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Regular
Posts: 80
| What are some pros and cons about a diesel dually truck compared to a mini freightliner for pulling a trailer. Is one better than the other and what do people prefer? Thanks |
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 Thread Killer
Posts: 7543
  
| The bigger the trailer, the more truck you want. Better to be over-trucked than under. A larger truck is (usually) superior to a regular dually in longevity and stopping power, but costs more to fuel and maintain. If you have a large trailer and can afford to go with a big truck and are thinking that you need one, you probably do. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | depends how much you haul , what you haul , etc..is this your only truck for farm, or strictly hauling etc.. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| Depends on who you are trying to impress.. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I went from a 1 ton dually to a full sized Freightliner. The baby Freights are spendy compared to the full sized semi's so it made more "cents" to go full sized. The pros are I have way more power, more braking, more stability, less maintenance. The downside is if you do have repairs or need tires its going to cost more, they aren't quite as handy to get around with. Contrary to itsme belief, it has nothing to do with impressing people. I'm not sure why you have to be a jackass. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | It makes more sense to go with a single axle road tractor......more truck for the money and they last forever. However, the difference is in the driver certifications concerning the type of equipment on the truck combined with a CDL.
That is what we want to go with, there are good used ones plus a lot of them of auto trans. which is big plus for me.
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Thread Killer
Posts: 7543
| Itsme - 2015-01-04 10:30 AMDepends on who you are trying to impress.. Oh for the love of your mother. ....seriously big trucks be awesome, but it's WAY more important to have the right truck for a large trailer.
Edited by Just Plain Lucky 2015-01-04 1:39 PM
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Just Plain Lucky - 2015-01-04 1:38 PM
Itsme - 2015-01-04 10:30 AMDepends on who you are trying to impress.. Oh for the love of your mother. ....seriously big trucks be awesome, but it's WAY more important to have the right truck for a large trailer.
I keep saying my next pickup will be a used semi. They have totally screwed up the engines of pickups with all of this EPA crap. Not to mention the REDICULOUS price tag of a new pick up. You can buy a used semi in decent shape for less than 15K. And in pulling such a light load (in comparison to 80,000 lbs) you might get mileage comparable to a lot of the late model 1 tons. I do have a slight advantage in that I already have a CDL and years of experience in driving a semi. The down side is I will have to ALL of the driving when crewing up with friends, but I do 90% of it now because I get bored just sitting shotgun. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I agree with Itsme... Some of my friends have them and riding in one and having them be able to stop really impressed me. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | the stopping is the biggest thing......and your so high up you can see way better......we have a mini international single axle so no special nothing to drive it, we had a full sized single axle freightliner but it was to big once we sold the big trailer so we sold it(all i needed to drive the big truck was my air ticket) fuel mileage from the mini to the dodge aint much the only thing with our mini and our location we cant use it in the winter
m
Edited by mruggles 2015-01-05 4:24 PM
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | rodeoveteran - 2015-01-05 3:54 PM Just Plain Lucky - 2015-01-04 1:38 PM Itsme - 2015-01-04 10:30 AMDepends on who you are trying to impress.. Oh for the love of your mother. ....seriously big trucks be awesome, but it's WAY more important to have the right truck for a large trailer. I keep saying my next pickup will be a used semi. They have totally screwed up the engines of pickups with all of this EPA crap. Not to mention the REDICULOUS price tag of a new pick up. You can buy a used semi in decent shape for less than 15K. And in pulling such a light load (in comparison to 80,000 lbs ) you might get mileage comparable to a lot of the late model 1 tons. I do have a slight advantage in that I already have a CDL and years of experience in driving a semi. The down side is I will have to ALL of the driving when crewing up with friends, but I do 90% of it now because I get bored just sitting shotgun.
This exactly! We talked about replacing my one ton with a new one but what they want for them is crazy. The semi we bought is in excellent shape, we have the maintenance records on it since it was new as it belonged to a friend of ours. I also had my CDL and drove trucks since I was a girl helping dad get grain out of the fields. The downside is I have no one to help drive! |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I have ridden with very few people that can back up and manuever around a rodeo grounds in a dually and 30ft rig, no way would they be able to do it in a Semi or even be able to pass their CDL. I myself can't back up anything with peeps watching. Everyone just go about your business and I'm good. |
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 Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | wyoming barrel racer - 2015-01-05 7:11 PM I have ridden with very few people that can back up and manuever around a rodeo grounds in a dually and 30ft rig, no way would they be able to do it in a Semi or even be able to pass their CDL. I myself can't back up anything with peeps watching. Everyone just go about your business and I'm good.
