My SEARCH is on for a preowned RAM 3500 4WD DUALLY PICKUP

DocMcNeedy

DocMcNeedy

"Iggy my Mc-Bum-Fuk"
FCBO Gold Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
10,025
Reaction score
25,830
Location
Northern Paradise
I plan on changing from getting preowned Suburban Daily Drivers every 4-5 years or so to a preowned RAM Dually 4WD by this coming winter. Anyone have any good or bad experience with one?
I was thinking of years 2012-2014 probably...something with 100K mileage roughly. I'm in Minnesota so some harsh winter conditions to endure. Wifey says has to have great air conditioning for the 3 dogs:lol::lol::lol:. They usually trash the backseat...and Moe has to sit shotgun so the upholstery gets beat up.

***Imagine a 72-73 Imperial on a trailer in the last photo.

Thanks.

RAM.jpg
RAm4.jpg
RAM5.jpg
 
A daily driver with major considerations for pulling a HD trailer with an Imperial on it.
RAMrear2.png
RAMrear.jpg
 
Just as a side note...a distant neighbor/ major E Body Mopar enthusiast by the cabin drove past me yesterday with an old dually similarly pictured below pulling his boat trailer...his might be a little older vintage...I hadn't seen it before...just about drove off the road rubbernecking to see more. However, it had a large SuperBee Decal/stripe on the rear qtr. Maybe some of you Mopar truck or E Body crossover guys know the truck from the other forums.
I just remembered he's into E bodies.
vintage dually.jpg
 
Duallys are overkill in my opinion unless you're looking for some that will haul 3 or 4 Imperials on a trailer.
In addition, you can't drive them through the automatic car wash.
Here's an idea of something I'd prefer for hauling the family and one car...
Dodge Car Carrier2.jpg
 
I would highly recommend a Gen 4 Ram. Mine is a 2018 CC 1500 with a towing package and I love it. It can tow any Imperial, or Chrysler.

20180206_140054.jpg
 
My limited experience with dually trucks, great for highway hauling very large 5th wheel trailers, but not worth a crap in mud, snow or ice. Too much tread on the road reduces the lbs/sq inch and the wheels spin. In the bush they are hopeless. Do you really need a 3500 size truck just to haul an Imperial? My guess a 2500 would be a better fit.
Just my 2 cents (1 cent US) worth. :D
 
I was looking at a 2012, 3500, dually, regular cab, diesel, standard with a vinyl interior back then. It was everything I wanted that you couldn't get in a 2500 save for the dual rear wheels. In the end I couldn't justify the dual rear wheels as I'd never tow a 5th wheel.
Wound up with a 2014, 2500, reg cab, diesel, auto with way more luxury than I'd ever think needed in a pick up. In the end, a tree fell on it in 2015. Biggest pisser was that at the time it had a little shy of 20,000 miles on it and the tires and brakes were already shot.
I loved that truck... in fact, when Dodge introduced that body style in 2010 (?), I swore up and down that there's never be a better looking truck. They still look great, but I'll never blow that much scratch on a work machine again. That much money should show in brakes and tires that go further than 20,000.
I don't know if this is everyone's experience, but I was toasted on Ram from there on.
 
get a big enough trailer with a 5th wheel to haul all your imperials
 
Doc, you don't need a dually, it's more than what you need. Big heavy fifth wheel towing is what it's for. Get a 3/4 ton truck and be done with it.
 
IMO my 2500 reg cab Cummins is all the truck I'll seriously need but if I had it to do over again I'd get the 3500 reg cab Cummins because I've learned never to say never. It's just my wife and I and if I need to carry people, we'll drive one of the cars. I bought it to haul and tow so I wanted the 8' bed without it being super long.

For your situation, I totally understand the quad cab necessity but as stated before, unless you're planning on towing more than one car at a time or a very large 5th wheel, I suspect the dually will become a PITA. I can park my trunk in the garage.

