DRW in snow, off road, etc.

I had an 05 CTD dually with a big S&S TC. I took it places I really shouldn't have. The only problem I had was getting a baseball sized rock lodged in between the duals while crossing the McGruder Corridor.

With the stock General tires it was completely worthless in snow without 4x4 kicked in. Went to Les Schwab and put on 6 Toyo M 55 with center sipe. Wow, what a difference. Towed an enclosed snowmobile trailer up the mountains in 4x2, no weight in the back, no problem.

I don't know about sand, but as far as I'm concerned, maintaing directional control is of primary importance in snow. Having enough traction to go x mph means nothing if you can't keep it between the ditches.

I live in Indiana and have owned duly's for years now, both gas and diesel. Not a problem for me at all, even with stock tires. However when snow is on the road I drop into 4x4, never a problem. But still, regardless of what you are driving, hit a patch of ice, and even 18 tires on the ground will end up in the ditch! In snow, common sense, slower speed, and ... common sense. It's about getting there safe, NOT fast!

When you rhubarb it duallies have waaaay better stability sliding down the embankment.

I have the same truck and want to know about sand myself.

Rhubarb it?

Personally, I'm not a fan of DRW trucks at all. In fact, we truck and trailer shopped for both this last go round, planning to pick what will probably be our last RV, having owned 8 previous. One of the requirements was if we went towable it had to be towable with SRW or we would go class A with a toad.

That said, for carrying the weight of most TC's I would want, DRW is the only good option in my opinion. Additionally, a 1 ton truck isn't really suitable for what I would call off road travel be it DRW or SRW. Poor suspension travel, generally quite heavy especially if a Diesel, lots of expensive stuff hanging down etc. DRW's are a little more problematic traction wise, getting stuff stuck between the tires, and they tend to have more issues in ruts. Either one does fine on forest service and BLM type dirt roads which is what many refer to as off roading. Since you already have other options, my advise is to go with what allows you to use the RV you desire.

I drive my dually over the cascades twice a week. No issues.

Note that chains are required over 10,000 pounds, snow tires or not, in OR and WA

Ps for sand I air down to 8 psi

I use my dually work trucks for getting to off grid cabins. I'll load a couple thousand pounds of tools and batteries in the bed and then run in 4 low up muddy rocky mountain roads. I've never gotten stuck doing this, never broken anything, and only got a rock between the tires once.
I've driven my dually lots of snow. I think it does really well. In particular I ran in fresh powder up to the hubs for about 15 miles once and I don't think it slipped once. This is, of course, in 4wd and I have the G80 locking rear.
On one job site we had the company's SRW 3500 Ford with a utility bed and I was trying to back a trailer around in the mud. That thing was worthless. It slid everywhere except where you wanted it to go. I unhooked it and hooked up my Chevy dually and put that trailer exactly where I wanted it. Both trucks were 4wd, Diesel, 3500, with Michelin LTX M/S tires, utility bodies, and the same driver. The only difference was mine was a dually and the locking rear.
I don't know about sand. I don't drive on sand ever.