3/4 ton or 1 ton

[sillietillie]

I want to get the Dodge with the Cummins diesel. I don't really need a dually, probably won't do any seriously heavy towing so I'm leaning more and more to getting the 2500 with the Cummins diesel engine in it.

I've driven both, like the way the dually feels going down the road but I see one obvious negative: width- it doesn't bother me when driving it but going through drive throughs and certain parking spzes wouldn't be wide enough.

Any thoughts on this? Are there benefits to the dually I'm overlooking?

[A-Launch]

All really cool vehicles, from Vettes to Duallys, have a practical downside, and for something as b-a-a-a-a-a-d as a Dually, giving up drivethroughs is a small price to pay.

I had a Quadcab Hemi Ram, and now have an Avalanche --- large trucks are already such a pain in the @$$ to park, that a couple Xtra wheels won't make that much of a difference.

Besides, if you were Lil Miss Practical you'd be asking about Camrys or Altimas.

The Dually will come in really handy when running over someone with a fat head, you won't have to keep backing up, going forward, getting out to see if you squished the whole thing --- just one pass in the Dually and your work is done.

[sillietillie]

Besides, if you were Lil Miss Practical you'd be asking about Camrys or Altimas.

The Dually will come in really handy when running over someone with a fat head, you won't have to keep backing up, going forward, getting out to see if you squished the whole thing --- just one pass in the Dually and your work is done.

mUAHAHAHAHAHAHA I did have a 2001 Altima, in fact still have it in the family, Mom took it over. loved it.

But seriously, there are some angles I'm considering. I've driven both, loved the feel of the dually on the 4 lane outside of Baton Rouge doing 75 plus, it feels really stable and I love the way the diesel is so quiet now. I don't find it hard to drive but it is wider and I start thinking about have 6 tires to buy rather than 4. Give me a better reason than running someone over. I prefer a more physical touch for that kind of work anyway *GRIN*

[A-Launch]

With 4 tires on the rear, there is less weight on each tire, and for reasons tied into advanced physics, there is much less tire wear, and you actually average about 120,000 miles per rear tire before the tread starts to wear.

OK I made that up.

I'm guessing dually's are really for people who haul cows or tons of materials in the truckbed, or pull ridiculous loads, and you'd be ecstatic and well served by the standard non-dually diesel.

All I can say is the dualies look really cool, and I'm really superficial and impractical --- if you like it and can afford it without impacting your other obligations, why not?

Think how much you work just to pay taxes, interest, insurance and other boring essentials --- might as well at least get one thing you really want...or so I always rationalize.

[badjuju342]

I have a '95 Chevy dually , the insurance really isn't bad but the gas mileage is horrible!:eek: It will pull or haul just about anything you can throw at it.

[sillietillie]

OK, I have been told by a co-worker who uses the dualy with the cummins 6 that he gets about 24 mpg. and it doesn't change but 1 or 2 mpg when he tows something. Is that perhaps a diesel thing?

I'm still trying to decide on the motorcycle vrs GTO thing but I'm definitely trading in my Dakoda for a diesel next time around. (next year - fingers crossed)

I drove the Chevy and the Ford and like the Dodge better. Just felt more comfy to me and powerful. Plus *GRIN* I like the way a Dodges grill smiles at you.:p

[A-Launch]

My Rami Hemi (listed at 345 HP) averaged 12.5 mpg until I added an Aero-Turbine exhaust, which kicked it to 14.1.

My Avalanche, (listed at 295 HP) is averaging 15.9 mpg

I've read assorted Dodge, Ford and Chevy Truck forums and no one with a
non-diesel V-8 gets anywhere near 24 m.p.g. --- most seem to get around what I was/am gettin'...

Folks generally say they knew it was a big truck, and if they cared about gas mileage they'd have gotten something else.

The 6 cylinders of course get better mileage, but lack that "git out mah way" thrill...

[sillietillie]

ok, haven't driven one long enough to see if what they say about the diesel is true. I do know that even though it's a 6 the cummins runs as fast or faster than the ford V8 diesel. I'm going to go talk to some people when I'm in. (yeah right, I can see me walking up to complete strangers and asking them their milage.) But I'll trust that approach better than the window sticker or a sales pitch.

I really was suprised when I went on the highway with it. It was on the outskirts of Baton Rouge where you have to merge with traffic coming out of the city at a fairly fast clip. I was waiting for a big space since I knew it was a diesel and my friend told me "Stomp it, you'll be suprised". And I was, it felt as strong as a gasoline V8. I guess it's the turbo doing that.

[balebuster]

OK, I have been told by a co-worker who uses the dualy with the cummins 6 that he gets about 24 mpg. and it doesn't change but 1 or 2 mpg when he tows something. Is that perhaps a diesel thing?


He must not be doing heavy towing. We cross the scales at 20K-26K lbs (this truck earns it's keep), and the cummins gets 10 -13 mpg. Empty, just running down the highway, it will always get over 20.

[204Denali]

Full size truck hard to park? I can do a U-turn on a two lane road and never cross over the white lines...... One word-Quadrasteer