Is a dually needed?

[terryknight]

is a dually necessary no is it nice to have yes. whether or not you need it is up to you. i have a 94 F250 i have upgrade suspension brake motor blah blah blah. i tow 16K off the bumper at least twice a year. i only go 10 miles each way. if i were going to two it 100 miles or across country i would find a dually and hopefully GN trailer.

from the fmcsa website (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) states maybe more restrictive, but these are the federal regs for what needs a CDL

Class A: Any combination of vehicles which has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) whichever is greater.

Class B: Any single vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).

Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.

i can't find the federal exemptions but for the state of MD exemptions are

VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED
Waivers have been granted for the operation of some commercial vehicles. You are not required to have
a Commercial Driver痴 License to drive a vehicle that has been excluded.
However, you must have a
Maryland non-commercial driver痴 license of the appropriate class to operate a vehicle that has been
excluded. (With the exception of fire apparatus, that may be operated by the use of an operator痴 card
and a valid State driver痴 license. See your fire chief for details).
The following vehicles have been excluded from CDL requirements in Maryland:

1. Controlled and operated by a farmer;
Used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm;
Not used in the operations of a common or contract motor carrier;and
Used within 150 miles of the person痴 farm;

2. An emergency vehicle;
Equipped with audible and visual signals (fire apparatus); and
Operated by a member of, or a person in the employ of,a volunteer or paid fire or rescue organization;

3. A vehicle owned or operated by the United States Department of Defense if it is controlled and operated by;
Any member of the military reserves or National Guard on active duty including personnel on full-time National Guard duty and personnel on part-time training; or

4. A motor vehicle designed and constructed primarily to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use.

page 3

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/_resources/docs/DL-151.pdf

 

[terryknight]

also older trucks will do fine i agree that they are under rated, i won't speculate as to why. they also don't have the issues some of the newer trucks do with DEF, EGR, turbo, radiators, head bolts (those of for the Fords, i'm sure dodge and GM have their own issues) I also find the older trucks easier to work on and i can do it myself saving my money from taking it to a dealer/mechanic. that might not make a difference to you

 

[foreman Etexas]

I'LL sell you mine 2011 with 28,600miles

 

[daugen]

Used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm;

now Officer, do you see that sack of seed back there? Well I'm taking these farm supplies to a farmer in Texas...

my those are nice handcuffs Officer...

I frankly like the looks of some of the older trucks, particularly the Fords, cleaner front end
but ride is also a factor. That is something the newer trucks apparently have a true advantage on.
And noise insulation. And? yes,but lots of technical downsides.

zero percent financing for six or seven years makes the new truck more palatable I suppose...
I can't wrench any more so serviceability is an issue. DEF is a nuisance...on our tractors too, but as long as the DEF fluid consumption
is low, that's one more thing to check when checking the oil. I'm not a wait until the light comes on guy.

 

[daugen]

I'LL sell you mine 2011 with 28,600milesView attachment 358385

now that is exactly the kind of truck I should be looking at. Something at 50-70% the cost of new. If you still have it by the end of the summer, you bet, let's chat.
Need to survive my rv trip first...:dance1:

 

[terryknight]

the older truck ride like buckboards compared to the new one, but some people like to modify their vehicles. ride cn be improved noise and vibration can be dampened, depends on what you want to do. however the older diesel will always be louder than the new one that don't even sound like they are running

 

[daugen]

Terry, thanks. lots of good info. Now I can spend my time looking for trucks that will actually work for me vs. looking nice...
now let me tell you about the guy who pulled twelve tons with his F150 turbo six...look at all those little rotor fins all over the place...

 

[daugen]

older diesel will always be louder
if an older Cummins pulls up next to me on a window down day, I have to roll it up.
Man is that thing noisy outside the truck. Probably much less inside.
peace and quiet is a real luxury in a truck, wonder which of the last gen trucks were quieter inside?
Quiet is good...noise wears you down.

 

[3930dave]

Daugen - It wouldn't be the first thing I'd think of, but I can see the wisdom of what one Snowbird I know here now does.

After a few seasons of pulling a big 5'er back and forth between here and Arizona, he decided to store the trailer in AZ during the Summer, and sold his diesel p/u.

If this is primarily a Snowbird trailer, (and esp. if you keep the MH) I'd seriously consider buying it in FL (?) near where you want to be. I'd negotiate the site delivery into the deal. Over the time you own it, even if you paid $1,000 each time you wanted it moved to another park, you can do that quite a few times before you start to make a dent in the cost of owning a late model diesel p/u.

And, if I picture life in a snowbird park correctly, it probably isn't too hard to find a tenant who likes to keep busy and would pull a trailer for you for not much more than the cost of fuel and a nice dinner out.

Don't get me wrong, I like diesel trucks just fine..... just wanted to pass along the choices made by a sharp friend of mine.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Buppies]

Having owned six diesel pickup trucks two of them duallys for my usage much prefer single rear wheel. Have for past 11 years rotated between dodge and ford. If I was going to haul a 16000 pound trailer would have to be a dually. Personally would look at Dodge 2008 to 2010 years. Those old 5.9 were loud but strong. After you get trailer where it's going to stay what will you use the truck for then?