How does a dually handle the snow?

[jables]

Headed back to Tahoe for the winter and might be taking the big F350 diesel dually for a number of reasons. I've done some reading elsewhere, but I want to hear what mags have to say.

What kind of experience do people have with DRW trucks in the snow, specifically in the deep sierra cement? It is 4wd and has new front tires, and rear tires in good enough shape. Could splurge for some studded/snow/MTs for the rear, but not really apart of my plan if I can help it. I know taking the outer wheels off is an option too.

This will be my forth winter in Tahoe, and if the dually goes, with four different cars. ( Backstory)

We drive the dually a lot, often towing and in tight spaces so we know what we're in for in the "driving a dually sucks" category. A combination of reason may make the dually the most financially responsible option.

BTW, I searched, couldn't come up with much, but I'm sure someone else will/can.

Thanks

[rideit]

Generally, really, really shitty.

[Vt-Freeheel]

In Tech talk I would take the outer wheel off, you're not going to need it, are you? I have a Ram CTD and I am sure you have the same feeling on soft ground where the rear feels like it wants to pass the front. Dualies on snow, especially without great snow tires = fucked. About 300 lbs behind the axle = happy medium with SRW.

[WestCoastPDR]

If the ass end of the truck starts sliding sideways you have an extra 12" of fender out back to mess up making your margin for error that much less.. bringing you back to your tire statement..
Get tires for the rear axle....

[Harry]

You don't see alot of duallys up here in Montana, because they suck in the snow. The only people around here who drive 4x4 duallys are posers who just moved here and wanna be a cowboy. After a few winters they wise up and buy a Subaru like everyone else.

My advice: single out the rear axle, get the best tires you can, and a bunch of sandbags in the bed.

[davieboot]

You don't see alot of duallys up here in Montana, because they suck in the snow. The only people around here who drive 4x4 duallys are posers who just moved here and wanna be a cowboy. After a few winters they wise up and buy a Subaru like everyone else.

My advice: single out the rear axle, get the best tires you can, and a bunch of sandbags in the bed.

I drove duallies for several years in Tahoe, even in the worst of winter. With studs on the back, it was absolutely no problem. I would even say it was bomber. But I never tried without studs.

[O.P.P.]

I have a 2500 Bigfoot on my 3500 4 x 4 dually and have had no issues in B lot at Xtal over the last 12 seasons sans studs & chains.

[Lexi-Bell]

You don't see alot of duallys up here in Montana, because they suck in the snow. The only people around here who drive 4x4 duallys are posers who just moved here and wanna be a cowboy. After a few winters they wise up and buy a Subaru like everyone else.

My advice: single out the rear axle, get the best tires you can, and a bunch of sandbags in the bed.

Dear Harry,

FYI Big Sky is not indicative of the rest of the state of Montana. There are plenty of folks across this great state who use duallies year round to haul shit like ranch equipment, construction equipment, and horse trailers all over the place. They are not posing, they are working, let me know how pulling a 24' gooseneck with a Subaru works out for you.

[Gripen]

You don't see alot of duallys up here in Montana, because they suck in the snow. The only people around here who drive 4x4 duallys are posers who just moved here and wanna be a cowboy. After a few winters they wise up and buy a Subaru like everyone else.

My advice: single out the rear axle, get the best tires you can, and a bunch of sandbags in the bed.

You're not very intelligent.

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

You said yours is 4wd, right? Get the good tires (they ALWAYS make a difference and are worth it and a LOT cheaper than an accident) and throw some weight in the back and you should be fine. The Sierra Cement can be a little slicker than the dry stuff, but if this is your 4th go-round up there you should be familiar with the wet-packed sliding.

[Snow Dog]

I've taken my Dodge Dually up to Whistler the odd time in the snow and it was fine. I was expecting a white knuckle drive up the highway but there was no drama at all. If there's snow on the road I put it in 4WD and the engine is so heavy nothing slips or spins out. If it was my DD I'd put a canopy and 10 bags of sand in the back. I'm running newish Michelin M+S tires all around. Michelin makes a Winter version of the tire now. If I was living up country I'd get a set of those for the Winter.