Backing a rig up as you are describing is a learned skill......................That is very handy to have! And Single Axle Road Tractors pulling relatively light Horse Trailers is much much safer than overloading a Dually Pickup! |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | foundation horse - 2015-01-05 8:40 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2015-01-05 7:11 PM I have ridden with very few people that can back up and manuever around a rodeo grounds in a dually and 30ft rig, no way would they be able to do it in a Semi or even be able to pass their CDL. I myself can't back up anything with peeps watching. Everyone just go about your business and I'm good.
I kept both axles on my semi. Resale value in my neck of the woods is for farmers and a single axle would be worthless. Makes for a little smoother ride but longer rig. It turns about the same as my long box 4 door dually. |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | CYA Ranch - 2015-01-05 9:55 PM
foundation horse - 2015-01-05 8:40 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2015-01-05 7:11 PM I have ridden with very few people that can back up and manuever around a rodeo grounds in a dually and 30ft rig, no way would they be able to do it in a Semi or even be able to pass their CDL. I myself can't back up anything with peeps watching. Everyone just go about your business and I'm good.
I'm sure the ride is much smoother too along with the resale value.
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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | I drive a ford 1 ton dually....have for years. I haven't found a reason to upgrade yet. I always joke around with my other half about me needing a "BIG" truck.....since he works on them daily. ;) He said heck no.....Expensive to drive and license, insure ect.... If I win the lottery you can bet your bottom dollar I would buy one. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-01-05 10:01 PM I drive a ford 1 ton dually....have for years. I haven't found a reason to upgrade yet. I always joke around with my other half about me needing a "BIG" truck.....since he works on them daily. ;) He said heck no.....Expensive to drive and license, insure ect.... If I win the lottery you can bet your bottom dollar I would buy one.
Going to a semi was much cheaper for us. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | foundation horse - 2015-01-05 9:59 PM CYA Ranch - 2015-01-05 9:55 PM foundation horse - 2015-01-05 8:40 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2015-01-05 7:11 PM I have ridden with very few people that can back up and manuever around a rodeo grounds in a dually and 30ft rig, no way would they be able to do it in a Semi or even be able to pass their CDL. I myself can't back up anything with peeps watching. Everyone just go about your business and I'm good. I'm sure the ride is much smoother too along with the resale value.
It is smooth riding. I've left shampoo on the little corner ledge in the shower. Driven 6 or 7 hours and its still sitting there when I get home. That impressed me. If my shampoo doesn't move then my horses must be getting decent ride. LOL |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| We just made this decision recently. We went with a new GMC dually. The good used big trucks run around $60,000 - 80,000. We bought a new loaded one ton truck for $60,000. It has warranty and is less maintenance. Several friends have Petes and Freightliners. When they go to the repair shop, which is pretty often, it costs several thousand dollars. I'm not interested in paying that much for repairs, tires or insurance. We also didn't want that large of a payment for a rig that we only haul with. I drive the dually daily. The new GMC duallys have much heavier suspensions, heavier duty breaks and a stronger frame. We really wanted a big truck, but went with a one ton and love it. We have a 4 horse, 14ft short wall with a 4 ft mid-tack that we haul with a one ton. It does great. We also make 10-12 mpg hauling, which I'm tickled with. |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | for me to insure the mini its about a quarter of the cost of the 1 ton......so way cheaper......and fuel mileage is a bit better on the mini as well.......and up here a single axle truck sells way faster than a double thats for sure.........
m |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | barrelrider - 2015-01-06 8:45 AM We just made this decision recently. We went with a new GMC dually. The good used big trucks run around $60,000 - 80,000. We bought a new loaded one ton truck for $60,000. It has warranty and is less maintenance. Several friends have Petes and Freightliners. When they go to the repair shop, which is pretty often, it costs several thousand dollars. I'm not interested in paying that much for repairs, tires or insurance. We also didn't want that large of a payment for a rig that we only haul with. I drive the dually daily. The new GMC duallys have much heavier suspensions, heavier duty breaks and a stronger frame. We really wanted a big truck, but went with a one ton and love it. We have a 4 horse, 14ft short wall with a 4 ft mid-tack that we haul with a one ton. It does great. We also make 10-12 mpg hauling, which I'm tickled with.
