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Old 01-10-2012, 09:19 AM   #1
ksboy
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4x4 or 4x2 Dually?

Ok everyone,I need your opinion. I'm looking at trading for a dually, I currently have a 4x4 single rear axle. Do I really need a 4x4. I would like your opinions on this. Ray
 
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Old 01-10-2012, 09:31 AM   #2
bncinwv
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If you are talking a diesel engine and you camp anywhere it is soft, my personal opinion is to go for the 4wd. The front end of a diesel truck is very easy to sink up on soft ground (without the camper attached) due to the 1000 pounds or so of additional engine weight. Of course, my choice was also influenced by living in snow country and 2wd's are practically unheard of here. I have always heard that if you have 4WD and don't need it you appreciate it a lot more than not having 4WD and needing it. As always, whatever suits your driving needs should dictate your choice. All three of our primary vehicles are 4WD owing to that white stuff that falls around here (even though this year is an anomaly so far).
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Old 01-10-2012, 09:33 AM   #3
WaltandLynne
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Someone here calls their dually "Big Butt". That's a reason not to have one for me. Dually trucks are difficult to park and no good at drive thoughs. We have a 4x4 SRW. Sometimes it helps when backing into a site up a hill in loose gravel and such. We live in Michigan and it sometimes helps in the snow.

Good luck.
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Old 01-10-2012, 09:36 AM   #4
DQDick
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Depends on where you plan to go and if you can get out of Salina in the winter. We can do without the dually, although it would be nice to deal with the Kansas winds. If it snows between now and next Wednesday I'll be pulling the Monty up a grade that rises 7' in just 20' from a standing start to get it out of it's parking spot, maybe with snow in front of the Monty's wheels and under the truck. Wouldn't try it without a 4x4. Most of the farmers and ranchers around here pull with dually's that are also 4x4. Mud and snow when pulling weight will do that for you. If you can get out of Kansas for the winter months and stay out of the mud a regular dually should be good.
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Old 01-10-2012, 10:06 AM   #5
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I've used the 4WD on several occasions backing into wet grassy sites and needed it to do so. I drive my dually every day and have no trouble in parking lots or drive throughs. You just have to know where you can take it.
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Old 01-10-2012, 10:10 AM   #6
richfaa
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We know what you pull. You need the dually for the pin weight. Our first dually was not a 4X4 a we found many places where we could use one so the 08 is a 4X4.BTW. we did not purchase this truck to fit in a garage, go through a bank drive through or ease of parking. We purchased it to pull this 3400 anchor and within all manufacturers spec's. We did not choose the truck the 3400 did.
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Old 01-10-2012, 10:11 AM   #7
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by ksboy

Ok everyone,I need your opinion. I'm looking at trading for a dually, I currently have a 4x4 single rear axle. Do I really need a 4x4. I would like your opinions on this. Ray
Personally I prefer the SRW but the 4X4 is a must. My preference for the SRW is not based on anything other than choice.

Orv
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Old 01-10-2012, 10:52 AM   #8
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Go ahead and purchase the truck with 4X4. If you need it only once while towing, it will have paid for itself. I drop mine into 4 low when backing my trailer into our grassy storage lot. It makes for a nice slow easy pace and the steering is quicker because of the front driving wheels. I'm not sorry for the purchase.
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:20 AM   #9
DarMar
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I/We would never buy a dually without the 4x4 option, and even IF we EVER went back to a SRW we still would never buy a truck without the 4x4 option, one just never knows when they will need to make use of it. When it comes to resale/trade the value and ease of selling will be greatly enhanced with the optional 4x4.

When it comes to a DRW, I have a cousin that went to trade his DRW without the 4x4 option and the dealer told him he really didn't even want his trade unless he stole it from him. JMHO!
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:47 AM   #10
Fire5er
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I had a 2006 F350 SRW with the 6.0 PSD and traded it for a 2011 F350 DRW 6.7. Love the power of the new engine compaired to the 6.0, but can't believe how much more stable the ride is with the DRW compaired to the SRW. Both have been 4x4s, and there has been several times on wet grass that without 4x4 we would have been unable to maneuver our Montana into the RV site. If you are going for a dually and a diesel it will not cost that much more for the 4x4 option. Go 4x4 and don't look back.
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Old 01-10-2012, 12:20 PM   #11
H. John Kohl
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Ray,
I have 4x4 and would do it again. I also use the 4x4 low when backing into sites. It slows the truck down and allows me to control it easier. I do have a manual but would probably do it with the automatic too. It does lubricate the 4x4 also. As others have said wet grass or mud.
Good luck and safe travels.
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Old 01-10-2012, 12:56 PM   #12
oldelmer1
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I had an 06 Ford F350 4x2 because I felt that we would not need 4x4 cause if it snowed, we would just stay home. Drove across the USA and never needed 4x4.

Went down to my in-laws barn and got stuck in the wet grass, had to have my bro-in-law pull me out. Never heard the end of that.

DRW 4x4 now, although I have not used the 4x4 since I bought it in Nov. 2010.

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Old 01-10-2012, 01:18 PM   #13
mhs4771
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All the above in ref to 4x4 DRW. 4 low is a great tool if you're trying to wedge the Monty into a tight spot. Most times in low range you just let the TV idle and backer in. In 05 we went looking for a 3/4 ton, but local dealer had a dually that he would make a better deal on, so the rest is history. If the mirrors will fit, so will the hips. At drive thru tellers, you just take it easy as you end up with only a few inches on each side but it's do able.
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Old 01-10-2012, 01:46 PM   #14
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There is a lot of benefit to having a 4X4 truck, such as better traction in snow, mud, sand, water, grass, steep inclines, etc.

If there were two identical trucks side by side and one was 2 wheel drive and the other 4X4 the 4X4 will usually sell first (may also be a bit more expensive).

My 2 cents worth.
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Old 01-10-2012, 01:46 PM   #15
ksboy
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Thanks to all of you for your good information. I will consider all of this, when making my decision.

Ray
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Old 01-10-2012, 02:18 PM   #16
sola123
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Without 4x4 you can easily get stuck on a slight wet incline of grass or leaves..we use ours on the farm as well as towing the Monty....would not want to be without the 4x4 available...
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Old 01-10-2012, 10:47 PM   #17
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I thought about the same thing and decided for resale purposes the 4x4 would be a better choice. If you need the 4x4 you will be glad you have it!
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Old 01-11-2012, 04:23 AM   #18
TLightning
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If you need it, get it. I'm on truck #7, never had one, never needed one. Sure it will increase the resale value, but be prepared to pay around $4k for it.
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Old 01-11-2012, 05:08 AM   #19
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The most important thing about the SRW is that when you are in a forward moving direction and need to make a sudden and severe turn (which hopefully is not often) the trailers momentum wants to continue straight ahead causing the rims, on the rear of the truck, to try to roll out of and over the tire wall. With DRW this sideward stability is greatly increased, not even mentioning load carrying capacity. Surely there are trade-offs. Yet I don't find our DRW to cause much inconvenience. Have had several 4x4s and enjoyed them, although rarely used. Our current trk is 2wd and haven't missed 4x4 yet. Larry
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Old 01-11-2012, 08:30 AM   #20
Bill-N-Donna
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I have a 4X4 with the dually. I needed it once on small incline on grass at one park we stayed at. It certainly was nice to have it that one time. On another note I wouldn’t want a dually without the 4X4 the dually doesn’t get as good of traction in soft areas as what the single axle does due to less weight per tire. It's my opinion that the dually will spin quicker and get stuck quicker. Something I didn’t think about until after I had the dually, fortunately my first dually was a 4X4.
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