[L7]

I've never driven one but only heard bad things for snow. Duallies are made for a few things and snow isn't one of them and cement definitely isn't one of them. I live in dually land by the way but not cement land and I don't think many dually cruise about whistler or tahoe. You could always take a wheel off either side mind you. Full load as they are meant to be driven, no problem. Coming home empty, hold your sphincter. I think Doug W has taken a dually back and forth to Golden many times. Mind you driving it over Roger Pass would be more like Tahoe.

[Foggy_Goggles]

No big deal. A SRW is better but DRW is fine. Get some good tires and keep some weight in the back obviously. The biggest pain in the ass will be deeper untracked snow. The outside rears need to cut their own path so it's like breaking trail twice.

[Sparwood Dave]

I drive a 24' Triple E class C on a Super Duty 450 chassis with V 10. GVW 14,400 lbs with Michelin M+S on the rear. Not 4WD. Actually not bad in the snow but I have lots of weight front and rear. Driving from Calgary to Vancouver we hit a BIG storm that closed the TransCanada at Lake Louise. 40 cm of fresh on the totally unplowed highway with semis and cars in the ditch everywhere. I drove carefully of course and made it up the westbound exit to LL with no problem unlike a van and semi that slipped off the side.(steep uphill offramp with stop at the top). Not my favorite vehicle for snow but not bad. The diesel could be a handful with all that torque and you don't have the weight I do. Cross winds on ice in are my problem with the RV.

[jables]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Might give it a go with some weight and decent tires and if things don't go well, pull off the outer rear wheels.

I know there are a good deal of 3/4 or 1 ton SRW diesels running around up there so that gives me some confidence.

I'll follow up with whatever we do, and what changes we make.

[lynchdogger]

Plowed snow with a dually for years in Telluride. No issues.

Like others have said - tire, tires, tires! You should be running all the same tires with equal tread! Pay the money and buy Michelins - longest lasting tire ever used for my trucks. Studded sure I guess but not needed if enough weight in the back. Set of chains will get you just about anywhere. Traction is key. Sucks on fuel but a good 500 lbs in the bed did for me - bags of ice melt and/or sand.

You can lose the rear tires. I did prefer a SRW to plow with and that is what I used once back east.

Trade in your F350 dually for a Subaru - wtf? For real? I'd drive right over the top of that subie and keep on truckin.

Oh yeah, TECH TALK JONG!

[Name Redacted]

Why not just take two of the tires off the back?

[Skirotica]

You'd definitely get more traction in techtalk. Though seems plenty of mags are willing to lay down for you to drive over them on the slick sections.

[jables]

Lynchdogger- figured tech talk was the place to be, but alas, ended up here, thanks for the input. If I buy anything aside from a studded snow tire, they will be Michelins. Actually doing some research now on whether I'll be better off to match my new LTX M/S2 on the fronts with 4 new for the rears, of if I should try and pickup 4-6 studded (new or used).

I replaced just the fronts earlier this summer because the rears are in fine shape for the highway/field.

I get that 500# of weight should in theory affect my gas mileage, but this thing is such a beast that I doubt it will be enough to make a difference. Used to pulling a much heavier load.

I had a 00 Outback, drove in the snow like a champ, but otherwise was the biggest piece of shit car I've ever owned. It wasn't a beater either, just a Subaru. Let's not digress though...

[DougW]

I think Doug W has taken a dually back and forth to Golden many times. Mind you driving it over Roger Pass would be more like Tahoe.

nope its a 3500 Ram but not dually and its a short box. We wanted a pretty high towing capacity so we were right on the edge of going to a dually. Wanted to stay away from dually do to snow. We had a long box extended cap RWD GMC and it was terrible in snow untill you put about 400lbs in the back but that is a different beast than a 4x4 dually.