Hi folks,My DH and I are thinking about buying a new truck and are having some trouble deciding between a dual rear wheel truck and a single wheel truck.Right now we have limited time off from the rat race and usually just stay in campgrounds so I'm not sure those habits will change when we retire.The campers we seem to have chosen are the bigger models such as the Host triple slide and the Northern Lite 10.2EXRR. These campers probably would be more comfortable driving with a DRW.Can we never travel fire roads and trails out in Utah or Colorado with the DRW? Will we be stuck only in campgrounds.Any thoughts folks could add to the plus or minus list would be very helpful.Thanks,Snow

You can easily drive fire roads with a DRW. Other than narrow roads that might be too narrow for the extra tires, a DRW should be fine. Keep in mind that fire roads are generally made for bigger trucks and of course, logging trucks are even larger! The biggest limiting factor is probably height and weight of camper which will be the same whether you have the SRW or DRW.

Just my $.02.. I had a SRW 2500 and it worked fine (w/ and 8'6" w/slide) camper was around 2800 dry. I just purchased a new 9' 10" and it's around 3500 dry. I looked into using my SRW, but i would have had to swap out the wheels and tires for 19.5" + other mods... all in all i upgraded to a DRW. If you are looking at large multi slide campers you will need a DRW.

Regardless of the specific trailer you like, you must consider the loaded pin weight of that trailer. Then you must look at the payload capacity of the truck(s) that interest you. That will determine whether you "need" a DRW or not. Need is different than want. If the numbers dictate it, then buy a DRW. If the numbers don't require a DWR, then it becomes a personal choice. There are those who feel much better driving a DRW no matter the trailer weight in spite of some minor every day driving inconveniences. Then there are those who prefer an SRW and will stick with that, weight permitting. If the weight numbers match up, stability is not a problem with an SRW. Only you can decide.

jimh425 wrote:You can easily drive fire roads with a DRW. Other than narrow roads that might be too narrow for the extra tires, a DRW should be fine. Keep in mind that fire roads are generally made for bigger trucks and of course, logging trucks are even larger! The biggest limiting factor is probably height and weight of camper which will be the same whether you have the SRW or DRW.That's a very good point about logging trucks and fire truck paving the way on these roads.What about rocks between the back tires...where do you draw the line when exploring the trails?

Huge camper...DRW. You can still get off the pavement with them. You draw the line at your knowledge and comfort level with how "offroad" you get. Me...if it is getting soft and deep, time to head back.My next truck will be a DRW. You can see the mods I needed for my srw and I have a "small" non slide TC.

DRW vs SRW Trucks | Good Sam Community

KD4UPL
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
A triple slide camper will likely overload a lot of DRW trucks. A SRW is absolutely out of the question. You should probably be looking at a Ford or Ram class 4 or 5 truck for a camper like that.
My dually is my work truck. I often load thousands of pounds of tools and materials in the bed and travel to off grid mountain top home sites. In 11 years I have only had 1 rock stuck in the between the duals and that was in my own driveway.
My truck has never been stuck in the snow or the mud.
Farmerjon
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
In 14 years with a Dually I have had to remove one rock from between the tires.
As soon as I hit a paved road and picked up speed the out of balance tires let you know big time.
It was difficult but with a tire iron I was able to pry and pound it out. I was worried about hurting a side wall and I was thinking about loosening the lug nuts to get some slack.
I like the stability and the extra weight capacity of the DRWs.
ticki2
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
I have done a fair amount of back roading in the northeast and you will scrape up the sides and top of your camper long before the width of the DRW will be a problem .
burningman
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2016
If you are talking about a triple slide Host, FORGET any ideas about a single rear wheel truck!!! Those things are even pushing the envelope for dual rear wheel one-tons.

I'll echo what most people who have had multiple truck/camper combos say: SRW, not good with big camper. Less stable, rear tires overloaded. DRW, much much much better.

If anything I'd say the dually will be BETTER on iffy roads while carrying a camper. Stability helps a lot when you're way off level. Size doesn't affect anything here because the camper itself is as wide as the DRW truck anyway, you gain nothing with a SRW.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
Get the DUALLY if you want to haul a BIG camper! :B
pcoplin
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2016
I have a 2005 F350. Got a great deal in it, and am currently "bulletproofing" the engine.

I have a Lance Lite 915, and also tow my Jeep on a trailer. We are going to upgrade the camper in a few years.

I'm going to convert the truck to a DRW soon enough. Axles front and rear, and getting a dually bed.
cdbinns
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
We have a DRW and took our camper to Alaska last year. We traveled lots of dirt road, with no issues. We were limited more by the height of the camper than we were by the width.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2016
As an old logger who traveled countless mountain roads in Idaho in logging trucks, and a host of dually trucks from crew haulers to fire pumpers, there would be know issue for me. The limiting factor is over hang off the rear and hight/width and the corner jacks.

Rocks in the dually's really sucks, sometimes to the point you have to take a tire off to fix it. Been there done that but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another dually.
snowcrustracer
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
insp1505 wrote:
The height and length of the camper will limit where you can go way more than the DRW ever will. Have a check between the duals before getting back on the highway and you'll be fine. I've never picked up a rock. . . yet!

Memorial weekend

Little Lost River

Merriam Lake

Those are some great trip reports. Thank you for sharing those!
Glacier_D
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2016
I drive a dually brush engine for a private contractor out of Boise during fire season and that dually will go just about anywhere. As others have said the camper will be your limiting factor.

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