I bought a used 95 2 wheel drive Dodge dually
2 door stick shift diesel just for hauling my
race trailer and my dump trailer.. thats all I
use it for.. I changed it around big time.. was
a marine hauler to pull larger boats.. I put a
sleeper on the back(at the time I use to drag a
26' enclosed trailer and I wanted to put the
sleeper on it).. I changed it to put a bed on it..
now I pull a 43' fifth wheel trailer.. it gets great
mileage when pulling(I did add a fuel chip and a
higher governor.. once on the E-way I get about 16
MPG up to 22MPG... this thing pulls GREAT.. I have
added sheet metal due to rusting(both doors).. the
trailer is a built with a VERY small front(comes
almost to a point.. all the front is a sleeper now

I bought a used 2006 3/4 ton diesel quad cab in 2010. I love it but honestly I’m glad I don’t have to drive it everyday. I love jumping in my moms old 2003 Chevy Malibu for every day stuff. I personally will never own a dually (land yaute). They may be the best at doing what they do but way to big for me.

This 2 wheel drive dually is the nicest driving
truck I've ever driven.. love the ride of it...
with or without the trailer but it is a little
better ride with the weight of the trailer on it

Trust me I said they are big, to big for my driving. I live outside a one redlight town. Everywhere I go I have to go through this town. Lots of old timers want their side and half of yours. Come deer season it’s even worse. Very narrow streets and the telephone poles are right on the curbs

Thanks for all the suggestions. Here are some answers to the good questions you have asked. Both of the trucks I am looking at are 2018's.
I do a lot of traveling. I race at Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Fontana, Pamona, Sonoma,Salt Lake City(the track closes at the end of this year) and Oklahoma this year. I don't need a 4x4, but I can't find a 2 wheel drive that is equipped the way I want it. For the past year I have towed with my 2016 Ram 1500 regular cab with the 5.7 hemi. It does fine on flat roads, but the Grape Vine and the freeway to Salt Lake are a bit of a challenge. If I keep it at 60 mph I can get 11 mpg. Any faster and I get 9 mpg. I will use the new truck as a daily driver like my current Ram and a dualy is too big for me.

Raul

For only an 8k enclosed trailer I wouldn't bother with a dually either. Put some type of sway control or load leveling hitch on the trailer, get the tongue weight correct, and it will tow great. If you go much past 10k with trailer weight I'd more seriously consider a dually.

Because you're going through lots of altitude areas I'd also vote diesel.

I pull a 24' enclosed with my 07 2500, 5.9 with a tuner. It's a 4x4. I too looked for a 2WD and couldn't find one so settled for the 4WD. Use to make the run from the NW to SoCal. Pulling the trailer with a 71RR, tools, spare tire etc. I averaged around 13-14.5 MPG. Liv in Mesa now and pulling up to Vegas, SoCal and to the NW the average still is at 13-14.5 average. Mileage on the truck as of yesterday is 252K.

2006 diesel is, and would be my choice

Diesel would be my choice. I have a 18' open goose neck trailer that I haul my Dart on. For several years I pulled it with a 2000 Powerstroke, now I pull it with a 2014 1500. I can tell you there is a difference, the worst mileage the diesel ever got towing was 13.6. If I were to ever buy an enclosed trailer I'd buy another diesel, probably a 3/4 ton.

I take it my "What do you need a Power Wagon for?" was a bad question?

Deleted the "save $9000.00" part for you. Learn the hard way.

I would go with a Cummins. I can't do without the 4x4, but if you don't need one, the best truck I've ever towed with was a '96 3/4 ton 2wd with 5-speed and 3.55 gear. That thing was awesome.

Diesel, no question.

A 2wd is fine if you plan on keeping it and don't mind getting stuck on wet grass. Being 2wd really hurts resale on a diesel. At least around here it does. You have trouble giving away a 2wd diesel, let alone a 2wd dually.

Agreed. My old 99 3/4 ton got stuck in wet grass if I didn't have the 4x4 on. Around here too, nobody wants the 2wd's even if they only use the 4x4 once or twice per year they need to have it. I wouldn't want to be the guy trying to unload a 2wd that I had good money sunk into.

I got stuck on wet grass with my 2wd.. nice high
way tires.. I ended up buying a more aggressive
tire just for the rears.. havent had a problem
since then

Great! I'll be looking for a deal on a real nice, pampered, low mileage, stick shift, 2WD diesel dually later this year. An older one would be just fine. If I'm the only one looking, I won't have to fight anyone over it.

I've had a diesel truck since late 98, when I ordered my red one. It's been a good truck, but in the future I want to upgrade to a living 1/4's trailer, 44' or bigger. So I just picked up a '05 Dually out of Texas. Truck is spotless, and it was well worth the cost of an airline ticket to pick it up and drive home.

Well, after reading your posts I have decided on a 4x4 with a diesel. You mentioned some things I had not thought of, like resale value and parking on the grass.

Thanks to all of you that gave me your ideas.

Raul

Yup. You just get to deal with angry sellers who get upset when you offer them 2wd prices on 2wd trucks they think are worth the same as a 4x4!

I had a 2wd 2008 Diesel, Dually for 8 years , not once did I get stuck anywhere.

matter of fact, ice storm hit north Texas for multiple days, could not get out of driveway with my 2006 charger

so, drove the diesel back and forth to work for 3 days until it melted

I owned my last 4x4 in 2000

my cars here are AWD however

I am still using my ole reliable 96' 2500 V10 4x4 Ram. No,it does not get the better mileage of a diesel but this truck owes me nothing after 21 years of ownership. It has pulled mine and my buddies cars to and from many different states with my 28' enclosed trailer with no issues.