How important is 4WD on a duallie?

[newbury]

In my never-ending (so it seems) quest for a (in order of importance):
diesel ('cuz it'll run forever and has the torque)
dually ('cuz I want to be able to put max load in the bed at times, and pull a trailer)
all wheel drive (2 axles, six tires) ('cuz I've read that a duallie w/o 4x4 is bad)
that will legally tow 12,000 lbs plus
it seems that they are as rare as hen's teeth.

I'm going to be hauling trailers w/ logs out of the woods, gravel to sites, firewood, dirt, etc. thru NE Mississippi woods. And maybe occasionally a 5th wheeler camper.

I've been focusing on 7.3 Fords and pre-07 Dodge Cummins. I've run across a LOT of 2WD but few 4x4 that will haul the 12,000lbs. The pre-04 Dodge autos are rated less than 12,000 lbs. So my question to those of you who have tried both - how important do you feel 4x4 is?
I'm not planning on off-roading thru Baja but I realize a little extra traction on the steering wheels could be important.
Any advice please?
thanks
(My BIL says don't get 4x4, the extra cost is not worth it)
(and if you have one in good condition for sale pm me please)

 

[om21braz]

I can't speak for the loaded questions, but one time on wet grass or loose gravel with a 2WD dually empty will give you loads of insight. IMHO, they are difficult to get moving in those particular circumstances.

 

[grsthegreat]

Why stick with duallies? My f350 is a 4x4 single rear axle and is rated at 14,000#.

Some of the new F350's SRW are rated at 16,000# +++

2012 Ford Super Duty | View Towing Specifications | Ford.com

 

[JESSE1]

Being able to put it in 4 low and not strain the transmission while pulling a heavy load off-road makes having 4 wheel drive worth it. I've had an equal number of 4x2 and 4x4 duallies and I'd much rather have the 4x4, mainly because of the transfer case and the ability to shift to 4 low range.

 

[blueriver]

I have had both 2wd and 4x4 Dodge 3500 Duallies ... the last new one was in 04' and it was my first 4x4 ... I used to spin out in even the slighest wet grass even dew if I was loaded, sand, gravel always had to be thinking about the conditions.

There is no better feeling than just engaging 4 wd and moving on. I haul round bales out of the field ... the old 2 wd I'd pull the automatic into low and have to use the gas petal ... now I shift into low range and let it idle out. When you do stick'm they are stuck.

 

[Soundguy]

i have 2 ford dually's.. one 2wd, one 4wd. the 2wd one is more aroad truck.. it's outfit to haul long distnce and heavy loads on pavement. I used to use it and an old beater dodge 4wd half ton.. between the 2 i got my work done, as the road to my other farm property is dirt and gets bad sometimes.

when the dodge died, i was doing everything with the 'road' dually.. there were a couple times it was a close call. I didn't stick.. but if I had stuck it would have been bad.. a curve inthe dirt road, at the beginning of a grade.. not a great place to be stuck with a trailer on.. trying to come out of the curve and climb a grade and then walk up on asphalt at a 'blind' section of road, where you either had to gun it and go.. or stop for traffic, and usually.. get stuck.

after doing this twice, i decided I needed a 2 truck scheme again and having 1 truck wasn't working for me...or at least 1 truck capable of doing it all anyway. not wanting to get rid of my paid for good road truck that had tons of bells and whistles.. I opted to get a 4wd, and decided to stay diesel as my other ford was a 7.3psd and I love it.. so got another 7.3psd, and searched for months to find a long bed king or crew cab 4wd. finally found one.. good price.. had to sink some cash into her to get her reliable.. but she's a good truck. has a higher rear ratio so I don't turn as many rpms ont he interstate, and has a crew cab so I got a back seat.. I like that. ole dodge was regular cab.. not as much fun.. plus with the diesel and duals.. I could safely haul more.. the load ont he dodge was borderline dangerous, even if legal, sometimes.. I liek having more rubber ont he road for safety.

this isn't the ideal setup... back int he beginning I probably should have looked and gotten a 4wd to start with and decked it out and only had 1 insurance payment.. but it works ok. I can hitch the traielr up to one to go make a haul and if I get back late.. I can just park it and driv e th other truck.. so there are still some tangible benefits..e tc.

soundguy

 

[yellowdogsvc]

4x4 all the way and a winch, too. You won't be sorry.

I cannot tell you how many times I have saved myself in wet conditions with 4x4 and I live in drought stricken TX. The winch, too, for the times when 4x4 isn't enough or I need to get a log off the road.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Skip the dually and get a SRW F-350. Mine is rated to tow just over 16,000#

As for 4x4 or not my 97 GMC 454 Dually was 4x4 but if left in 2 wheel drive it could not get up a gravel drive with a grade. It would get stuck everywhere. Places a Honda Civic could go with ease the truck would get stuck. Only truck I had that was worse was my 2001 Ford F-150 Lightning with about 400HP to the ground.

Get a 4x4 but if it were me I would skip the dually at all cost. I have had them and they do not track good in snow and mud even if in 4x4. The rear wheels can never figure out which set should follow the front wheels.

By the way my 06 F-350 SRW has a 11,500 GVWR and weighs 7,600# with me in it and 3/4 tank of fuel. That leaves 3,900# for the bed, hitch, ect.

Chris

 

[bdog]

I don't know where you guys are getting the 16,000 unless you are talking GCVWR. the 12,000 the OP is talking about is GVWR. My 08 F-350 SRW GVWR is 11,500. I was looking at a 2010 Dodge Dually it has a GVWR of 12,200. There are no one tons with GVWR's of 16k. I don't even think a F-550 is rated that high.

I would be cautious getting anything with a GVWR over 12k because if you hook up to a 14k trailer which are common you all of a sudden are over 26k and need a CDL and all the joys that go along with that. GVWR exactly at 12k and 14k trailer you are ok, but get a 12,200 GVWR truck then you open up a can of worms. Honestly I have no idea why Dodge rates their truck this way as I was considering one but not any more.

Unless you are hauling big goosenecks all the time I would not worry about a dually. The suck in the mud and snow and you have more tires to buy. A F-350 single wheel will haul pretty much anything you want.

4x4 is a must on any truck unless you NEVER leave pavement. Diesel trucks are heavy in the front and get stuck really easy in 2WD. Years ago I had a 2WD F-350. I backed up into a buddies yard to help him move a piano. The grass was wet. The tires just spun and I was stuck in his front yard.

 

[bdeboer]

Diesel is also going to be heavier in the nose making the traction even worse. In this area the extra you pay for a 4x4 is always made up when you sell it/trade it.