[Geddy]

I'm used to the rural life and therefore have never had any problems owning a pickup. In the next year or so I will be moving to the D.C area for either work or grad school, not sure on the exact area yet. Anyways I was just wondering how difficult it may be to live with a long bed 2500 in this sort of area. Please excuse my ignorance I am just used to living in farm country. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Wesley B]

I don't have anything to add from personal experience, but I imagine it would be hard to drive a big truck around that area. Where are you looking at for grad school?

 

[krywanczyk]

I work in DC during the week and drive back home to NC on the weekends. I ended up getting a commuter car, mostly because of the miles every week but it is a PITA sometimes driving the truck in this traffic. I do see some diesels up here, so you won't be the only one. I wouldn't trade the truck for this but if you happen to have another smaller vehicle, you might want to leave the truck at home.

 

[Geddy]

thanks for the input guys. I was thinking of trading the truck in but i'm not sold cause i'd miss my baby too much. I am going to be applying to GWU and George Town BTW. Good to know there are some other diesels around the area.

 

[User113]

Driving around is not a problem. Buses, garbage trucks, UPS vans, etc. make it around everywhere. I-495, I-295, I-395, I-66, etc. are just like any other freeway. The only problem you will have would be parking. Not so much at shopping centers or Metro parking lots, but perhaps at your school, doctor's offices, underground lots, etc. But it is certainly doable with a bit of patience and planning. There are a lot of trucks in this area, and they all manage to get where they need to be. You will not be alone.

 

[SEAN06]

you'll be fine:thumbsup:

 

[blue06h.o.]

Dc sucks and so does the traffic and people. If you never lived in a highly populated area your in for culture shock. Depending on area you plan on living in there are a lot of us diesel owners around

 

[Geddy]

Any areas you would recommend to live in. I will need to be in commutable distance from DC or Herndon.

 

[blue06h.o.]

Alot of people commute via the vre. Virginia Rail road. Cause the traffic sucks so bad. Woodbridge is terrible. Stafford area isn't to bad still pretty populated Same with Fredericksburg where I live. Manassas area isn't to bad. Beat bet would be come up for a visit for a week and check out bunch of areas. Cost of living is high as hell here as well so be prepared for that. What school you going to attend and that will help us nova people out to help you.( NOVA= Northern Virginia)

 

[blue06h.o.]

Names Brad by the way. Farther south you go the more southern and country you get. More north you go more shall we say you need to be bilingual and earn to live with 2 million of your closest friends....

 

[Geddy]

Hopefully gwu or Georgetown . but I may work for a couple years first. But all the jobs in my prospective field are still in the DC and Herndon areas. Thanks for the help. Sounds like the closer to NC the better.

 

[kcco]

i bought my truck while living up here in 2009. I grew up on farms in GA/OH, this is way different than either of those. I have lived up here for 6 years and I drive my truck everyday. The Biggest issue is parking like they said, in dc the street parking sucks even for smart cars so any pick up is going to have its issues. I have lived in Gaithersburg, MD, 33 miles from DC, morning and evening commute is 2 hoursish. La Plata, MD, 25miles from DC, usually an hour in and about an hour and a half out. Alexandria, VA, 11 miles in and about 30mins/45 to get home. I literally just moved to Arlington, VA less than a mile from Georgetown/GW and its still 15mins or so to get there. I would say if you want to sit in traffic and are ok with that then live down in Stafford and suck up the 2 hour long drive every morning and afternoon. If you don't want to sit in traffic all day live north of 495 in Arlington or Alexandria and just take the Metro train system everyday. Its super easy and runs all the time. As far as being able to drive your truck youll be good in the city, its not Italy, or Germany, you have plenty of space. When I was repoing/towing cars with my truck it got sketchy but normal everyday driving youll be good. hope this helps, shoot me a PM if you have any more questions.

 

[Geddy]

thanks for the help KCCO and Blue. I think I am going to start saving up some money and invest in a commuter maybe a high mileage TDI Jetta. I am going to look into the areas you guys mentioned thanks alot.

 

[CummOn618]

I've lived in VA my whole life. Grew up out towards front royal and now I live in alexandria. I drive a beer truck around NOVA all day long and its all about patience and just being completely aware of whats around you. When I get in my qclb on 37s its the same thing patience. Parking is the biggest thing just like everyone said, so understand you arent going to get the closest spot (ever) get used to it. You will walk a way to your parking space. As for traffic I start work at 4am so i dont see any of the rush hour stuff. People up here are usually pretty nervous about a big truck so chances are they will back off of you and let you go where you need to.

If you need a place to park your truck and ride metro into DC or bus, I have a yard you can leave your truck in and sit next to mine bud!

 

[Geddy]

Thanks for all the info cummon618. I may have to take you up on that offer in the future.

 

[CummOn618]

Thanks for all the info cummon618. I may have to take you up on that offer in the future.

no problem bud. hell at my house my and my brother, we still ride our pitbikes in our yard, shoot our bows in the yard. pull inner tubes in the snow with my atv down seminary Rd. try and bring as much of the country as we can with us up this way

 

[Geddy]

Sounds like a Lil slice of heaven.