Have been thinking about picking up an older dually to pull heavy trailers out of my fields , likely a 2 wheel drive for cost reasons. The payloads would run around 20 to 24 thousand .

However , most of the trucks I have seen listed have the auto transmission . Sometimes the fields are sorta soft and it takes quite a bit of grunt to get the load rolling . Do think think first in the old autos have enough snort to work under those conditions ?

If not , the other option would be to spend a little more and get a 4x4 , then you have the low range if needed.................

 

I think you'd be better off with the 4X4. With a 2wd I think you'll just slip the torque converter until the turbo builds boost, then the back tires will dig themselves a nice hole when the turbo spools up. 4 Low will just walk off with the load.

 

Ya, what he said.

I drove one front tire off a 2 inch lip of asphalt in a parking lot.

Tried to back up and spun the tires, truck didn't move an inch.
(rear tires were still on the asphalt)

Kinda embarassing, every one turned to look.

Popped it into 4x4 and backed right up.

Tighter torque converter or manual tranny wouldn't have done this.


phox

 

I would definately go with the 4x4, not only for the low range, but mainly, for the extra traction. If the fields are soft, then the front end on the truck is gonna sink in too, and by that point in time you are tryin to push the front of the truck around as well as pullin a heavy trailer. I would definately go with the 4x4.

 

I would definitely go with a 4x4 and for pulling that kind of weight get a standard.

 

I have an old 727 three speed in mine and just hauled a load of seed yesterday with it around 16k plus truck plus trailer. She did just find but my tranny is getting weak also, and I have 340k on her.
Heath
P.S. go with the 4x4 you will kick yourself in the but when you need it and don't have it

 

Thanks fellas for the replies.

I think I will try to find a 4x4 but there seems to be alot more of the 2x4 autos in duallies out there .

Did the 3 speed autos have the 3.08 rear end in the duallies also ? If so , a switch to 4.10 s might be in order. I realize that will severely limit highway speed , but that's not what I need for this unit......

ARA.........where at is Traer Ia ? I am a Iowa native myself but am not familiar with that town......

You say you have over 300000 and your tranny has not been touched ? Pretty interesting and sounds good . I always thought the old Dodges 3 speeds were pretty tough and an additional plus ; they should be cheaper to fix than some of these late model autos......

 

Yes all 3 speed autos with a Cummins have 3.07 gears. You can't just change gears, you would have to change the whole rearend out.

 

Sdgunslinger~
It's south of Waterloo, north of Tama on 63. My tranny got rebuilt at 140k and it is needing it again at 340k hopfully this summer I will get around to it. The only downside to the three speed is the gears. Like Holsteinman said you have to swap out the whole axle and I don't think you can even get parst for it any more. I think Redleg just burned his up and I know he was haveing a heck of a time trying to get parts.
Heath

 

Yup, what they just said.......
If you got a 92 auto and the 3:54's aren't enuff, you can swap down to 4:10 if needed, and keep your carrier and case. The case and carrier are specific to the 3:07. Don't let me scare you from getting one. The 3:07 does just fine off road. Just check the condition and take care of it. My duals would spin free on wet leaves. But lock it in, even in high, and those fronts just bite right in with all the weight of that diesel over them. Unless your use to driving standard trannys in the mud, you might be betteroff with an auto. The auto should do just fine as long as you don't get it hot. If your gonna do some low speed/high rpms in the mud, I'd get a fan mount tranny cooler, and get rid of the factory cooler and disconnect the heat exchanger on the sideof the block.