โSep-29-2015 01:57 AM
โSep-29-2015 12:23 PM
bobbolotune wrote:
When I thought I had it figured out, now this...
Everyone is saying to get the biggest truck you can. Because even if you don't need it now you may want to upgrade to a heavier truck camper in the future, or add a tow (which is my case, that I want the ability to add a tow in the future).
Which means a dually.
This is the decision that Truck Camper Magazine came to with for their new truck (within the past year I think), and the opinion expressed repeatedly in this forum.
Now someone told me, don't get a dually. And this wasn't just anyone. It someone with extensive truck camper industry experience. What he said:
They are a problem for fitting into parking spaces. This one I already knew and accepted.
Duallys are terrible on snow and ice. This I didn't know. I would assume with 4 rather than 2 tires on the ground that a dually would be that much better for snow and ice. Not so? Although I didn't tell him that I am planning on a 4x4 dually, and possibly that makes a difference.
Then the big one. You shouldn't camp in a truck camper with dually extension brackets. The extension is a hinge that swings in and out. It isn't stable. It is ok for storing the camper off the truck, but you shouldn't camp off the truck in a camper with dually brackets.
I hope those with actual experience can please express an opinion about these topics. About the snow / ice issue, and especially about the dually brackets.
Specifically the camper being discussed uses Happijac jacks and dually brackets. Possibly those are not the best jacks?
He said to get a 1 ton SRW. That a dually is unnecessary. That a 1 ton SRW has enough carrying capacity. But what I read is the next thing people with a SRW do is a $2,000 upgrade to 19.5 tires. Where the dually option is (if I recall) around $1,500. And (at least in the specs for the latest model trucks) you get more payload from a dually than a SRW. Also the recent thread people saying duallys drive better loaded with a camper. But if I can't camp off the truck with dually extension brackets that is a killer problem.
โSep-29-2015 11:42 AM
mkirsch wrote:
I think the OP is looking at this truck as his daily driver in addition to being his camper hauler.
I ran 300lbs of concrete in my old 2WD trucks...
805gregg wrote:
One of my swing out brackets failed and caused the camper to fall on the side and land on my wife's car
Super_Dave wrote:
Swing out or no swing out, you will likely be looking for some form of stabilizer to reduce camper shake anyway. There are devices called Wobble Stops or just some good old fashioned blocking.
โSep-29-2015 10:52 AM
WyoTraveler wrote:
All PUs years ago were bad on ice and snow. The gas tank was in the cab and very little weight in the rear. Now the gas tanks are in the rear and they handle much better. Parking a dually is a PITA. The spaces in shopping centers are getting a lot smaller. I went way out in back of the lot and had no problem. I wouldn't worry about parking. I park my MH in shopping centers. Lots of other large vehicles park there. Probably more difficult to park up close to a store in the small spaces.
CB
Channel 17Redneck Express
โSep-29-2015 10:35 AM
Reddog1 wrote:
I get a chuckle out of some posts. Usually because someone makes a very short statement and it is not clear. I have read many posts that a DRW is not as good as a SRW in the snow. I read the DRW needs more weight in the rear. I would think a 4,000 pound plus TC would be enough weight.
โSep-29-2015 09:42 AM
โSep-29-2015 09:13 AM
2004.5 Ram SLT LB 3500 DRW Quad Cab 4x4
1988 Bigfoot (C11.5) TC (1900# w/standard equip. per decal), 130 watts solar, 100 AH AGM, Polar Cub A/C, EU2000i Honda
Toad: 91 Zuke
โSep-29-2015 09:11 AM
โSep-29-2015 09:05 AM
โSep-29-2015 08:56 AM
โSep-29-2015 08:35 AM
โSep-29-2015 08:29 AM
โSep-29-2015 08:20 AM
โSep-29-2015 08:09 AM
2004.5 Ram SLT LB 3500 DRW Quad Cab 4x4
1988 Bigfoot (C11.5) TC (1900# w/standard equip. per decal), 130 watts solar, 100 AH AGM, Polar Cub A/C, EU2000i Honda
Toad: 91 Zuke
โSep-29-2015 07:52 AM
Happijac wrote:
Camper should be supported on a sturdy base during storage to prevent damage to camper floor and the wing walls. When living in camper, the floor should be firmly supported.
โSep-29-2015 07:44 AM