LB or SB for towing Travel Trailer?

[MojaveJoe]

The wife and I want to carry a lot of recreational equipment with us while traveling. We've decided the easiest way would be to store it in a camper shell, since the storage space will be greater and easier accessed than in a trailer compartment. This has us convinced we will get a 30ft Travel Trailer.



The question is: In a wind storm or passing a semi would a LB or SB be more stable in resisting the lateral pressures? Dually's are great, but I don't want to wash my truck myself for the rest of my life.



Your opinions and experiences would be appreciated.

Thanx,

Joe

 

[Fireman Dave]

Joe,



I have a 27' TT and a long box truck. I haven't owned a shortbox, but many on here say the longer wheel base rides a little better. I would think it helps a little more with towing stability. A sway control and equalizing hitch helps a lot with stability, IMO.



Good luck,



Dave

 

[Snow man]

Ive had both,both were 2500's,the lwb excab is much more stable than the SWB excab,the difference is huge. The reg cab LWb is about the same as the swb excab. If you can live with the lenth get the 8 ft bed.

 

[Whitmore]

Joe

If I were you I would get the new 1 ton single rear wheel long bed, long beds have a longer wheelbase and do handle better and also with a big load like that I would say the 1 ton SRW would be the next best thing to the dually.



cheers, Kevin

 

[C.]

Quote - mojaveJoe





(Dually's are great, but I don't want to wash my truck myself for the rest of my life. )









You could get a Dually washed at a truck wash like Blue Beacon. They could wash the truck and trailer. Any large truck stop should have one.

 

[MojaveJoe]

Makes sense to me!



Longer wheel base gives better leverage or longer fulcrum point to keep trailer and truck from swaying at hitch.



Use a big rig truck wash? Good idea C. With or without a dually I suspect I will be doing that to get my whole rig cleaned during long trips.



Thanks to all for your advice and opinons.



Keep On Truckin'



Joe

 

[truckstom]

truck washes

Blue Beacon truck washes are great... . usually find them behind Petro truck stops.....

 

[clem]

A long wheel base will tow and ride better,also a 3500 will ride better than a 2500. As far for washing your truck most RV parks will let you wash yor rig if you just ask nice. but it will rain the next day. Been there, done that ,and got the "T" shirt

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Joe,

I've own and drive both short and long bed CTD's and haven't noticed a difference in driving qualities. Turn radius is better on the shortbed, ride is slightly better on the longbed. Handling is much more dependant on the tires, tires with stiff sidewalls corner, handle and tow much better then the stock tires. I believe that a shortbed quadcab has a slightly longer wheelbase then a longbed standard cab. JMHO but I like the quadshortbox with a travel trailer. Larry

 

[Oxjockey]

Originally posted by clem

A long wheel base will tow and ride better

I tend to disagree on the ride portion. I drove a LB QuadCab, and the handling seems imprecise & squirrley. I went with the SB QC, and the handling is perfect. Of course, this is on ride alone, nothing with a load on. I think it was just the amount of weight on the front end in addition to the length. I never drove a QC gasser, but I drove a 5. 9L gas long bed standard cab for 7 years.



Bryan

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

THE SHORT BED MAKES GETTING INTO AND OUT OF TIGHT SPOTS ALOT EASIER. THIS INCLUDES CAMPSITES, PARKING LOTS, TRUCK STOPS, GAS STATIONS, CITY STREETS. THERE'S NOTHING NICER THAN TELLING THE MRS. "SEE, I TOLD YOU I COULD MAKE THAT TURN"