Is a dually needed?

[kevinwak]

Heck, I'll throw my $.02 in... First, it's nice to see, that after all of the flaming brand wars I've seen on TBN in the past, cooler heads are prevailing. Kudos to everyone for keeping it civil, I mean that. Now, as far as dually vs. SRW, great question. I've always owned SRW, because my truck spends as much time off road as on. I have owned a sampling of all of the big three diesels, in about every flavor offered. Each one had its good and bad points. Ford experience: 7.3 Powerstroke, multiple oil pans, HPOP issues. 6.0 Powerstroke, EGR and oil cooler, head studs. 6.4 Powerstroke, EGR cooler, $hitty fuel economy. 6.7 Powerstroke (2011), whacko tranny, engine ran like a bull. Chevy experience: 6.6 D-Max(2007) Fast! But, tranny cooler lines, IFS = Suck! Did drive very well empty! Dodge experience: 5.9 12v, killer dowel pin. 5.9 24v, lift pump failure(had 5 sp manual behind it, so rest was bullet proof). 6.7 common rail, pre-DEF, $hitty fuel economy. 2013 6.7, DEF, good fuel economy, AISIN tranny rocks, new front end tight. Will report back as I add miles. I do think, for your needs, you might want to go dually... Pic of my latest rig ;-)

What was the fuel economy of that dodge with the Aisin like? Thinking that in a crew cab will be my next truck.

 

[daugen]

https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf...818&ei=lSTyUuO4NKSVygGl-YGgDA&ved=0CFUQrwswAQ

now this is funny in light of our discussion on proper parking techniques. zoom in and move up the parking lot until you see the white Snapon truck.
it just made me chuckle. One thing to hog four spots, but he couldn't even get it in far enough, leaving his back end blocking the road and wrecking everyone's line of
sight...you just want to have little easily removed stickers made up with Nice Parking! on it, but, sigh, one would probably be sued...
If this guy walked forward, I could almost excuse him. But if he walked backwards and past the rear of his truck, he must have been drunk.

btw, trying to find Sears parts locally when I found this gem in the rough...

I've parked my motorhome in a public lot before and took two spots, one lane only. Took a lap around the truck and a re-move to get it right.
Maybe he really had to go to the bathroom...

 

[daugen]

Doesn't Aisin also make a/c units and a bunch of other car parts?
Remember thirty years ago when we used to think "cheap Japanese stuff?"
Now made in Japan is almost like made in Germany.
And perhaps more reliable. ? or just cheaper...? both is good.
Wouldn't it be nice if Aisin built a plant in the US?

power just went off, ahhhh, power back on in sixteen seconds.
Ice storm is bad news. need to go check on gen.

 

[dodge man]

In older Dodges before they started using 6 speeds, 3.73 and 4.10 gears was what is available. My 2004 has 4.10's. Going much over 70 mpg it seems like the engine is screaming. With the newer transmissions, you don't need the deep gears. I'm not sure what comes on the newer Cummins, but its something like a 3.43. With the six speeds, you still get great pulling power off the line, but have the overdrive to keep the RPM's down on the highway.

 

[Soundguy]

In older Dodges before they started using 6 speeds, 3.73 and 4.10 gears was what is available. My 2004 has 4.10's. Going much over 70 mpg it seems like the engine is screaming. With the newer transmissions, you don't need the deep gears. I'm not sure what comes on the newer Cummins, but its something like a 3.43. With the six speeds, you still get great pulling power off the line, but have the overdrive to keep the RPM's down on the highway.

4.10 ain't bad. try 4.88's

 

[daugen]

4.10 ain't bad. try 4.88's

most of the motorhomes with the F53 V10 chassis have 5.38's. I had never seen a number that high before..

 

[Soundguy]

i think on a 550 you can get a 5.55

 

[Bob77064]

In older Dodges before they started using 6 speeds, 3.73 and 4.10 gears was what is available. My 2004 has 4.10's. Going much over 70 mpg it seems like the engine is screaming. With the newer transmissions, you don't need the deep gears. I'm not sure what comes on the newer Cummins, but its something like a 3.43. With the six speeds, you still get great pulling power off the line, but have the overdrive to keep the RPM's down on the highway.

They have 3.42 gears in them, there are some options.

 

[newbury]

The first big (bigger than a 5 ton ) truck I drove had 13 speeds and I think got about 6 mpg hauling a lightly loaded 40' semi trailer. That was back in '73. I wonder what the gearing on that was?

 

[downslope]

most of the motorhomes with the F53 V10 chassis have 5.38's. I had never seen a number that high before..

Are the MH tires taller to negate/require the 5.xx axle ratios?

 

[daugen]

Are the MH tires taller to negate/require the 5.xx axle ratios?

That seems to be the standard number running 22's but even my 19.5's in my fairly lightweight motorhome has the
5.38 ratio. It moves right along off the line, which is not always a good thing when you find out what you didn't stow properly in a motorhome...