I towed my Fury back from Southern Missouri to Western PA and the only problem I had was forgetting it was back there and thinking some dumb *** was tailgating me when I looked in the rear view mirror.

I haven't had any problems with breaks or tires on mine. Mine is a 2012 SLT automatic that came standard with trailer tow for better shifting and exhaust brake for less wear on the brakes when towing.

If you're worried about sway, Reese makes several weight distribution hitch accessories that work VERY well. Two brothers have them on their travel trailers and they perform as advertised.

Reese - Weight Distribution

Trip Home MO or IL 2012 Ram and 1969 Sport Fury 25 April 2013 1432.JPG
 
Okay...so maybe what I'm hearing is that the dually is overkill and sucks in snow...so maybe a step down or a step in the right direction would be a RAM 2500 HD 4X4 with tow pkg...which I do like.
2500hd_01.jpg
 
I have no input on the brake pad life, but I will offer that OEM tires are typically soft tread compositions for "best" traction (and thus better magazine reviews and fewer complaints when new). Of course the downside is shorter tread life.

If you're interested in 3% under dealer invoice on a new truck, I can probably arrange that. I'd best that's a lotta $$$ on one of these monsters (which don't depreciate much). Our director makes a limited number available for his underlings.
 
shooter65 said:
IMO my 2500 reg cab Cummins is all the truck I'll seriously need but if I had it to do over again I'd get the 3500 reg cab Cummins because I've learned never to say never. It's just my wife and I and if I need to carry people, we'll drive one of the cars. I bought it to haul and tow so I wanted the 8' bed without it being super long.

For your situation, I totally understand the quad cab necessity but as stated before, unless you're planning on towing more than one car at a time or a very large 5th wheel, I suspect the dually will become a PITA. I can park my trunk in the garage.

I towed my Fury back from Southern Missouri to Western PA and the only problem I had was forgetting it was back there and thinking some dumb *** was tailgating me when I looked in the rear view mirror.

I haven't had any problems with breaks or tires on mine. Mine is a 2012 SLT automatic that came standard with trailer tow for better shifting and exhaust brake for less wear on the brakes when towing.

If you're worried about sway, Reese makes several weight distribution hitch accessories that work VERY well. Two brothers have them on their travel trailers and they perform as advertised.

Reese - Weight Distribution

View attachment 196421
Click to expand...
I do like your setup...can't tell if that trailer can take a 5K lbs Imperial...that's my next thing after the ride...upgrade my trailer weight situation.
 
LocuMob said:
Doc, you don't need a dually, it's more than what you need. Big heavy fifth wheel towing is what it's for. Get a 3/4 ton truck and be done with it.
Click to expand...
Scott, If get the right truck and trailer then I can hustle my Imperials one at a time over to the Mopar show next year in Farmington.:rofl:
 
How much towing do you plan on doing? If it's just now and then even a 1500 will tow your car. I love these modern diesel engines but unless your constantly towing heavy (6000lbs isn't heavy) the extra expense and maintenance for a diesel just doesn't add up to me. Just something else to consider. Either way I think the year range of truck your're look into is the best looking.
 
I’d vote a clean 2nd gen 2500, over something newer. No mileage robbing DEF systems, less failing electronics, etc.

The VE pump in the first gen cummins gets crazy good mileage. The P pump is a little worse, but much better then the 13mpg or so of the newer stuff.

Granted you might have a few repair items of an older truck, but the savings over a new one would help tremendously. The older trucks have a great resale value, as a lot of guys are choosing to go back to them vs. a new/er truck.
 
DocMcNeedy said:
Okay...so maybe what I'm hearing is that the dually is overkill and sucks in snow...so maybe a step down or a step in the right direction would be a RAM 2500 HD 4X4 with tow pkg...which I do like.
View attachment 196423
Click to expand...
@1Fury1 will have just what you need when his new ride is in. Looks very close to this , but a 3500
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top