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Togwotee
Contributing Member
USA
5 Posts |
 Posted - 08/31/2010 : 5:29:52 PM
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For those of you with dually's in the Rockies, can you speak to how the wide bottom affects your ability to use forest service/backcountry roads. Thanks
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admin-Rich
Founder
USA
2515 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 04:47:03 AM
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Don't know about the Rockies, but the Cascades FS roads are probably similar.
Dual tires get boulders lodged between the tires.
Keep driving on rocky roads with a lodged boulder and the boulder will get hammered deep between the tires. Removal of the outside tire is required to get the rock out.
If the rock or boulder isn't lodged, it will spin out when you make speed on paved road. . .and you will know it when it happens.
The wider fenders mean less passage way when there are downed trees or brush.
Wider rear tires can keep the truck from getting high pointed on deep ruts. |
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jackman
Senior Member
USA
420 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 05:19:01 AM
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| I don't do it unless I know the road. The turning radius, length, and width make it too impractical unless the road is pretty wide. Furthermore, the camper requires alot of overhead clearance and makes it nearly impossible for most backcountry travel. |
2004 EC 1150 SN: 0718
2007 F-350 CC 6.0L diesel 4x4 dually |
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SuperDave
Advanced Member
1021 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 05:26:43 AM
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| I've seen guys paint the sides of the dually's hips with LineX that matches the truck color so it doesn't scratch the paint all up from brush. |
 
2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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AllenF
Advanced Member
USA
535 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 05:42:57 AM
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Wow Lets get back down on top solid ground for a moment. Those FSR are made for FS trucks most if not all are duallies. Yes CC long bed trucks with 4 ft of TC hanging out the back will need more room to turn a U turn but the typical FSR is not that tight and so it should be fine. I have not found a FSR to be much less than a paved road though it will have wash board surfaces and erosion ruts in spots. Now if one is driving down cow paths this is a different beast and caution should be used. Nothing wrong with scouting ahead or on a different day to be sure of what is going on with this road.
As for wedged rocks, while it can happen you will know where you need to be concerned. If you are on dirt and gravel no problem. If you are on broken large rock surfaces where the rocks are about tennis ball size to softball size then simply check your rears when you will be driving faster than 15MPH. If a rock is wedged in the back (i have had this happen only once in all my years of dually driving) it usually will pry out if one has a small pry bar or long screw driver. Absolute worst case is you will have to unbolt the outside tire.
Before one gets back out on the road simply get out and check the rear to be sure there are no rocks wedged. This will eliminate any surprises.
Remember, TC's that are large enough to need a dually are not well suited for rough steep off roading. Best to look into a popup for these types of camping. However you will be able to get off road and away from the trailer and motorhome folks quite easily with ANY 4x4 truck and TC combo.
Long story short duallies and wedged rocks are NOT a big deal. Driving a truck with too much TC ie over loaded is a much bigger deal.
Just trying to add some balance here. |
Allen
2005 EC 1150 slide with custom Norcold 9.5 Cu.Ft. refer, EU 2000i, 12x12 screenroom, Surflo tank, Maxxair 1200T, Charge Wizard, EC #1330
2005 F-350, CC, 6.0L diesel, 4x4, Auto, dually, King Ranch, loaded |
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SuperDave
Advanced Member
1021 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 05:55:06 AM
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| If I'm a backroad guy, loping shears and a chain saw are in my arsenal. LOL! |
2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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thepadg
Advanced Member
USA
612 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 2:27:36 PM
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| In Indiana Forest service roads are never paved, mosty gravel or dirt and are normaly for forest sevives vehicles only. Most forest service vehicles here are single rear wheel 4X4's. Yes some are dually's stakebed type trucks. Truck campers would have an over head clearance problem on most of these roads. They only cut them to clear thier trucks. They use ATVs as well a service road may sudenly nerrow down to around 3-4 feet wide. Thats why the public is not supose to use them. Me, I tend to stay on paved roads with my dually and camper. |
thepadg
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Cummins Diesel
2004 Eagle Cap 1150 with slide
2001 Excel 33 RLE 5th Wheel |
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Togwotee
Contributing Member
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 5:11:19 PM
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| Thanks for the input. For those of you with the F350 duallys, how do you like them. A new (never sold) S&S Avalanche 992 just came available locally. I like the 55 gal. fresh, 2x30lb propane tanks and the larger water heater, but would need to move up to a dually. There's also a nice looking '05 F350 CC KR for about $25k w/low miles. Your thoughts on either. |
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joec
Founding Member
635 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 7:02:35 PM
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If the 05 F-350 has the newer motor or has had the head studs replaced with stronger studs it is a great truck. Check to see if it was built late in 05. If it was it most likely has the new motor with better head studs. When you test drive it make sure that the turbo will provide 20 PSI. Find a hill and stand on it. The boost gauge will give you an idea about the health of the turbo and if the vanes are free.
I have an 06 F-350 with a manual trans and love it. |
2004 EC 950 Slide # 1058
2006 Ford F-350 DRW :)
Co-pilot, Suezie
Side-gunner, Andee, the best dog ever!
Tail-gunner, Cali
Belly-gunner, Tucker |
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admin-Rich
Founder
USA
2515 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2010 : 05:05:49 AM
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The 05 automatic transmission has a weak snap ring that can fail and destroy the transmission.
(Read this)
If the owner would come down on price, I'd have the tranny rebuilt before the snap ring fails.
There are several after market kits that include a bigger stronger snap ring and other parts that will make the transmission last 150K or more.
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Tinbender
Senior Member
USA
425 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2010 : 06:44:40 AM
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| Since much of the logging has been curtailed in national forests here in the northwest most of the forest roads are in disrepair. Even a lot of the major paved ones are getting overgrown with low hanging tree branches, rock slides and washouts. Not good for bigger truck campers. |
2007 950 w/slide, genset, satellite
TV, AC and Wave 3 heater. F350, 6 liter,
srw, airbags with pump and dual control.
Rickson 19.5's |
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skiierdave
Contributing Member
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2010 : 11:45:14 AM
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| We use dually type 6 (F-550) brush engines for wildland fire fighting and rarely have any problems, however, the FS roads are certainly lacking for maintenance. |
2009 1050 with most options
2011 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 4X4 DSL, Rancho RS 9000XL shocks and Stable loads.
USN Retired (ETCM,QMCM, COB/SS) |
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LindaH
Senior Member
USA
288 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2010 : 06:35:41 AM
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| We haven't had any problems driving USFS roads; however, we don't travel the ones that require a 4x4. |
LindaH
2009 Eagle Cap 950
2007 Excel 30RKE Classic (fifth wheel)
2007 DRW Dodge Ram 3500 w/Cummins
http://earl-linda.blogspot.com
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ZuluSafari
Contributing Member
35 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 1:47:54 PM
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I know this is an old thread, but...
I drove many of the BLM and USPS roads in Texas with my SRW 3500 and 850, and wouldn't hesitate to try again with my dually. The logging/state service roads in northern Wisconsin are usually OK, as long as they haven't been rutted up too much by the 4-wheeling crowds or logging trucks. Many of the USFS roads in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan leave the county gravel roads all around me in Iowa to shame! Up there, the service trucks are usually 3/4 ton pickups, 4x4, and they run everything from dump trucks to lowboys hauling bulldozers and loaders for fire prevention/fighting. |
2010 850
2010 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 Dsl. |
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For those of you in dually-ville
