Calling All 3500 Dually Owners

GMCSIERRA4ME · September 25, 2009

I was thinking about getting a 3500 dually to pull my fifth wheel camper trailer.

My questions are as follows.

Do you just have it for work or is it an everyday driver?

If it is used as an everyday driver, how do you find it around town?

Did you really need a dually, or would a 2500 have done the job?

Is it gas or diesel?

THANKS in advance.

boarderman15 · September 25, 2009

i have an 01 crew cab dually and i use it for everyday driving as well as hauling.

driving around town i don't have much of a problem it more of the city driving and finding a big enough parking space.

i also have to avoid parking ramps all together.

i could have gotten away with a 2500 but then i couldn't have as big of a truck.

i have an 8.1 gas engine but wish it was a diesel.

Hope this helps.

pwall · September 25, 2009

My 3500HD is for towing my travel-trailer, which I'm hoping will turn into a fifth wheel in the next year or so. I also using at many camping events for Scouting.

As a daily driver.....yes you can, but it's certainly more difficult to find parking, etc. I do go thru drive-thru with no problems, but the odd time I had to go downtown, finding parking was a real pain.

But for me, it's not my daily driver.

You could also consider a 3500 SRW.

GMCSIERRA4ME · September 25, 2009

Thanks guys.

The fifth wheel camper that I have right now is not that big. I was told that the truck I have now will pull it, just don't pull out in front of anyone, and don't expect to break any speed records.

The trailer weighs about 6700 lbs loaded, and my truck should be able to pull 7000 lbs, but I don't like the idea that "it should be OK"

Besides, I've seen the duallies pulling trailers, and it looks like the way to go.

At least there won't be any weight worries when going down the road.

I'm still interested in hearing more.

Silverado4x4 · September 25, 2009

A 3500 dually is way overkill for that weight.

RonJ · September 25, 2009

You'll get use to what ever you get. I have a Crew and single cab dually. I pull a 20 foot (floor) gooseneck around town every day ( about 40 + miles). I would rather have too muck truck, instead of not enough. Traffic will get out of your way, when they see that big booty.

After work...I do sometimes want a change, so I drive the vette. The crew dually is more comfortable, and the 6 speed vette makes you feel like your rowing a boat .

Kodiak450 · September 26, 2009

You won't need that much truck for that amount of weight. I would get a 2500 6.0 with 4:10's and add an extra leaf to the existing stack. Duallys..Great for hauling a car carrier and some real serious weight. Also with duallys you pay more at tolls with added axel. I love the look of a dually though! If I was pulling 7000lbs plus, I would consider a big block or a diesel. The 8.1 big block will get little better mileage then the 6.0 when it comes to hauling weight, as a DD the 6.0 would get better mileage. The duramax is a real pulling engine, but diesel fuel has been higher then regular fuel for a long time, and I remember last year when diesel cost over $5.00 a gallon at one point. But they can move! If you can find an 06-07 classic diesel, it doesn't have that diesel restriction exhaust on it. The 8.1 and duramax diesel also come with an allison tranny.

born-to-fish- · September 27, 2009

As a proud owner of a 05 SRW 3500 w/ duramax, I couldn't be more happy. I had a similar 05 1/2 ton with the 4.8 and it was a fuel pig. I get better fuel mileage hauling my 31 foot trailer, than that 1/2 ton got empty. The allison trans. is also great here in British Columbia. Going down steep summits, I hardly need to use the brakes. My trailer is about 10,000 lbs. loaded. I don't think you need a dually for your trailer, I would recommend a 2500 w/duramax.

GMCSIERRA4ME · September 27, 2009

THANKS for the input guys.

The main reason I was asking how the duallies were as everyday drivers was because if I decide to keep my 1/2 ton, my insurance will increase dramastically(almost double). I'm thinking I will probably sell the truck I have now.

If we buy a 2500 and then trade the trailer in the next year or two for a larger one, the 2500 might not be enough. So I would rather get a larger truck right away.

Thanks again, and now the hunt starts for a truck.

WilliamBos · September 27, 2009

My 3500HD is for towing my travel-trailer, which I'm hoping will turn into a fifth wheel in the next year or so. I also using at many camping events for Scouting.
As a daily driver.....yes you can, but it's certainly more difficult to find parking, etc. I do go thru drive-thru with no problems, but the odd time I had to go downtown, finding parking was a real pain.

But for me, it's not my daily driver.

You could also consider a 3500 SRW.

Does that include Timmies drive through??