Do we need a dually? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

peg513 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Do we need a dually?

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mobile Suites are heavy built trailers.I don't think a single wheel 1 ton can handle the pin weight. At the minimum you need a F350 Dually and if you shop around you might pick up a F450 for close to the same money and erase any doubt.Good luck on your search.Go to the main menu here on the forum and read all the posts under Tow Vehicles.There is a wealth of info on there.

-- Edited by Racerguy on Friday 5th of March 2010 04:57:59 PM

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, it depends:

First, may I suggest you take a look at the weight numbers for your trailer and the capabilities of the specific truck? It is not how “long” the rig is, it is what it weighs – loaded.

An F-350 or Chevy 3500 single rear wheel, if properly equipped, (they are not all the same depending on year and being gas or diesel, etc.) might be just fine. But as you may hear from others, it’s all about the numbers. The GCWR, the pin weight, etc. are the important numbers. So may I suggest you begin the decision process by gathering those trailer weight numbers (loaded) and then see how they match up to the specific F-350 you’re considering?

Having said that, dually trucks are more “stable” than single rear wheel trucks. It isn’t that single wheels are “unstable” or unsafe. (I didn’t say that.) It is that 4 tires on the rear are more stable as to side to side motion, especially in turns with at 5er, than single rear wheels. To me this is important when pulling a big 5’er. Others may feel differently.

However, duallys don’t go through car washes and they take 2 more tires when those need to be changed out. For me, neither is a major factor compared to how much better the truck handles the 5’er. But that’s just me. You might feel differently.

So, it just depends; first on the numbers. After that, there are pros and cons both ways. It depends on you and what’s best for your specific condition and use.

I will share this, when I decided to get back to “serious” RV’ing and was looking at a fairly big 5’er I agonized about single or dual rear wheels. But the numbers said dual and that what I got. ‘Never been sorry, actually just the opposite.

As an aside to your question, you seemed to indicate you liked to climb and that sort of means mountains. You may want to seriously consider, budget permitting, a diesel. It makes a big difference as I bet you already know.

I hope this gives you a little “food for thought.”

Safe travels and good research.

Bill

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

As everybody has indicated, it has nothing to do with length, it's all weight and pin weight.

From my experience you will not only need a diesel dually, but most probably will need a 450. Mobile Suites are on the heavy side, but you need the actual GVWR of the model you are going to get, don't guess.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Peggy,

Are you looking at those at Rolling Retreats in Elk City, Oklahoma. If you are, I might be able to help you find out the weights that you need to know. Just let me know which ones to check on.

In addition, I have some pdf files of the brochures for the 2008 and 2009 models of DRV models. I was thinking I had one of the 2007 brochures as well, but that one may be at work.

Let me know if I can be helpful. I will simply echo what the others have told you in that a dually will be more stable and more capable of handling the weights. Also, if you notice our signature below, our Mobile Suite is on order.

Terry

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

May I add an additional perspective on the dually truck:

Most all of the new “big” 5’ers are 102” wide; some 100”, but most 102”. (Please note I said “most.”) The older big 5’ers and most trailers were 96”. Those 6” matter, here’s why in my opinion:

The dually trucks, Chevy 3500 / F-350, etc. are about 96” wide. When you are towing something 102” wide you’re already “wide.” So the fact you’re looking out for the truck’s wide rear wheels in the first place is a good thing. By looking out I am talking about side-to-side clearance. If you’ve ever gone thru a toll booth with a 102” wide trailer you’ll know what I mean. There just isn’t a lot of room for error. Don’t let this scare you. Just keep in mind that with a Mobile Suites, if I am not mistaken, you’re going to be “wide” already.

Good luck researching the “numbers.” Ask if you don’t understand what they mean.

BTW, not selling, just providing information: If you are going to be purchasing a “new” truck, please get the “new” (2011) specifications – the real ones. Don’t use Trailer Life. Both Ford and Chevy have upped the numbers for their 2011 trucks which will be “out” in about 4 – 5 months from order. Chevy is now up to 20,000 lbs of 5’er towing and 27,500 GCWR. Ford is up as well, I just haven’t committed all those numbers to memory. So there are so good choices out there now for both Ford and Chevy 2011 trucks depending on your preference. (Dodge maybe as well. But I haven’t looked.)

