Dully? 4x4 or 2x4?

[Traveler II]

All this talk about new trucks here has got me thinking. In a year or two I’m going to be in the market to replace my truck and will look at all options.

I understand the advantages of the dully, especially the safety factors, but here is my problem with them. Great for towing, but when we get someplace we like to explore and I find the truck we have now not the easiest to get around in, for parking of just sightseeing. It just seem to me that a dully would be even worst. And let face it, we spend more time un-hooked than towing.

I’m also wondering if a 2 wheel drive handles better for parking than our 4X4? Living in Minnesota I think I need the 4 wheel drive, but if a 2 wheel handles better I might consider one.

What’s your thoughts?


[Mike Clay]

Other then the hight difference I don't think one turns any better then the other. Im like you have put off the training wheels for the very same reason. My truck even with the extra weight from the extra fuel tank and the 2,700 lb pin weight is still within the standards. In two or three years when I replace mine who knows what the tow limits will be for SRW and DRW trucks and will decide at that time.

[Traveler II]

Mike, do you have the long or short box?

[Mike Clay]

Long box

[gmarker]

I use mine for a daily driver and want it to be easy to park, so I'm staying with SRW. Also, don't intend to be anywhere that 4 wheel drive is needed, so can't see any reason to pay more upfront and have parts I don't need wear out or break. However, if I lived in Minnesota, a 4 wheel drive might be worth while. When I bought my 2011 truck there were only two 2WD Lariots in the entire state of Texas. The dealer had to go to Ardmore, OK to get it.

[bigbunkhouse]

I drive my 4dr 2wd duallly long bed as a family car quite often, I dont find parking or manuverability to be a problem. I always back into spaces which A: allows you to turn tighter and B: keeps the rest of the uncaring public away from the "hips" when they are pulling in and out of the spots next to you. If you ever step up to MDT, you will have to get 2wd and dually...trhats all they offer. My next truck will be a 4wd long bed 4dr dually so it can serve more double duty in the inclement weather, everybody is different and different pros and cons, the longer wider lower gasser truck fits my "pro" list to the fullest. But it most definitely wouldnt for many of the others here.

[bigbunkhouse]

Plus....leaving 4 black strips is twice as cool as 2!...lol

[rosey]

I have a 4x4 longbed crew cab ( see signature) and don't regret it a bit !!!!(Silverado 3500 Duramax) PLENTY of room, power, terrific stability when towing, & if things get slick (like it does in Minnesota) good traction with the 4x4. In addition 4x4's usually have better resale value. Only drawback with the longbed, crew Cab is the BIG turning radius but I can live with that .Once you get used to making sharp turns a little wider with the dually to keep the rear wheels from hitting the curb no problem with handling......as a matter a fact my DW always comments how great the dually rides & that's what is important !

[WVcampers]

I have owned both. The F350 SRW that I have now handles the fiver as well as the DRW trucks that I had before. That being said the fiver that I have now is also the smallest that I have had. So, I say it depends on what you are hauling.

[Chief409]

Ours is a daily driver also. In parking lots I either find a spot I can pull through, or back in. If you have a long wheelbase, long bed, Crew Cab truck, having a dually isn't a real factor when driving one. 2X4 or 4X4 is personal preference, to park the 'Bird at home I use 4X4 to back the trailer up the hill on gravel, so I use it often. When you need the traction, you need it now. And with the newer trucks, changes to the front suspension has largely eliminated the turn radius difference between 2X4 and 4X4. Trade in value is higher, the current Blue Book value for the '09 I traded in increased about $4,000 with 4X4. Reliability: My '08 F250 with 135,000 miles is 4X4, worked hard and often, no problems to date with the electric transfer case shift or auto hubs. Before that my work truck was a '05 F250 4X4 which reached 80,000 miles before a gravel hack driver cut me off and the truck was totaled. Again, no problems with it.

It is nice to have a test mule or two.

Jeff

[WVcampers]

I forgot. The only reason that I traded this year is because my last truck was 2WD. I could not get off the pavement without getting stuck. I had to be pulled several times and I was on level ground in wet grass. The front of a diesel truck is so heavy that the rear wheels do not have any weight on them. My 08 Dodge would sit on top of wet grass an spin but not dig a hole with the rear tires and it did have posi trac.

[bigbunkhouse]

Ours is a daily driver also. In parking lots I either find a spot I can pull through, or back in. If you have a long wheelbase, long bed, Crew Cab truck, having a dually isn't a real factor when driving one. 2X4 or 4X4 is personal preference, to park the 'Bird at home I use 4X4 to back the trailer up the hill on gravel, so I use it often. When you need the traction, you need it now. And with the newer trucks, changes to the front suspension has largely eliminated the turn radius difference between 2X4 and 4X4. Trade in value is higher, the current Blue Book value for the '09 I traded in increased about $4,000 with 4X4. Reliability: My '08 F250 with 135,000 miles is 4X4, worked hard and often, no problems to date with the electric transfer case shift or auto hubs. Before that my work truck was a '05 F250 4X4 which reached 80,000 miles before a gravel hack driver cut me off and the truck was totaled. Again, no problems with it.

It is nice to have a test mule or two.

Jeff

the 4k it was worth more than the 2wd is probably what the difference was new, as well a sthe diesels over gas, yeah they may be worth 8k more resale but it cost 8k more to get it!

[Rob & Cathy]

Every truck I've owned has been 4x4s. My last truck I had for 6 years and the number of times I used four-wheel drive I can count on one hand but was sure glad I had it.

Rob

[Mike Clay]

Like the old saying goes "Its better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it"

[Chief409]

I consider it to be like a spare tire. Even with my old 4X4 trucks, it was easier to get out and lock the hubs, and shift the transfer case, then putting on chains just to pull up a slight grade on wet grass and slightly soggy ground so I could back the trailer into a space.

Jeff