Dual rear wheel or single rear wheel?

[fhedrickjr]

Hello all!! Brand new here to the forum. I have just purchased and brought home our new 5th wheel(with a buddies truck)and I am getting mixed reviews on which setup to get. Our 5th wheel is a Palomino Columbus 42" 7" 2,600 tongue weight,13,300 "dry", 16,600 +- laden. I have my eye on a '17 RAM 3500 4x4 with the 6' 4" box, SRW, with the Cummins 6.7. I have had several people tell me I NEED a Dually, it will ride better and be more stable, which makes sense but, is it really "necessary"? I am not ready for a DRW due to reasons of my own, however, if I am kidding myself, I would like to hear it from others who tow 5th wheels. Thanks!

[Cummins12V98]

"2015 RAM 3500 CC SB SRW New 2017 Bighorn 3575el."

For the weight and length Chris' RV has a lower pin weight than many. He is right on the edge with his. His rig with a 25% pin would be a no go!

[Fisher_Bill]

We started with an Arctic Fox 1150 so a dually was what I wanted, now that we changed over to a fiver I'm really glad we have it.

For the daily driver part I see it as a personal challenge to fit into a parking spot and yes, there are times you need to back up more than once to get in or out but not really much when you get used to it.

Kind of makes an honest driver out of you when you check your position in the lane but that's what trucks do.

Bill

[kennethwooster]

I have 2014 F350 dually. Pulling Cameo 31ft. I’ve pulled trailer with single wheel trucks and the dually. I could easily tell the difference. I also use it as a daily driver. Love it,

[Campinghoss]

Without going thru all the justifications I will put it simply. We sold our motorhome and went back to a fiver. I realized I would be at and probably over with my srw F-250 diesel on the fiver we wanted. After using the CAT scales I was running too marginal on RAWR and way over on towing capacity. I purchased a 2017 F-350 dually and the towing difference is unreal. Go with a dual, 8 foot bed in whichever brand you choose and stay with a diesel engine. JMHO

[wantabe351]

As most have said on here have a story or experienced something between a SRW and DRW..My 1st Dodge was a QuadCab SWB and SRW. Towing cross country was a two hands on the wheel drive with the wiggles on groved pavement, once back home traded it on a quadcab LWB Dually..Big difference, but yes we walk a like further to get to the stores or a little slower down main st in town, but at a GVW of 24,800 its the only way..

[Stranger]

2 quick stories.

In a previous life, I drove I-5 from Central CA to Central OR a LOT.

One trip I came upon a wreck recovery, tow truck had the remains of a SRW truck and a fifth wheel. It kinda looked like a salmon egg on a hook, all balled up. Found out later the truck (SRW) had a blowout on the RR, the wheel dug into the pavement and all hell broke loose.

Shortly after that I bought a DRW, running the same trip pulling a stock trailer, ran over something and the inside LR tire blew while I was negotiating an off ramp to the Anderson T/A for fuel. The truck wiggled and then settled, while fueling I checked the tires and found the inside tire was flat.

From then on I've only had DRW. Don't have a Fifth wheel but I still have a DRW.

[drwwicks]

My 2011 Raptor 35.5' and 15.5K gvw was towed bu=y a 12 Ram CC, LB, 4WD diesel dually. You obviously don't go some places like parking garages but it's not a PIA to drive in town once you get used to size, weight and turn radius. For the few times you Im might not like it as a daily driver, you will 100% of the time enjoy it's towing capabilities.

I sometimes towed 2 full sized Harley Davidson motorcycles in the back so I was at the 2500 garage capacity.

[valhalla360]

What's the fully loaded pin weight and what else will be in the truck. I'm betting you are over the pin weight by the time you are fully loaded and ready to roll.

[TXiceman]

Whether you are ready for a DRW or not, it totally depends on the pin weight of the loaded trailer, not the dry weight. You have to have a truck that has sufficient payload capacity and GAWR and GVWR to carry the pin weight, hitch, passengers and cargo within the trucks ratings. SRW truck will reach its paylaod capacity long before you reach the trucks GCWR with a 5er.

You will see plenty of uninformed people pulling way too much trailer with their SRW trucks. They are uninformed, don't care or feel there is safety in numbers. The more do it wrong, the safer they are.

Ken

[Me_Again]

fhedrickjr wrote:
Hello all!! Brand new here to the forum. I have just purchased and brought home our new 5th wheel(with a buddies truck)and I am getting mixed reviews on which setup to get. Our 5th wheel is a Palomino Columbus 42" 7" 2,600 tongue weight,13,300 "dry", 16,600 +- laden. I have my eye on a '17 RAM 3500 4x4 with the 6' 4" box, SRW, with the Cummins 6.7. I have had several people tell me I NEED a Dually, it will ride better and be more stable, which makes sense but, is it really "necessary"? I am not ready for a DRW due to reasons of my own, however, if I am kidding myself, I would like to hear it from others who tow 5th wheels. Thanks!

I can not seem to match the Palomino Columbus numbers you posted to a model on their web site.

How much travel do you plan for this new trailer. Are you planning to seeing America or shorter local trips.

RAM rates the 2017 SB 4x4 3500 CC to a 17,050 5th wheel and a combined weight of 25,300 with the Aisin Tranny option. Should be good to 3500 lbs of pin weight. I picked a trailer that had a dry pin weight of 2435.

All the SRW trucks come with the tall 3.42 diff gears. These work well with the Aisin's lower 1st and 2nd gear to get a load moving. The RAM 68RFE is not a good combo for heavy towing with those 3.42 gears.

These tall gears make the SRW a great freeway cruisers when not towing. 80 MPH is a low 1750 RPM.

If you open the hood and the tranny dipstick is on the driver's side it is an Aisin keeper. If the tranny dipstick is on the passenger's it is a 68RFE and take a pass.

[dapperdan]

Another vote for the dually, why take a "chance" on SRW? With DRW at least weight concern will be off your mind.

I wouldn't monkey around with a short bed either, get the long box dually, you'll thank yourself later!

Oh, and my wife drives the truck too....... :B


Dan

[Wood_chip]

Vette Racer wrote:
Another vote for dually and long bed, if you ever decide to install aux fuel tank or carry a generator or other stuff in the bed you will pat yourself on the back for doing it and thinking ahead.

Agree, You can really build up some weight in the truck with all the "other" stuff. Aux tank, (2) Honda 2000's, wood , fuel, soda, beer, etc

[Vette_Racer]

Another vote for dually and long bed, if you ever decide to install aux fuel tank or carry a generator or other stuff in the bed you will pat yourself on the back for doing it and thinking ahead.

[romore]

Others have said it will work just fine, I beg to differ. That trailer is too much for an srw, you need the dually to haul it safely, legally and comfortably. I towed a 14,000 lb goose neck shop trailer with an srw 3500, it was not a fun experience. It pushed in the corners and was a handful in windy conditions. Do yourself and your family a big favor with the right tow vehicle.

[Learjet]

get a Dually with that much trailer, if that rear tire ever blows...you'll be happy you have another tire on that side...SRW you may be on your side or worse...it happens...I know someone it happen to.