I would NOT try to turn a big dually into a hunting truck/trail buggy/heavy load hauler/5th wheel puller/daily driver/Rockstar chick magnet. The usages are too far apart.
Thank you for your help, but I never said any of those things except 'rockstar', and even that was more of a joke because the truck already IS one. I'm 35 years old, I've got my chick and I don't hunt. Sure, I'd like to be able to haul a load but that's not too much of a stretch is it? Putting a cab on a 73-87 is not insanely difficult either, it just takes a kit, a few extra parts, elbow grease and time...with a few headaches thrown in for the unforeseeables. Your 'advice' comes off as more of an attack than it does savvy know-how. I need technical advice on which option works best mechanically. I do appreciate the fact that what I need the truck to do is important to the conversation and I think I've been pretty clear on what is a 'need' and what is a 'want'. Any vehicle will have its limits, I'm just looking for the best setup because I only want to do this once.
And for the record, they haul track hoes up forest service roads to cut firebreaks, so a dually can do just fine. I certainly wouldn't be making it a habit.
