When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Im now thinking of ordering a 350 dually w/355's. I make a 250 mile trip once a week w/my 29' enclosed trailer. One concern would be stability and traction on snow and ice both of which we have allot of from Nov-March. Another concern would be re-sale might be harder after 3 yrs than a SRD. I don't imagine that fuel mileage would be much different, please correct me on that if I'm wrong. Also as this will be my regular driver im thinking that the dually may not be practical. I doooo love the look though. Can't wait to hear your valued input. Thanks again!
It's hard enuff to find parking for my 2017 normal 350 let alone a wider and longer truck lol, you will have no choice but a long box and you can't enter most auto car washes, you will have 6 tires to change rubber on! That's the bad, the good is the look and extra marker lighting, and less tire ware wile hauling! I think you'll have a bigger tank tho! That's all I can think of
After having several SRW and this being my first DRW.... DRW are big and Chunky! People ahead of me generally move over so I can get by them to make a turn at an intersection. They are intimidating. Parking, Well, it comes as the nature of the beast is. Love the stability.... no roll. Passing an 18-Wheeler is a breeze with no push from the air while passing it. Wife love riding high and dry in her seat.
I have a 17 DRW 350. Truck being wider is not much of an issue. The mirrors are still wider than the truck. Duallys do good on resale. Working trades are always looking for used ones for work. As far as parking, no matter what I'm driving, I park out where there is plenty of room. Less chance of door dings and the walking is always good. One last thought. If you buy the dually, there will not be much of any thing you can't tow or haul. And I have to agree with House Mouse, towing is much better. Just feels so stable. Which ever way you go, ENJOY!
I went from a 2016 SRW to 2017 DRW. I love the dually! Mine has 3.55 gears. It gets about 4-5mpg, realistically, less than the single rear wheel truck with the same 3.55 gears.
It corners better, rides very rough over pot holes and washboards as expected, and the brakes don't really feel any stronger than the 2016 generation.
On narrow bridges and winding roads you need to pay attention to the wide hips in your mirrors. Otherwise, driving it is second nature. Don't try drive thru's at banks or fast food. Parking can be a chore. Steering is very heavy at low speeds. Not a lot of self-centering action.
Regarding traction, I pull my equipment trailer up a lot of Class VI / fire roads in the summer. Previously, I pulled the same trailer on these same roads with my single rear wheel truck(s). None of them could make it up in 2WD, even with the rear locker engaged. The dually gets better traction and makes it up in 2WD. Mine has the limited slip...normally I think LSD's are useless...but in the dirt you can see where the traction has shifted in the tough spots...so it is working to a point.
Winter will be interesting. I've heard lots of negative things about dually traction in the winter. I've also always run snows on my SRW trucks. This year, I'm going to try running the stock Michelin LTX AT2 tires.
The good news with dually trucks for 2017 is that finally, full brake-based traction control is available as is stability control. Previously, the dually trucks only had a cheesy engine power traction control system which would cut power when the wheels slipped. Now, the truck will brake individual wheels just like the SRW trucks do. That could help somewhat in the snow.
Last Saturday I achieved my best mpg to date on a 100-mile trip in the dually with 4 adults: 20.5mpg. The route was 90% 55-mph roads which are ideal for economy.
Yesterday, I drove 70 miles on the interstate in hilly VT. I set the cruise at a very modest 66mph, and achieved 16.5mpg on the trip. At 72mph which is how I normally set the cruise, I'd be getting about 15.5mpg.
Its not bad, but with 2,000 miles on the odometer, I'm not expecting it to gain much more. My previous 2016 SRW F-350 achieved a best mpg of 26.1 on that same 100-mile route, while on the interstate it would achieve 18-19mpg.
I believe the dual wheels add a fair amount of drag; the dually fenders add some wind resistance, and despite the aluminum, this Lariat Ultimate crew 4x4 diesel dually probably weighs even more than my 2016 XLT crew 4x4 short bed SRW F-350 diesel did.
I have had 3 F150's and two SRW diesel SD's. For the last four years I have had a F350 DRW and my '17 on order is also a DRW.
I never towed anything with any of the SRW trucks so I can't compare, but have a 16' ATV trailer and 36' fifth wheel toy hauler that I tow with the dually and love it. The 5er is a 102" wide body so it is 3 inches wider than the truck on each side. Stability and safety are the benefits.
