We had a 2WD dually for 20 years. We called it “a road truck” because that is where we drove it. No jaunts thru fields unless it carried a heavy load, like fence posts. If the load could squat the truck a bit, the tires would bite into the dirt. Not so much terrible mud, but it did not get stuck on wet grass with a load. I took it to trail ride camps, but they have good surface for the LQ trailers, so no issues there.
You survey your ground before driving onto it. Some surfaces are not going to work for you, so DO NOT go there! Even if someone laughs at you! As mentioned, the dual wheels will float on surfaces, not always dig in like a single axle vehicle to go forward.
Duals are marvelous at hauling trailers, no sway when air backwash or crosswinds in the mountains can hit you. I believe the horses get a real good ride between the truck axle and the trailer axles, like a hammock, suspended. Lots less road wear and tear fatigue on horses at the destination.
Our truck was a “buy of the decade” find. Great price, we loved using it for 20 years plus. Lots of happy miles going to fun places in it. We just kept in mind the shortcomings and did not put the truck in those situations. We put it away for most of winter, not good on snow or ice. The worst “almost got stuck” place was at a Pony Club workout. New trainer barn. She had just had MANY truckloads of limestone spread on driveway and large trailer parking area. Then the stone got rained on. One of those “it looked fine!” But as I drove onto it I could feel truck slowing. I down shifted and gave it the pedal to make a circle back to firm ground. Thank goodness the horse was still inside the trailer because her weight gave us extra grip on the wet, not-yet-settled or packed stone. It was a “do or die there” because trainer did not have a real tractor if I got stuck! Small son was impressed, said we were like Smokey and the Bandit, spewing stones on the circle!! I DID get back to firm dirt, left sme big tracks in her new stone area. Did manage to stop the other moms before they drove on it. I think we only had slipping issues a couple times during ownership, but got out. I do not remember ever needing to be towed, could be wrong. That truck was a 1989, 7.3L diesel, so it was a while ago.
Being kind of cheap, I probably would have passed on it if it had 4WD. Extra cost of fuel with lower mileage, extra maintenance cost of the second transmission and needing to run truck in 4WD monthly, to keep things working properly. My friend had a similar 4WD truck to do this with.
Never had 4WD anything until we got the Kubota tractor. Really helpful on that! We just learned as kids to drive in bad conditions without 4WD. You could always shovel the box full of snow, 2WD truck would walk itself out of 95% of most situations! We passed a LOT of 4WD trucks in the median after they flew by us on bad roads. They had to get towed, way too stuck to have 4WD get them out.
I would have another 2WD dually in a heartbeat! It was a great truck for us!
The trucks are the same same otherwise, just the 2WD is missing some parts.
