To Dually or not to Dually: that is the question.

I love my 2018
F450 DRW and have been driving for about a year. Tows like a dream. I just recently stopped driving it daily as parking and the ride was to harsh. I try to take it out a few times a week now. I may go to a 350 SRW next year depending on my towing needs.

lexustech48 said:

Looking at Super Duty F350s as the new family war wagon. Its huge, pretty safe and well, I want a Super Duty. haha

Will be my DD and do the normal house hauling, project moving, car hauler to the track etc. Once the truck is paid off, Wife and I are going to look into getting an RV 5th wheel Toy hauler to go camping with quads or jet skis etc with a big extended family.

Im sure a CCLB 4x4 will be just fine, but the extra towing capacity of the dually really gets my attention. Then there's the F450.... it looks really badass, especially with the wide track front Dana. I have to image that towing and hauling with the 450 is effortless, and the turn radius of the wide track makes maneuvering a trailer easier.

So, dually or no dually?

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As your DD how many miles a day will you be driving? That may also factor your choice. Also a few others said. Test drive both with similar options you want. Make sure to get a real test drive so you can see which one will really work best for your situation.

Unless you must have it for the weight there is no way in hell I'd DD a DRW.

If you want a large 5th wheel travel trailer or toy hauler then you probably need a dually. Lots of times the pin weight on these trailers will quickly exceed the payload of the SRW trucks. Not to mention you get the extra stability.

Put plenty of thought into it. A dually should be hooked to something to tow 85 percent of the time. DD a dually will get old very quickly, most people have mentioned the cons. Planning carefully can get what you want without having to go 450. And because it is a dually, your insurance will automatically go up/be more expensive.

mc01svt said:

If you want a large 5th wheel travel trailer or toy hauler then you probably need a dually. Lots of times the pin weight on these trailers will quickly exceed the payload of the SRW trucks. Not to mention you get the extra stability.

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This is very true. Many guys towing even reasonably sized 5ers are overloaded on SRW trucks.

But no way in hell i'd DD a dually lol.

I'm more of a SRW kind of guy but if you need a dually, you need it.

With that said, if my trailer was big enough to warrant a dually, I would probably be in the market for a $2k Corolla as a DD.

STAMPEDE3 said:

Unless you must have it for the weight there is no way in hell I'd DD a DRW.

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same here.

I'm also in the market for a new truck and can't decide what I want either.

Thanks for all the replies! After watching some videos, Ive decided no on the F450. The 450 is rated higher for conventional towing, but its curb weight pays a penalty with its 5th wheel/gooseneck rating. Even though the 450 has a beefier axle shafts, wide track front and bigger front brakes, its classification from Ford hinders it from legally being used to its full potential. I definitely dont want commercial tires either. That wide track front is a bad-ass option though.

This weekend I went and took a look at some Super Duties of all varieties. Comparing the Dually F350 to the SRW, I came away from it with a favorable view of driving one every day. Yes, its wider than my Excursion by 8 inches on either side. But Im not too concerned with the width.

I also can see myself looking to eventually build it into a pickup truck version of an Earth Roamer with a Capri bed camper. The stance on those look KILLER and the chassis' are F550 with Big-ass single wheels all around. I think I could do that with a Dually F350, then swap back to the duallys when time to tow.

I am STILL debating SRW and Dually. I have to time to make an informed decision, as whatever I choose is going to be

ZWilson07 said:

You’re either a DRW guy or you are not. Most that love their SRW can’t stand the thought of a DRW.

Me personally.....i am a wide booty girl kinda guy. I may not reach all the way in the spot, but I am gonna enjoy the view from the back all the way to the house.

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The dually look has grown on my over the years. Potential for Earth Roamer stance has me excited too.

Blk04L said:

I've always loved duallys but never could justify them.

If you will be towing a lot they are worth it. Hell if you love the look and your town doesn't have compact parking go for it

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Plan is to get into 5th wheel RVing, may to buy some land in Northern AZ in the pine forrests.

beau t said:

I drove 5 tons in the military, rollbacks for a buddy of mine no issues,but put me in a dually and it tears my nerves up, to look in the mirror and see the extra width of the fenders just makes me uneasy so make sure your able to drive it without being a candy like me before taking that plunge.

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Definitely something Ill take note of, but fortunately my Excursion is big enough Ive learned to always be checking my position in lane.

Recon said:

I say dually. The towing capacity is worth it alone, but you’re buying extra tires. Diesels are awesome but are expensive. Though my interest in big trucks is quite the opposite of most in terms of body dimensions. I like the stubby’s, short cab and short bed.


Pick your poison.

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Agree, Diesels arent for the poor of budget minded consumer. Im very fortunate that I am my own labor, so maintenance isnt an issue for me. Price and selection of tires also eliminated the F450. No desire to deal with commercial spec.

specracer said:

How important is the emotional part of a huge dually? If you WANT a dually, no rational thoughts, about "need" will talk you out of it.

Whats the predicted weight of your toy hauler you have in mind (will a SRW tow what your looking at)?

I went through this 2 years ago. I chose a 2017 Platinum 6.7 350 SRW CCSB. I (and the family) WANTED a dually. But I really didn't need it. The reason for the 350 to begin with, is an enclosed 38' gooseneck that we haul street and racecars in. Its a triax 18k. With 2 street cars, the truck pulls with out effort, stops, most important is very stable and smooth. Staggering that today's SRW trucks can tow as much as they can.

Reasons for me to not dually? Size, we are in north east, so dually would be certainly inconvenient from time to time. Do drive the truck a lot, the unsprung weight of the extra wheels is very noticeable with any bumps. When I replace this truck, with another, the question will be Long bed or SB, probably still not DRW.

