Time to buy a new truck...I've all but decided on a particular unit...Dodge quad cab 3500 dually with the CTD, 8' bed, auto, posi, and.....2wd. I've never owned a two wheel drive truck before...am I making a mistake? This will be a dd, work truck, and tow rig. I'll have the Jeep, if I ever finish it, and the company 4x4 plow truck for the worst weather.

We're building a house in a hilly area and am paranoid about having 2wd. I can't justify 4wd the rest of the year on my DD and I have to admit...I like the long, low look of the 2wd 3500. Looking for discussion on DRW vs SRW on a 2wd truck.

I'd like to hear arguments for and against this set up just for more food for thought...

Thanks.

J

I think it depends on what you want outa the truck, if it will never see more than the freeway, go for it.
For me, a 2wd truck is absolutly worthless, with 4wd and street tires I can barely get around in the winter with my tow rig/DD.

My truck is 2wd, and also rarely leaves the pavement, but I have had a few times where I could have really used 4wd. You may not need it but once every 5 years, but when you do, you'll be real glad you got it. Also, it's nice to have the low range of in the t-case for starting or backing with a load on a hill. Personally, my next rig is definetly going to be 4wd.
-John

My towrig/DD is 4wd and I would never consider switching to a 2wd. There have been numerous times where 4wd was either needed, or just really nice to have. Most of the unloading areas for our trails are hilly, gravel, or dirt which can be pretty challenging in a 2wd vehicle. Even with a posi rear and proper tongue weight, my SRW truck has a hard time taking off up a hill from a stop on wet asphalt, and just forget about gravel, dirt, or backing up any type hill.

From my experience (lot's of farming and construction), dually's typically do worse than a SRW in any type of loose terrain (gravel, mud, etc...).

So has anyone else wondered why the title of the thread is "Dually vs SRW"?

There's no way I could do without 4WD on my tow rig. I regularly tow in the mountains in winter and my tow rig is the best vehicle I've ever had in snow, towing or not.

Not everyone has to deal with those conditions though.

From my experience, 2wd DRW absolutely suck in any sort of slick conditions. Hell, even wet grass will sometimes stop a DRW. If you are gonna go with a 2wd, id suggest a real good selectable locker, but given the choices, id get 4wd in a heart beat, SRW or DRW. As was said before, you may only use it a few times, but when you do use it, it'll be priceless to have.

I have got an 04 Dodge dually 4x4. Daullies definately suck cmpared to a SRW truck traction wise. I am constantly using 4wd. I also am in all kinds of conditions usually pulling a 40 ft gooseneck. I would never buy a 2wd. Now dually vs srw. What are you pulling? If you just pulling a little bumber pull a srw is just fine and gets better mpg. A dually is much more stable no matter what you pull but I would say a must if hauling heavy. I traded my Chevy 2500HD SRW( all I pulled with it was a 18ft bumber pull never over 8500lbs combined trailer and load) for the Dodge dually and will not switch back to a SRW. I have had a little over 24,000 lbs trailer and load and felt more stable and under control than with the SRW.

Get 4x4 a truck that large get stuck easy. The front end just plows into the mud.

I agree with everyone else 2wd is worthless even as a tow rig.2wd is almost like a car and cars suck. I live in the country{40 miles from the nearest town} and there is times we can't get out with 4wd because of snow. But if it's that bad most people stay home,but us ranchers have cattle to feed regardless of conditions.

My tow rig/DD is a '94 GMC....2wd with a lift. It's my street truck, show truck, and work horse. It's not intended to go offroad now that I no longer live in Cali taking the 'bikes out to the desert. If you have your offroad truck, then a 2wd street truck will fit your needs.

Dually vs. SRW.... Depends on the weight you're pulling.... Also, it's a stability issue. Or, just go by what you think looks cooler :cool2: :cool2:

I have had 2wd and 4wd tow rig/DD's - and will not go back to 2wd.

Im very happy with my SRW long bed 4x4 Dodge with the 600.. Id never think about owning a 2wd tow rig, especially when buying new, and the price is negligible.. I think I paid an extra $1000 for 4x4..
Scott

I think the obvious question is muddobber40 - What are you pulling?4x4 vs 4x2 really doesn't matter if you blow out a rear tire on the freeway because you exceeded the max. capacity of the tires or are just unlucky enough to hit something on the road (like when I took out both tires on one side of my trailer, single tires - tandem axle, hitting a rock on the highway leaving Farmington). As far as 4x4 costing more, it's only true if you plan to drive your rig until it is worth absolutely nothing. Otherwise the resale value of a 4x4 will pay for the initial investment. And maybe the tow truck bill and embarassment? If your trail rig has a winch you can always pull yourself out (at least that's my plan, will a 9000 pull a 32,000lb tow rig?:grinpimp: anyway it's a 6x4 with air lockers so it may not matter).

I use four wheel drive about 2x more with my dually than with my last SRW. If your going to plow or get dually, get the 4x4.

