Your need for a dually is obvious when you consider the width and height of your truck camper.
Call the duallys outside wheels training wheels or a tricycle if you will.
Think about riding a unicycle... the fat kid can learn to ride it. (Amd your new camper is a very fat kid) There is no equipment stability when you truck is too small
A bicycle is better... the long wheel base isn't quite as nimble... but your new camper is quite long... a crewcab will minimize "bucking" better than anything you can add under a short truck.
Now imagine the fat boy hanging off the bicycle seat on both sides and how much effort it takes him to keep his bicycle balanced. Sure he can do it... but it takes all of the fun out of riding it. He can add props or a wider seat on his bicycle... he can add stronger brakes... he can "soup up" his bike with tassels on his handle bars, a piece of card board held by a clothes pin near his spokes so that his bike will sound like it has a motor... but nothing he can add on will really make a difference in his scary ride.
That's sort of what I see when people try to make the wrong truck do the right job.
Driving your truck with the camper on should be a luxuray that you look forward to... you should be able to get in, start the engine and drive away... never feeling that top heavy sway, of bucking forward and backward that little trucks do, the wind from buses and trucks shouldnt push your TC around.
You can add all of the stuff you want under the truck but if the stuff you add makes your truck stiffer it will cause your cargo (you and your camper) to have a rough ride. (Think about all of the over the road commercial vehicles that use air to balance and soften the ride/load.) A rough ride causes vibration or even damage to your very expensive camper. A stiffer truck actually makes the sensation of being top heavy worse... as the wind pushes on your side your wheels on the windward side try to lift... and the seat of your pants feels it.
Like about everyone I was confused by all of the aftermaket add-ons being marketed when I bought my truck. I'm one of those people that doesn't do anything when I'm confused until I see the problem clearly... it might take a second or two or a long time. I never make but one change until I see what the result is... then I can make another decision if needed.
I research.. and listen, evaluate, calculate. I have the finished project in my minds eye before I start the project.
I special ordered my Lance 1161 for delivery in late November 2002... then bought the truck that would best haul it. It was a special order too. It arrived in October, just in time.
Using information that I'd aquired over months of researh and the manufacturers data I decided to add air instead of steel. Air compresses... steal doesn't. Air expands, steel doesn't. I liked the idea of being able to adjust the air (the steel is just what it is)
My add-ons: And I have never needed more.
1) Airbags and a high quality bicycle pump...the bags are quite small, 20 strokes will do the job... and I'm outside to inspect the balance of the load (TC).The airbags are independent from each other.
2) Lance has some shock absorbers that minimize "fly-back" movements if any ouside force would cause the cabover to move quickly (like a gust of wind or even a speed bump) I have tried them on and off... prefer having them.
In sumation...
I recommend...
Chose your camper first.
Get the right truck to haul that truck camper (you really can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.)
this means, the longest and the widest wheel base possible under the load both are for stability. (The crew cab is handy too... it is our storage on months long trips... and allows a guest on short trips)
Consider using air instead of steel to assist suspension or load balance and a good ride.
Buy the best engine/transmission possible... cheap is just that and will cost you dearly in the future.
Learn to do your own camper maintainence... and be vigilant... dealers don't have skilled people to do it. Don't believe what the add says, or what the salesman promises... they might fib.
sleepy
