Need advise on tow vehicle 3500 or 3500 dually

The Mad Norsky wrote:

Duals fit in between the lines with ease, and I try to back into spots as much as possible.

While a DRW isn't in my cards for many reasons parking isn't one of them; however, there are too many newer parking lots where I am nearly (6" per side) on both white lines with my SRW and a DRW would take up 2 spots without even trying.

Rookie wrote:
I am required to have commercial plates which cost much more. Others have mentioned parking lot issues (probably not unique to duallys)

Wow. Commercial plates??????? Just for a dually in Mass. ?

Seems strange to have to do that for what seems to be a non-commercial vehicle used to tow an RV.

I'd say the exception more than the rule here, although Rookie may in fact be using the vehicle also as a contractor or whatever away from his RV'ing time, which could explain commercial charges.

As far as parking lots, lots of bogus info about duallys.

Fact is, it is the vehicle LENGTH that causes most parking problems, not the duals.

You just cannot get these long, crew cab pickups turned into some parking spots. Single or dual makes NO difference here.

I have absolutely no problem with my dually in parking lots, aside from the fact that I do need to pick my parking spots with a little more care than I would were I driving say a Honda Accord.

Duals fit in between the lines with ease, and I try to back into spots as much as possible.

Rookie

Not all state make you buy commercial plates and have annual state inspections
and most all states as I know them (drive 48 states for 30 years) do not
look at your license plates they count axles.

As you say in MASS they do such but IMO less than 2 percent of states do such.

FOR THE OP

I find that I can fit my F350 long bed dually in most but not all parking
spaces, will the front end stick out, yes, will the outside of the fenders
be next to or just on the line, yes, is it a pain in the ^%^% for the guy
parking next to me getting out of his/her car, yes....

I try to park away from other cars and way out back in a parking lot
so no one has to sweeze between their car and my truck, this way
I get my excersise for the day LOL...

But it always happen's that when I come out of the store someone is
always parked next to me Ugh... I like to be a nice guy and repect
other people's ablity to park. I don't take up two space's like some
idiot with his/her little zummy low rider cars do, now there is were
I'd like to park as close as I could LOL but I don't.....

As with others I don;t do inside parking garage's or go into the big
city's downtown area, but in the wind I don't have a problem and it
pulls my 5er very well, I don't speed 65mph tops on an open highway
which get's me about 14mpg most days

Pin weight on my Teton is 5280. Puts my dually at max on rear axle. Towing at max is no fun and rough on truck. So 3500 dually not good for all of them

Would second all the responses in favor of a dually.
Would caution (but not disuade) you to anticipate higher costs associated with the dually. I am required to have commercial plates which cost much more. Annual state inspection much more expensive. Toll roads tack on a 50% premium for commercial tags (and others add on more for the dual rear wheels). Others have mentioned parking lot issues (probably not unique to duallys) tires and fuel, but my driving has become more conservative and get reasonable mileage and 80k miles out of my tires.
Get a dually. Budget accordingly.

on 09/15/14 09:05pm



retispcsi wrote:

So I am sitting under the awning reading this post and I look over at my 2014 Ram Longhorn I got a couple of weeks ago. It has a 29,000 lb tow rate not counting the truck and almost 5500 on the payload. I have towed with a 3/4 ton Ram ctd and a dually ram ctd before this one. All are 4x4 also. I don't worry I know I can tow it. You can never have too much truck.


So why didn't you get a 2014 5500 if you can't have too much truck?


2005 RAM 2500 Cummins/2011 Sandpiper 345 RET/2008 Nitro Z9 Mecury 250 PRO XS




Posted By: ol Bombero-JC on 09/15/14 09:32pm

All I can say is go drive a 3500 Longhorn with the max tow aka 4:10 and a 5500 and you will see the difference also look at the specs for towing. The 3500 will handle my MS38RSSA without any issue at a comfort level that is really sweet. This is my third Ram. My previous 2012 would have handled my fiver but this one will do it so much better. I am sure the 2015 will be great also so I will probably wait for the 2017's they will be even better then the 2015's and so it goes on.

CurtisFamily wrote:
When I had my Ford F-250 SRW, I was cconstantly wishing for more truck. With my Chev 3500 DRW, I have yet to wish for less truck. go Dually all the way.

What year was your f250?

When I had my Ford F-250 SRW, I was cconstantly wishing for more truck. With my Chev 3500 DRW, I have yet to wish for less truck. go Dually all the way.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
OP go test drive a 2014 RAM/Cummins Longhorn Dually. You can safely tow most any 5er out there. Medium duty engine and transmission to boot.

Oh please let us know what color you choose.

Case Closed ;)

WAIT for the 2015s!!

Whether SRW or DRW........

"Mr. Cummins" should be suggesting you check the specs on the Cummins *2015* RAM trucks !!..:C

(Specs available now)

Then go drive a 2015.!..:W

~

retispcsi wrote:
So I am sitting under the awning reading this post and I look over at my 2014 Ram Longhorn I got a couple of weeks ago. It has a 29,000 lb tow rate not counting the truck and almost 5500 on the payload. I have towed with a 3/4 ton Ram ctd and a dually ram ctd before this one. All are 4x4 also. I don't worry I know I can tow it. You can never have too much truck.

So why didn't you get a 2014 5500 if you can't have too much truck?