My dually is also my daily driver. Like firefighter7804 said, I always park way out in a parking lot, as a courtesy to others, less chance of getting parked in, and just generally to stay away from other vehicles. On narrow back roads I have to take up more than my "fair share" of the road and oncoming traffic just has to get over. They have more room than what they think anyhow. I just use my mirrors and keep my outside tire right on the edge of the road.
Winter driving has it challenges. While it is snowing and the roads haven't been plowed, in a SRW you can generally drive in the tracks of other vehicles. With a dually not so much. Even when the roads have been plowed, a lot of times the edge of the road hasn't been plowed or there is a build up of snow, slush and ice at the edge and your outside tire will be in it. This can pull the truck to the right and force you to "plow" through it with your tires. Frozen slush or ice can cause damage.
Fuel mileage will take a hit. Duallys are heavier, a little more wind resistance, and you're rolling 6 tires instead of 4. I had 4.10 gears in my '06 and ordered 3.55's with the new truck. Typically 2000 rpms is the sweet spot. Any higher and fuel mileage drops fast. With 4.10's 2000 rpm is about 62 mph.
Some other things to consider with a dually:
You can only rotate tires side to side (unless you want to have your tires dismounted and remounted).
To change the brake rotors you have to pull the axles out.
Finding someplace that can do an alignment can be a challenge.
If you need to have it towed, make sure the towing company completely understands that you have a dually.
The crown of the road will be more noticeable. The truck may pull to the right more.
Most other drivers will give you more room as they are a somewhat more intimidating presence on the road and are more difficult to see around. Less tailgating.
I am getting rid of a 2014 Ram dually, one of the reasons is I'm tired of rubbing curbs in tight drive-thrus, squeezing in parking spots, and buying 6 tires when 4 will do the job. I personally think that if your towing less than18 to 20k I'd stick with a single wheel.
Felix4, thanks for the great write-up. Why does the axle need to come out to change brake rotors? The SRW trucks are full-float rears as well. Doesn't just the hub flange need to be removed from the rotor?
I am getting rid of a 2014 Ram dually, one of the reasons is I'm tired of rubbing curbs in tight drive-thrus, squeezing in parking spots, and buying 6 tires when 4 will do the job. I personally think that if your towing less than18 to 20k I'd stick with a single wheel.
Drive thrus are for soccer moms! LOL Park and walk in. If you can't live without using a drive thru, don't buy a dually. Unless you are in Texas. Apparently the drive thrus there are "dually friendly".
Parking is usually not a problem. Park way out in a parking lot. Take two spots, not to be a ***** but because you sometimes have to! Pick your parking spot carefully. Think about if someone parks next to you or in this spot or that spot will I be able to get out.
Pick your parking spot carefully. Think about if someone parks next to you or in this spot or that spot will I be able to get out.
Everything you said. BUT I can park 10 spots away from the last vehicle in the parking lot and some dink will pull in and park right beside me. Tight. And I get the groceries to the truck and cannot get between the two vehicles to open the door none the less load into the back seat from the cart. Some days I really hate humans. Especially if their truck wears a nerdy bow tie and they try to mate with my truck.
Everything you said. BUT I can park 10 spots away from the last vehicle in the parking lot and some dink will pull in and park right beside me. Tight. And I get the groceries to the truck and cannot get between the two vehicles to open the door none the less load into the back seat from the cart. Some days I really hate humans. Especially if their truck wears a nerdy bow tie and they try to mate with my truck.
Yes!!! 50 empty parking spots and some knucklehead will park next to me!
I have no problem walking. Rain, snow, whatever, I'll walk from the far end of the parking lot. Generally people are lazy and want the shortest distance so I am happy to not take up those spots. And get a little "exercise" at the same time.
The rotor is bolted to the hub. To remove the hub and rotor assembly you have to remove the axle shaft. And you need the special socket as well.
Unless they have come up with a different way on the newer trucks that I am not aware of.
Thanks Felix. I did some quick research and I think I see why. I've done brakes on many full-float axles before and the rotor is always bolted to the hub flange. Typically the axle halfshaft itself rides on the bearings and then is splined into the hub flange. I've always been able to pull all of this out right over the halfshaft, leaving the unsupported axle in the tube.
But no matter, pulling the axle shaft out is very easy. I'd suspect the SRW would be the same? They are both full-floaters.
Everything you said. BUT I can park 10 spots away from the last vehicle in the parking lot and some dink will pull in and park right beside me. Tight. And I get the groceries to the truck and cannot get between the two vehicles to open the door none the less load into the back seat from the cart. Some days I really hate humans. Especially if their truck wears a nerdy bow tie and they try to mate with my truck.
