Couple of dually questions
 

Looking over some of the dually threads has me going lol. Just wondering a few things about them 73-87 specifically:

-How much actual curb weight difference is there between your average 3/4 or 1 ton standard cab dually versus say my '78 Big 10 2wd (approx 4100 lbs).

-I know gearing has a lot to do with it and most duallys are meant for towing/hauling but do any of you dually guys have what you consider a "quick" truck when your running empty? If so what engine/trans/gear combo do you have and any mods?

-I know some of the pros of owning a dually but any cons in your opinion? besides having to buy two extra tires ,etc.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

These trucks have ZERO turning radius

It really shows how far modern trucks have come, haha but when in my 89 i REALLY think twice about where i park and where I am going. Specially when i have a trailer on.

Although mine is originally from Cali, like any truck of its natural, its rough... Or stiff, i'll say stiff in the rear. After driving around town all day i feel it by the end of the day. I don't even want to see a truck that has a rear suspension rusted into place

As for weight, i can't comment, i've always had a trailer on when I've weighed

All and all, i wouldn't trade anything for this truck. I have pipe dreamed about doing a frame swap to a newer frame, but more for strength and weight capacity then anything. I am debating a 4 link in the back eventually so it not really at the top of my list

As for speed, mine stock isn't even worth mentioning. Yes I can do 80 mph down the freeway with a bobcat in tow without trouble... but you quickly learn by it has dual fuel tanks.

I am not building it for speed, but i am hoping by the time i get a cummins in and maybe a re-gear it'll be quick

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Hick is be'n conservative when he say's zero turn radius. it's more like negative 14 turn'n radius, you really do have to be carefull where ya pull into with a trailor attached.
other than that I agree completly, I would'nt take any thing for mine.
as for quick. mine '87 has a 454/T400 w/4.11 gear's. throttle body and a fresh Comp Cam that's ground for torque, I am pleased with it's performance. it move's out pretty good. it does'nt compare to the power of a new truck though.
Again Hick is correct in that the truck dose not let you forget it has dual tank's ! all though the last time I drove mine I went from middle to east Tn. and back and she got 13mph.
I have folk's tell I'm crazy to keep it with the crappy fuel milage , then they complain about there 5 or 600 dollar a month payments on there new Dually, I can buy a lotta fuel with that money and still pay for lunch.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Weight difference, dunno. haven't been to the local scale (dump) with it yet. Same with performance. I don't even have it on the road yet. i don't think this thing will be a rocket, but it could be (read $$$)

Mine is a pick-up, so the rear is wider than the cab. I believe the cab/chassis trucks are narrower in the rear.
Some states charge more in tolls for the extra wheels.
When it gets on the road, I think I'll be ecstatic with 10mpg

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

last time my truck was on a scale i weighed in at 6080LB IIRC

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Mine's not even a dually yet it takes 6 lanes and a curb to turn around. from my experience they are a little slow to accelerate but they make up for it in pulling capacity. Our dually at work gets 6 pulling a 3000 gallon liquid molasses tank. so fuel will hit you where it hurts. Under a load the stability is amazing.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

6 lanes and a curb huh ? your's must have the tight turn'n radius option, I think mine take's 6 lane's and the side walk. even Austin Power's would'nt try a U-turn in one of these. it would take more fuel to try a U-turn than it would to drive a mile up the road then go around the block.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Cons:
Not much of a turning radius.
The 454/th400/4.11's aren't much for fuel economy (really get a chuckle from that one... :lol: ).
Title weight for my CC dually is listed @ 5100, 1000 capacity; gross weight @ 6100 (single cabs would be less of course).
Rides rough. The stack of leaves in the rear of mine were headed for the scrap pile before the ink was dry on the title (in my mind).
Newer diesels have more power.
The 2 extra tires. But... new or old, duallys gotta have them.
New diesels are expensive (especially CC duallys). What you save @ the pump costs you each month when you make that payment or take it to a dealership for required service.

Pros:
Despite the new diesel technology, big blocks got the job done just fine for several decades & big blocks are still cool.
I'd have to put a bunch of miles on the clock to even come close to the costs of ownership for a new cc dually.
They're basically the same as their 1/2 ton counterparts so they're easy enough to work on.
Prices are typically not too crazy.
It's a square-body dually so it freakin' looks good.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Aside from the dual tanks... You also quickly learn why you see old gas stations every where

I'm 21 and grew up watching gas stations close as i grew up and could never understand how they were in business in the first place

Now I know...