My 2c

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The 2019 SRW F350 rating is a healthy 20,700 lbs. The 2020 is now rated to a staggering 21,900 SRW. Many 5th wheels we are looking at in the future are about 15-16k trailer GVWR that includes 2500-3000 pounds of allowable cargo in that weight. While it technically can still do it, Im not sure Id want that pin weight on 2 tires.

But since this would ONLY be for RVing and not commercial, the extra 6,600 lbs of capacity the dualy is rated for may not be needed. Of course, the 2020 F350 dually is now rated to a mind boggling 31,300 lbs, versus 27,300 for 2019...

gimmie11s said:

You will HATE dd’ing a dually IMO.

Even my 2016 ram 2500 was not comfortable for a dd.

Big trucks ride like ass, are hard to park, get shitty mpg, and are not nimble on the daily commute whatsoever.

HOWEVER

There is absolutely no beating a dually when towing.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

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Lol, I daily my Excursion, all 8Klbs sitting on front and (soon to be) rear F350 leafs. Its rough, but its not terrible. Ill definitely compare when Im ready to test drive. And again, its that ability to tow whenever wherever that I admire of the dually.

nxhappy said:

drive one in person. I bet you will decline.

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Maybe, but the con of its ride may be negated by its capability. Will road test extensively when I get closer to purchasing.

SVTXTC said:

2016 RAM 3500 LIMITED SRW 6.7 Cummins with the AISIN transmission here. Love this truck. Tires make or break the ride. Stock Cooper tires with 26k on them will make you have motion sickness and hate the truck.

With a 2500, I can get a two car trailer and stay under commercial tow limits. But I can’t do that now with a 3500 without going over weight and getting a CDL.

Looking at a 2019+ RAM 6.7 Cummins with 2500 trim....RAM makes you go with their transmission. FAIL.

Only way to get the AISIN transmission is to go 3500 DRW with the “max tow package”. Dually is now the only way to get the new 1000+ torque and avoid the Chrysler transmission. Very disappointing.

I vote no dually. Everything everyone else said and you can’t run it through most car wash locations.

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Im a spray-it-yourself wash kinda guy myself. A good wash every now and then with spot free rinsing in between is all you really need out here in Arizona. Regular waxing is critical out here because of the sun though so there is that.

lexustech48 said:

Lol, I daily my Excursion, all 8Klbs sitting on front and (soon to be) rear F350 leafs. Its rough, but its not terrible. Ill definitely compare when Im ready to test drive. And again, its that ability to tow whenever wherever that I admire of the dually.

.

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An open bed truck has no comparison in the ride category to something with a covered bed or even better---an Excursion or Suburban.

My wife's 3/4 Suburban rides like a Cadillac compared to my 3/4 Ram truck.

I get what youre saying, but definitely not apples to apples.

I've daily-ed both. Given the option, I'd rather daily an SRW, and pull with a dually.

Unless you're going to have a trailer hooked up at least 30% of the time, I'd skip and go with a SRW. A F-350 SRW with a proper 5th wheel hitch/mount, and maybe some airbags, you'll be good to go.

Only thing I had about SRW short wheel base trucks is the fuel tank.

ONE THING TO NOTE WITH THE 450 VS 350 IS THE TURNING RADIUS.
THE 450 HAS A BETTER FRONT END, FRONT FENDER FLARES, AND CAN MAKE TIGHTER TURNS. THIS WAS THE MAIN REASON I WENT 450 VS 350. IT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE WHEN TOWING A GOOSENECK!

GOTSVT? said:

ONE THING TO NOTE WITH THE 450 VS 350 IS THE TURNING RADIUS.
THE 450 HAS A BETTER FRONT END, FRONT FENDER FLARES, AND CAN MAKE TIGHTER TURNS. THIS WAS THE MAIN REASON I WENT 450 VS 350. IT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE WHEN TOWING A GOOSENECK!

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100%.

Just don't get stuck having to drive in the grass with a F-450...those tires will not fair well.

Wide track was available on the F350 towboss, not sure if still an option. That front end is amazing to maneuver with compared to regular. Towing a big camper with a dually is worth the slightly different DD traits. I've never had any trouble getting around in , a duallybut it entirely depends on area.

specracer said:

Another detail that may or may not matter, there are not a lot of tire choices for 19.5 wheels (F450)

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I've also heard that alot of insurance carriers will force you into a commercial plan for f-450. $$$$

mc01svt said:

I've also heard that alot of insurance carriers will force you into a commercial plan for f-450. $$$$

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That's not true.

However, in MA anything over 10k, does require "commercial" plates (more expensive), and just got a letter saying I now need a DOT number to renew registration? News to me and I have some reading to do in the very near future.

specracer said:

However, in MA anything over 10k, does require "commercial" plates (more expensive), and just got a letter saying I now need a DOT number to renew registration? News to me and I have some reading to do in the very near future.

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Wow. Must be state-by-state.

Fundamentally the technology of these trucks is FAR ahead of the laws. TECHNICALLY any truck and trailer combined over 18k you need a CDL. Thats at a federal level.

EDIT, as corrected below, 26k, brain cramp on my behalf.

specracer said:

Fundamentally the technology of these trucks is FAR ahead of the laws. TECHNICALLY any truck and trailer combined over 18k you need a CDL. Thats at a federal level.

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Not correct. ... that number is 26k GCWR.

Also.. in CA, starting in january, anything over 14k GVWR (F450 and up) is going to fall under the new diesel smog laws for commercial trucks in this state. No prob if you buy a new truck, but HUGE problem if you are driving an older (mid 2000s and down) F450 and up.