One of the things I have now added to the mandatory bathroom reading material is fifth wheel hitch info. Lot of different product out there, Reese of course is
a safe choice; never had a fifth wheel. Since I'm not going to be hooked up all that often, really want something that comes out of the bed easily.
this Fall I'll start a thread on that and when I'm ready to install it, will get your feedback.

 

[Soundguy]

my 450 has 19.5's and 488 rear.

i have 5th wheel rails and a reese hitch that lifts out ( ok.. takes a gorilla to lift it out. but it does lift out ). in it's place I run a reese 'the goose' gn adapter and love it. My 350 has a pop up gn ball. If your truck does not have a 5th wheel rail set but does have a gn ball port, you can get a gn to 5th wheel adapter...

That seems to be the standard number running 22's but even my 19.5's in my fairly lightweight motorhome has the
5.38 ratio. It moves right along off the line, which is not always a good thing when you find out what you didn't stow properly in a motorhome...

One of the things I have now added to the mandatory bathroom reading material is fifth wheel hitch info. Lot of different product out there, Reese of course is
a safe choice; never had a fifth wheel. Since I'm not going to be hooked up all that often, really want something that comes out of the bed easily.
this Fall I'll start a thread on that and when I'm ready to install it, will get your feedback.

 

[ljohnson778]

What was the fuel economy of that dodge with the Aisin like? Thinking that in a crew cab will be my next truck.

I get 17 (hand calced) all day long if I don't do much towing on that tank, with typical stop and go driving, not much highway. At least 15 if I mix in varied towing, loads between 3k to 10k, depending on my needs.

2013 Regular cab, long box, AISIN tranny, 3.42 gears.

 

[kevinwak]

I get 17 (hand calced) all day long if I don't do much towing on that tank, with typical stop and go driving, not much highway. At least 15 if I mix in varied towing, loads between 3k to 10k, depending on my needs. 2013 Regular cab, long box, AISIN tranny, 3.42 gears.

What rpm is it sitting at at 60 mph? I would love a regular cab, but my 2 year old and 9 month old helpers kind of need more room. That sounds like great mileage and a ton more capacity compared to my 07 F150.

 

[timswi]

Are the MH tires taller to negate/require the 5.xx axle ratios?

Mine weren't but it was an F450 30' Class C..If memory serves, they were 16" and the tire height was proportional to any HD pickup...15000# is the need for the stiff gear ratio...Never figured out what gears were in it, but it would wind up pretty good with the OD turned off.

 

[downslope]

Mine weren't but it was an F450 30' Class C..If memory serves, they were 16" and the tire height was proportional to any HD pickup...15000# is the need for the stiff gear ratio...Never figured out what gears were in it, but it would wind up pretty good with the OD turned off.

The Class C was built on an F450 or an E450??

The E450 cutaway is what they use for some small school and airport shuttle type busses and Class C's, usually has the same tires as an F350 dually. The F450 has the 19.5 wheels. I think there may have been some high-end Class C sized MH's built on F450-550 but they are rare. An E450 could have had a 4.56 rear.

 

[ljohnson778]

What rpm is it sitting at at 60 mph? I would love a regular cab, but my 2 year old and 9 month old helpers kind of need more room. That sounds like great mileage and a ton more capacity compared to my 07 F150.

I have an analog tach, so this number is approximate... It seems to be at about 1300 or so at 60 mph.

 

[mfreund]

Would this also be your primary vehicle? Or mostly only used as a tow vehicle?
No, I'll always have a car, but it will be my primary truck and none of us want to drive a Peterbilt
to Home Depot. Well, maybe once...

I drive a Freightliner and have delivered to Home Depot.....and Menards.......and Wal-Mart. If you have to deliver to those places you would never buy anything from them again!!


I would get the dually...thanks for letting me vent.

 

[plowking]

The new trucks should be coming out soon. The new2015 chevy 2500 and 3500HD should be out inMarch 2014. I bought a leftover 2014 3500HD in dec.2013. It has the 6.0 gasoline4.10 rear ratio but I got the aam 11.4 rearend,same as used in the duramax and in the dodges but dodge has gone from the 11.4 to 11.8 on the dually. I find the brakes a lot better then on the 2500HD I had. I think Dodge is going to a eight speed transmission. My chevy has the six speed [6L90E] not the allison. Also has eighteen inch wheels. plowking

 

[daugen]

Pulled the trigger today on a Duramax

I think I'm going to have sticker shock when i go looking for nice trucks.
How much more does the dually add to resale over a SRW? $3-5K?
is there a time of the year where there are more of these on the market?
Like one would buy a convertible in the Spring and not the Fall...
naturally I've been eyeballing every one now checking them out. Not too many out in the bad weather unless full
of a load of salt and plowing; most are SRW.