Bought a dually for a daily driver

[Navyvette]

Wanted to consolidate 2 vehicles into one so save some money and wanted to make sure I had the truck to handle not only my current RV but looking at a toy hauler.
It’s definitely taking some getting used to but it’s doable. Lost some fuel mileage which is a long term concern (I drive about 30k a year).
Got a decent deal and it checked all the right boxes. I stepped down in trim package from my last truck but it’s got ventilated seats and in Houston it’s awesome. Didn’t have any of what I consider wasted money options (sunroof, chrome package, etc)

It’s a 2018 Ram built in 7/18 (literally off the transport) and sticker was 73.5k and I was out the door at 60k. No taxes cause both my trades exceeded the cost of the truck. So just tags and title. I got 50k for my 2016 Ram that I paid 55k for almost two years ago and 15k on my 2017 minivan that I paid 23k for 18 months ago. Super surprised at getting so much on the van. I’m going to miss the fuel mileage of the van but not two insurance payments and tags etc.

[Navyvette]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Larry-D wrote:
Using a RAM dually for almost three years as a DD. I've found and don't miss going through drive-ups (they always get the order wrong anyway). Don't miss bank drive-up, better to go in and get to know them. Parking - just park further out. Can't do automatic car washes. On the plus side not as many people pull out in front of you. Tires - front wear out twice as fast the rears.

Run the fronts at 80psi, have the alignment done to 1/32-1/64 toe in. Fronts will last MUCH longer. Also move fronts side to side leaving wheels in same position, this keeps tires rotation the same and puts inside to outside. I never rotate rears. Also run 30-35 unloaded rears.

I want to try the 35psi rear. Can I reset the low tire pressure on a 2018?

[Navyvette]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


I have a fun machine also, just tow it behind the RV that is being towed my "BIG HIP" TV.

I had a glide until someone referred to it as a geezer glide then I gave it to my dad and got a road king lol

[Fordlover]

Navyvette wrote:



I was just up in Conroe today lol, I can’t do a commuter as I haul equipment so has to have cargo space. If I didn’t do that I would be riding my motorcycle to work 🙂
I just installed a soft topper tonight so my equipment doesn’t get wet and have a bed rug on order to prevent scratching equipment. Tailgate is up there for climbing in though.

Wow what a beauty. Enjoy! Glad that there are some out there who use a truck, rather than just own as a fashion statement. I've got several coworkers with Toyota tundras and they haul lots of air in the cargo box...Beds are still immaculate without a bed liner several years later.

[Cummins12V98]

Fordlover wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Good call!!! I see a lot of people towing with a Dually but the wife drives a cracker box of a car so they can save some money. Do the math! Depreciation on the little car plus insurance and maintenance and the inconvenience of traveling with two rigs just does not add up. Of course this is MY opinion.

A Dually is not a big deal for a daily driver been doing so since late 2011.

Yes the wife drives it also.

I have a commuter car, but mostly because it's far more fun to drive, not due to any perceived financial upside. Mid 5 second 0-60 time and a claimed top speed of 155 and the precision handling that goes along with it is right up my alley. More power to those who commute in their dually and jacked up off road oriented Jeeps, just leave some space so I can zip by ya. 😉

The bonus is that my very pricey truck should last us several years longer because I put my commuting miles on my fully depreciated daily driver.

Congrats OP (Neighbor!) on the new truck.

I have a fun machine also, just tow it behind the RV that is being towed my "BIG HIP" TV.

[Cummins12V98]

OP, I HIGHLY suggest buying a set of Michelin's and selling your NEXEN's while there is value. I sold mine at 200 miles for $650, that paid for 1/2 of the new tires. These tires have 20k in pic, NEXEN's will be 1/2 worn by then and just about time for a nice tread separation.

[Cummins12V98]

Larry-D wrote:
Using a RAM dually for almost three years as a DD. I've found and don't miss going through drive-ups (they always get the order wrong anyway). Don't miss bank drive-up, better to go in and get to know them. Parking - just park further out. Can't do automatic car washes. On the plus side not as many people pull out in front of you. Tires - front wear out twice as fast the rears.

Run the fronts at 80psi, have the alignment done to 1/32-1/64 toe in. Fronts will last MUCH longer. Also move fronts side to side leaving wheels in same position, this keeps tires rotation the same and puts inside to outside. I never rotate rears. Also run 30-35 unloaded rears.

[Navyvette]

Fordlover wrote:


I have a commuter car, but mostly because it's far more fun to drive, not due to any perceived financial upside. Mid 5 second 0-60 time and a claimed top speed of 155 and the precision handling that goes along with it is right up my alley. More power to those who commute in their dually and jacked up off road oriented Jeeps, just leave some space so I can zip by ya. 😉

The bonus is that my very pricey truck should last us several years longer because I put my commuting miles on my fully depreciated daily driver.

Congrats OP (Neighbor!) on the new truck.

I was just up in Conroe today lol, I can’t do a commuter as I haul equipment so has to have cargo space. If I didn’t do that I would be riding my motorcycle to work 🙂
I just installed a soft topper tonight so my equipment doesn’t get wet and have a bed rug on order to prevent scratching equipment. Tailgate is up there for climbing in though.

[Navyvette]

Lwiddis wrote:
The numbers you present are...interesting. “Saving money” by buying a new vehicle is difficult. Getting fifty thousand for a truck costing fifty-five and having seventy-six thousand miles?

The truck only had 5k miles on it. Not sure where the 76k number came from. Big reason why I consolidated to one vehicle is I’ve depreciated out on the truck and have written off 25k in mileage on the van so I needed some write offs this year so invested in a cargo trailer and the truck.
I had my accountant tell me once that you can either pay for a new vehicle every few years or you can pay it in taxes. Either way your going to pay somebody so might as well drive a new rig and pay less taxes.

[Fordlover]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Good call!!! I see a lot of people towing with a Dually but the wife drives a cracker box of a car so they can save some money. Do the math! Depreciation on the little car plus insurance and maintenance and the inconvenience of traveling with two rigs just does not add up. Of course this is MY opinion.

A Dually is not a big deal for a daily driver been doing so since late 2011.

Yes the wife drives it also.

I have a commuter car, but mostly because it's far more fun to drive, not due to any perceived financial upside. Mid 5 second 0-60 time and a claimed top speed of 155 and the precision handling that goes along with it is right up my alley. More power to those who commute in their dually and jacked up off road oriented Jeeps, just leave some space so I can zip by ya. 😉

The bonus is that my very pricey truck should last us several years longer because I put my commuting miles on my fully depreciated daily driver.

Congrats OP (Neighbor!) on the new truck.

[Learjet]

double post

[Learjet]

I can go through drive through...as long as they don't have curbs on the outside of the turn radius 🙂

[jerem0621]

Larry-D wrote:
On the plus side not as many people pull out in front of you. Tires - front wear out twice as fast the rears.

I bet your truck isn’t silver.

[Larry-D]

Using a RAM dually for almost three years as a DD. I've found and don't miss going through drive-ups (they always get the order wrong anyway). Don't miss bank drive-up, better to go in and get to know them. Parking - just park further out. Can't do automatic car washes. On the plus side not as many people pull out in front of you. Tires - front wear out twice as fast the rears.

[Navyvette]

Will definitely see how it works for couple years and when it’s time for the next truck will see if I want to head back to single territory.

[Grit_dog]

^ btw, same guy who told me how he got outta paying his mortgage for a year and didn’t lose the house! Was awesome because he still made like $30 k selling it!
(He should have made like $150k...)