I didn’t want a dually truck. Like most people, I imagined many issues with the width. Most of that was unfounded, I assumed it would not go thru car washes and drive thru‘s. The fact is that if your SRW truck MIRRORS will fit, then a dually will fit. Another fact is that a dually is a superior towing vehicle almost every time, so don’t worry about the width ... seriously, if your mirrors fit, the truck will fit. Once my DW learned this, she was perfectly comfortable driving a dually and now wonders what all the fuss is about. The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else) than anything else. Consider this when you chose your tow vehicle.
A little clarification ... a dually won’t go thru some car washes and it may not go thru some drive thrus ... but there are definitely car washes and drive thrus that are dually accessible. I will say that the far end of the parking lot is our friend😏
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 3rd of December 2017 11:18:52 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 3rd of December 2017 11:20:14 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 4th of December 2017 07:28:27 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 5th of December 2017 01:42:18 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 8th of December 2017 04:25:13 PM
Rob_Fla said
04:30 AM Dec 5, 2017
I would agree, once you get over the perceived intimidation of a Dually Truck they are no problem as an every day driver.
I have been driving my Dually truck as a daily driver for years now, through drugstore drive thru's, large city's like downtown NY City, Hoboken NJ, Dallas TX, Houston TX, Atlanta GA, Philadelphia PA, Miami FL just to name a few.
The benefits of towing (Stability, ride quality, safety) with a Dually far out weight the intimidation of driving one everyday.
Danny and Cheryl said
03:42 PM Dec 7, 2017
I agree that the Positives far outweigh the Negatives
BiggarView said
09:46 PM Dec 7, 2017
FWIW, if you can't get into the drive thru lane.... parking it and walking in is alway a good option, especially if there is line up at the drive thru window.
mycroft8 said
11:29 PM Dec 7, 2017
My dually has a crew cab & a long bed, and is around 21 feet long. It fits (barely) width-size in a standard parking spot, but not length wise. So I go to the back and look for two length-wise spots.
I wouldn't try to take it to a big city downtown parking garage; but otherwise it's fine.
Zeek said
01:53 PM Feb 13, 2018
Same here. I switched to a DRW F350 from a SRW F250. I like having the extra room in the bed, no more excessive worries about weight and best of all, this truck holds 48 gallons of fuel as opposed to my old 26 gallon tank . . . that was a pain.
LarryW21 said
05:47 PM Feb 13, 2018
“The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else)”
And so is carrying 50 gallons of extra water. Having six batteries instead of four. Bringing an extra two 30 pound bottles of propane. Baloney. They are not “larger” inside.
If you don’t need a dually...you don’t need a dually.
Cummins12V98 said
10:25 AM Feb 14, 2018
^^^^^ What the HE!! are you talking about???
Terry and Jo said
05:38 PM Feb 14, 2018
I think Larry is perhaps considering comments that are in two of the above comments. Based on Larry's comments about size, I think it is because his profile lists him as having a travel trailer, thus not needing a larger truck with more stability and capacity. He wouldn't need a dually.
Terry
LarryW21 said
06:05 PM Feb 14, 2018
Terry, OP wrote:
“The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else) than anything else. Consider this when you chose your tow vehicle.”
Almost everything else isn’t true.
RonC said
09:13 PM Feb 14, 2018
Larry ... what isn’t true?
Terry and Jo said
10:08 AM Feb 15, 2018
LarryW21 wrote:
Terry, OP wrote:
“The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else) than anything else. Consider this when you chose your tow vehicle.”
Almost everything else isn’t true.
Larry,
Perhaps it is merely opinion. However, can you state specifically that dually's cannot go through drive through lanes at all locations? If not, then your comments are opinion only. I own a dually that may very well be larger than a number of others, so I don't even attempt them. Besides, I hate drive through facilities. I'd rather go inside banks or fast food restaurants and when it comes to car washes, I'd prefer to do my own washing.
Like Ron, I'd like to know specifically what isn't true of his statements and your justification for calling them untrue.
Terry
LarryW21 said
01:19 PM Feb 15, 2018
I am a firm believer in buying a sufficient TV. However, there is no reason to buy a dually for a 5,000 to 6,000+ pound travel trailer...not safety, stability or equipment. Therefore, "and almost everything else" is untrue. We have inexperienced people reading these posts and they shouldn't be offered the inaccurate quote below.
"The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else)”
RonC said
02:01 PM Feb 15, 2018
Thank you for the clarification. I disagree with you ... it is not inaccurate to say that a dually is "safer, more stable and better equipped to tow almost everything". It isn't necessary with smaller trailers, but it is a superior tow vehicle. Those inexperienced people you mention will be very surprised at the difference in crosswinds and when being passed by big trucks between a SRW and a DRW truck. It's very noticeable. I understand that some really don't "need" a dually, but nobody will ever be sorry they bought too much truck.
