Pros/cons of owning a dually truck

[NetWareHead]

Considering a work truck as a future purchase sometime in the next 2-3 years. I need a workhorse type vehicle that can help with hauling large bulky stuff. Stuff like loads of mulch, gravel/stone, assistance with moving furniture etc... Id also like some trailer capabilities as I am planning on burning coal for heating needs and can save considerably per ton if I pick it up myself and haul it home.

I've seen many non-dually pickup trucks hauling what looked like some serious cargo. I even saw a guy who modified a non-dually truck by installing tow equipment in the bed and was towing cars with it. I understand that having the extra set of rear wheels ultimately leads to better weight distribution and increased load capacity. I guess the question is whether or not a dually is ultimately needed. My heaviest cargo would be the coal in a trailer, estimated load is between 4-6 tons.

The only reason I am considering a dually is because I would like a diesel truck, F250, Dodge/Chevy 2500 level or higher. I'm not a fan of gasoline truck engines for these purposes and when you restrict your potential purchases to diesel only, you get your fair share of duallies as well.

 

[jlee]

Price range?

 

[NetWareHead]

Price range?

Not sure yet. Buying used so the price can vary all over. I'm just trying to find out at this point if a dually is at all needed. And if the advantages of a dually are something worth paying for and operating.

I'd most like have a regular trailer not a 5th wheel/gooseneck kind.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Not sure yet. Buying used so the price can vary all over. I'm just trying to find out at this point if a dually is at all needed. And if the advantages of a dually are something worth paying for and operating.

I'd most like have a regular trailer not a 5th wheel/gooseneck kind.

If you buy a regular trailer you'll need a load distributing hitch as well attached to your trailer. I dont see any truck that would be able to just hook up a 10000 pound trailer to a ball hitch. I'd say get yourself a 2500 truck.

 

[NetWareHead]

If you buy a regular trailer you'll need a load distributing hitch as well attached to your trailer. I dont see any truck that would be able to just hook up a 10000 pound trailer to a ball hitch. I'd say get yourself a 2500 truck.

Ok...good to know. I was also thinking that installing a 5th wheel also takes up valuable bed space and therefore I'd always need to use the trailer. I'd like to use this truck as a pickup truck as much as possible,not be forced to always need the trailer. If towing something that heavy can be done with with a regular trailer on a ball hitch, I'd like to use that option.

 

[JCH13]

A buddy of mine has an '89 Suburban setup to haul a tilt-bed trailer car with 9,000lbs of equipment on it. Another buddy of mine had a dualie, but traded it in for a smaller/lighter truck that he can tow with.

Having a trailer to tow heavy stuff makes a lot of sense vs having it in a truck bed. Loading heights are considerably lower. Longer/wider stuff is easier to load and tie down, and you can get different trailers for different needs (enclosed, car carrier, flatbed, etc).

This also lets you get an SUV tow vehicle in which you can safely lock up more expensive stuff like bikes, paintball gear, etc. You can haul 9 people comfortably. You can carefully pack more delicate stuff, like a pile of freshly painted Miata body panels. SUVs are generally better in snow/ice/dirt/boat launches (heavier rear end), situations where duallies suck terribly.

Maintaining 6 wheels/tires on a dual-axle sucks from what I hear. The fronts get chewed up really fast, and the rears don't at all. The joined steel/aluminum wheels in the rear corrode super-fast. The only reason to get a dually would be if you absolutely need to haul the world on a regular basis and didn't want to do it in any slippery conditions.

If it were me, I'd get an SUV with a couple trailers and skip the dually completely because that combination lets you do so much more than a truck ever could.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Ok...good to know. I was also thinking that installing a 5th wheel also takes up valuable bed space and therefore I'd always need to use the trailer. I'd like to use this truck as a pickup truck as much as possible,not be forced to always need the trailer. If towing something that heavy can be done with with a regular trailer on a ball hitch, I'd like to use that option.

New f150 max towing at the hitch is 5000#, from what I gathered the f250 is 6000#. These are new trucks too. Old trucks are even worse. If you're looking into towing 10000# you're gonna need a load distributing hitch or a fifth wheel attatchment. Period. Buy a 3/4 Ton truck, very solid trailer, and a load distributing hitch or fifth wheel. Also a trailer capable of holding 10000# will probably cost you $4000 used.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

A buddy of mine has an '89 Suburban setup to haul a tilt-bed trailer car with 9,000lbs of equipment on it. Another buddy of mine had a dualie, but traded it in for a smaller/lighter truck that he can tow with.

Having a trailer to tow heavy stuff makes a lot of sense vs having it in a truck bed. Loading heights are considerably lower. Longer/wider stuff is easier to load and tie down, and you can get different trailers for different needs (enclosed, car carrier, flatbed, etc).

