I often get asked about the need for dual wheels on pickups. Dual wheels will carry more weight. Most of the weight limits manufactures put on their trucks are conservative to avoid breakdowns in drive trains, axles and frames. On my farm-ranch I was loaded above the weight limits most of the time. My trucks had to pay for themselves. But today in the cities with so many lanes side by side and in the mountains I stay a lot closer to the proper load limits in heavy traffic. It's just not worth the risk of breaking an axle or burning a clutch and endangering other folks. I've seen universal joints break and watched drive shafts bounced off the pavement and swing around, coming close to hitting the fuel tanks. Now I find other ways to get my thrills!

The reason I eventually went with a dually is dirt roads. Dirt roads test everything. The ruts remind you that if the truck and trailer track the same, they pull better. The newer trailers are wider and track better behind the dual wheels. Dirt roads also eat the magnets, which activate the trailer brakes in the hubs of the trailer axle. Because of that, I never relied on the trailer brakes. It would surprise you how much better dual wheels will brake.
Generally going from a 1-ton single rear wheel, (Ford F350, Dodge, GM 30,3500) to a 1-ton dually will give you one size larger axles and brakes, (Dana axles in Ford and Dodge, Eaton in GM.) Duallies also give better stability for the bigger overhead slide in campers.

Of course, the disadvantages are worse mileage from the extra weight and drag, the cost of the extra tires. Also, they are 8 feet wide and bump drive up windows. On the farm, when I wasn't pulling a trailer and needed to get around in the snow and mud better, I pulled the outside duals off. If the dually is not a cab- and-chassis type, but a regular bed with fender extensions for the outside wheel, the inside dual will track behind the front tire. With duals you will need to carry a hammer around to check for flats by pounding on the face of the tire just like the big rigs do. You can't see if one of the tires is flat by glancing at it. If one of the duals is flat for a long drive, the vibration can cause the wheels to loosen up the lug nuts. Make sure you have wide enough mirrors and the spotter mirrors to see past the duals to monitor which trailer tire is trying to go flat.

Till next time,
Good Truck'n, MT www.mrtruck.net