Looking for a good deal on a 2500/3500 cummins

[Duffster]

A 12k trailer does not necessarily constitute the need for a dually. If you want one, I can understand that, but you are going to pay up front and then pay as you go for tires and maintenance. Tires for my F350 set me back $1200, vs. $700 for my F250. Tire wear is not as good because they are more difficult to rotate. Both NY & PA assess higher registration fees for dually's and most garages charge more for inspection and other service. It is TOTALLY up to you! A 2500 will easily handle your trailer and tractor. (I assume your trailer is a conventional tow rather than a gooseneck.) Dually or single rear wheel, you are going to need a weight distribution hitch. You should be able to find a hitch rated for 12,500/1250 which should exceed your need.

I checked the local market here and didn't find much in your price range. You are better of lucking in the south anyway to avoid road salt rust! Good luck and happy shopping.

Why would he need a weight distribution hitch?

 

[Builder]

Thanks guys -
Builder - As always, thanks for the advice, but my wallet and conscience was not letting me even look at new. I figure every $1K I spend on equipment equals about an acre of land. I'm looking at spending about $10K, less for pre "53 block". I'm finding "sold" prices - ebay auctions for about that. I couldn't expect to get a new one for less than $25K - 4WD, dually, AC. So that would be 15 acres of cutover timber land. And one of the great advantages of new is the warrantee, and that's up in the air.

Oh, I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't suggesting new. I would definately buy used.

The problem now I see is that a lot of the better used stuff that was sold at bargain prices has been picked over pretty good.

I have found the best thing to do is look outside of your area. Don't be afraid to buy a one way plane ticket and drive home a good bargain 500-1000 miles.

 

[burnetma]

Because the typical hitch for a D2500 or D3500 is rated for < 12,000 load carrying, which he said in the opening post is his target.

 

[DJ54]

I've always liked the extra stability of my duallies.. I've hauled heavy loads with my old '79 GMC 3/4 ton w/single tires years ago, and at times in certain situations..., not that it got squirrely on me, but had more on it than it was surely intended to carry. And the fact that the extra tire may get you safely to the berm, and not drag you off into the rhubarb, if you have a sudden flat... Yup..., I picked up a dinner fork in one of my rear tires one time, coming home from an antique tractor show.

I would love to see the hitch manufacturers up the tongue weight on their HD hitches... To me 1500 to 1800 lbs. isn't squat. With the way my Eager Beaver trailer is, when I haul my IH 656, or my MF 180, there is no way to position them to only put 1500 lbs. on the tongue. I had my hitches custom built at a weld shop... Over built as a matter of fact. I've seen too many of the receiver hitches bowed down, or distorted from overloading.

I also learned my lesson the hard way, after purchasing my F-450, insurance wise... My insurance company had the truck rated as a commercial vehicle, because of the 14,000 lb. GVW, hence the rates were much more. After checking with other companies to compare pricing, they said the same thing.

Love my duallies..., as I have 3. My neighbor laughs, and says I have one for every occasion... I leave the single wheeler for my "car".., and bad weather driver, as it is 4 WD.

 

[newbury]

A 12k trailer does not necessarily constitute the need for a dually. If you want one, I can understand that, but you are going to pay up front and then pay as you go for tires and maintenance. Tires for my F350 set me back $1200, vs. $700 for my F250. Tire wear is not as good because they are more difficult to rotate. Both NY & PA assess higher registration fees for dually's and most garages charge more for inspection and other service. It is TOTALLY up to you! A 2500 will easily handle your trailer and tractor. (I assume your trailer is a conventional tow rather than a gooseneck.) Dually or single rear wheel, you are going to need a weight distribution hitch. You should be able to find a hitch rated for 12,500/1250 which should exceed your need.

I checked the local market here and didn't find much in your price range. You are better of lucking in the south anyway to avoid road salt rust! Good luck and happy shopping.

Need a dually (with a big strong winch) because I'll be going in swamps where they will be needed.
Coming from Vermont I'd stay away from anything north of Virgiinia due to rust.
Want the 2500 or 3500 for it's tow capacity.

As far as prices on land go, asking prices have gone up since I last checked this winter. I was looking at several tracts in the 300 plus range for a little over $1k/acre and just missed out on a 600 acre tract for $600K. Unfortunately for my "buying land side" the Toyota plant that was being closed just after it was built is now going to receive stimulus funds to open. Thus ensuring the Japanese can get their profits. This has almost doubled the asking price for the tracts over 200 acres.
Here's an example:

description: Land for Sale: Approximately 200 acres located on McGregor's Chapel Road South. Asking $1,500/acre OBO Call 662-509-0509

However I still have not gotten feedback from my relatives on what things are actually selling for.

 

[Highbeam]

So you need a dually for swamp land? I could see needing 4wd and a big winch but a dually won't get you much other than payload and less psi of ground pressure on that rear end which usually means less traction.

 

[newbury]

So you need a dually for swamp land? I could see needing 4wd and a big winch but a dually won't get you much other than payload and less psi of ground pressure on that rear end which usually means less traction.

Yup, less psi. I thought any increase in payload was offset by increase in weight. My brother-in-law uses his dually to haul out the single wheel vehicles.

 

[Builder]

Yup, less psi. I thought any increase in payload was offset by increase in weight. My brother-in-law uses his dually to haul out the single wheel vehicles.

Wow, that's a new one on me. Every dually I owned sucked in snow, mud and sand.

My SRW will walk all over my duallies I've owned in the past off road.

Maybe you got some different soil up there.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Wow, that's a new one on me. Every dually I owned sucked in snow, mud and sand.

My SRW will walk all over my duallies I've owned in the past off road.

Maybe you got some different soil up there.

I agree with you on this one. I pulled out a Dodge Dually last year with my F-150 after driving through what he got stuck in to get too him. I also have pulled out quite a few dually box Ryder type trucks. Around here guys with duallys who push snow take one set off the rear for the winter months.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

I thought any increase in payload was offset by increase in weight.

A dually wieghts very little more