What can I tow with a full ton SRW?

[rvshrinker]

In a litany of other threads I had been pursuing a full ton DRW to handle a TC and maybe down the road a fifth wheel or large TT.

But as I've been properly educated by the forum and other reading, it's becoming apparent that a big long bed Dually is not really what i had in mind. My goal is to be able to take a camper off road and into the mountains in the winter, over snow, and be able to boondock for up to 1 week at a time. And a long bed DRW may not have the capability to do what I really want, especially with a heavy TC on the back.

So now I am backtracking and thinking about a SRW again. Throw out the fifth wheel because that is not a priority. But what can I tow as far as a TC or a TT with a full ton RAM 4x4 Diesel SRW crew cab short bed which has a listed payload of about 4300 lb? I'm looking at pop up campers, off road travel trailers, and the like.

I figure 5 passengers beyond the driver will add 750 lb (we are small people). Then 500 lb of gear. That leaves about 3000 lb of payload for the TC or TT (wet).

What do you think? Can I find a decent off road TT or TC at that weight or lower?

Thank you for indulging me and I apologize for the ambivalence. I didn't understand all the limitations of a dually (I see now that their primary strength is pulling, payload, and stability on the highway).

[Steeljag]

I read six people......TC.....Cold.......and up to a week! I'm thinking where are six people sleeping, and or getting out of bad weather ? Water for six, propane for six, winter clothing for six, food for six, generator, fuel, general camping gear, fire wood, grill, coolers, chairs, etc.

[Jebby14]

this has offroad popup written all over it.

[tinner12002]

I certainly wouldn't be afraid to take my truck offroad in snow, wouldn't want to do any drift plowing but through 4-8" of snow I'd go. You'd be surprised as to what you can go through with the weight of the diesel and 4x4 locked in. I wouldn't want to do any big rock crawling or river crossings but I would also have 4x4 and chains ready if I needed them. I wouldn't consider any on road truck and truck camper as an offroad vehicle. Too big, too much weight and if you break something your stuck. I'd get the dually, the TC you want and then get an offroad buggy of some sorts and enjoy!

[MudChucker]

I grew up boon docking in the back country..almost every fire guard or back road was ample wide for a DRW 1975 f350 ith an 8 foot Okanagan slide in.

What issues do you think you'll have ?

[rexlion]

OP, are you starting to feel like Gumby yet? Pull you this way, stretch you that way... 😄 LOL

[Trackrig]

Having had a rather large TC for use by just two people on long bed truck, I would never consider a shortbed TC for use by six people, especially not in colder weather where you wouldn't spend most of the time outside. You're going to have six people in the TC while someone is trying to cook dinner? Even with a SRW shortbed TC you're not really going to get far enough off of the road to make it worthwhile.

As suggested above, get the dually, maybe even an F450, and then tow a Jeep and have some fun. A friend has this set up and it works well for him. Sometimes when going out to the desert for a week he'll put the Jeep on a trailer so he can carry extra coolers and several extra propane bottle to run the propane generator for the A/C. Get a diesel truck for the load.

Bill

[Me_Again]

rvshrinker wrote:
In a litany of other threads I had been pursuing a full ton DRW to handle a TC and maybe down the road a fifth wheel or large TT.

But as I've been properly educated by the forum and other reading, it's becoming apparent that a big long bed Dually is not really what i had in mind. My goal is to be able to take a camper off road and into the mountains in the winter, over snow, and be able to boondock for up to 1 week at a time. And a long bed DRW may not have the capability to do what I really want, especially with a heavy TC on the back.

So now I am backtracking and thinking about a SRW again. Throw out the fifth wheel because that is not a priority. But what can I tow as far as a TC or a TT with a full ton RAM 4x4 Diesel SRW crew cab short bed which has a listed payload of about 4300 lb? I'm looking at pop up campers, off road travel trailers, and the like.

I figure 5 passengers beyond the driver will add 750 lb (we are small people). Then 500 lb of gear. That leaves about 3000 lb of payload for the TC or TT (wet).

What do you think? Can I find a decent off road TT or TC at that weight or lower?

Thank you for indulging me and I apologize for the ambivalence. I didn't understand all the limitations of a dually (I see now that their primary strength is pulling, payload, and stability on the highway).

Get the dually and the camper you want, AND then tow a Jeep!!!!

[clarkster]

Jayco now has a model TT listed as "Baja"
It is in the Flight SLX lineup.
16" E rated tires standard
80 gallons of water capacity standard
2 30# propane tanks standard
Flipped axles to get more ground clearance.
I just bought one and is being rigged at the dealers now
with HD MORryde shackles and spring hangers.
The 245RLSW model has a dry weight of 5200#

[donn0128]

Figure 8000 pounds for the truck loaded ready to go. Subtract that from its GVWR of? Equals how much load you can add. Sadly big heavy truck campers does not IMHO work very well as an off road vehicle. Think stuck and how your going to get unstuck miles from home.