Russ Ranger said
02:25 PM Feb 15, 2018
I think you are all correct. I'm a motorhome guy so I don't know anything about tow trucks. But what I do know is that there are a whole bunch of different ways to RV. What is right for one person might not be right for the next person. Ford/Chevy/Ram....5th wheel/travel trailer/motorhome..... big or small....slides or no sides..... gas or diesel. We're all out here having a great time.
We could debate who's having more fun. I'm pretty sure that it is me. But that is just my opinion.
I'm still pretty sure I'm having more fun than you are.
RonC said
03:12 PM Feb 15, 2018
Russ ... you may be right! From my perspective, this is a civil discussion/disagreement. As long as it stays that way, I'm good with a little back and forth.
Russ Ranger said
03:33 PM Feb 15, 2018
"From my perspective, this is a civil discussion/disagreement. As long as it stays that way, I'm good with a little back and forth."
Ron, I agree with you that it's been a good discussion. However, I am a little disappointed that you didn't challenge me on my claim to having more fun that everyone else. Some 'facts' should not go unchallenged.
BiggarView said
03:38 PM Feb 15, 2018
Russ Ranger wrote to RonC:
...However, I am a little disappointed that you didn't challenge me on my claim to having more fun that everyone else. Some 'facts' should not go unchallenged.
I didn't know this was a contest.
Russ Ranger said
03:45 PM Feb 15, 2018
Brain,
Isn't it a standard joke that everything is a contest for us guys. I've already lost the 'WHO HAS THE MOST TOYS' contest. Having given up my big red tool box when we began traveling I am no longer in the running for that prize. Maybe if there was a contest for grayest hair I could win.
-- Edited by Russ Ranger on Thursday 15th of February 2018 03:46:46 PM
BiggarView said
07:31 PM Feb 15, 2018
You got me beat... as you can tell from my avatar... mine just falls out before even getting to the gray stage.
RonC said
07:37 PM Feb 15, 2018
Brian ... I loose any contest involving hair😂😂😂
carolinakids said
07:18 AM Feb 16, 2018
Its a challenge at time swinging around in tight spots, but we love our dually. It's a she name we have attached to it. Ole Fat baby. She has been through a lot in a short time. Has propelled us a lot of miles in our short fulltiming adventure. She's been rear ended and took it like a champ that she is. Been given the wrong fuel and coughed and sputtered till we repaired her. Now she is a purring like a kitten. Want be long and she will stroll across America once more and hopefully she will wind us up in Alaska.
Every 5000 miles she gets a fresh oil change. She's just a little plain and not to fancy. Got good rubber and few scratch's. Even get's a nice bath inside and out every once in a while. Just some good ole TLC for her.
So we love ole Fat baby and plan on keeping her a few years. Hopefully we will all continue to grow older together as long as we continue to give her some ole TLC and keep up her maintenance.
The Bear II said
12:22 PM Feb 16, 2018
For many years I towed a 24ft TT with a 2500 longbed SRW Chevy. I used that same truck to tow our new 38ft 5th wheel and found it lacking in brakes and stability. Quickly I bought a crewcab dually longbed chevy 3500 and was much happier except on long 6% down grades. The truck brakes would fade near the bottom of the grade even if I used first gear and the stab and release braking technique. I put up with it for 13 years until the truck became unreliable due to breakdowns. By the way for four years I used the dually to commute to work in Downtown LA daily. It was fun driving through the multi story parking garages and setting off car alarms because the weight of the truck would vibrate the roadway as I searched for a parking spot.
The truck I bought in 2008 is a Chevy 4500 crewcab dually longbed. This is the best truck so far for towing our 3,500lb pin weight 5th wheel. It actually out maneuvers most pickups due to the 53° steering angle; makes it easier to get in and out of tight spots.
My vote is for dually trucks when towing heavy hitch or pin weight trailers.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 16th of February 2018 12:24:32 PM
Zeek said
08:52 PM Feb 18, 2018
RonC wrote:
Thank you for the clarification. I disagree with you ... it is not inaccurate to say that a dually is "safer, more stable and better equipped to tow almost everything". It isn't necessary with smaller trailers, but it is a superior tow vehicle. Those inexperienced people you mention will be very surprised at the difference in crosswinds and when being passed by big trucks between a SRW and a DRW truck. It's very noticeable. I understand that some really don't "need" a dually, but nobody will ever be sorry they bought too much truck.
I didn’t want a dually truck. Like most people, I imagined many issues with the width. Most of that was unfounded, I assumed it would not go thru car washes and drive thru‘s. The fact is that if your SRW truck MIRRORS will fit, then a dually will fit. Another fact is that a dually is a superior towing vehicle almost every time, so don’t worry about the width ... seriously, if your mirrors fit, the truck will fit. Once my DW learned this, she was perfectly comfortable driving a dually and now wonders what all the fuss is about. The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else) than anything else. Consider this when you chose your tow vehicle.
