1/2 ton vs dually

[LongIslandCamper]

Currently towing a 2013 26rls with a 2013 ram 1500. I have no issues at all other than a growing family. I want to upgrade the tow vehicle soon and also plan to upgrade the camper as well since a rear living isn’t ideal for us with two toddlers. lol

Currently looking at a new Silverado dually long bed. This will also be my daily driver but I only drive about 10 miles round trip to work. I’d like to have more truck than I need and I do like the mid bunk fifth wheels for when we upgrade.

How is backing a trailer with a long bed dually as opposed to a short bed 1500? I have no issues doing our current setup so I’m just looking for advice on the new vehicle with our current bumper pull.

[cariboocreek]

Originally Posted by LongIslandCamper

Currently towing a 2013 26rls with a 2013 ram 1500. I have no issues at all other than a growing family. I want to upgrade the tow vehicle soon and also plan to upgrade the camper as well since a rear living isn’t ideal for us with two toddlers. lol

Currently looking at a new Silverado dually long bed. This will also be my daily driver but I only drive about 10 miles round trip to work. I’d like to have more truck than I need and I do like the mid bunk fifth wheels for when we upgrade.

How is backing a trailer with a long bed dually as opposed to a short bed 1500? I have no issues doing our current setup so I’m just looking for advice on the new vehicle with our current bumper pull.

My opinion, you will love the dually as an all round truck. It is large and has it’s challenges but overall the positives outweigh the negatives. No issues towing and backing. I think the length makes backing a trailer easier.

[TaftCoach]

You'll be parking at the back of parking lots. In winter, on Long Island.

The rest is just practice

[LongIslandCamper]

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

You'll be parking at the back of parking lots. In winter, on Long Island.

The rest is just practice

Already do that no with my 1/2 ton.

Just curious to see how backing a trailer with a short bed 1500 compares to backing the same trailer with a dually.

[norty1]

In my experience, the longer the bed the easier it is to back.

That said my current short bed is easy to back also, so there.

[TxLoser]

In March I made the switch to a Chevy DRW from a 2500 standard bed truck. My current towing is a bit different from what you’re towing, but in that arena it’s a night and day experience. As it should be since that’s what this kind of truck is for.

As for being a daily driver. I really like it, but it’s not as much of a pleasure to drive as my 2500 was. With 5200lbs of payload, that rear end is stiff. No matter what you do with tire pressure. Definitely not unbearable, but less of a pleasure.

Parking really hasn’t been an issue. I can still hit all my usual drive throughs, and even found a car wash I can use. It’s only 1.3’ longer than my last truck, but less turning radius, and those hips of course.

The 24’s are wonderful from a power perspective. I pulled my 14k trailer over a pass to 11000’ at 55mph with room to accelerate still. Stability is wonderful. Pulled through a storm with winds so bad that signs tacoed, and 35 was the best I could do to stay on the road. Wind was so strong that as I broke through the storm and had a tailwind and was getting 30mpg going uphill as 65. I was an unwilling storm chaser.

If you plan on a FW over 12k lbs it can be a good thing. If not the rough rear end may get annoying and extra thought for parking and other logistics may get old.

[Bill2e]

My 2024 GMC DRW drives better than my wife's Mercedes E350

[Camper_bob]

Careful on engine choice on that dually. If you put a diesel in it, and have only a 10 mile commute, you could run into problems. Diesels like to run hot for a long time, so lots of short commutes could cause problems. If you go with gas, it's better for shorter commutes on daily driving, but power will likely feel "anemic", and mileage is terrible.

I have a 7 mile commute, so that and cost were 2 reasons I went with a gas motor in my HD truck. I really wish I could've justified a diesel, but it just wasn't in the works for me...

As for use of a longer truck, I agree, a longer truck will haul and tow much nicer. There were some campgrounds that were a bit tight where I was thankful I had a shorter wheelbase and SRW, but that's really more about planning. You just need to know you're not going to be able to maneuver quite as well, so the really tight camping spots are probably off the table for you. But as already mentioned, the empty ride will not be pleasurable. And I agree with the others here, other than that, it's just practice and getting to know the new dimensions and turning radius. Probably no parking garages, no parking close to the door, etc...

[gunafulltime]

I would also add that the 8' bed is really nice for lumber, building materials, furniture, etc. My wife and I are always grateful for the long bed; last week our gratitude was for its easy handling of plywood sheets.

[Jagiven]

I bought an 8' box, crew cab as shown in my signature. Towing my bumper pull is no big issue.

The turning radius is horrid. Takes 70 acres to turn it around. Backing into my driveway is a bit of a challenge, narrow streets and neighbors who park right up to the drive. Otherwise it's a great truck. My choice would have been a short box, but this was on the lot. We are looking at asmall couples fiver, hence the big truck.

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by LongIslandCamper

......How is backing a trailer with a long bed dually as opposed to a short bed 1500?.......

Good plan to buy a long bed dually for long term towing. Be sure to get a diesel. No difference backing this truck vs. my previous short bed.

[Trublu1068]

I went from a GMC 3500 SRW to a Ford F-450 DRW. The only regret I have is I wish I would have done it sooner. It can pull a house and the turning radius is head and shoulders better than any truck I've owned. I can make a u turn in a residential “T” intersection or cul De sac while towing my 37’ fifth wheel.