Is a dually needed?

[daugen]

At what weight range does one normally need to go to a dually vs a single axle HD p/u?
I was looking at Winnebago's new fifth wheel, I think their first, and wondered for 15,500, say 16,000
I'm clearly looking at a diesel, but for safety, stability, and towing ease, is a dually necessary?
Those double tires make the truck challenging to use when not towing...
So maybe I'll ask this another way, can one safely tow, with a little reserve, an 8 ton fifth wheel with
an F350 or GM equiv with single rear tires?

Winnebago Destination — Winnebago Towables

thanks. I never like to run too close to the limit/line...my insurance background. Safety first.

 

[Piston]

Interested in the replies. I've considered a dually as my next truck due to towing, but I think I'd hate it for normal day to day driving when not towing. How often would you be towing vs. not towing? For me, it's probably only about 15 times per year that I'd be towing a heavy load, max.

Would this also be your primary vehicle? Or mostly only used as a tow vehicle?

 

[dieselcrawler]

I used to own my own electrical service company and drove a dually with 9' utility bed daily, for everything, work and personal use, for about 8 years. Its not that much diffeent than a SRW, as long as you pay attention. You're gonna nail a few more curbs at the drivethru's but its possible.

Towing stabilty is nice. I miss using my dually, it has been sidelined for a few years now. Aside from needing some repairs, I have also closed my company and have just been using my F250. Having hauled 11k on a bumper pull with it,I sure wouldn't haul anything heavier. However, 5'er and gooseneck help distribute the load better and it might be safer.

I would look for a dually if I were you.

 

[daugen]

Would this also be your primary vehicle? Or mostly only used as a tow vehicle?
No, I'll always have a car, but it will be my primary truck and none of us want to drive a Peterbilt
to Home Depot. Well, maybe once...

there are ratings and there is seat of the pants feel. Will I get pushed around more on curves with a single
vs dual rear wheel? The trailer weighs well over twice the truck, so that's a concern to me.
I've only been in one dually, as a passenger, and it rode pretty roughly, but it was older.
My 6.0 Suburban, which would go, gets 11mpg now, so not like a real world change in mpg...
But I have to admit I want some comfort with my truck too, yet not blinged out like a Western ranch either.
I'm looking for comfort, safety and capability. Seems to be a lot of tradeoffs when one goes up in size.
Things like airbags get short thrift.

 

[zionview]

I have an F-250 SRW I pull 2 trailers with. I was pushed around a couple times with heavier loads, including one that was loaded improperly(my fault-cost me 2 trailer tires and rims). I buddy is on his 3rd 3500 Dodge Cummins dually and swears by duallys. He has at 4 trailers, both bumper hitch and gooseneck, and says he likes the stability. Hmmmm, maybe my next truck…….

 

[Bird]

I would look for a dually if I were you.

I agree. A dually was our only vehicle for a couple of years when we were full time RVers.

 

[newbury]

At what weight range does one normally need to go to a dually vs a single axle HD p/u?

2 bags of groceries in the bed Just because duallies LOOK good

I was looking at Winnebago's new fifth wheel, I think their first, and wondered for 15,500, say 16,000
I'm clearly looking at a diesel, but for safety, stability, and towing ease, is a dually necessary?
Those double tires make the truck challenging to use when not towing...
So maybe I'll ask this another way, can one safely tow, with a little reserve, an 8 ton fifth wheel with
an F350 or GM equiv with single rear tires?

Remember "towing" has 2 primary forces - going forward and backward, and then sideways with wind, turns etc.

If your looking at new I'm sure any SRW with the proper tow capacity will WORK when used within guidelines of speed and safety (i.e. don't do 100 around sharp curves).

I've only had (thankfully) one major incident with loss of a wheel (snapped off the axle!) on a U-Haul. It was a car dolly with a Civic. The wheel ended up plowing a 8" deep furrow in the side of the road before I got to a stop. Never once felt a pull on the wheel, just heard a scraping sound. It convinced me that a dually not only looks good to me.

In my case I felt I needed the dually for the payload capacity, on my 2002 F350 a SRW would carry 1,900lbs, a DRW 3,100 lbs.

So for example when I dropped this 1300lb planar in the back


I had capacity left to load the cab and put my trailer on the back. When I go to put logs in the back 1,000lbs means another 10' log.

And yes they are a pain in parking lots that are painted for Honda fits.

/edit - you didn't mention fuel choice - diesel sounds better.

 

[tcartwri]

With such a large sail behind you, I would go dually. There will be considerable side loading on a unit that big. Now if you ever drive this truck in the winter without a load, the duals will become a big negative unless you order a 4x4.

 

[daugen]

Bird and others, what was it like to drive the thing as a regular truck? an only truck...
Does 4x4 hurt the ride? I know it adds weight, but normally one would run with it off.
I will not be trailering in the snow, period...this would be for a snowbirding home and unlikely to move around a lot, except once or twice a year.
so I would drive the p/u home and use it for the rest of the year.

How bumpy are these duallys when unloaded?
Something this big will spend a lot of time sitting in the driveway but I do like to take trips hauling stuff to the mountains, etc.

