Do I need a Duelly ?

[jbstack28]

Ok, getting very close to making the plunge. Buying a 40 foot Montana model 3791RD. Empty weight 13225, loaded 16960. My question is do I have to have a Duelly? Or can I get away with a 2500. Hope to go everywhere, include out west. Fairly new at RVing just do not want to over do, nor leave myself with limitations where I can go.

Also what is Hitch, mine is 2960. Is this weight put on the Hitch in my truck?

Thanks so much,

Charlie Stackpole
Montana 2015 3791RD
(no Truck yet)

[TXiceman]

A SRW 1 ton MIGHT have sufficient GVWR and rear Axle GAWR to carry the pin weight, but I would not use anything less than a 1 ton dually.

You will see folks pulling larger 5th wheels with 3/4 ton and 1 ton SRW trucks and they will tell you that they do fine. If you ask these folks about the weights, they do not have a clue as to the weights, but they will tell you that once they added the air bags, it did not squat so bad.

If you are dead-set on using a 3/4 ton truck, you need to cut your trailer looking back to a 32' max length...They are usually within the weight limits.

I recommend that you read up on all of the tow ratings and understand them. You cannot us the truck manufacturers Maximum Tow Ratings as they are inflated. And forget the trailers dry weight...a useless weight unless you plan to never add supplies to the trailer.\

And a Dully is a knife that is not sharp.

Ken

[Sprink-Fitter]

MTPockets1 wrote:
Dully...

What is a Dully?

[Mile_High]

That's what dually's are designed for! Sit back, enjoy the drive!

[wandering1]

Get the truck towing specs from the manufacturer and read them. Don't accept personal opinions, get the facts. You are legally responsible for having an adequate tow vehicle.

[MTPockets1]

Dully...

[jbstack28]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

MPI_Mallard wrote:
Take everyone's GOOD SOUND ADVISE!!!! don't settle for anything less than a 3500 Diesel dually with a 8' box, get an exhaust brake if you can, with a dually you get fantastic tracking and control, you'll be ready for anything! I just cringe when I see these big fiver owner's hauling with those lil' trucks, they can't not know it's not safe. I gatta' newby here that has a 40' 16.000+ fiver using a Chevy 2500 SRW that the previous owner told him that's all the truck he'll need, I'm just glad I'll be on my lot in Florida a week before he leaves Canada, going through the blue ridge mountains should be a real eye-opener for him!

Red Green:
Remember, I'm pulling for ya. We're
all in this together

Yup! It really makes me sick to see people unknowingly have way too much tail for the dog!

Then it pizzes me off when people knowingly tow way too much for their TV.

Every year along I-10 I see several 2500's towing their big toy haulers laying on their side. I am sure they all said "it tows just fine" !

When I towed with my 98 RAM/Cummins 2500 4X4 with a combined weight of 20.5K I knew that was the safe limit. I could have added bags and 19.5's and towed my current 36' MS but I knew it was not the right thing to do.

It's been said on here many times "ya just don't know until you have towed with a Dually" !!!

Thanks for the great answer, that is really putting it into perspective. Between the roll-over reference to the Too much tail for my Dog reference. Well said. Thanks

[larry_barnhart]

Next door to us has a SB 2500 03 GMC towing a 34ft plus 3 slide Montana fifth and it tows just fine but he talks about his white knuckles when the fifth is pushing him around. He laughs at our dually.

chevman

[Cummins12V98]

MPI_Mallard wrote:
Take everyone's GOOD SOUND ADVISE!!!! don't settle for anything less than a 3500 Diesel dually with a 8' box, get an exhaust brake if you can, with a dually you get fantastic tracking and control, you'll be ready for anything! I just cringe when I see these big fiver owner's hauling with those lil' trucks, they can't not know it's not safe. I gatta' newby here that has a 40' 16.000+ fiver using a Chevy 2500 SRW that the previous owner told him that's all the truck he'll need, I'm just glad I'll be on my lot in Florida a week before he leaves Canada, going through the blue ridge mountains should be a real eye-opener for him!

Red Green:
Remember, I'm pulling for ya. We're
all in this together

Yup! It really makes me sick to see people unknowingly have way too much tail for the dog!

Then it pizzes me off when people knowingly tow way too much for their TV.

Every year along I-10 I see several 2500's towing their big toy haulers laying on their side. I am sure they all said "it tows just fine" !

When I towed with my 98 RAM/Cummins 2500 4X4 with a combined weight of 20.5K I knew that was the safe limit. I could have added bags and 19.5's and towed my current 36' MS but I knew it was not the right thing to do.

It's been said on here many times "ya just don't know until you have towed with a Dually" !!!

[jbstack28]

2oldman wrote:
dually, not duelly. The links I provided do not help?

Sorry I had overlooked. will check them out. Thanks,

[2oldman]

dually, not duelly. The links I provided do not help?

[jbstack28]

Ok that is what I thought. Thanks to everyone's Quick and informational responses.
To expand on the question. I had a 3500 dodge previously with a fifth wheel.
It was not a 'Duelly'. Do I have to have that wider base, and additional Rubber on the road to be the safest?

[MPI_Mallard]

Take everyone's GOOD SOUND ADVISE!!!! don't settle for anything less than a 3500 Diesel dually with a 8' box, get an exhaust brake if you can, with a dually you get fantastic tracking and control, you'll be ready for anything! I just cringe when I see these big fiver owner's hauling with those lil' trucks, they can't not know it's not safe. I gatta' newby here that has a 40' 16.000+ fiver using a Chevy 2500 SRW that the previous owner told him that's all the truck he'll need, I'm just glad I'll be on my lot in Florida a week before he leaves Canada, going through the blue ridge mountains should be a real eye-opener for him!

Red Green:
Remember, I'm pulling for ya. We're
all in this together

[2oldman]

Advantage/disadvantage dually
dually or no 2011
More dually w/5er 2011

[mdamerell]

The short of it is with a 5th wheel you run out of payload before you run out of towing capacity. A 17,000# GVW trailer will put 20% or 3,400+/- 300# in the bed of your truck. If have washer/dryer or generator in the trailer it can be even higher. You are NOT in 2500 territory. A 3500 truck will weight about 8,000# add 4,000# for passengers and pin weight and you'll need a truck with a GVWR of 12,000# or higher. GWVR is listed on a tag inside the drivers door. A new 3500 SRW might have a GVWR that high but truck older than 3-4 years will not. Example my 2004 F350 DRW is only a 11,500# GVWR. The new ones I believe are around 14,000# GVWR.

Good luck.

[eHoefler]

Winged One wrote:

btd35 wrote:
You need a dually. Mine is same demensions. I pulled it with a SRW once. It's fine on the straight, but get on a curvy road and it feels like the trailer wants to push the back end over. Not a nice feeling.

+1 No question.

X2 You will have close to 4,000 pounds on the pin when loaded.