Dually or Single?

[vampirefish]

All,
I am looking to upgrade to a much larger 5ver so will need a larger truck. Here are the specs of the trailer we're very interested in:

Specifications
Length 42'11"
Width 8'0"
Height 13'2"
Interior Height 7'0"
Hitch Weight 1,996 lbs
Dry Weight 12,565 lbs
Gross Weight 15,500 lbs
Cargo Weight 2,935 lbs
Fresh Water Capacity 64 gals
Grey Water Capacity 108 gals
Black Water Capacity 54 gals
Furnace BTU 35,000
Sleeps 6
Tire Size 16" E-Rated
Slides 4

So.. with this in mind, we are looking at an LBZ Duramax 3500 (1 ton) long bed.... should I go with a dually or single wheel? Thanks so much ahead of time.

-Kary

[ib516]

Bionic Man wrote:
If you were buying new, I would argue that you could get away with a SRW. But that is much less likely the case if you are going used, especially if you are looking at a truck that is more than 3 years old.

x2

[alboy]

IM pretty sure the 2011 GM 3500 platform and up re payload is similar to the 15,s.I had come close to purchasing a 13 gmc 3500 Denali ,it had 3700 lb payload.

[2oldman]

vampirefish wrote:
I've been told I'll have more stability with the DRW.... but is it overkill?

Sometimes overkill is defined as that which you cannot afford.

[NC_Hauler]

alboy wrote:
I tow a 15k fiver with a 2015 GMC SRW 4x4 ,with just the wife and I ,30/40 gal of water,Hijacker auto slide, im at 3000 lbs on the pin,at GVWR, close to axel rating.That being said the truck handles the load very easily.Truck has a 11500 gvwr, 3800 payload(sticker),7000 lb rear axel rating.

We stated that "newer" 1 ton SRW 3500 trucks should be able to handle the weight...BUT, OP is talking about buying "used/older"....not brand new...you have a 2015...

[chevor]

I put my limit for my SRW at 14,000 pounds and prefer to be under 11,000.

[alboy]

I tow a 15k fiver with a 2015 GMC SRW 4x4 ,with just the wife and I ,30/40 gal of water,Hijacker auto slide, im at 3000 lbs on the pin,at GVWR, close to axel rating.That being said the truck handles the load very easily.Truck has a 11500 gvwr, 3800 payload(sticker),7000 lb rear axel rating.

[dbbls]

With a trailer that size you will want a dually. Once you have towed with one you will never go back to a SRW.

[Old-Biscuit]

15,500# GVWR..........dually is proper tow vehicle and would hardly be overkill


I would be more concerned with that weight of trailer and ONLY 'E' rated tires.

My 5vr is 14K GVWR and came with 'G' rated and 7K rated axles. I wouldn't have wanted lesser rated.

[AH64ID]

If a DRW will work for how/where you drive then get a DRW, but if it doesn't a properly setup SRW can work. A properly setup SRW is most likely not one in 100% OEM form.

For that trailer a DRW is going to be better than a SRW, but not everyone can own a DRW.

[RedJeep]

I have a similarly sized trailer. I bought a dually. It is a pain driving as a daily driver but its worth it when I tow. After towing thousands of miles I feel that a dually is the minimum appropriate tow platform.

[45Ricochet]

There you have it from a SAE. :B Looks like quite a upgrade in RV's OP. Congrats

[NC_Hauler]

vampirefish wrote:
It's all so confusing to me. Always pulling a smaller outfit it seemed easier and now every person I ask has a different answer. I've had people tell me I could safely use a Duramax 2500HD SRW.... but most have said a 1 ton 3500 ... now it's the DRW vs SRW... I've been told I'll have more stability with the DRW.... but is it overkill?

A 2500 comes ONLY in a single rear wheel configuration...IF you're going to buy a "used" 3500 SRW truck, then I might worry if it has enough capacity to handle the possible 3100# of pin weight you might put in the bed of the truck....If you're leaning towards an older 1 ton dually, it'll handle it no problem...Newer 3500 SRW trucks would handle that weight easily.

The 2500 (again, ONLY comes with single rear wheel's), would probably be overloaded with pin weight and odd's are you would probably exceed the trucks GCWR...

Overkill??? I tend to err to the side of safety..."IF" you're going to buy older...go with the dually....it'll handle the weight.....no, not overkill.....unless you're going to buy newer than 2013 or so...

[vampirefish]

Thanks so much everyone. I truly value y'all's opinion on this forum; you've never steered me wrong (no pun intended) ha ha

[bfast54]

vampirefish wrote:
It's all so confusing to me. Always pulling a smaller outfit it seemed easier and now every person I ask has a different answer. I've had people tell me I could safely use a Duramax 2500HD SRW.... but most have said a 1 ton 3500 ... now it's the DRW vs SRW... I've been told I'll have more stability with the DRW.... but is it overkill?

No such thing as overkill when it comes to safety ----I know personally people who are towing 35 or so foot fifth wheels with Kenworth and Volvos ---they know they can stop in any situation !!!!!

They are at that point that they can afford to do it anyway they want ---and safety is their number one priority

there is no such thing as overkill when it comes to safety

[Bionic_Man]

If you were buying new, I would argue that you could get away with a SRW. But that is much less likely the case if you are going used, especially if you are looking at a truck that is more than 3 years old.