Off Roading with a Dually...
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Flatland, Saskatchewan
Off Roading with a Dually...
For those people with dually superduties....whats the off roading capability like compared to a single rear wheel truck?
I am looking to purchase a new or next to new superduty, and its going to be put to work both at the farm and in the oil patch. I tow fairly regularily (15k) around the farm. Plus I am soon to have a job in the oil patch, operating oil wells. In the patch it can get muddy and snowy and just awful conditions for a truck, so I need maximum 4wd capability. So should I get a single or dual rear wheel truck? Whats your guys opinions on this?
Also, it will be CC long box PSD regardless of the rear wheels.
I am looking to purchase a new or next to new superduty, and its going to be put to work both at the farm and in the oil patch. I tow fairly regularily (15k) around the farm. Plus I am soon to have a job in the oil patch, operating oil wells. In the patch it can get muddy and snowy and just awful conditions for a truck, so I need maximum 4wd capability. So should I get a single or dual rear wheel truck? Whats your guys opinions on this?
Also, it will be CC long box PSD regardless of the rear wheels.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: columbus MS
It has been my experience that duallys are horrible for anything besides highway, but absolutely great for towing. My experience with a dually is an old 6.9 2wd F-350 (with 450 springs), but it had street tires on it. This truck would get stuck on wet grass (literally).
My guess is that it probably has more to do with the tires than anything, but there is a reason you never see a dully used for offroading. I’m sure someone who has a 4wd dually could be of more help to you.
My guess is that it probably has more to do with the tires than anything, but there is a reason you never see a dully used for offroading. I’m sure someone who has a 4wd dually could be of more help to you.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Connecticut
I have a dually and have had no problems what so ever.In snow or mud.I go onto job sites all the time where there is a ton of mud.Never got stuck and never needed to engage 4 wheel to get out of any of the mud.And as for snow,this thing rocks!!!!Last winter i was on a trip to canada and went thru 19 inchs of snow (in 4 wheel) and never even a spin...
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Flatland, Saskatchewan
Thanks for the reply's guys. A lot of the local ranchers have dually's and these guys don't give these trucks an easy life. I have never seen one stuck yet, they seem to handle most conditions well. Some guys say they are good some are bad....I will wait for more replys. Thanks again for the input! 
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: NW Wyoming
The dually will work good for you. Like anything else it all depends on how you drive it. If your oil patch roads are anything like the ones I've worked in it'll even help to keep you from getting high-centered in the SRW ruts! The dually drivers I know do like to add a lot of sand tubes over the axle in the winter though because the extra rubber decreases the pounds per square inch that the truck puts onto the ice and packed snow for traction...which of course is a trade-off because you want less psi to the ground when trying not to sink through loose snow or mud. Your real benefit will be in towing stability. Either way with a PSD & 4x4 you can manage anything with good tires.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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I've taken my dually offroad on dirt, sand, and icy roads w/no problems. I think the BFG m&s rated tires that came w/it do a decent job in most situations. Yes, the rear tires add more flotation, which can be good or bad depending on your situation. But the main drawback to doing serious offroading IMO is the longer wheelbase of the CC and the wider rear end w/the DRW. You just have to watch out for narrow trails and getting high entered. You can't beat the DRW for towing stability and it'll take any load you throw at it.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lamesa,Texas
Working as a lineman, I use bucket trucks every day. Most of our trucks are regular cab long wheel base 4x4 one ton duallies. Our smaller buckets average about 12,000 lbs. We are a rural cooperative so we are rarely in town. These trucks go everywhere. Where ever a pole is we have to get to it (or climb the pole). I doubt you will find any sand worse than what we have here in west Texas. The dually should do everything you need with the right tires and some careful driving. good luck
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From: North Dakota
Just a side note that I have learned driveing dads DRW vrs my SRW, take a prybar that you can fit into the wheel well for when sticks, rocks, ice, snow, and any other object you can imagine becomes lodged between the two duals. I swear if your offroading with one its only a matter of time. I have had to many times with both my cars and my trucks take the Ice scraper (when I've alread left) or a mallet and knock the ice from the wheels, you'd be amazed at how a little snow will through your tire outa balence, lol.
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Alberta
I've got an '06 Crewcab 4x4 Dually and I'm in the oil patch in Alberta. I got it in Oct of '05 and so far I haven't had a problem. As I pull a 24' office trailer from lease to lease, I find it great for towing, much better than with my old SRW. The last couple of days our last lease was pretty muddy and I didn't once have to put it in 4x4. I was surprised because the factory BGF Rugged Trail tires aren't that great of a tire.
Anyhow I wouldn't think twice of getting a dually.
Anyhow I wouldn't think twice of getting a dually.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: NE Texas
If I had a choice, I would not use a dually for off-road. I have one now and have had them for over twenty years. I absolutely hate to go off-road because of (1) the extra width and (2) because the largest tires you can safely put on these things and do heavy hauling are 255/85's. Anything larger you'll need spacers for the rear.
Of course there's a reason you need a dually...or at least I do - for those top heavy loads over inclined, un-graded roads, or extra heavy loads that could put a strain on a single tire.
If I knew that I were going off-road quite a bit, and that I wouldn't be towing extra heavy loads or loads that are top-heavy, the I wouldn't think twice about getting an SRW truck.
And getting red clay from between those duals is a real pain...and you have to get it out.
Don't get me wrong, the 4wd dually has its job, but it is limited off-road; much more than an SRW truck.
ON EDIT: I wouldn't consider a road to and/or from anything, be it an oil rig, pump station, cracking plant, barn, or any other job site, as being truly "off-road". Off road to me is a skidder trail for instance. That's the type I'm talking about.
Of course there's a reason you need a dually...or at least I do - for those top heavy loads over inclined, un-graded roads, or extra heavy loads that could put a strain on a single tire.
If I knew that I were going off-road quite a bit, and that I wouldn't be towing extra heavy loads or loads that are top-heavy, the I wouldn't think twice about getting an SRW truck.
And getting red clay from between those duals is a real pain...and you have to get it out.
Don't get me wrong, the 4wd dually has its job, but it is limited off-road; much more than an SRW truck.
ON EDIT: I wouldn't consider a road to and/or from anything, be it an oil rig, pump station, cracking plant, barn, or any other job site, as being truly "off-road". Off road to me is a skidder trail for instance. That's the type I'm talking about.
Last edited by Big Orn; Mar 10, 2006 at 09:57 PM.
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