Truck Owners
 

I'm getting ready to buy a new GM truck and cant decide what to get. I need a long box and want atleast a extended cab. Crew cab long box's only look good in a dually, so question is. How are crew cab, long box dually's to drive on a daily basis over a extended long box 2500. Ive test driven both but think I would need more drive time to make a choice. All are 4X4 and diesels. Has anyone owned both or had alot of seat time in either?

by the dually,I have the second one registered in FL,LOVE it,gets great fuel milage,better than the little ones,got mine from john g on the board,owned it for a year and a half now.

DURAMAX
 

The duramax is great, it pulls my 36 APACHE really well. I will probadly go with a dually next time. This time I went with the crew cab short box HD 4X4.

Duallys +-
 

Dually's haul well. But I gave up mine as a dayley driver. It's like 22 ft long and wider than most parking spots. My biggest complaint: I have to wash it by hand. In the winter it is a ***** to keep clean.

Nothin beats it for towing though

Re: Truck Owners
 

jmackin -

Go to the DieselTruckResource web site for more Diesel 4x4 info than you can digest.

GMScott

You can buy a 3500 with single rear wheels. I have an F-350 extended cab, long bed, 4x4 with single rear wheels that I used to drive every day. I also pull my boat with it. However, my next truck will be a crew cab dually, but I won't be driving it every day. The current truck was fine for a daily driver, just expect to park in the back of parking lots because they are so long.

I also have looked at new trucks and was told they don't have a 3500 single rear wheel diesel crew cab for 2003 only dually. if someone knows different I sure would like to know. Also what about Fords dually for 2002, I was looking at a loaded diesel crew cab, need some thoughts on it good or bad. Also what it should sell for has 16,000 miles.

Thanks Rich

I'm gonna go w/ GM because I can get GMS pricing and have had the best luck with. GMS pricing + rebates 2500+ 500 auto show rebate = $10k+ off sticker. I can get 4.7 interest & trade & money down so I think I will take rebate. I have heard 18-20mpg with single wheel and about 15-17mpg dually, does that sound right?

I have to agree with most of the guys here. I love my 2000 chevy 3500TD crewcab long bed dually too. Its really comfy and tows well. But it is not my everyday truck. If it was, I think I'de be looking for a single rear. because its tough in parking lots and yes.... they dont have a car wash for duallies.

I am in the const. business so everyday truck would mean mostly jobsites and everyday running around. I also like the dent & rust proof rear panels on the duallies.

You might consider going with the 2500 and SRW, and getting Air Bags for the rear. You will not have 100% of what the dually 3500 can offer you, but damn close.

I have Air Lift airbags on my 2500 Avalanche, and I will not have ANY truck without them from now on. I had them on my Tahoe too.

jmackin,
I have a crewcab dually I drive every day. Have had a dually since 90. You get to the "wide ass" as a friend calls it, it is like driving a car. I can go through bank drive thru's and such no problem. Just make sure mirrors are adjusted and you will be fine. If you are in const. bisiness I would get the DRW's without question.
Mike

I drive a dually as my daily and will buy another one soon. It took some time to adjust. I am comfortable with it and have found a truck wash near my house that will clean it for 12.00! Go for it!

I have a crew cab dually and I love it. The ride seems to be just about right. I have a Ford by the way. Did have some tranny issues along the way but knock on wood they seem to be fixed. We will see when the weather gets warm and I start to tow again. The only thing I see as a problem with the dually is the parking. The turning radius is a joke and the thing is wider then most parking spots. SO if you do a lot of tight space driving then go with the SRW truck. Also today I got in a accicent due to the Duallys. A snow plow dude just clipped the rear quarter. No big deal just a very small crack in it that I will be able to fix. The guy was actually some one I knew so I said see ya later man and we both took off. However if I had a single rear wheel this would never have happened. Other then that I think that the Dually rides nicer then the SRW.

Jon

Go for the crewcab short bed. I love my F-350 supercab, but the back seat area is too small, basicall useless except to throw garbage back there. The crewcab long bed is an awsome truck, but parking and navigating tight areas are a pain. Unless GMC offers the 4 wheel steering, then that may make a huge difference. Ford, GMC, Chevy, and Dodge are all good trucks, I think it is a matter of personal prefference these days.

I just ordered an F-350 crewcab dually shortbed with the new Powerstroke. I got the shortbed because it will be a daily driver.

Thanks for the input guys. There are just too many choices nowadays. As much as these things cost and the fact that I'm probably gonna keep it for a long time, I just dont want any regrets.

Not that anyone cares, but I just picked up my new ride. Went with a crew cab short bed because of the versatility,shorter wheelebase & turning radius(than extended long box) for manuvering a work trailer. I went a little nutz & got everything on it except the DVD player(LT W/leather). Why the hell not, you only live once right!:)

I have a crew cab, long bed, dually. BUT, It is not my daily driver.

If you plan to have any adults in the back seat for more than an hour you will need the crew cab. It is worth the extra foot of length.

The fenders are wide, and the truck is a pain if your local shopping areas are crowded. You will almost always have to back up a little to get in a tight parking spot.

GM makes a neat new four wheel steering system that may be worth checking out.

I think the tow ratings for the 2500 and 3500 are the same.

Steve

I was going to buy a Dually first. After I drove one for a week I took it back and ordered my F350 4x4 Single wheel deisal. The dually is a b*tch to drive daily through bank drive throughs and the like. It was definatly a more stable ride but I like my F350 single just fine. Wardey

GM & Dephi 4 Wheel Steering is only available on 5 trucks in 2003:

Suburban 6.0L 2500
Yukon XL 6.0L 2500
Sierra Denali
Sierra 1500 HD
Silverado 1500 HD

I was waiting for it to be on the 2500HD, D/A; but we are still 1 or 2 years from that happening.

Dually
 

I have an '00 GMC Crew, 4x4 Dually that is my daily driver. I've had it since new and put 44,000 miles on it. I have never bumped the fenders on anything.
I do go through drive through services at the bank and fast food.
You will rub your tires on some curbs.
My tires are BFG All Terrain, load range E. They take the curbs fine. Stock tires were poop. The new ones are great, but cost a cool grand to do all 6.

The only drawback is finding places to rotate your tires. I have a hell of a time. Most guys get scared when you roll in in a crew dually. They may rotate them, but they may not be able to ballance them.
My tires come from NTB, who gives free rotation and balance every 5,000. BIG bonus.

Parking a crew dually. Lesson
 

Those of you with crew duallys.. Don't be afraid of parking lots. BACK IN to the spots. This requires you to use the "R" in the trans, and the mirrors.
Width is the only concern. Like I said, I've never bumped a fender.

Come on fellas. And you want to tow a 30+' boat, but don't want to drive a real truck??? Have some hair, and buy the big dually.