What is a dually pickup truck?

A dually truck — short for “dual rear wheel” (DRW) truck — is a pickup that runs two wheels on each side of the rear axle, six wheels in total, instead of the standard four. That extra pair of rear tires spreads weight across a wider footprint, which is what lets a dually safely tow and haul more than a standard single-rear-wheel (SRW) pickup. You’ll see the configuration designated as DRW in manufacturer trim lines, most commonly on the Ford F-350 Super Duty, Ram 3500, and GMC Sierra 3500HD.

What is the purpose of a dually truck?

The primary purpose of a dually truck is to safely haul and tow loads that would exceed the limits of a standard pickup. The extra rear wheels raise the truck’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), improve stability under load, and reduce sway when towing a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer. A dually is built for work, not just driving.

What are dually trucks good for?

Dually trucks are the go-to choice whenever the job demands maximum payload or towing capacity — job sites, farms, and commercial fleets where a standard half-ton or three-quarter-ton pickup isn’t enough truck. Common applications include:

• Fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers carrying heavy equipment
• Horse and livestock trailers with multiple animals
• Flatbed loads of construction materials, pipe, or steel
• Large campers and recreational trailers near or above 15,000 lbs

For context, a standard half-ton pickup typically maxes out around 2,000 lbs of payload and 12,000–14,000 lbs of towing — a fraction of what a dually can handle.

Hauling and towing capacity

Dually trucks offer the highest towing and payload ratings in the pickup segment. A well-specified Ram 3500 or Ford F-350 dually can tow upward of 35,000–37,000 lbs when properly configured with a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch, with payload ratings on top-spec models exceeding 7,000 lbs — figures a single-rear-wheel truck simply can’t match.

Stability and load distribution

Four rear tires dramatically reduce trailer sway and body roll under load. The wider rear track keeps the truck planted when cornering with a heavy trailer, lowers the risk of a blowout cascading into a loss of control, and improves braking performance when fully loaded — particularly over long distances or on uneven terrain where weight shifts unpredictably.

Dually truck specifications

Understanding the key specs matters most when a truck needs to meet a specific towing or payload requirement for your operation. The table below shows factory-rated figures for the three most common DRW models:

Model	Max tow rating	Max payload	GVWR
Ford F-350 Super Duty DRW	Up to 37,000 lbs	Up to 7,850 lbs	14,000 lbs
Ram 3500 DRW	Up to 35,100 lbs	Up to 7,680 lbs	13,500 lbs
GMC Sierra 3500HD DRW	Up to 36,000 lbs	Up to 7,442 lbs	13,200 lbs

*Ratings vary by cab, bed, engine, and axle configuration. Always verify the specific vehicle’s door-pillar sticker rather than relying on headline manufacturer figures.*

Width and size considerations

A dually pickup measures roughly 96–102 inches (244–259 cm) wide at the rear fenders — about 8–12 inches wider than its single-rear-wheel counterpart, due to the flared fenders needed to cover the dual tires. That extra width affects lane positioning on narrow roads, garage clearance, and fitting through standard 8-foot gate openings on farms and job sites.

Bed width trade-off: the usable bed width between the wheel wells is narrower than on an SRW truck — typically 50–51 inches. Standard 48-inch pallets still fit, but the wheel-well intrusion is more pronounced. If bed width matters for your load type, measure before you buy.

Weight and payload capacity

Dually trucks are heavier at the kerb than SRW equivalents, which affects total weight calculations. GVWR typically runs 11,500–14,000 lbs depending on model and configuration. Payload — what you can legally carry in the bed, cab, and on the fifth-wheel pin — is GVWR minus kerb weight, so a diesel dually in a crew cab configuration will have less available payload than a lighter build. Always check the door-jamb sticker for the specific unit rather than the manufacturer’s headline figure, particularly at auction where trucks can carry different build configurations across the same model year.

Advantages of owning a dually truck

• Higher tow ratings. Factory-rated towing capacity is significantly higher than equivalent SRW models — the safest legal option for the heaviest trailer loads.
• Greater payload. The reinforced rear axle and suspension allow more weight in the bed without compromising ride or handling.
• Tire redundancy and reduced wear. Weight is shared across four rear tires instead of two, extending tire life under regular load — and a blowout on one side doesn’t leave you stranded.
• Fifth-wheel compatibility. The wider bed and rear stance suit fifth-wheel hitches far better than single-rear-wheel trucks.
• Strong resale value. Work-spec dually trucks — especially diesels with low kilometres — hold value well because demand from contractors and agricultural buyers stays consistent.

Benefits for contractors and fleet owners

For contractors and fleet managers, a dually isn’t just a bigger truck — it’s a productivity tool. Hauling equipment, materials, or a fully loaded trailer in a single trip instead of two cuts fuel costs, labour time, and scheduling complexity. Fleet-maintained diesels being disposed of on a regular service cycle, rather than due to mechanical failure, frequently represent strong value at auction.

Buying and selling a dually truck at auction

Used dually trucks move through Ritchie Bros. auctions regularly, both as standalone work trucks and as part of fleet disposals from construction, agricultural, and transportation operations. Because dually trucks are purpose-built for heavy work, condition matters more at purchase than with a standard pickup — review the inspection report for rear axle wear, tire condition across all six tires, frame integrity, and, on a diesel, service records for the engine and transmission.

For sellers, a clean, well-documented dually in a desirable spec — diesel engine, crew cab, low miles, complete service history — will attract competitive bids from buyers who know exactly what they need.

A dually truck is a purpose-built tool, not a general-purpose vehicle. If your work involves regularly towing heavy trailers, hauling maximum bed loads, or operating where stability under weight is non-negotiable, a dual-rear-wheel pickup is the right call. If you don’t consistently need that capacity, the added width and tire costs may not be worth it. Know your application, verify the specs on the specific truck, and buy accordingly. You can search available pickup trucks at Ritchie Bros. auctions to find fleet-quality dually units — including diesel-powered workhorses from Ford, RAM, GMC, and Chevrolet — at fair market prices.

See also

A farmer’s checklist for preparing equipment for resale