3500's Too many rumor's Want the facts

Kansin · October 30, 2001

Hi everyone. New kid on the block. I have a 1500 4X4, which I am going to trade in in another year, and I will do some very heavy haulin off and on, and I would like a dooley 4X4. The thing is I read and hear that they are just horrible on snow and mud. Can someone explain in detail why this could be so? My feeling is if I put some mud terrain tires on it, it should do good. Is weight a factor? All pickups need weight for snow. I cannot understand how two more wheels could cause such a big problem. I would think it would be a help, especially with locking differential. Give me your thoughts. I guess if I get all bad comments, I just might have to live with a 2500HD. I just like the extra wheels on back for looks. Thanks in advance.

Shaners · October 30, 2001

Duallies are worse in the snow. If you put more aggressive tires on it, and use 4x4 you will be OK. The problem is that you have a larger footprint in the rear and really not too much more weight causing the rear tires to ride on top of the snow/mud. Keeping your tires tall and skinny would be the way to go...

My old boss just bought a dually crewcab duramax/allison 4x4 and is getting around 19 mpg's out of it...

Kansas Kid · October 30, 2001

Its really pretty easy to explain why two more tires make that much of a difference.

Pressure = Force/Area

With two extra tires out back, you have a larger area to apply the force to the ground. That equals less pressure on the ground. Same goes for going with a wide tire on a SRW truck. A dually really wouldn't be all that bad in the mud and snow, but they tend to pack stuff between the duals, basically making one really wide tire in the back. And then with snow its best to drive in the ruts, but having the duals makes in hard to do that. They don't loop from end to end as easily thanks to the extra tire though.

I think you would probably get used to it, but don't expect it to be as good in the mud and snow as your current truck. I personally wouldn't consider one because of my uses for a truck. But if all I did was tow on pavement, then I'd have a dually.

chevy4x4trucks · October 30, 2001

Really how the ride is on snow or mud is relative. I mean, it depends on what a good ride to you is. I rarely put my truck in 4x4 during the WI winters, even though they'll get pretty bad. It's sort of like a challenge. But, they are right, that the wider footprint causes your tires to "float" but, I'm not too concerned, I plan on putting some 35's on my truck. I guess just add some more sand bags to the back to make it sink back in.