This also lets you get an SUV tow vehicle in which you can safely lock up more expensive stuff like bikes, paintball gear, etc. You can haul 9 people comfortably. You can carefully pack more delicate stuff, like a pile of freshly painted Miata body panels. SUVs are generally better in snow/ice/dirt/boat launches (heavier rear end), situations where duallies suck terribly.

Maintaining 6 wheels/tires on a dual-axle sucks from what I hear. The fronts get chewed up really fast, and the rears don't at all. The joined steel/aluminum wheels in the rear corrode super-fast. The only reason to get a dually would be if you absolutely need to haul the world on a regular basis and didn't want to do it in any slippery conditions.

If it were me, I'd get an SUV with a couple trailers and skip the dually completely because that combination lets you do so much more than a truck ever could.

Wow that's some bad advice man. Your friend is a total idiot if he's using a 89 suburban and loading 9000# on a trailer. Not only is he ruining his suburban he is a liability to other drivers on the road.

 

[JCH13]

Wow that's some bad advice man. Your friend is a total idiot if he's using a 89 suburban and loading 9000# on a trailer. Not only is he ruining his suburban he is a liability to other drivers on the road.

At his job this guy builds stuff that goes into space, he is the epitome of "doing it right" in every sense.

Everything is within its rated capacity. The vehicle is rated for the tongue weight and the trailer is a dual-axle with a brake-pressure sensing electronic brake controller with adjustable sensitivity. The suburban was outfitted with a tow package, so it has an engine oil cooler and transmission cooler, big axles, and a huge V8. It is all the running gear of a heavy-duty truck. He spent a year or so figuring out everything that he wanted it to do and finding the exact vehicle to do it with.

How is that a liability?

Edit: I may have misspoke, it might be that he tows a total trailer weight of 9000#, i.e. trailer with load.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

At his job this guy builds stuff that goes into space, he is the epitome of "doing it right" in every sense.

Everything is within its rated capacity. The vehicle is rated for the tongue weight and the trailer is a dual-axle with a brake-pressure sensing electronic brake controller with adjustable sensitivity. The suburban was outfitted with a tow package, so it has an engine oil cooler and transmission cooler, big axles, and a huge V8. It is all the running gear of a heavy-duty truck. He spent a year or so figuring out everything that he wanted it to do and finding the exact vehicle to do it with.

How is that a liability?

Edit: I may have misspoke, it might be that he tows a total trailer weight of 9000#, i.e. trailer with load.

There isn't one piece of a 89 suburban that's suitable for towing 9000# in any way shape or form. Tow capacity was 4000-5000 pounds from the factory. And that's assuming he's with no other passengers or cargo.
Please stop spreading BS. Loading 9000# on a trailer is serious business. We don't need jackasses loading down 89 suburbans to twice the manufacturers ratings and endangering other people.

 

[jlee]

There isn't one piece of a 89 suburban that's suitable for towing 9000# in any way shape or form. Tow capacity was 4000-5000 pounds from the factory. And that's assuming he's with no other passengers or cargo.
Please stop spreading BS. Loading 9000# on a trailer is serious business. We don't need jackasses loading down 89 suburbans to twice the manufacturers ratings and endangering other people.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/anyone-know-about-a-1989-suburban-25407.html#post265557

 

[JeffMD]

From the sound of it, there is nothing factory about that 89. He has it super modded.

 

[Rezist]

looking at that link that's a 2500 suburban so must be a 3/4 ton frame we're probably looking at 1/2 vs 3/4 ton ratings. I'd probably go for a dodge 2500 since it probably has the most reliable engine of the group, while having the least reliable body. I know many have issues with the front ends/doors, but that will be way cheaper to repair than engine issues. If you were going for a 1/2 ton gas job i'd recommend the ford/chev.

 

[compman25]

Ok...good to know. I was also thinking that installing a 5th wheel also takes up valuable bed space and therefore I'd always need to use the trailer. I'd like to use this truck as a pickup truck as much as possible,not be forced to always need the trailer. If towing something that heavy can be done with with a regular trailer on a ball hitch, I'd like to use that option.

You can get removable 5th wheels so you aren't wasting space when not using a 5th wheel trailer. Also, dually not needed for the loads you stated.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Yeah looks like the 2500 suburban was rated for 8-9 thousand pounds towing. It would mean you are loading the suburban to the absolute max with the driver and no additional cargo. He is probably loading his suburban about 1000 pounds over its capacity once he has passengers and cargo. Much more than im comfortable with. Also the horsepower ranges from 170-230. There is no way in heck I'd pull that much with such a weak motor.

 

[jlee]

There isn't one piece of a 89 suburban that's suitable for towing 9000# in any way shape or form. Tow capacity was 4000-5000 pounds from the factory. And that's assuming he's with no other passengers or cargo.
Please stop spreading BS. Loading 9000# on a trailer is serious business. We don't need jackasses loading down 89 suburbans to twice the manufacturers ratings and endangering other people.