Bill

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Its your choice but I would recomend a DRW 1 ton for 36' and below in Mobile Suites 5th wheels. The pin weight is the problem with SRWs. The Mobile Suites are heavy due to Materials used in building the 5er and it rides on a 15" frame. Good Luck with your choice. GBY...

RonandJacki · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sort of along this same line, I've noticed that most RVers with 5ers use extended cabs or quad cabs. I wondered if this cab configuration was for increased carrying capacity, GVCWR, with the longer wheel base or just for the convenience of carrying stuff near by for daily or travelling accessibility.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

All of the above RonaldJacki. If this is going to be your home and all your storage capacity, it makes sense to maximize it.

You can have too little truck, but there's never too much.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonandJacki wrote:

Sort of along this same line, I've noticed that most RVers with 5ers use extended cabs or quad cabs. I wondered if this cab configuration was for increased carrying capacity, GVCWR, with the longer wheel base or just for the convenience of carrying stuff near by for daily or travelling accessibility.

Actually in some cases an extended or quad (crew) cab reduces available GCVWR. Note I said “available.” The extra steel for the cab weighs something and that reduces what is left over from the maximum GCVWR for useful load. It isn’t a whole lot maybe 150 - 200 lbs or so with a crew cab. Check the specifications – they list the different configurations and as always - it depends.

But yes, many get extended or crew cabs for the extra storage space as well to haul around friends or grandkids. I would recommend an extended cab at the least. However, there are trade offs.

Bill

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonandJacki wrote:

Sort of along this same line, I've noticed that most RVers with 5ers use extended cabs or quad cabs. I wondered if this cab configuration was for increased carrying capacity, GVCWR, with the longer wheel base or just for the convenience of carrying stuff near by for daily or travelling accessibility.

I would agree with the others in this one, but I'll also add one other point that wasn't touched upon.

The longer wheelbase vehicles will also tend to ride smoother. Back when I drove 18 wheelers, many trucks were built with shortened frames so as to be able to pull longer trailers. Those trucks tended to be rougher riding than what an equally equpped, longer frame truck would be.

Jo and I have a Ford F450, which I think are all built with crew cabs (4 full-sized doors), and we have found that it is surprisingly smooth for a dually.

Terry

peg513 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you all for so much to contemplate. We have started crunching the numbers and debating whether we really want a larger truck as our only vehicle. Based upon what is available online and without viewing actual vehicles, the numbers point to an F450 if we do decide on a Mobile Suites. Given that, we are reviewing our options now for a different 5er that will give us what we want and be lighter weight. We haven't made a decision one way or the other, but this string has given us much more information to enable a good decision.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

peg513 wrote:

Thank you all for so much to contemplate. We have started crunching the numbers and debating whether we really want a larger truck as our only vehicle. Based upon what is available online and without viewing actual vehicles, the numbers point to an F450 if we do decide on a Mobile Suites. Given that, we are reviewing our options now for a different 5er that will give us what we want and be lighter weight. We haven't made a decision one way or the other, but this string has given us much more information to enable a good decision.

Just a thought based on your post: You might want to take a look at this offering from KZ. I had a long face to face conversation with the VP Sales from KZ about 2 years ago at the plant. (Really nice guy who “listened” as well as spoke.) They had this new offering in the works for people who wanted a lighter “big” rig. I won’t argue that is a good or bad thing in this forum. But I wanted to at least make you aware of the possibility.

These are built fairly close to the Mobile Suites plant and all the others near Elkhart. They give tours and the factory warranty work has been excellent and accommodating. (See sig)

IMHO you won’t need a dually or F-450 for this rig based on specs.

http://www.kz-rv.com/stoneridge/2011_brochure.html

Safe travels

Bill

suitelifenow · RV-Dreams Community Member

DRV also builds a Select Suite that comes in at a lesser weight than the Mobile.
The insulation values are the same. And they don't void the warranty if you live in it.
If you can double tow in your state, DRV also will factory install a 2" hitch receiver so you can tow a small car behind you. However, I like Howard and Linda's idea about 2 different vehicles. The car can always drive ahead to scout out the area before the truck and 5'ver arrive.

My motto to dually versus single tires are....more rubber on the ground, the better. Dually's provide more stability, and if you get a flat you at least have another tire there.

Good luck in your quest!