Considering buying 2008 Dodge3500 6.7 Dually - Montana Owners Club

cmawendy · 12-13-2009, 01:23 AM

I have a 2003 Dodge 2500 and am considering buying a 2008 3500 6.7 dually. Is anyone using one to pull a 38' or better, and how is it doing. And trying to deterime if I should get a automatic or a manual.

Trailer Trash 2 · 12-13-2009, 05:01 AM

I have a 09 it cant be much differant than a 08, I have the auto trans, and it is great the sticks are wonderful from what I hear. but if you live in L.A. Calif a auto is sometimes necessary in the stop and go freewat driving. plus it is a option when ordering a new vehicle. I hear stick trans gets better milage also.

Art-n-Marge · 12-13-2009, 06:01 AM

If you get the manual trans how will that work with the tow haul mode? I guess the better question is, does Dodge have a tow/haul mode?

I don't recall the specifics but at least some Ford trucks have better weight ratings with the automatic, but I bring this up just to check on this. As you pick out your truck, check the pillar label! Of course, going from a 3/4 to to a 1 ton dually will get you huge gains already and this might be a moot point for your application.

Happy Truck hunting!

**Rondo** · 12-13-2009, 06:28 AM

Mark-- Remember with a dually you have to park way out in the parking lots of Wally World and the like because you ain't got the room to pull those "big butt" TV into a regular parking space!

cmawendy · 12-13-2009, 06:43 AM

Thanks for the help everyone......I'm leaning towards the manual transmission.

Tom S. · 12-13-2009, 07:58 AM

Tow - haul is for autos only. It changes the shift points and lock up settings.

If I never encountered city traffic, I might consider a manual trans, but one good traffic jam would make me regret it. I don't even like driving manual shift cars in heavy traffic.

hookman · 12-13-2009, 08:04 AM

We have an 08 SRW, 6 speed Auto, and it pulls our Montana great. It was rated to pull 16,300 lbs. and the daully was rated at 16,600 lbs. I haven't heard of many problems with the auto and with the exhaust brake it does a good job slowing you down on hills.

mcgiver2 · 12-13-2009, 09:16 AM

Tow - haul is for autos only, the manual is good i had a ford with the manual the only reason i got the auto is my leg hurt at the end of the day,but both or great tranmissions , it will be how you feel about pushing in that clutch.

RRman · 12-13-2009, 11:12 AM

I find my Dodge Dually will fit just inside/between almost all parking spaces lines, if I park carefully. However its usually too long for a single space so I still park out a ways and partially "hog" a second space either behind or in front of.
Heck, it even fit in the New Orleans Airport parking garage!
The extra walk is actually doing me a favor I suppose!

TLightning · 12-13-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by hookman

We have an 08 SRW, 6 speed Auto, and it pulls our Montana great. It was rated to pull 16,300 lbs. and the daully was rated at 16,600 lbs. I haven't heard of many problems with the auto and with the exhaust brake it does a good job slowing you down on hills.

True that the towing capabiltiy is almost the same...but the cargo capacity (for pin weight, etc) will be nearly doubled with the dually.

Sierra 117 · 12-14-2009, 09:07 AM

I'm pulling a 3455SA with an 09 dually, 6 speed auto 3:73 rear end. It pulls great and I am really pleased with it, but you really need to be moving to get it into 6th gear. it upshifts around 55 mph. I have no experience with the 4:10 rear end, but it might be a better choice than the 3:73 climbing hills. The auto and the manual transmissions are geared differently so a 4:10 rear end will give different final gearing depending on your transmission choice.

clutch · 12-20-2009, 04:34 AM

The best part of the 6.7 is the automatic transmission and the exhaust brake. The worst part is that it uses more fuel. Would I want my old truck with the 5.9 and the 47re transmission back????

NAHHHHHH.

cmawendy · 01-08-2010, 04:51 AM

We just bought a 2008 Dodge 3500 dually mega cab diesel. So far we love it

Thanks for all your great replies. Happy New Year to all

jkmcdonald · 01-08-2010, 03:50 PM

We have a 2006 1 ton mega cab Dodge diesel (not a dually) and just love it. Towed a 3400rl to Arizona and back and the ride was just fine. We have friends that have a 3/4 ton Chevy and I will tell you that our Dodge rides much better than their Chevy. Just a thought before you buy the dually.

Jane

kerry · 01-09-2010, 02:51 AM

Had an 07 3500 Dually, last of the 5.9's. Good truck, towed great. Now I've got an 08 5500 6.7. Great truck, tows better, not quite as good fuel mileage. Love the 6SP ASIAN auto transmission.

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