I'm seriously considering an Artic Fox 990 (has 1 slide) and I will be towing with 400-500 lbs of tongue weight.The high volume dealer I'm talking to says 80%+ of the 990's they sell go on SRW trucks. He is recommending air bags and sway control.I want to be safe. SRW would be nice, but I've read other threads here that say DRW is a must for any camper with a slide.I do not currently own a truck, so I have options.Thoughts?

We were considering the AF 990, and had a Dodge 3500 LB, SRW. By checking all the #s, and having the dealer weigh the unit because of a huge difference in the weight he was quoting, we would have been 1100 lbs over GVWR. That's including the tongue wt of a 3000 lbs boat.That is too much wt for our comfort level. All he would have done was to add airbags. Learning so much on this forum, we would have to add about $7K in mods to the truck to make it work safely (for us). Some folks are braver and will say differently. You have to go with what will make you happy.We love our new DRW and most importantly, we feel safe. BTW, we didn't go with the 990 because we found another TC with a nicer floor plan and more space, not because it's not a nice unit.

There are quite a few AF 990 owners that use SRW trucks. Alot of them upgrade to 19.5 wheels and tires, plus add on suspension mods. It certainly is being done and Im sure many have good results. No doubt about it though that a dually would be more suitable and stable. My AF 1140 is only several hundred pounds heavier than your 990 and I cannot imagine hauling it on anything but a dually truck. I personally would not want to do it but than thats my sole opinion.

I currently own a 2009 F-350 DRW and carried an Arctic fox 990. I added Air Bags, Roadmaster Sway Bars and Torklift Stableloads and it handled very nicely I can not comment on a SRW and while yes it will haul the 990 you have much better control with the DRW rig. Your talking about 5000 + pounds there so the more stability you have the better.

I guess it's according to how much and what type of camping you are going to do, if your going to use it 3-5 times a year and only in campgrounds then it's a toss up, but if your planning on keeping it for some extended trips and maybe some off the beaten path trips on curvy hilly roads and such for me there would be no problem making up my mind....the DRW will be much more stable.I have an 03 lance 1071/slide the tag says 3,600 dry, I first had it on a SRW but quickly realized I really did need a DRW with some suspension mods.I'm not one of the guys that says, " heck I don't even know it's back there.

kerry4951 wrote:There are quite a few AF 990 owners that use SRW trucks.... My AF 1140 is only several hundred pounds heavier than your 990 and I cannot imagine hauling it on anything but a dually truck. I personally would not want to do it but than thats my sole opinion.Ditto..Not trying to play the weight police on you, it CAN be done. AF builds HEAVY campers. As mentioned above, my 1150 isn't much less than a 990. You'll want to spend some money on upgrades. But if you go with a DRW, you won't regret it.I have a 1150 on an F350 DRW, and in addition to being a dually, here's what I've got--F550 rear suspension/Spring pack (no bags)Roadmaster rear ANTI sway barRancho 9000 shocksTorklift tie downsLarge amount of whiskeyI almost TBone'd an idiot TODAY taking my TC in for routine service on my lunch break. This guy decided he wanted to make a UTurn RIGHT in front of me. How could he not see a rig this big?? :hAnyway, I had to dynamite the brakes. It only got a little out of kilter on me. I'm not sure how comfortable that would have been on a stock or lightly modified SRW.On the upside - the County Sheriff behind me didn't like the guy's UTurn.

Do I really need a Dually? | Good Sam Community

67 Replies

jimh406
Explorer III
May 22, 2013
CAJW wrote:
To answer the OP, YES!

The OP was Mark. ;). You guys think alike though.

Your rig is nice, too.
abslayer
Explorer
May 22, 2013
4200 lbs loaded Adventure 980RDS SRW F350 Long Box
Rancho shocks , Timbrens, anti sway bar 18” wheels .
I would say I am over weight by 650 Lbs
I have no problems driving this at speed limit I would say I am over weight by 650 Lbs
CAJW
Explorer
May 22, 2013
To answer the OP, YES! No comparison in handling IMHO between a DRW and SRW, (yes, I've driven both) but to each their own. MarkP, nice looking setup, that Silver AF goes well with your new truck. (BTW, pretty slick you got Mooneyes to show up in the rear window)

Here's a pic of our new rig we picked up Tuesday to go on our 2013.
Sheriffdoug
Explorer
May 22, 2013
I am sure your really enjoying the 2013 Chev DRW 3500hd & Artic Fox 990, great Combo.
Artic Fox, has always been one of my Favourite TC's and colour & graphic look great too!
Those Duramax engines are smooth & super quiet!
Sheriffdoug
Explorer
May 22, 2013
MarkP, I currently have Adventurer 910fbs on a 2011 Chev Silverado SRW Longbed and I now am in the process of upgrading Truck & Camper. If I had bought the DRW to start with then I would only the TC. Please go with the DRW, there a real buzz to drive. Love my current Chev, but looking forward to new ram 3500 Crew High Output Longbed Laramie. Plan for future TC's as well.
New Eagle Cap 1160, has rear sofa. Go DRW!
billyray50
Explorer
May 21, 2013
Congrats. Great looking TC!!!
jimh406
Explorer III
May 21, 2013
Congratulations, great picture.
MarkP
Explorer
May 21, 2013
Here she is... The last available Artic Fox 990 Milestone Limited Edition on a new 2013 Silverado 3500 DRW. Picked the rig up in Boise on Friday and drove it back to Arizona. I added airbags, the big sway bar and Super Hitch with the 36" extension.

Drives great! Super smooth, 65-70 MPH with ease. I haven't towed with it yet, but I expect it will do a fine job and I look forward to staying at the track instead of the flea bag motels!
Stefonius
Explorer
May 04, 2013
mike mck wrote:
Stefonius wrote:
I don't know if I'll ever be happy with 12.5. If money was no object, I'd change the 4.88 gears to 4.30 just to save a few RPM.

Of course, if money was no object, I wouldn't care how much I spent on fuel either...

To change gearing will cost you $4K. For the Dana 135 you have to change gears and carrier. Want to go the the Gear vendors overdrive? $3K plus labor. Return on investment just isn't there.

Truckasaurus has a Dana 80, not a 135. It still wouldn't make economic sense to change gears, but it would sure be nice to run a lower RPM on the highway.
mike_mck
Explorer
May 02, 2013
jimh425 wrote:
mike mck wrote:
To change gearing will cost you $4K.

I think you need a new shop if they gave you a 4K estimate to change gears.

My labor is free. Son is a mechanic by trade.
Gear change on a F550 is not just gears. Parts for either the gear and carrier change or the gear vendors OD exceed $3K. What do you figure labor, shop supplies and sales tax will add to that $3K in parts? Where my labor is free my response assumed the posters was not. It was also in reference to his comments on the F550.
Where I agree $4K for a gear change is High On the F550 it is not just a gear change.

I looked into just the cost of hard parts to take my F550 from 4.88 to 4.10 It's a Dana 135.
If there is a cheaper way I'm all ears.

Forum Discussion

Do I really need a Dually?

67 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Dually rental

How to rotate dually tires

Dually

Short box dually?

It's 2025 and I need Dually Tires!