Single Rear Wheel vs Dually - Whats the Best for You

I went this route and purchased a dually and I will tell you why. If you live in the North single wheels are better in the snow because they are not sharing weight of 2 tires on each side. But my dually did handle 6" no problem. The plus for single rear wheels ends there. If you get a flat, you still have one wheel that is good. The 4 wheels share the load and are more stable when hauling than a 2 wheel drive vehicle. I also purchased a long bed which allows for more cargo and don't have to get a slider hitch. The only draw back with a CC long bed is a large wheel base and it corners wide. Another downside of the dually, is tha carrying capacity or the truck will be less because of the extra weight of the additional rear wheels. They do not change the suspension. No matter what you get check your tires of rig and truck at every stop. I use the kick test. Better than nothing. If you are low, you will know.

joelc wrote:
Another downside of the dually, is tha carrying capacity or the truck will be less because of the extra weight of the additional rear wheels. They do not change the suspension.

I'm not sure what you meant to say but the fact is that the big plus of the dually is the extra carrying capacity. Of course if you don't need that extra carrying capacity it's just another minus because it comes at the expense of a rougher ride.

It was my experience that SRW's are good for 7000 lbs in the rear before you need make upgrades or go to a DRW. I upgraded my SRW to handle 9000 lbs RAW and was typically close 8000 lbs. Now I carry even more weight so I have a DRW with a Dana 111.

Depends on truck type style. If you can go singles, carry the same weight in a given axle as duals, singles will carry more payload. Generally speaking, have better mph, stopping etc.
If given a choice, I'll take singles. One does not always have a single tire with upwards of 10,500 lbs per tire that is needed to carry a legal 20,000 per axle.
Marty

For me Single is the best

Lived up to your name....."Fish on!"
I predict 8 pages by tomorrow! Especially with theories like "duallies have less capacity because the wheels weigh more..." ROFLMAO

Assuming both the single and the dual axeled rig have the same GAWR, assume 10,000 lbs, same overall width of 8',the single axel will weigh upwards of 200 lbs less than the dual rig. a semi with a 20K axle will be 300-400 lbs less with super singles. As such, singles will have more payload potential than a dually. Being as they weigh less, less HP/torque is needed to get the tires moving, along with staying moving at a given speed, so better MPG should be expected and achieved. Assuming these specs, the single tired rig is the better option.....

Now if you want to compare the 2500 I have with a 6000 gvw RA, to my 05 dually with an 8500 lbs capacity, or the 16500 RA in my International dump truck.....Pretty easy to tell which rig will win the most potential payload, best ability to tow a larger trailer etc.

So, at the end of the day, how would you like to compare the two?!?!? 1st paragraph? or 2nd paragraph?

Marty

blt2ski wrote:
Assuming both the single and the dual axeled rig have the same GAWR, assume 10,000 lbs, same overall width of 8',the single axel will weigh upwards of 200 lbs less than the dual rig. a semi with a 20K axle will be 300-400 lbs less with super singles. As such, singles will have more payload potential than a dually. Being as they weigh less, less HP/torque is needed to get the tires moving, along with staying moving at a given speed, so better MPG should be expected and achieved. Assuming these specs, the single tired rig is the better option.....

Now if you want to compare the 2500 I have with a 6000 gvw RA, to my 05 dually with an 8500 lbs capacity, or the 16500 RA in my International dump truck.....Pretty easy to tell which rig will win the most potential payload, best ability to tow a larger trailer etc.

So, at the end of the day, how would you like to compare the two?!?!? 1st paragraph? or 2nd paragraph?

Marty

1st paragraph scenario DRW truck will still have better braking and more stability. The axle rating is not the determining factor when it comes to comparing towing performance between the 2 trucks.
Physics (wider stance) still plays a factor.

Lantley wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
Assuming both the single and the dual axeled rig have the same GAWR, assume 10,000 lbs,

same overall width of 8'

,the single axel will weigh upwards of 200 lbs less than the dual rig. a semi with a 20K axle will be 300-400 lbs less with super singles. As such, singles will have more payload potential than a dually. Being as they weigh less, less HP/torque is needed to get the tires moving, along with staying moving at a given speed, so better MPG should be expected and achieved. Assuming these specs, the single tired rig is the better option.....


Marty

1st paragraph scenario DRW truck will still have better braking and more stability. The axle rating is not the determining factor when it comes to comparing towing performance between the 2 trucks.
Physics (wider stance) still plays a factor.

I stated overall width would be the same! BOTH would have the same brakes, as they are both rated the same. Having diven rigs with the same dual vs single axel with the same everything, reality, no difference in handling, and the extra payload is there for the single rig, as the tires and rims weigh overall less on a single, than a dual rig.

In the video, obviously the rig that is shorter and narrower will win the driving thru a car wash, drive thru window etc. Shorter in height is also a big factor getting thru some drive thrus too.

Again, assuming the only difference between two rigs, is a single vs dual tires, the single is the better option. Hence why one is seeing many more tractor trailer rigs with singles vs dual setups. tare wieght savings, better traction, better braking, better mpgs etc. If we pickup owners could get the same wide width stance with a single as a dual, then yes, the dually is better in some standpoints.

Marty