Yeah looks like the 2500 suburban was rated for 8-9 thousand pounds towing. It would mean you are loading the suburban to the absolute max with the driver and no additional cargo. He is probably loading his suburban about 1000 pounds over its capacity once he has passengers and cargo. Much more than im comfortable with. Also the horsepower ranges from 170-230. There is no way in heck I'd pull that much with such a weak motor.

Perhaps you should take some of your own advice.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Perhaps you should take some of your own advice.

I was admitting I was wrong about the towing rating. Give me a break. How often will you ever see someone admit on the internet when they were wrong?
I did a little research and was surprised it could tow that much being that old.

 

[imagoon]

Yeah looks like the 2500 suburban was rated for 8-9 thousand pounds towing. It would mean you are loading the suburban to the absolute max with the driver and no additional cargo. He is probably loading his suburban about 1000 pounds over its capacity once he has passengers and cargo. Much more than im comfortable with. Also the horsepower ranges from 170-230. There is no way in heck I'd pull that much with such a weak motor.

In that era the the 8.1 was rated with 340HP with a 12,000lb towing capacity and the 6.0 was 315 with 9,900lb towing capacity. Seem to be right where he needs to be.

Torque means more than HP anyway. Most of the Peterbilt 10-12cylinder diesels don't go that much over 340. Top engine I think peaks at 500hp.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

In that era the the 8.1 was rated with 340HP with a 12,000lb towing capacity and the 6.0 was 315 with 9,900lb towing capacity. Seem to be right where he needs to be.

Torque means more than HP anyway. Most of the Peterbilt 10-12cylinder diesels don't go that much over 340. Top engine I think peaks at 500hp.

Links?

 

[JCH13]

From the sound of it, there is nothing factory about that 89. He has it super modded.

It's not "super modded", he just found one with the optional factory towing kit and optional 'positraction' rear differential with 4.1:1 gearing instead of 3.73:1 gearing. Like I said, he spent a while finding exactly the vehicle he wanted.

@ Oilfieldtrash

1989 Suburban was available with gasoline 350, 400, and 454cu.in. V8s, the available power isn't "170-230," the smallest engine, 350, is rated at 210hp/300lb-ft, and they only get more powerful from there.

With the factory available towing options and gearing the towing capability of his Suburban is maximized, safely. IIRC, with all of this optional equipment and 3/4ton chassis, the tow capacity is between 9,000 and 10,500lbs.

It doesn't become anyone to spout incorrect information and make erroneous assumptions. To insult and insinuate about unknown people, especially after proven wrong, is just childish.

 

[imagoon]

Links?

Looks like I was off a generation so you are correct on the HP ratings. However 1989 RWD had a 10,500lb capacity and the 4x4 had 10,100 with the factory tow packages. (454 w/ 3.73 rear)

 

[herm0016]

we used to haul similar load with our 89 burb. did great. not sure where you are getting your info, but most trucks have around a 10k rating for 1/2 ton full size, 12 to 14 for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. I haul up to 14k regularly with my f350 and 8k with my 1/2 ton. all within tow rating and spec for all of the equipment, from the trailer tires to the hitch ball, pin, and the truck. With a good break controller and good electric breaks on the trailer you can go up near the tow ratings for these trucks.

I think a dully is overkill for what you are doing. A SRW truck would be fine and will allow you to do things like get a car wash and go in a drive through without hassle. also, the turning radius of the DRW truck will be worse. if you are going to get a trailer, i recommend a goose neck design with the ball in the bed, instead of a 5th wheel design. you can flip the ball over and have your entire load floor flat. this is what we use for our larger trailers and it works great and does not take up as much space.

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Gooseneck.aspx

just the ball sticks up and is removable. bumper pull trailers are fine also. last time I weighted my f350 and bumper pull flat deck I was 12k on the truck and 9800 on the trailer.

oilfield: read this, i do not see any numbers less than 12400 lbs. http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/specifications/towing/

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

oilfield: read this, i do not see any numbers less than 12400 lbs. http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/specifications/towing/

Your point being?

 

[herm0016]

New f150 max towing at the hitch is 5000#, from what I gathered the f250 is 6000#. These are new trucks too.

see above. 10k on a bumper pull is fine.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

The dually helps a lot with keeping your load stable left to right, which is needed for taller loads. If your using a bumper pull trailer then you shouldn't need a dually. I've got a 2008 dodge mega cab that isn't dually, though I do have air bags on it for extra load support. I've pulled a few large trailers with it, one of them a 50' 5th wheel trailer, from 1989 with a full fiberglass roof. I can't remember the exact weight but I think it was around 15k. I also pulled it with my 93 dodge cummins dually. I'd say they both did fine with it.

And yes, I would suggest getting a dodge cummins if you are going to pick up a truch for hauling. If your going before 2007.5 then you will probably want a manual if you do much towing.