Might be buying a Dually....

[emcvay]

Darn it! I might just be growing up after all (no offense to those who don't agree with my reasoning)....

I love my F350 SRW and have done a lot to it and put a lot of miles on it with the AF990 on top....but....I have only two wheels on the back end and this has started to cause me concern. I keep thinking: what if something goes wrong? a blow out?

I've found a 2019 F350 CC PS 4x4 Lariat FX4 with 14,000 GVRW package for $61k which seems like a pretty good deal (it's white though and I prefer Red or Blue to white)...and am thinking that I just might pull that trigger.

Of course it means installing new tie downs as I'm thinking my old ones won't work with it (2010 SRW) and I'll need swing outs (can't believe how much those cost) but really should be able to stop there and get rolling again from what I'm hearing.

Only thing besides the color I'm not overly happy about is the 4.10's in the rear end. Sure, it will feel like a hotrod and all but I'm thinking 3.55's would give better fuel mileage on the highway.

Anyway, there ya have it. I'm thinking more of the safety factor of 2 vs 4 wheels (never did worry about breaks etc and the SRW with all the mods seems to handle the load WELL).

Course, now I have to stop passing DRW's and saying "see he's rockin' and rollin' worse than we are" since he's got 4 and I've got two and if two is one and one is none then 4 is more 😄

[mbloof]

Nice looking truck! Your going to love that 6.7!

Congrats!

- Mark0.

[emcvay]

Yup, Just under $61k 😄 Lariat FX4 and maybe more! Has so much on it I may need a degree to figure it all out but MAN what a TRUCK!

Looks like mileage is down a couple MPG's but I didn't buy it for that 😉 I already know it will haul the 990

[burningman]

Since I didn’t see it mentioned, are you after a gas truck or diesel?
At $61k, if the one you’re talking about is a diesel you better go get it before I do!

About the whole idea, I’m also near Seattle and just about to turn 54. (Maybe we should go have a beer?) I’ve owned truck and camper combos since the ‘80s, lots of them.
The first time I put my camper on a dually was the last time I ever considered having a SRW. Mine is also my daily driver. I tend to park way out in the far side of parking lots, I’ve always done that anyway to avoid the “K-Mart rash” on anything I drive.
Really, your mirrors already stick out further than the extra wheels do, it fits pretty much wherever any truck the same length does.
I just have 235/85/16 tires, rated 3000 single, 2700 dual. That gives 6000 for the front, 10,800 rear capacity. You’ll have zero capacity issues.
No matter what you do to stiffen a single-wheel truck, the extra track width on the dually makes it more stable.

I’ll admit one down side, and it’s not a deal-breaker. When we had that freak huge snow this last winter, the truck tossed around more because the snow ruts were mostly SRW-sized. But it still went everywhere I pointed it. (4x4 of course... never buy a 2wd in Pacific Northwest!)

For a heavy camper, the dually is the right truck.

[Bedlam]

Check your registration itemized listing against the website. You may have some local fee you are paying like King County tacks on. I live in another county and am in an unincorporated area with no additional fees.

https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/feestaxes.html

[emcvay]

Bedlam wrote:
$120 was if my chassis cab was at 14k lbs. I have 18k lbs registered at $200/year. DMV does not care about the bed type or length for these registrations.

F450 o F350?

I pay right about $120 a year now for my F350 tabs, total. Just trying to figure out if you're saying you are paying the same for a F350 Dually or F450.

Thanks

[Bedlam]

$120 was if my chassis cab was at 14k lbs. I have 18k lbs registered at $200/year. DMV does not care about the bed type or length for these registrations.

[emcvay]

Bedlam wrote:
14k LB registration is about $120/year in WA. We just left Moses Lake and are in Crescent Bar till Saturday.

That's whay my truck runs....are you saying 14k GVWR and Long Box?

[Kalabin]

Have you looked into swapping to 19.5" rims and tires? Might save you some money if you own your truck.

[Bedlam]

14k LB registration is about $120/year in WA. We just left Moses Lake and are in Crescent Bar till Saturday.

[Kayteg1]

Are we talking new truck here?
61 grands is what I paid for my custom build 2017 dually Lariat. RWD but with 360 cameras, high grade paint and extreme tow package.
I love how my engine purrs at 1600 rpm on freeways with 3.55 differential. Would even go to 3.00 if that would be possible. Trucks takes all the grades without dropping from highest gear.

[BradW]

work2much wrote:
Why not get quotes from 3-4 dealers to order exactly what you want?

6-8 weeks and you get what you want and don't pay for things you don't want.

[work2much]

Why not get quotes from 3-4 dealers to order exactly what you want?

[3_tons]

otrfun wrote:

emcvay wrote:
. . . Not sure about the 4.10's as I think the mileage will suffer but it would pull a house I suppose, not that I'd need that any time soon but who knows.

Don't really understand all the concern about fuel economy when trying to decide between, say, a 3.73 or 4.10 rear end. I can drop our Ram Cummins from 6th to 5th (empty or loaded with 12-14k) and get the exactly the same fuel economy. Dropping from 3.73 to 4.10 is only a fraction of the overall gearing change that occurs vs. dropping from 6th to 5th. The only exception I've found with our Cummins is when driving empty at very high speeds, say 80 mph. I may gain .5 mpg running in 6th vs. 5th. However, when under load, no difference.

If given the option, I'd always pick the lowest (highest numerical) rear-end ratio available. The mechanical advantages of the lower rear-end ratio (less drivetrain stress---much higher tow capacity) far, far outweigh any concerns about fuel economy IMO.

Agree, and if you consider that 5th and 6th are both overdrives the aged argument against a 4:10 becomes a nearly mute subject..

[smarty]

Do the dually if your pocket book allows for it
Better safe than sorry

[otrfun]

emcvay wrote:
. . . Not sure about the 4.10's as I think the mileage will suffer but it would pull a house I suppose, not that I'd need that any time soon but who knows.

Don't really understand all the concern about fuel economy when trying to decide between, say, a 3.73 or 4.10 rear end. I can drop our Ram Cummins from 6th to 5th (empty or loaded with 12-14k) and get the exactly the same fuel economy. Dropping from 3.73 to 4.10 is only a fraction of the overall gearing change that occurs vs. dropping from 6th to 5th. The only exception I've found with our Cummins is when driving empty at very high speeds, say 80 mph. I may gain .5 mpg running in 6th vs. 5th. However, when under load, no difference.

If given the option, I'd always pick the lowest (highest numerical) rear-end ratio available. The mechanical advantages of the lower rear-end ratio (less drivetrain stress---much higher tow capacity) far, far outweigh any concerns about fuel economy IMO.