Pulling a 30' 5th wheel

[Mickey_G]

Is a dually really needed to pull a 5th wheel over a Single Rear Wheel truck?
I know many of you have dually's and say that's the way to go, but what are the pro's and con's with dually's and single rear wheel truck's?
I was looking at a 2008 F350 SRW with a 6.4L diesel, and was wondering if I would go wrong with this truck?

[Coach-man]

Depends on several things. What is your payload capacity vs pin weight? How much additional weight do you have in your TV? What is the rating for your wheels and tires? We pull a 36 foot 5th wheel with a Dodge 2500! Yes we are real close on some things, but all double!

[JIMNLIN]

Pulling a 30' 5th wheel;
Is a dually really needed to pull a 5th wheel over a Single Rear Wheel truck?

Absolutely not .....however on many RV websites some seem to think only a one ton DRW is needed to pull a 5th wheel trailer. I made a living using one ton SRW/DRW trucks so I understand all about proper/safe loading.
My old '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins has a 13350 lb tow rating. I pull a 28'RK with a bedroom and big living room slides. Total length is 31' 10" and gross weight is 11100-11300 lbs on average. The truck is well under its GAWRs but is a whoppin' 200 lbs over gvwr :R. Great combo.

The F350 SRW 6.7 diesel won't have any issues pulling or carrying weight with a 30' 5th wheel or GN trailer...... and plenty of upgrade room down the road if it matters. Good huntin'

[rhagfo]

mileshuff wrote:
Most 3/4 ton SRW trucks can handle a typical 30' 5th wheel without trouble. I tow a 10,000lb GVW 5'er with my SRW. Pin weight is well under trucks rating.

30' 5er will be fine for a SRW 350/3500, as long as it isn't a DVR. I pull carry a 32' 12,360# GVWR with a 2001 Ram 2500. No bag and tow level and firm. The 5er weighs about 11,500# when being towed.

[RollandB]

My set up is in my signature and a very good match. Under all weight numbers with a SRW

[Edd505]

I pulled a 33ft thousands of miles with an F250SRW. I moved to a heavier 35ft 5W and moved to F350SRW. DRW will be harder to park due to width, my not fit in a garage, city parking stalls are too small for long wide trucks. Plus you have two more tires to buy. JMHO

[2oldman]

Advantage/disadvantage dually
dually or no 2011
More dually w/5er 2011
Dually vs single 2014 in fivers

[Me_Again]

djousma wrote:
You can see my rig in the sig. I am within limits, but I wouldn't go any bigger without a dually.

Have you hit the scales? My guess is you are very close or over on TV rear axle. Cardinal's are pin heavy.

Chris

[KD4UPL]

Your question can only be answered by knowing the loaded pin weight of the trailer in question. You would also have to know the payload capacity of the truck in question. You would also have to specify how much weight you were adding to the truck with family, pets, gear, generator, FW hitch, etc.
If the weights work with a SRW then by all means use one. But, if the weight is too much you'll need a dually. Either way, a dually will provide a significant safety margin and allow for a larger trailer in the future.
As for a Ford 6.4L diesel, I wouldn't take one if it was given to me. They are known to being rather thirsty. They are also problematic and very expensive to repair. Our boss bought a '10 Ford with the 6.4 because he got a "good deal" on it. It had to go into the shop. The least expensive repair option was an $8,000 dollar engine replacement. He just scrapped the truck and bought another one since he only paid $10,000 for the whole truck.

[mileshuff]

Most 3/4 ton SRW trucks can handle a typical 30' 5th wheel without trouble. I tow a 10,000lb GVW 5'er with my SRW. Pin weight is well under trucks rating.

[IdaD]

phillyg wrote:
Up to about 14,000lbs you don't need a dually as long as the truck has the necessary capacity. Beyond that you should be looking into duallies.

I'd put the number a little higher with a current model SRW truck but yeah there's a point where a dually becomes a better choice and there's a bit higher point where it comes the only choice.

But as far as OP's question goes, I'm not aware of any 30' fifth wheel that couldn't be pulled with a SRW truck.

[Halmfamily]

If go with the Ford have it thoroughly checked out. The 6.4L PSD had several issues and was replaced by the 6.7L after only a couple years of production. As for the dually or not, I've towed with both and prefer the dually. Just feels more planted and stable going down the road.

[schlep1967]

Mickey G wrote:
Is a dually really needed to pull a 5th wheel over a Single Rear Wheel truck?
I know many of you have dually's and say that's the way to go, but what are the pro's and con's with dually's and single rear wheel truck's?
I was looking at a 2008 F350 SRW with a 6.4L diesel, and was wondering if I would go wrong with this truck?

It really depends on how you are going to use the truck. If it is going to be a daily driver used to tow 30-60 miles every couple weekends, SRW. If you are retiring and going on the road fulltiming, DRW.

[Old-Biscuit]

IF truck/trailer are properly matched if doesn't matter

Can be a 1/4 ton truck or a 1 ton dually and everything in between.

Overloaded is overloaded.
Within capabilities/ratings then it doesn't much matter.

Personal preference plays into it also.
Some folks are comfortable with SRW and others are MORE comfortable with DRW

Understand tow vehicles REAL ratings and match them with trailers REAL weights all good to go

I have a 3500 SRW and tow a 13,873# (actual scaled weight) 5th wheel.
First 7 yrs was FT all over the USA.
NEVER had a 'white knuckle' moment or a second thought of 'should have had a DRW' cause truck/trailer were 'matched'

Have had DRWs in past and for the weights being towed they were the right tool

Right tool for the job..........don't need a sledge hammer when a tack hammer is right tool. Vice versa....tack hammer is NOT what you want when driving spikes.

[phillyg]

Up to about 14,000lbs you don't need a dually as long as the truck has the necessary capacity. Beyond that you should be looking into duallies.

[DutchmenSport]

Suggestion? You live in Michigan! Before buying any used truck to tow a 5er with, check the frame UNDER the truck to make sure it's not eaten out with rust from winter road salt over the years. I traded my first (gas) duly 3500 because the frame was rusting out and I had serious questions if the frame would tow safely any more. It was completely eaten away because of Indiana road salt winters. Body and cab interior looked great! But underneath it was in bad shape. Too bad, it had a fantastic engine and transmission too.

(just something to think about).