Question for the guy's with duallies and big campers

[husky390]

This is purely subjective but eventually I want to upgrade from an F250 with a pop up camper to a hard sided camper. Something similar to an Arctic Fox 1150.

For you guy's with campers that size and duallies, how much body sway do you feel when driving down the road?

Do any of you haul that size camper with a gas engine?

Do any of you tow?

[jroddick]

sleepy wrote:
Looking at the unit above:

With the short and narrow wheel base and the height how stable is the unit in windy conditions.
Sleepy

The chassis was designed to carry up to a 13'6" high box, it's very stable in the corners and in the wind. We went through a horrendous wind storm in the Painted Desert, I couldn't even get the drivers side door open to get out and check that the camper windows were closed. We slowed down because of the visibility but it handled great. I should take a photo of the massive sway bars on this thing.

[jroddick]

Super_Dave wrote:
Now I'm just confused by the hybrid. Campers are notably the highest priced RV per sf but have advantages as a removable unit. Does this camper come on and off at campgrounds?

Yep. Here it is without the camper :

[jimh406]

sleepy wrote:
much like the RV's that we see built in garbage trucks or a hollowed out log.... not practicle.

The rig isn't for me, but it seems super practical if you have one for some other purpose. Those bodies routinely carry boxes on the back. I don't think you need to worry a lot about them flipping over. I was curious, so I looked up the vehicle at FE140 model. The payload due to specs is up to 8315 for that model.

Oh, I'm not ready to trade my F450 for one, but I'm not saying my F450 is more practical either. 🙂

[Super_Dave]

Now I'm just confused by the hybrid. Campers are notably the highest priced RV per sf but have advantages as a removable unit. Does this camper come on and off at campgrounds?

[bjbear]

sleepy wrote:
Looking at the unit above:

With the short and narrow wheel base and the height how stable is the unit in windy conditions.

Kind-of reminds me of wrestling... If you don't want flipped you get as low as possible and spread out your arms and legs.

The dually will contribute to a higher maximum load but by being narrow the duallys won't help stability.

It is my opinion that this is a cute novality... much like the RV's that we see built in garbage trucks or a hollowed out log.... not practicle.

Flame away... but think about my comment a bit.

Wrestle with it!

Sleepy

Drove a similar rig in Australia on a 4000 mile trip across the country. It was a motor home but on the same type of chassis and cabover. Never had a problem with sway or feeling top heavy although looking at the rig, you would think that it would be top heavy (my rig not the OP).

Should also add that I really liked the cabover setup.....although I know what they say....you are always the first guy at the accident!!! But I used to drive VW vans when I was younger and that did not bother me either.

[sleepy]

Looking at the unit above:

With the short and narrow wheel base and the height how stable is the unit in windy conditions.

Kind-of reminds me of wrestling... If you don't want flipped you get as low as possible and spread out your arms and legs.

The dually will contribute to a higher maximum load but by being narrow the duallys won't help stability.

It is my opinion that this is a cute novality... much like the RV's that we see built in garbage trucks or a hollowed out log.... not practicle.

Flame away... but think about my comment a bit.

Wrestle with it!

Sleepy

[jroddick]

The camper is held down with fast gun derringer turn buckles from the stake pockets to the factory brackets. I got the baggage doors on eBay and a little Filon from my local RV shop, the rest is just basic carpentry. The baggage doors dramatically changed the look of the rig, here it is without :

[rickeoni]

jroddick wrote:
I've posted about this rig a number of times on this site. It has a 4.9L 4 cyl diesel with an Aisin 6spd auto. The 4 wheel disc brakes have two calipers on each disk. It's not real powerful with 175 hp 395 torque but it's quite competent :


I have an older 4x4 version that I'm planning to camperize as well. I'll be able to tilt the cab on this one without removing the camper:

How is the S&S camper held down? Also the side storage doors are well intergrated, how are those built and attached?

[jroddick]

I've posted about this rig a number of times on this site. It has a 4.9L 4 cyl diesel with an Aisin 6spd auto. The 4 wheel disc brakes have two calipers on each disk. It's not real powerful with 175 hp 395 torque but it's quite competent :


I have an older 4x4 version that I'm planning to camperize as well. I'll be able to tilt the cab on this one without removing the camper:

[rickeoni]

twodownzero wrote:

jroddick wrote:
We still love our Fuso flatbed. It's a dually but the duals are only 86" wide so you don't need swing outs on the jacks. It comes stock with huge sway bars, very stable in a cross wind.

That is a beast! What kind of motor is in it?

Yes, we need more info, looks like a great unit.

[twodownzero]

jroddick wrote:
We still love our Fuso flatbed. It's a dually but the duals are only 86" wide so you don't need swing outs on the jacks. It comes stock with huge sway bars, very stable in a cross wind.

That is a beast! What kind of motor is in it?

[jroddick]

We still love our Fuso flatbed. It's a dually but the duals are only 86" wide so you don't need swing outs on the jacks. It comes stock with huge sway bars, very stable in a cross wind.

[2BLAZERS]

My typical setup. 2011 AF 1150 Drybath on a 2011 Ram 3500 4*4 dually crewcab diesel. Trailer is 20' with usually two quads in it plus camping stuff like firewood, Honda 2000, fuel cans etc... love my setup.

Truck has leveling kit, 60 Gallon TransferFlow Tank, Supersprings, Helwig, airbags, Rancho shocks, and extra lights. And I run weight distributions on the Superhitch setup.

Works great for us. I keep my speed near the speed limit and will not go much past 70 even if I hit the 75 or 80 zones in ID and UT.

[3_tons]

Jwillvin wrote:
When I do eventually upgrade, I'll stick with a dually as I've yet to find any downside to hauling with one.

X-2... After 103k miles, in my view this has proven quite the obvious, yet this has so often been disavowed by a few (reams of diatribe to this end...).

[BradW]

54suds wrote:
I sure miss having Jponder add his expertise. :B

I to miss him and his unique view of the world.

Brad