Pickup truck tow vehicle stability tests
Always lots of anecdotal statements on rv.net around dual wheel vs single rear wheel "stability". Anyone have any links that point to actual testing results under controlled conditions?
Forum Discussion
Arcamper wrote:
This topic really surprises me that anyone who has ever towed heavy would say 4 rear wheels are no better than 2. I just did a test myself out in our company parking lot. Parked my 3500 DRW next to a coworkers new 3500 SRW. Put my hand on the bed pocket above the rear wheel and pushed hard on both trucks. The SRW truck I could push about 3/4 inch back and forth. My DRW I could not move at all. It was all in the tire sidewall so I thought maybe his tire pressure was lower. Mine are at 65 and his were 70. After this controlled test I realized a DRW is more stable than a SRW of the same make and year.(How's that for scientific) LOL
Unless you pushed them hard enough to get the wheels off the ground, all you felt was the stiffer springs of the DRW truck having less give. If you pulled the outer tires off the rims of the DRW truck, it wouldn't budge either. Most of what people are feeling as the difference is a stiffer suspension.
If you are towing and hauling more than the SRW truck is rated for, by all means get a DRW to carry the extra load but when pulling a load within the ratings of a SRW, there is negligible difference in safety and handling.
If you really want the best, you should be getting a full class 8 semi tractor as that is even more stable. I'm curious why the dually supporters didn't do the logical thing and move up to the better option?
