Dually or HDT + toyhauler vs tag axle Class A and F150 toad
I'm a long time RVer. I currently have a 36 foot 5th wheel pulled by a SRW F350.
I'm thinking of making a change. I'm trying to decide between buying a dually and upgrading the trailer to a large (probably tri axle) toyhauler OR getting a tag axle diesel pusher Class A and pulling an F150 as a toad.
The Class A might be a 45 foot Prevost or MCI bus conversion, I'm still considering options. They would have locking rear diffs. I'd probably run 365/70R22.5s instead of 315s for better floatation. The MCI air suspension has the ability to rise up 4-5" over stock. The stock ground clearance on a J4500 is 12 inches with approach, high center and departure angles of about 9.5 degrees. When raised, those angles would improve to 13ish degrees.
The big issues with this decision are winter driving in bad conditions and accessing remote campsites. By remote I mean logging roads, basically. But there are also times I'd like to camp close to the ocean. Any chance of getting either of these rigs on the beach at Pismo ?
I've seen a dually pull a 5er through a lot of stuff. But I've also seen stock Superduties with no trailers buried to the axles in easy sand. And I've seen a trailer bend up the box on a SD when there isn't enough clearance in pretty easy terrain.
A pickup is terrible for pulling a big 5er on icy roads. An HDT would be a lot better, but the rear axle will be light and that is a terrible combination on ice. Buses usually rip it on ice, especially if you chain them up.
I know that a bus conversion with non grip tires can get stuck on level wet grass. But I would run a grip tire and carry tire chains. The diff lock would help. The front axle in a bus conversion carries 12 to 16K pounds. I'd carry a long snatch rope. Of course I'd have the F150 if I needed it. I might also carry a winch.
Thoughts ?
I'm thinking of making a change. I'm trying to decide between buying a dually and upgrading the trailer to a large (probably tri axle) toyhauler OR getting a tag axle diesel pusher Class A and pulling an F150 as a toad.
The Class A might be a 45 foot Prevost or MCI bus conversion, I'm still considering options. They would have locking rear diffs. I'd probably run 365/70R22.5s instead of 315s for better floatation. The MCI air suspension has the ability to rise up 4-5" over stock. The stock ground clearance on a J4500 is 12 inches with approach, high center and departure angles of about 9.5 degrees. When raised, those angles would improve to 13ish degrees.
The big issues with this decision are winter driving in bad conditions and accessing remote campsites. By remote I mean logging roads, basically. But there are also times I'd like to camp close to the ocean. Any chance of getting either of these rigs on the beach at Pismo ?
I've seen a dually pull a 5er through a lot of stuff. But I've also seen stock Superduties with no trailers buried to the axles in easy sand. And I've seen a trailer bend up the box on a SD when there isn't enough clearance in pretty easy terrain.
A pickup is terrible for pulling a big 5er on icy roads. An HDT would be a lot better, but the rear axle will be light and that is a terrible combination on ice. Buses usually rip it on ice, especially if you chain them up.
I know that a bus conversion with non grip tires can get stuck on level wet grass. But I would run a grip tire and carry tire chains. The diff lock would help. The front axle in a bus conversion carries 12 to 16K pounds. I'd carry a long snatch rope. Of course I'd have the F150 if I needed it. I might also carry a winch.
Thoughts ?