A little clarification ... a dually won’t go thru some car washes and it may not go thru some drive thrus ... but there are definitely car washes and drive thrus that are dually accessible. I will say that the far end of the parking lot is our friend😏
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 3rd of December 2017 11:18:52 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 3rd of December 2017 11:20:14 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 4th of December 2017 07:28:27 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 5th of December 2017 01:42:18 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 8th of December 2017 04:25:13 PM
I have been driving my Dually truck as a daily driver for years now, through drugstore drive thru's, large city's like downtown NY City, Hoboken NJ, Dallas TX, Houston TX, Atlanta GA, Philadelphia PA, Miami FL just to name a few.
The benefits of towing (Stability, ride quality, safety) with a Dually far out weight the intimidation of driving one everyday.
FWIW, if you can't get into the drive thru lane.... parking it and walking in is alway a good option, especially if there is line up at the drive thru window.
I wouldn't try to take it to a big city downtown parking garage; but otherwise it's fine.
And so is carrying 50 gallons of extra water. Having six batteries instead of four. Bringing an extra two 30 pound bottles of propane. Baloney. They are not “larger” inside.
If you don’t need a dually...you don’t need a dually.
I think Larry is perhaps considering comments that are in two of the above comments. Based on Larry's comments about size, I think it is because his profile lists him as having a travel trailer, thus not needing a larger truck with more stability and capacity. He wouldn't need a dually.
Terry
“The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else) than anything else. Consider this when you chose your tow vehicle.”
Almost everything else isn’t true.
Larry,
Perhaps it is merely opinion. However, can you state specifically that dually's cannot go through drive through lanes at all locations? If not, then your comments are opinion only. I own a dually that may very well be larger than a number of others, so I don't even attempt them. Besides, I hate drive through facilities. I'd rather go inside banks or fast food restaurants and when it comes to car washes, I'd prefer to do my own washing.
Like Ron, I'd like to know specifically what isn't true of his statements and your justification for calling them untrue.
Terry
"The very large upside is that it is safer, more stable and better equipped to tow 5th wheel trailers (and almost everything else)”
I think you are all correct. I'm a motorhome guy so I don't know anything about tow trucks. But what I do know is that there are a whole bunch of different ways to RV. What is right for one person might not be right for the next person. Ford/Chevy/Ram....5th wheel/travel trailer/motorhome..... big or small....slides or no sides..... gas or diesel. We're all out here having a great time.
We could debate who's having more fun. I'm pretty sure that it is me. But that is just my opinion.
I'm still pretty sure I'm having more fun than you are.
"From my perspective, this is a civil discussion/disagreement. As long as it stays that way, I'm good with a little back and forth."
Ron, I agree with you that it's been a good discussion. However, I am a little disappointed that you didn't challenge me on my claim to having more fun that everyone else. Some 'facts' should not go unchallenged.
I didn't know this was a contest.
Brain,
Isn't it a standard joke that everything is a contest for us guys. I've already lost the 'WHO HAS THE MOST TOYS' contest. Having given up my big red tool box when we began traveling I am no longer in the running for that prize. Maybe if there was a contest for grayest hair I could win.
-- Edited by Russ Ranger on Thursday 15th of February 2018 03:46:46 PM
You got me beat... as you can tell from my avatar... mine just falls out before even getting to the gray stage.
Every 5000 miles she gets a fresh oil change. She's just a little plain and not to fancy. Got good rubber and few scratch's. Even get's a nice bath inside and out every once in a while. Just some good ole TLC for her.
So we love ole Fat baby and plan on keeping her a few years. Hopefully we will all continue to grow older together as long as we continue to give her some ole TLC and keep up her maintenance.
For many years I towed a 24ft TT with a 2500 longbed SRW Chevy. I used that same truck to tow our new 38ft 5th wheel and found it lacking in brakes and stability. Quickly I bought a crewcab dually longbed chevy 3500 and was much happier except on long 6% down grades. The truck brakes would fade near the bottom of the grade even if I used first gear and the stab and release braking technique.
I put up with it for 13 years until the truck became unreliable due to breakdowns.
By the way for four years I used the dually to commute to work in Downtown LA daily. It was fun driving through the multi story parking garages and setting off car alarms because the weight of the truck would vibrate the roadway as I searched for a parking spot.
The truck I bought in 2008 is a Chevy 4500 crewcab dually longbed. This is the best truck so far for towing our 3,500lb pin weight 5th wheel. It actually out maneuvers most pickups due to the 53° steering angle; makes it easier to get in and out of tight spots.
My vote is for dually trucks when towing heavy hitch or pin weight trailers.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 16th of February 2018 12:24:32 PM