I have a new Itasca Class A gas motorhome that I am about to go around the US in. Now I'm thinking ahead to next winter. This winter has convinced me
that snowbirding is a great idea. And for under a hundred grand, this is about ten times cheaper than any shore house around here. I'd park it in a nice
rv park along the Gulf Coast. Next winter. Going to do it. My current 27N is perfect for one or two people to travel with, but it doesn't have a dishwasher or washer dryer and I would want those for something I'm living in consistently for months at a time. The cost of going to a new diesel pusher that has the frame to carry the floorplan I want is way more than I can afford. But a nice truck plus a nice fifth wheel seems like a good affordable solution.

 

[Bigkrank]

If the mirrors go thru, the duals do too.

 

[tcartwri]

If you run full rated pressure in the duals it can be pretty obnoxious unloaded. I usually drop them down to 60 psi off season.

The other thing you will have to get used to running down the interstate, is that the duals will want to track in the grooves the transports leave. That can take a little getting used to.

 

[bandaidmd]

i'm sure the 5th wheel has a hitch weight listed somewhere and the potential tow vehicle also has a load capacity rating. comparing those 2 specs will tell you precisely what you need.Free opinions from the internet are sometimes only worth what you paid for them.

 

[bucktaker]

I have a GMC 3500 crewcab long bed dually and it is my only truck....its one of those things you just get familar with. No where I cant get to except the parking spots close to the door at wallyworld.
not the greatest truck in off road situations but I dont go those places with this truck.

I just remind the wife to remember the truck has wide hips which always makes her smile.

Run the expected tow weights and compare to the listed capacities if you are close go larger

 

[daugen]

I've always thought four to five tons was the limit on a standard p/u, with all the towing goodies.
And I'm only guestimating at eight tons for a single axle HD. The thing today is the ratings are creeping up.
I will always stay within legal ratings, and I'm sure I can get a single axle that is rated adequately.
But do I want it...
Just trying to balance the trade offs.
thanks for all input. I don't think I'm the only one curious about this.

 

[dodge man]

A 1 ton single rear wheel MIGHT get the job done, air bags would help. If you are starting from scratch, I'd get a dually.

 

[msmith1wa]

I can't speak to driveability when towing, but A place I worked at when I was a teenager had a dually that I drove a couple of times, you get used to the extra width.

The reason the SRW trucks have lower ratings is because the single tires can't safely carry the weight. Add two more tires then the limiting factor becomes brakes, springs, axle or something else.

I would also suggest you go to RV.net and look at the towing forum there.

 

[Bird]

Bird and others, what was it like to drive the thing as a regular truck? an only truck...

I guess, as with many things, it's just what you get accustomed to. My wife didn't do a lot of driving, but she soon got accustomed to it and it was comfortable for us.

Another thing to think about if you buy that Winnebago . . . you'll notice their weights and capacities show a load capacity of 3k plus, but they list a LOT of "options" and when you start adding washer/dryer, generator, etc., etc., you can soon find yourself over the rated weight capacity of the tires, wheels, and axles. Been there; done that.

 

[DJ54]

Stability, plus the fact that if ever you should have a blow out on the rear, the other tire will hopefully at least get you over to the shoulder safely. With an almost maxed out SRW, it's quite possible you'll end up over in the Rhubarb...

 

[downslope]

Almost without question you should go with the dually. If it is 16K, 20% pin weight would be 3200#. Like Bird said, what will the REAL weight be with options, water, gas and all your STUFF in the trailer and truck? If you don't need 4WD definitely do not get it; it will make the truck heavier and HIGHER. I don't think it will ride any worse than a single wheel 1-ton with heavy suspension and tires aired up to max (which you will need with SRW). I have both and the SRW with plow package is very bouncy when aired up, worse than the 2WD dually. There is also a safety factor if you have a tire failure with a dually versus SRW. Are you planning on a full crew cab, reg cab, or what? You will definitely want to stay with a long-bed; don't get involved with sliding hitches, worrying about turning, etc.

 

[Soundguy]

Those double tires make the truck challenging to use when not towing...
.

Not really any more difficult. just point the truck where you want it to go, and turn the wheel to avoid obstacles.

Interested in the replies. I've considered a dually as my next truck due to towing, but I think I'd hate it for normal day to day driving when not towing.

You MIGHT hate it.. if you hate DRW trucks.. that's a personal question. I traded a SRW truck for a DRW truck and hope to never look back. Feels safer and more stable. towing or not. If I'm in an accident.. I may be better off too. As a matter of fact..t hat has been tested. iw as at a stoplight in my f350 and a f150 rear ended me. low speed tap. put a quarter sized dent in my bumper.. he had to be towed. hood bowed up. front grill all broke. headlights aimed in.. fender wells bowed and on tires.. etc.. etc..

I was able to drive on to work with essentially no damage.

I used to own my own electrical service company and drove a dually with 9' utility bed daily, for everything, work and personal use, for about 8 years. Its not that much diffeent than a SRW, as long as you pay attention. You're gonna nail a few more curbs at the drivethru's but its possible. .

Exactly. The main difference I've found when going from SRW to DRW is a very, VERY occasional curb check when making a tight turn. You also are just natrually a bit wider.. so when pulling thru or backing in.. just thread the needle.

I hope to not go back to a SRW for a looooong time. More rubber ont he road feels way safer.

Soundguy