a perty truck! I really like the color!

 

Moss,
While it is true that the SRW will pull just as good as a DRW and there are definately less tires to replace, the type of driving you will be doing is what makes DRW the logical choice.
1) I got over the "small parking space" issue a long time ago by doing like the big trucks do and finding a spot that you have room to manuever in. (It usually leads to fewer dings in the doors and fenders due to inconsiderate people anyway !!)

2) If you were to put 2-3 dollars in your pocket every time you fill up your truck, by the time you need new tires, you will have saved enough $$ to lessen the impact of dropping a grand at one time for tires. (you won't miss 2-3 bucks ... trust me).

Dodgezilla, I don't understand what you meant when you said (quote "If you stay at or under 65 it really doesn't matter anyways."
When a large rig going the other way causes you to sway ... it tends to try to pull you into the opposing lane behind him (read: vacuum effect) which is a really BAD THING and DOES MATTER especially if there is someone behind him !!

I am not the one who will be driving your truck and am not trying to stir the pot... your truck, your decision, but this is the same thought process I used when I decided to get mine ... and I am glad I did.


PISTOL