Forum Discussion

bobbolotune's avatar
bobbolotune
Explorer
Sep 29, 2015

Are Dually Extension Brackets Unsafe?

When I thought I had it figured out, now this...

Everyone is saying to get the biggest truck you can. Because even if you don't need it now you may want to upgrade to a heavier truck camper in the future, or add a tow (which is my case, that I want the ability to add a tow in the future).

Which means a dually.

This is the decision that Truck Camper Magazine came to with for their new truck (within the past year I think), and the opinion expressed repeatedly in this forum.

Now someone told me, don't get a dually. And this wasn't just anyone. It someone with extensive truck camper industry experience. What he said:

They are a problem for fitting into parking spaces. This one I already knew and accepted.

Duallys are terrible on snow and ice. This I didn't know. I would assume with 4 rather than 2 tires on the ground that a dually would be that much better for snow and ice. Not so? Although I didn't tell him that I am planning on a 4x4 dually, and possibly that makes a difference.

Then the big one. You shouldn't camp in a truck camper with dually extension brackets. The extension is a hinge that swings in and out. It isn't stable. It is ok for storing the camper off the truck, but you shouldn't camp off the truck in a camper with dually brackets.

I hope those with actual experience can please express an opinion about these topics. About the snow / ice issue, and especially about the dually brackets.

Specifically the camper being discussed uses Happijac jacks and dually brackets. Possibly those are not the best jacks?

He said to get a 1 ton SRW. That a dually is unnecessary. That a 1 ton SRW has enough carrying capacity. But what I read is the next thing people with a SRW do is a $2,000 upgrade to 19.5 tires. Where the dually option is (if I recall) around $1,500. And (at least in the specs for the latest model trucks) you get more payload from a dually than a SRW. Also the recent thread people saying duallys drive better loaded with a camper. But if I can't camp off the truck with dually extension brackets that is a killer problem.
  • Not my TC but for years I drove this unit in the mountains. It's a 4x4 dually on commercial tires and weighed over 12,000 pounds. We ran cable chains front and rear and responded in really nasty weather on snow and ice covered mt roads. You just took it easy and used the gears vs brakes. I never felt out of control with it.

  • Cracks me up.

    Brackets not adequate? where does one come up with this?

    Dually is not as good in the snow as single. Splitting hairs here. Seriously, what percentage of time does the average guy drive in snow?

    We snowmobile... chase the white stuff 4-5 months a year, 6 to 10 times a month. I dare say, I bet it's less than 2% of my driving.. in the winter. Less than that for the whole year. Carry cables or chains.

    Parking problem? Strangest things people worry about..
  • It would be ridiculous to get an inadequate truck for the job over these minor considerations.

    The statement about dually brackets is a total myth. Just plain ignorant and stupid. Dually brackets lock into position with very coarse square teeth that are held in place by the weight of the camper. They're not going anywhere. It's no more dangerous to camp on jacks with dually brackets than without. If the camper falls over, you had bigger problems to begin with.

    Yes, the truck is wider. So what? A good driver can park a dually anywhere a full size car will fit. If you don't feel comfortable, just park farther out. A little extra walking will do you good.

    Traction on snow and ice can be an issue. In addition to the PSI issue mentioned above, an SRW's front wheels clear a path for the rear wheels to be down on a better traction surface. A DRW's front and rear wheels do not line up, so each wheel is up on top of the mud/snow, cutting its own path. Two ruts vs. six ruts.

    The traction is the only legit problem in this discussion, but it is only an issue in extreme conditions, and it can be overcome with simple dead weight in the bed of the truck.
  • I like my dually, our camper has Atwood jacks with brackets and they are quite stable, we use it often off the truck. The statement about parking can be true about most TC's, they are wider than your truck anyway and most are longer. We are just a little more prudent where we park but I can back in most spots and be between the lines. As far as snow and ice, I've had both and I believe my dually is better.
  • All PUs years ago were bad on ice and snow. The gas tank was in the cab and very little weight in the rear. Now the gas tanks are in the rear and they handle much better. Parking a dually is a PITA. The spaces in shopping centers are getting a lot smaller. I went way out in back of the lot and had no problem. I wouldn't worry about parking. I park my MH in shopping centers. Lots of other large vehicles park there. Probably more difficult to park up close to a store in the small spaces.
  • bobbolotune wrote:


    Duallys are terrible on snow and ice. This I didn't know. I would assume with 4 rather than 2 tires on the ground that a dually would be that much better for snow and ice. Not so? Although I didn't tell him that I am planning on a 4x4 dually, and possibly that makes a difference.


    That statement is correct (no comment on the other "facts")

    That is the same reason why any pickup handles snow/ice better with weight in the bed- weight per tire surface area. The more weight a tire can push down into the slippery stuff, the better. A dually places (approximately) 1/2 the amount of weight per tire that a SRW does.
    But having a 4x4 dually, especially with weight in the bed, would be better than a 4x2 dually.
    M&S rated tires will also be a benefit.

    BTW, we live in northern New Hampshire so we know slippery stuff.
  • Interesting. I'd certainly be interested to hear what people think of DRW on slippery surfaces. I used to have a WWII deuce-and-a-half, and on a wet and slightly sloping grass with no payload, it was a real handful. I put that down to the 10 tyres not having enough ground pressure to dig in and provide grip. Modern military trucks seem to routinely have single rear wheels - I wonder if this is in response to problems using them in slippery conditions, or related to the ability to air them down?

    Steve.