So Ive come to the conclusion that for the toy hauler i want, im going to have to upgrade from a F250 up to a dually (either ram or ford). My biggest concern has always been city driving and fuel economy since im on the road alot for work. Questions are: Is it really that much tougher doing city driving and normal everyday use with a dually over a 3/4 ton? Its not like im going from a coupe to a dually. And how much of a drop in MPG should i expect to see moving to a one ton? Right now i average about 18-18.5 in my F250 doing city and hwy driving.

I just recently changed from a full size van to a Ford crew cab dually and I have not really had any issues with city driving or parking. It is a little tight in turns as the turning radius is pretty big but once I got familiar with that difference it has been ok. I don't even feel like I need the back 40 in parking lots and sometimes just go ahead and park up close. My mileage is about the same with this 7.3l as with my 5.9l gasser.I don't think that you will have any problems.Terry

rayford118 wrote:So Ive come to the conclusion that for the toy hauler i want, im going to have to upgrade from a F250 up to a dually (either ram or ford). My biggest concern has always been city driving and fuel economy since im on the road alot for work. Questions are: Is it really that much tougher doing city driving and normal everyday use with a dually over a 3/4 ton? Its not like im going from a coupe to a dually. And how much of a drop in MPG should i expect to see moving to a one ton? Right now i average about 18-18.5 in my F250 doing city and hwy driving.It is all in what you get used to. We have used our Ram Ho Dually as a daily driver since 11/11. The wife even drives it and have had her tow once so far. I park farther out and never use a car wash or drive thru, no biggie. You will be impressed with the rock solid feel with a dually also.As far as Ford or Ram I am partial to Ram for good reasons. The Ford is basically the same truck since 1999 with a few tweaks. Much harder to work on when the warranty is gone.The Ram has the very dependable Cummins and a Commercial grade Auto transmission with 30 K towing and 14K truck rating. Also the exhaust brake is second to none with the Ram.The mileage will be very similar between the two, the Ram has front axle disconnect, dual radiators, dual air induction, 50k strength frame and many more class leading options.Bottom line don't worry about a Dually as a daily driver!

I think the biggest issue is when parking you need to make sure you can get out. People will park around you where its hard to back out of a space. I always think about how i am going to get out of a parking spot instead of getting into one. I have a crewcab dually

Cummins12V98 wrote:rayford118 wrote:So Ive come to the conclusion that for the toy hauler i want, im going to have to upgrade from a F250 up to a dually (either ram or ford). My biggest concern has always been city driving and fuel economy since im on the road alot for work. Questions are: Is it really that much tougher doing city driving and normal everyday use with a dually over a 3/4 ton? Its not like im going from a coupe to a dually. And how much of a drop in MPG should i expect to see moving to a one ton? Right now i average about 18-18.5 in my F250 doing city and hwy driving.It is all in what you get used to. We have used our Ram Ho Dually as a daily driver since 11/11. The wife even drives it and have had her tow once so far. I park farther out and never use a car wash or drive thru, no biggie. You will be impressed with the rock solid feel with a dually also.As far as Ford or Ram I am partial to Ram for good reasons. The Ford is basically the same truck since 1999 with a few tweaks. Much harder to work on when the warranty is gone.The Ram has the very dependable Cummins and a Commercial grade Auto transmission with 30 K towing and 14K truck rating. Also the exhaust brake is second to none with the Ram.The mileage will be very similar between the two, the Ram has front axle disconnect, dual radiators, dual air induction, 50k strength frame and many more class leading options.Bottom line don't worry about a Dually as a daily driver!:B Glad I didn't write that one. It's a bit harder in parking lots now days but you adjust in time.MPG you might drop 1 MPG at the most. Mine gets almost 20 highway and the SWR 3500 model get a bit more than 20.

I can DD my dually, I really have no real issue doing it. My biggest issue with my truck is that it's a pretty rough ride empty. I can even go through a drive through. The biggest issue is that for drive through is if your mirrors fit your duallys will fit. What people forget to do is drive past an obstacle and then turn. Lots of people turn too quick and hit the dually fender. My mpg experience is different as I drive a gasser. Expect about 11-12 mpg in a gasser highway , 9-10 city and 7.5-9 mpg towing Otherwise no problems. ThanksJeremiah

Dually Real World driving | Good Sam Community

MOtrout
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
I drive a 2007 Ram 3500 2wd dually every day at work. Personally I have a 2012 F150 4X4 Scab. I can drive the dually anywhewre I want as I'm pretty much on call 24/7. As soon as I get home the dually gets parked. If I do decide to drive it I don't really mind it too much. Just remember to back into a parking spot as much as you can. Getting out is much easier. We have only manual 6 speeds at work and I would assume that an auto would more pleasureable to drive.
JM2C
catfishmontana
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
The only gripe I have about daily driving dually trucks is winter driving. Haul some heavy weight in the bed or run singles. Not sure if you drive in icy or hard pack snow conditions, but there isn't much rear traction in the winter.

Edit, I see you are way south, so disregard.
45Ricochet
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
catfishmontana wrote:
The only gripe I have about daily driving dually trucks is winter driving. Haul some heavy weight in the bed or run singles. Not sure if you drive in icy or hard pack snow conditions, but there isn't much rear traction in the winter.

Edit, I see you are way south, so disregard.

I agree about the winter driving with a dually. That is why you never see any 2WD around here in winter, right now it's almost 50-50 :B Campground owners are happy :W
machunt
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
Looking at a dually myself tomorrow, are you saying traction is worse with a dually?
SpencerRB
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
I've done 3 winters in Tahoe and Breckenridge with my Chevy Dually with Blizzak snow tires (E-Rated) and it's been as sure footed in winter conditions as my Audi S4 with snow tires. Winter traction is 95% tire choice, 5% vehicle.

As everyone else has said, dually driving is simple once you get used to it. Just have to be mindful of the rear end during turns, which quickly becomes second nature.
nevadanick
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
I am with Spencer as i have no winter driving issues with my dually.
tgreening
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
rayford118 wrote:
you think i would need a bigger dually to pull a voltage 3950? or any other 42" TH. They all seem to have a pin of 3K and total loaded of 18-19K

Yeahhh. My Heartland has an advertised pin weight somewhere in the 3k range. In reality it's a verified 4,300 lbs.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 15, 2013
rayford118 wrote:
you think i would need a bigger dually to pull a voltage 3950? or any other 42" TH. They all seem to have a pin of 3K and total loaded of 18-19K

I have over 4,500# pin weight with my Mobile Suites and the Ram Dually sits level.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 15, 2013
tgreening wrote:
rayford118 wrote:
you think i would need a bigger dually to pull a voltage 3950? or any other 42" TH. They all seem to have a pin of 3K and total loaded of 18-19K

Yeahhh. My Heartland has an advertised pin weight somewhere in the 3k range. In reality it's a verified 4,300 lbs.

Anyone that says pin weight is 20% is full of Barbara Streisand! My Mobile Suites is well over 4,500# and about 25%.
catfishmontana
Explorer
Jul 15, 2013
machunt wrote:
Looking at a dually myself tomorrow, are you saying traction is worse with a dually?

Less pounds per square inch, it's great for some things, a hindrance for others.

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