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Love mine. Drive it nearly every day, just around town and to work. It reminds me of a muscle car in sound and ride quality. The nice part is, if someone steals it, it's only $2,500 - $5,000 for another one instead of $35k plus... Nicer still is that it's very unlikely someone's going to steal it!

Gas milage, as everyone has said, is HORRENDOUS! 6 mpg here with a TBI 454 and TH400. But I generally only drive on surface streets/city driving. Freeway driving isn't bad though, if you're committed to just taking it easy. 65-70mph on my truck is 3,000rpms...

Parking and turning around are something you get used to... Also pretty rough, but once you get it in your head that you need to think about where you're going and how you'll get there, no problemo.

There was a guy in Florida who had a square body crew cab dually (but was running super singles as I recall) who was on Pass Time a couple years ago. The truck was an animal. Supposedly making around 1,000hp and I think running low 11s.

Digest that for a minute though... 1,000hp and low 11s. If that motor was in a tube chassis Vega he'd probably be running low 8s or high 7s... But it's a cool truck!

As the old bikers say, built for comfort, not for speed.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

I came out of a 2004 F250 crew cab Powerstroke Diesel into my R30, by the way. I really like many things about the F-word, but that PSD was a disaster waiting to happen (turbo and EGR replaced at 20k and 70k respectively) and diesel prices out here are insane. Generally significantly higher per gallon than premium unleaded. The milage difference didn't make up for the fuel price difference coupled with maintenance concerns, for me.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

I bought mine this past june. 88 2wd crew cab silverado. Picked it up from the original owner who had put 34k mi on it and had used for his pick up bed camper. I bought it to pull my travel trailer with and save the trans in my burb.
In the northwest you can't throw a rock and not hit a diesel truck. I cant tell you how many times ive been asked at the pump "what kinda mileage does that gas hog git?" i usually respond "well since i dont have a 700$ payment on this rig, ive never cared enough to keep track" and i havn't. I paid 3600 for it and never looked back.
If i had car payments id have to sell my 59, my 78 and my travelall. No thanks.
Turning radius sucks but you get used to it. Just park farther away and walk more (unless the wife is with you).
Power level is adequate. It wont keep up with my buddys cummins. But i have pulled a trailer over snoqualmie pass, through the columbia gorge and to north idaho.
Just go get one you wont regret it. :metal:
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Re: Couple of dually questions
 

i think my 75 c30s pretty quick but i am 17 and my last truck was a 79 f250 supercab 4" lift and had 33s it was a hog
so the 454s pretty quick compared to it
it has a RV cam and headman headers..for now and has a turbo 400hd with a shift kit so its quick for me
the cons in my opinion is the about 8mpg

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

A crew cab long bed is a pain to park even in a big parking lot a standard cab would be easier.If you want mileage get a diesel or swap a cummins in one.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

my 88 ccd weighs just a little over 6800lbs with me and 2 tanks full of fuel

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Great insight guys thanks.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

OPEC loves our trucks to put it plainly

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

My SRW 1 ton Crew with the cummins weighs 6880 full of fuel and me driving

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

You have any pictures of it ?

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Here is a link to my build thread


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=496347

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

What is the difference between the hydroboost brake systems vs regular power brakes? Is maintenance/cost more with hydroboost?

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

Hydroboost has more stopping power. Not sure about the cost, all I've had for the last few years is hydroboost. IMO the extra stopping power is worth it. Funny thing is all my rigs with hydroboost are not duallies....I want one tho.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

The only problem with hydro boost imo, is all the extra hoses required to run it. Just a lot of extra places for them to leak. They do offer alot of clamping force though!
My crew has vacuum booster on it and it's staying.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

I haven't run the hydroboost yet, truck hasn't moved. Maintenance I would imagine wouldn't be much more than your power steering setup, after all, it's the same (runs off of the same pump). It does have more hydraulic lines and in my case, a reservoir mounted higher up. It doesn't care what your engine is putting out for vacuum. Brake concerns with a big cam are pretty much eliminated. (so I've heard)

Big vacuum can is eliminated from the firewall.

Re: Couple of dually questions
 

So I'm digging this thread back up for help on a decision I need to make soon... I see one of these trucks for sale and has me thinking which one for my dedicated tow rig

This is what I just bought...
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps7faf3da0.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/x...psf3f00aa1.jpg

Or thinking of buying this....
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps26e29db2.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/x...psb0f6fa27.jpg

I'm not really torn with the way they look cause I would say they are in the same condition plus the crew cab came with a extra (better) front clip but I'm more curious as to reasons (pros and cons) which one they'd choose for towing a 22' trailer on a regular basis...

Any help would be great

Thank
Slim