Used Over The Road (OTR) Semis can be found for much much less than 60k and still have plenty of life left in them. Smart Shopping and compenent understanding of the equipment being purchased and maintained is in order when dealing with OTR Semi(s). For OTR Trucks pulling lighter type horse trailer will not strain them like a dually. Being oversized in relationship to the trailer means less wear 'n tear on the tow vehicle which equates less shop time...................................... |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | our mini cost 17000 and the freightliner cost 19500..both were in great condition...and up here a plain nothing fancy 1 ton is 60+ and if you want a few extra then you are pushing the 100+ range..........thats nuts imo
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | foundation horse - 2015-01-06 12:00 PM barrelrider - 2015-01-06 8:45 AM We just made this decision recently. We went with a new GMC dually. The good used big trucks run around $60,000 - 80,000. We bought a new loaded one ton truck for $60,000. It has warranty and is less maintenance. Several friends have Petes and Freightliners. When they go to the repair shop, which is pretty often, it costs several thousand dollars. I'm not interested in paying that much for repairs, tires or insurance. We also didn't want that large of a payment for a rig that we only haul with. I drive the dually daily. The new GMC duallys have much heavier suspensions, heavier duty breaks and a stronger frame. We really wanted a big truck, but went with a one ton and love it. We have a 4 horse, 14ft short wall with a 4 ft mid-tack that we haul with a one ton. It does great. We also make 10-12 mpg hauling, which I'm tickled with. Used Over The Road (OTR) Semis can be found for much much less than 60k and still have plenty of life left in them. Smart Shopping and compenent understanding of the equipment being purchased and maintained is in order when dealing with OTR Semi(s). For OTR Trucks pulling lighter type horse trailer will not strain them like a dually. Being oversized in relationship to the trailer means less wear 'n tear on the tow vehicle which equates less shop time......................................
We just bought a low mileage basic double axle Freightliner for $6500. I think it was an 04 model, but went through a bankruptcy and sat for a while. We have bought others that were OTR trucks with sleepers for $12,000 and under. All these for farm use. We usually run them for several years before the maintenance needs become cumbersome. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | foundation horse - 2015-01-06 12:00 PM barrelrider - 2015-01-06 8:45 AM We just made this decision recently. We went with a new GMC dually. The good used big trucks run around $60,000 - 80,000. We bought a new loaded one ton truck for $60,000. It has warranty and is less maintenance. Several friends have Petes and Freightliners. When they go to the repair shop, which is pretty often, it costs several thousand dollars. I'm not interested in paying that much for repairs, tires or insurance. We also didn't want that large of a payment for a rig that we only haul with. I drive the dually daily. The new GMC duallys have much heavier suspensions, heavier duty breaks and a stronger frame. We really wanted a big truck, but went with a one ton and love it. We have a 4 horse, 14ft short wall with a 4 ft mid-tack that we haul with a one ton. It does great. We also make 10-12 mpg hauling, which I'm tickled with. Used Over The Road (OTR) Semis can be found for much much less than 60k and still have plenty of life left in them. Smart Shopping and compenent understanding of the equipment being purchased and maintained is in order when dealing with OTR Semi(s). For OTR Trucks pulling lighter type horse trailer will not strain them like a dually. Being oversized in relationship to the trailer means less wear 'n tear on the tow vehicle which equates less shop time......................................
This ^^^^ |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | One more thing, you can run a semi for a million miles without thinking twice about it. A dually can't touch that. |
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 Miss Positive
Posts: 3554
Location: Crowder, OK | I've always pulled with a one ton pickup because I like having 4x4 & don't want to get a cdl. I will say that I upgraded last year to a f450 & what a difference. Bigger truck but better milage because its not having such a strain because its built & geared specifically for bigger loads. I absolutely love it. Rides & drive of a pickup but pulls like a big truck! And it turns tighter than a normal 1 ton! |
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Boot Detective
Posts: 1898
| This is a good thread. My question is this: if you are pulling with the mini Freightliner or a full size semi, do you have to keep up with log books and do you have to have permits for each state you travel in? I have noticed several years ago almost all the "big dogs" went to the trucks like the mini Freightliner but now the majority of them have went back to the 1 ton dually's. Why is this?
Personally I pull a 4 hs LQ with a 1 ton dually and I am very happy with it. With the new engine brakes, that has helped the stopping situation considerably and that was my main concern in the past. |
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 Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | i've been looking and I'm shock on the prices of used sports chassis....  I"ve been looking for semi too and found a few but I'm not sure about the fuel mileage... 5 to 9 mpg with or without trailers is not that great. My DuraMax diesel gets better mpg than the semi's. Just crusing around town with the GMC I get 14-17 and on the road with out trailer 16-20 mpg. I get average 7.2 to 10 mpg with trailer depending on weather and hiway or hills. What kind of mileage are any of you getting with your rigs like the sports chassis or semi's? |
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Dually Truck vs Mini Freightliner