4 wheel drive all the way, if you get any snow you'll want the 4x4. I use 4x4 in my dd/ tow rig empty and with a trailer. Trying to take off just sucks in silck conditions when you arn't in 4wd with a load. You'll regret the 2wd if you get it since there's only a little price differeance. It only takes getting stuck once when your alone 20 miles from no where with a dead rig on your trailer.

Thanks for the responses... I have decided, (I guess I really knew all along,) that 4x4 is probably the smart way to go. As much as I like the looks and practicality of the 2wd truck, I realize I'd hate it and be trading up as soon as I got stuck the first time.

Now...back to the dually discussion. The DRW is totally a "bling" thing for me...since I was a kid I wanted a dually...what can I say? I don't "need" the option but at only a grand it's a pretty cheap "dream" fullfillment. I realize the duals will cause an unloaded traction issue and am weighing the width/accessibility issues...

I'd like some more feedback from folks that have owned both.

Again, thanks.

J

4x definitly I had to ditch my rig trailer and tow rig out of state the other day because a storm hit and I could not tow with my 2x over the sierras. If a had 4x I could have atleast drove my ass home.

Why pay for the extra cost of a dual wheel truck? Unless you need a DRW stick with the SRW. My brother just upgraded to DRW with the plan to haul a gooseneck or 5'er with a couple of rigs on it. I have a SRW CTD and love it, but I dont need a DRW (let alone my CTD really) but in the end do what you want but rememeber the first thing abtuo DRW there are two extra tires back the for better or worse.

If you are going to haul a slide-in camper... ever... get the DRW.

My Dad packs an older (lighter) 11' camper with a SRW. Even had extra overloads installed... but on winding highways it still staggers around like a drunk making his way to the john. :shaking:

I have owned both a DRW (2001 Chevy HD Gasser), and a SRW (2004.5 CTD 3500). Both were 4x4. I really liked the Chevy (8.1/Allison) and used it to haul my single car hauler, all the way up to Sceeps Tandem Gooseneck with 3 trucks on it. It handled very well on the highway with little/big loads. No complaints with towing at all. However, when I had to use it as a DD things started to get less good. Having that extra width in the country and on the highway is okay, but driving through the bank teller, or the fast food drivethrough sucks. Any in the city parking really sucked as well. And my access gate at work was too narrow for the width. Not to mention the extra expense of replacing 6 tires. And the Chevy REALLY wore out the front tires and I had to rotate very ofter (good alignment, and different tire brands).

So far I am very happy with my SRW Dodge. I drive it every day to work and back and it is much easier than the Dually. I have towed only the single car hauler, and it is pretty much the same as the Chevy Dually I had. Haven't had a chance to put in a gooseneck hitch, but will soon (along with some bags).

Billster

Now...back to the dually discussion. The DRW is totally a "bling" thing for me...since I was a kid I wanted a dually...what can I say? I don't "need" the option but at only a grand it's a pretty cheap "dream" fullfillment. I realize the duals will cause an unloaded traction issue and am weighing the width/accessibility issues...

I'd like some more feedback from folks that have owned both.

Again, thanks.

J

I was in the same boat.....wanted a crewcab dually since my early twenties. I leaped at the opportunity to take a 2wd 2000 Chevy 3500HD CC Longbed w/454 Vortec and 4.10s. Besides take more weight and not tell the difference between loaded and empty, the only thing it did is get stuck off pavement twice as fast as my SRW trucks. I mean, that dually would dig down twice as deep, twice as fast. But, I drove it through a winter of heavy ice and snow and the damned thing drove like it was on rails.

I'd had my toy for a year, the thrill had worn off, and I traded it even for a 2wd 2000 2500HD extended cab longbed w/6.0 Vortec and 4.10s. It did everything the 3500HD did, and I got better gas mileage in the deal too. Only thing it wouldn't do is go from Troy, AL to Bloomington, IN only kicking down from OD to Direct only once....on Monteagle....like the dually did. That 3500 was a torque monster.

I might pick up another for a toy someday, but my primary towrig will remain a SRW.

4x4 dually it is then...as of yesterday.


J

Good Deal, Green....and serious congrats. Remembering how I felt when I drove mine away from the dealership still makes me warm and fuzzy. Only part of the dream I didn't realize was I didn't get a 4x4, but it was enough to get me by and teach me that I haven't reached a point in life where it was a practical purchase. Have fun and keep us up to speed. :D

Now...back to the dually discussion. The DRW is totally a "bling" thing for me...since I was a kid I wanted a dually...what can I say? I don't "need" the option but at only a grand it's a pretty cheap "dream" fullfillment. I realize the duals will cause an unloaded traction issue and am weighing the width/accessibility issues...

Guilty here too.. I've always wanted a dually. Liked the look, justified it with the capability and stability, and was willing to live with the drawbacks. If ya want it, get it.. and enjoy driving your childhood dream, I know I do.

Besides, it takes more skill to drive a DRW, especially on tight roads.

4x4 dually it is then...as of yesterday.


J

Are you at least going to post a pic for us

Haven't taken any pics yet but here's a similiar one.

Green's Dually (http://www.otisace.com/JON/Dually/SILVERDUALLY.jpeg)

2005 Dodge 3500 quad cab, CTD, Laramie pkg.


J