Dually trucks are pickups with dual rear wheels instead of the usual single rear wheels on a regular pickup truck. The reason people choose a dually truck over a standard pickup is generally the increased capability of a dually.
The dual-wheel setup in the rear increases the maximum towing and payload ability of the truck, and it also makes towing heavy loads more stable. These trucks are often chosen to tow large 5th-wheel trailers.
The cons of a dually truck are mainly that they’re more expensive, harder to maneuver, not very fuel efficient, and the ride isn’t as comfortable when the truck isn’t hauling a load. Let’s take a closer look at the ins and outs of dually trucks and what they’re used for.
What is a Dually Truck?
A dually truck is a truck with dual rear wheels on each side, which means they have a total of six wheels instead of four. Dually trucks are usually one-ton pickups and have increased towing and hauling ability compared to regular pickups.
The dual rear wheel setup gives the dually truck more stability and traction when towing and hauling. Ram, Ford, GMC, and Chevy all have dually trucks. The models are as follows:
- Chevrolet Siverado 3500HD
- GMC Sierra 3500HD
- Ram 3500
- Ford F-350 Super Duty
What is the Purpose of a Dually Truck?
The main purpose of a dually truck is to increase towing and hauling but also to increase the safety of towing and hauling heavy loads. The extra wheels add traction and balance while driving.
Compared to a standard truck with four wheels, the six-wheel dually truck has more stability when towing in windy conditions. It also has improved drag reduction while towing, which leads to better fuel economy compared to a regular truck towing the same load.
How Much Can a Dually Tow?
The amount a dually truck can tow varies somewhat depending on the brand and the model year. The newest model of the Ram 3500 dually can tow up to 37,090 pounds and haul 7,680 pounds.
The Ford F-350 Super Duty with a dually setup can tow up to 32,900 pounds and haul up to 8,000 pounds.
The GMC Sierra 3500HD and its sibling the Chevy Silverado 3500HD can tow up to 36,000 pounds and haul up to 7,290 pounds.
How Much Does a Dually Weigh?
A dually truck is naturally going to weigh more than a standard truck of the same basic size due to its extra wheel setup.
For example, a Ford F-350 dually has a curb weight of 8,127 pounds and a gross weight of 14,000 pounds. A single-wheel setup of the same truck can have a curb weight as low as 5,854 pounds.
- Ford F-350 DRW curb weight 8,127
- GMC Sierra 3500HD DRW curb weight 7,534 pounds
- Ram 3500 DRW curb weight 7,326 pounds
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD DRW curb weight 7,534 pounds
How Wide is a Dually Truck?
The width of a dually truck varies as well. For example, the Ram 3500 DRW is 93.5 inches wide, while the Ford F-350 DRW is 96 inches wide. The width of the GMC and Chevrolet 3500 dually trucks is 96.8 inches.
How Much is a Dually Truck?
Prices vary depending on the brand, the bed size, and whether it’s a 4WD or RWD truck. For example, the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 DRW with an eight-foot bed and RWD setup is $51,000 to start.
Prices can also vary depending on the packages and options you choose. It’s fairly easy to get up to $75,000 and even higher for a dually truck.
How To Rotate Dually Tires
Rotating dually tires can be a complex process. The inner and outer tires on both sides of a dually truck can wear unevenly, and this wear might be different depending on how often you tow or haul with your truck.
In other words, the rear tires of a dually truck wear out faster than the front tires or rear tires of a regular truck.
There’s no universal consensus on how to rotate tires on a dually, but most tire experts seem to advocate for a counter-clockwise rotation on each side of the truck.
This means that the front tire on the driver’s side would be rotated into the outer left rear tire.
The outer left rear tire would move to the inner rear, and the inner rear tire would move to the front. The same goes for the passenger side.
How To Put Air in Dually Tires
The dual rear wheel setup of a dually truck makes it difficult to figure out how to air up the inner tires. The access to the inner tire might vary depending on your truck. In some cases, the slots in the wheels allow you to reach the inner valve stem.
They may have an extended stem as well. The other issue is that Load Range E tires often run at 80 psi, which makes it very difficult to get it all the way filled at a free air station. However, it’s important to check the air pressure of your inner tires so they don’t end up flat.
The good news is that if you’re planning to buy a dually truck, you can still install a DualLiner bed liner. Dually truck beds are no different in size than their standard pickup counterparts.
Additionally, you can install a 5th wheel hitch in your truck by cutting the bed mat. This won’t void your DualLiner warranty.
The experts agree. The DualLiner bed liner system is the most comprehensive one on the market. It’s easy to install and provides full protection against moisture and damage to your truck bed.
