Dodge Ram 5500 crew cab 60/173.4 or 84/197.4?

Your better off asking about those trucks @/ltlhotshot forum. Most here don't like the dually route.

 

I drive a 9 car now and prefer it over the medium duty trucks. The trucks are not necessarily the problem. It's a lot harder to make a good living when you are limited to 3 to 5 cars and size and weight matters so much, especially if your trying to live off load boards.
As for the Dodge, I can't knock them, especially with a Cummins mated with an Aisin transmission. I have a 12 model 4500 with 220,000 miles and almost every mile of it was with a loaded trailer. It has never touched a shop floor other than my own for maintenance.
I would recommend a semi with a 7 car or if your up for it, a stinger setup, but not because of truck reliability, because of capacity.(GM is another story, I didn't have as good of luck with them) Dodge, Cummins, and Aisin did earn my respect though as far as reliability. Fuel mileage is not much better than a semi though.

 

Have you figured out how you will be stopping this thing?

 

X2 on the Dodge comment. Mine gave me 200k trouble free miles but I am glad I didn't spend anymore than I did for it because nobody wants a dually with over 250k on it. Other than load capacity I think the biggest reason I would never go back to a dually would be that I will never own a trailer that isn't air ride/air brake again.

 

If you are going to go with the dually, the 84 inch cab axle and longer wheel base will distribute the weight better across your truck axles. It will also be a better ride for you, and more comfortable in the cab for stretching out or carrying everything you need with you. The Kaufmann mini 5 is a scary trailer. They are not very versatile for mixed loads, really only good for cars and small suvs, plus they are cheaply built so you better learn how to weld and fabricate!

Keep in mind, technically under Federal law, if you leave the pickup bed on the truck you are a truck/trailer combination and limited to total length of 65 foot bumper to bumper. Since the dually can not have a over the cab carrier you do not qualify as a car carrier so you are not legally allowed to have any overhang beyond the 65 foot. If you take the bed off you can be considered a tractor/trailer combination and have unlimited combination length, but still no overhang that would make your trailer over 53'. There are other limits as far as distance past the tail of your trailer and such, but with the Kaufmann mini 5 you won't have any overhang issues, not even sure it you would make the 65 foot mark even with the long wheelbase Dodge. Just wanted to make you aware in case you decide to go with a different trailer.

 

It's not that I don't like the dually thing, I'm from New England, and I gave it a whirl. Made some good bucks thought I was living the dream. Til I figured out after expenses a semi is about the same cost wise with almost 3x the longevity, and 3x the weigh Capacity. And like two more sets of paper work to do.

Cummins is great. Duramax is great but expensive, dodge trucks suck tho lol.

 

Well we were not discussing trannies but the Aisin has proven to be a very solid performer if maintained as one should.
As far as your DT444 comparison.....that motor had <275hp and only around 500 lb/ft. It was basically the old Ford Powerstroke motor. As a Ford guy, I love the hell out of that motor and will have another some day. That said, I would not compare it to a new 6.7l B series Cummins with 385hp and 900 lb/ft when it has the Aisin behind it.
Again, as I said earlier, there are benefits to both set ups. Personally, I will be going with the 3500-5500 set up and a 40' x 102" low profile when I decide to go from driving a big rig for someone else and getting into my own business.

 

Lol, I did not see this before I posted by reply above. I concur with your statement here for the most part. I do believe that overall operating costs can and should be lower with the 3500-5500 then with a full semi, even a single axle but that is all about potato, puhtahto and much like Ford, Chevy, Dodge guys we all have our opinion on the matter and we will always find something to have a beer and a disagreement over.

 

My dt444 had a power max turbo 125% over injectors and a double over hoop. I was at 415whp. Lmao I used to smoke out all the other trucks literally

 

The aisin is fantastic. But the tranny behind a 5.9 does not last long at all. Ask me how I know. And it was 12v that wasn't even turned up. That much. Okay maybe a little.