Ride quality of 3500 truck with light fifth wheel

harry and thea wrote:
Left for Florida 9 days ago from Hamilton, On. Can. Hit black ice an hour from home and totaled both truck and fifth wheel trailer. No other vehicles involved and my wife and I walked away unscathed, thank God.
Have already put deposit on another trailer but still looking for a truck. Both our wrecked trailer and the new one are ultra lites and about 6600 lbs dry. We do a lot of severe grades in our travels and therefore want another diesel. Ideally looking for a used late model low mileage 2500. Just ran across a 2012 3500 srw at a great price with about 25000 miles on it.
My first concern is would the stiffer 3500 suspension create extra stress on the trailer frame in the pin box area?
Secondly, would the ride when not towing be significantly rougher?
Would appreciate input from those familiar with both 3/4 and 1 ton trucks

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:
DRW is not as good in snow, whether you're talking loose and deep or packed and icy. Problem with the former is you're punching an extra track through the snow, and problem with the latter is you've got roughly half as much pressure on the road from your rear tires due to greater surface area (same reason some guys run narrower snow tires in the winter).

SSSHHHH, don't tell my dually that. I've driving them in snow and ice for years in the mountains of Western NC, and never an issue, just recently on snow covered roads and Interstate this past Friday in 6-10" of snow and no issues.. Also driven in heavier, wetter snows in the mountains of Va and WVa. Maybe has something do with how long one has experience with driving in the snow, (almost 50 years)? I've never had an issue with a dually in the snow, but run at a lower pressure empty.

I didn't say you couldn't drive a DRW in snow or ice, I just said it isn't as good in those conditions as a SRW, and it isn't. I've lived in the northern intermountain west my entire life - if you want to compare winter driving resumes mine stacks up just fine.

Nope, you win, we know we don't have mountains east of the Mississippi, you guys out your way have better driving skills and far more knowledge than any of us on this side of the USA. I know this by being told how much experience in the mountains you have compared to our mole hills. I bow to your superior skills and knowledge... UNCLE!

That wasn't what I was going for either...I was just answering a question that was asked...

Just a quick question from my wife and I here in eastern Iowa. We are also looking at purchasing a 3500 dually and wonder what they are like in snow. thanks for any input!!!

Just a simple question and answer...I wasn't trying to pick at anything you're sensitive about.

...I too gave my "simple answer", also from experience. I Had a stroke August 19th, not back yet, still trying to get an arm and a leg working again....Doctors say it can make you more emotional.(Dang, they're right). Sorry to have offended you. Forgive me for going that route. Don't know what came over me...wait, yeah I do...sorry.

By the way, from the pictures, Idaho looks like a beautiful state. Love the mountains.

IdaD wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:
DRW is not as good in snow, whether you're talking loose and deep or packed and icy. Problem with the former is you're punching an extra track through the snow, and problem with the latter is you've got roughly half as much pressure on the road from your rear tires due to greater surface area (same reason some guys run narrower snow tires in the winter).

SSSHHHH, don't tell my dually that. I've driving them in snow and ice for years in the mountains of Western NC, and never an issue, just recently on snow covered roads and Interstate this past Friday in 6-10" of snow and no issues.. Also driven in heavier, wetter snows in the mountains of Va and WVa. Maybe has something do with how long one has experience with driving in the snow, (almost 50 years)? I've never had an issue with a dually in the snow, but run at a lower pressure empty.

I didn't say you couldn't drive a DRW in snow or ice, I just said it isn't as good in those conditions as a SRW, and it isn't. I've lived in the northern intermountain west my entire life - if you want to compare winter driving resumes mine stacks up just fine.

Nope, you win, we know we don't have mountains east of the Mississippi, you guys out your way have better driving skills and far more knowledge than any of us on this side of the USA. I know this by being told how much experience in the mountains you have compared to our mole hills. I bow to your superior skills and knowledge... UNCLE!

That wasn't what I was going for either...I was just answering a question that was asked...

Just a quick question from my wife and I here in eastern Iowa. We are also looking at purchasing a 3500 dually and wonder what they are like in snow. thanks for any input!!!

Just a simple question and answer...I wasn't trying to pick at anything you're sensitive about.

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:
DRW is not as good in snow, whether you're talking loose and deep or packed and icy. Problem with the former is you're punching an extra track through the snow, and problem with the latter is you've got roughly half as much pressure on the road from your rear tires due to greater surface area (same reason some guys run narrower snow tires in the winter).

SSSHHHH, don't tell my dually that. I've driving them in snow and ice for years in the mountains of Western NC, and never an issue, just recently on snow covered roads and Interstate this past Friday in 6-10" of snow and no issues.. Also driven in heavier, wetter snows in the mountains of Va and WVa. Maybe has something do with how long one has experience with driving in the snow, (almost 50 years)? I've never had an issue with a dually in the snow, but run at a lower pressure empty.

I didn't say you couldn't drive a DRW in snow or ice, I just said it isn't as good in those conditions as a SRW, and it isn't. I've lived in the northern intermountain west my entire life - if you want to compare winter driving resumes mine stacks up just fine.

Nope, you win, we know we don't have mountains east of the Mississippi, you guys out your way have better driving skills and far more knowledge than any of us on this side of the USA. I know this by being told how much experience in the mountains you have compared to our mole hills. I bow to your superior skills and knowledge... UNCLE!

Just a quick question from my wife and I here in eastern Iowa. We are also looking at purchasing a 3500 dually and wonder what they are like in snow. thanks for any input!!!

IdaD wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

IdaD wrote:
DRW is not as good in snow, whether you're talking loose and deep or packed and icy. Problem with the former is you're punching an extra track through the snow, and problem with the latter is you've got roughly half as much pressure on the road from your rear tires due to greater surface area (same reason some guys run narrower snow tires in the winter).

SSSHHHH, don't tell my dually that. I've driving them in snow and ice for years in the mountains of Western NC, and never an issue, just recently on snow covered roads and Interstate this past Friday in 6-10" of snow and no issues.. Also driven in heavier, wetter snows in the mountains of Va and WVa. Maybe has something do with how long one has experience with driving in the snow, (almost 50 years)? I've never had an issue with a dually in the snow, but run at a lower pressure empty.

I didn't say you couldn't drive a DRW in snow or ice, I just said it isn't as good in those conditions as a SRW, and it isn't. I've lived in the northern intermountain west my entire life - if you want to compare winter driving resumes mine stacks up just fine.