Forum Discussion

fhedrickjr's avatar
fhedrickjr
Explorer
May 14, 2018

Dual rear wheel or single rear wheel?

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!
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    May 14, 2018
    You need a dually!
    The advertised "dry" pin weight which you posted is a myth. Pin weight will be approx 20% of its loaded ready to travel weight. Lacking a loaded ready to travel weight use the trailers GVWR. You already said it has a 16,600 GVWR, so 20% of that is well over 3300 pounds. It could top out at 4000 pounds easily. With a SRW truck you will likely exceed tire load rating, rear axle load rating, and a whole bunch more.
    Long bed, short bed? That debate will go on for ever. Personally I have no use for a shprt bed. The loss of two feet of bed space is just too much for me to give up.
  • justme's avatar
    justme
    Explorer
    May 14, 2018
    I pull a 16500 GVW 40 ft trailer with a 2012 F350 SRW. Everything is well in Ford's spec except the combine weight which is 300 lbs over. However the 2017 F350 have a much higher combined weight rating which would make everything well in their specs. Their aluminum body allowed a much stronger frame and increased their specs. However I have pulled my trailer for 70,000 miles coast to coast and have never had any problems or felt unsafe. I consider my trailer is the max the F350 SRW will pull safely and comfortably.
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    May 14, 2018
    You really want/need one of these. Fact is you can easily have a 25% pin weight, up to 4,150#.

    Get the Factory rear air ride, you will thank me!

    First pic alt ride height. Second alt ride with 9,750# on the 4 rear tires. Ride height does not change.


  • WTP-GC's avatar
    WTP-GC
    Explorer
    May 14, 2018
    This is a no-brainer...GET THE DUALLY.
    I have towed similar loads with both trucks in my sig below, and I can assure you that a dually is a much better platorm.
  • Dan_Henry's avatar
    Dan_Henry
    Explorer
    May 14, 2018
    I have had both single wheel and a duality , the Dually is a little more stable but a PIA for a dally driver. Most of the new single wheel pitch ups have increased the carrying capiticy to carry the pin weight of your 5th wheel. You will gain some wieght on the pin when you are trip ready water LP and just the stuff you want to have with you, the way you pack will help with the pin weight
  • TxGearhead's avatar
    TxGearhead
    Explorer II
    May 14, 2018
    Get the dually for any 5th over say about 12,000GVW.
    Texas soccer Moms drive them everyday.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    May 14, 2018
    That 2107 RAM 3500SRW has a 7K RAWR

    With a 16,600# GVWR on that 5th wheel the 'wet' pin weight (loaded up) will put you at /over the trucks RAWR
  • stickdog's avatar
    stickdog
    Explorer
    May 14, 2018
    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!


    You will need the max GVW package of 12,200 on the megacab. Dealers don't always order these they'll order with bling and skip the important stuff.
    You didn't say if this is a weekend/vacation rig or fulltime. If the former you most likely not load to the max GVW of the trailer, so you should be good on pin wt.
    If the latter I would go with the DRW as the pounds will then add up. You are on the cusp now.

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