single rear wheel VS dually for Goosenecks

[RGulembo]

Question: I have a 95 3/4 Ton that can pull 16,000#. The 2004 Dually 1 ton can pull 16,000#. What would be the advantage of a dually over a single? Advise.



Question: Problem with the 2004 1 ton dually --it stands from ground to top bed rail at 59". The 2004 1 ton single rear wheel stands from ground to top bed rail at 57 1/2". What gives with Dodge going to this height between single wheel and duallies? Problems for gooseneck haulers - crunching the bed rail because it doesn't have enough clearance? By the way I haul dogs and horses with a 39 foot LQ slant load trailer.



Question: Do I have to go to a Ford or Chev, because they keep the height down to 53-56" or try a single wheel instead of a dually? Is stability a factor? Is safety a factor, or is it just an appearance or cool look thing?

 

[RustyJC]

Forget the manufacturer's trailer tow ratings - they're worthless. They are based on a base truck (no options, passengers, accessories, cargo or hitch) with only a 150 lb driver, and they totally ignore the GVWR issue. That's why you may or may not need a dually - to deal with the high hitch/pin weight the gooseneck may apply to the truck. This hitch/pin weight is carried by the truck, not towed, and therefore counts against the truck's GVWR.



You might want to take a look at THIS thread and its links to get a better feel for this issue. Although the thread deals with a 5th wheel trailer, it's the same basic issue with a gooseneck.



Rusty

 

[klenger]

If you can live with a 2WD, the heights are much lower. I'm trying to convince myself that 2WD is the way to go. Also more usefull GVWR because the 4WD weighs 500 lbs more.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Klenger you are right. While there has been the odd time that I could have used a 4 wheel drive I opted for the two wheel drive because of the height. Even then, my fiver is a tad high at the front. I sure can't see flipping the axles on my beast. I put tow hooks on the front of mine. There is always someone around that wants to show off his four wheel drive capablilities.



#ad

 

[DPelletier]

I think Rusty and Ken about covered it. but I just wanted to tell you Casey that you have one beautiful set-up. With the risk of offending others, I think that is the nicest looking rig I've ever seen. If I could figure out where to jam my dirt bikes and how to get that rig 20 mi up an ugly forest service road, I might have to have one!!

Maybe one day.



Cheers

Dave

 

[ddutil]

He has the nicest rig, his name is Casey, and HE IS CANADIAN!



EH! Dan



Ps: Couldn't resist poping in. For once, east and west, franco and anglo... all agree. Is it because Jean is leaving, or Paul arriving? Sorry, go on with the serious stuff guys

 

[crobertson1]

Casey, how much does your fiver weigh? That is one sweet setup! My wife and I were drooling over a fiver like yours at an RV show this last summer.

Craig

 

[y-knot]

I can feel your pain... . I think the dually is the safe way to haul a gooseneck or fifth wheel. I like the assurance of the extra wheels when carrying alot of hitch weight. I to had to make a decision on what to go with. Since I would not tow a heavy load without the training wheels, I went with the dually. I also would not want a Cummins without 4 wheel drive, so my fate was sealed. When we bought our last trailer, we had them design it with our truck in mind. They raised the front kick-up, which gave me a higher hitch height, also lowed me to tow level. I hope more trailer manufactures start taking into account the real world hitch heights of todays trucks. I am not sure how many offer this option, but it might help to ask.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Originally posted by crobertson1

Casey, how much does your fiver weigh? That is one sweet setup! My wife and I were drooling over a fiver like yours at an RV show this last summer.

Craig

Empty the trailer runs 14,500. Loaded, she will tip the scales at around 16,000 pounds. While the GVWR of the trailer is 20,000 pounds, I told my wife "DON'T even think about it!" I do need to keep an eye on her and the weight to stay close to the rating of the truck. She is pretty well maxed out now. The truck that is, not my wife.

 

[JyRO]

By the way I haul dogs and horses with a 39 foot LQ slant load trailer.

How many dogs can you get in that slant trailer, if you were hauling say ... chihuahuas? If you packed'em from top to bottom, front to back, I'd say nearly a thousand or so. However, you should keep a close eye on your trailer GVW in that case, and the GCW for the truck/trailer combo.





Answer 1 - The advantage of a dually over a single - a) more stability, b) safety in the case of a flat on one of the rears. I would say GVWR (which is true), but you're sort of throwing that out of the picture by stating equal tow ratings. I still think you should consider it. So, c) higher GVWR with the dually.



Answer 2 - I don't know what gives, Dodge probably doesn't either. Could the body be mounted 1. 5" higher on the frame? It seems like 2nd gen trucks the chassis and suspension were identical between SRW (2500's) & DRW (3500's), except only for the difference in the dual wheel assemblies. I'm not sure that's right, but I think it is. Maybe the 3rd gens have something else different with frame & chassis due to new available SRW 1 tons.



Answer 3 - Do you have to go to Ford or Chevy? - No. That's optional. If you don't mind greatly increasing your risk of owning a shop queen, go look at the 6. 0's. Dmax's seem to be pretty good for the 1st 80k miles, from what I'm hearing. That's pretty good ... NOT!



- Is stability a factor? - With larger animals (or a thousand chihuahuas ) I'd have to say yes. I hear horses can get pretty rowdy back yonder and yank a truck around if the truck isn't up to the task. 2nd and 3rd gen duallys are definitly up to it. A long bed SRW 2nd or 3rd gen is up to it too, but the stability advantage goes to the dually.



- Is safety a factor, or is it just an appearance or cool look thing? That depends on how much you value safety. I'd say the dually is negligibly safer. Is it an appearance or cool thing? For some it is (those who don't intend to haul much), for others who haul heavy or haul live animals, and especially those who haul lots of live animals (heavy) they generally don't have it cause its cool. They need it and use it.





- JyRO

 

[DPelletier]

Casey,

nice edit LOL

I was hoping you meant the truck!!



Dave

 

[y-knot]

#ad




This is my Gooseneck, I am sure a 2500 or 3500 SRW would pull it, just I wouldn't want to be the one. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[klenger]

y-knot:



That is a long combo. Do you have to register the truck and trailer in two different counties?

 

[ndurbin]

In my expriences between my truck (2500 4x4) and my buddies (3500 4x2) pulling my 24' stock trailer, stability is the same. The trucks both squat just as much with a full load of cows. Mine was a bit lighter on the front. Both handle about the same.



I can point to a few instances shifting cows made us wonder around on the road. One was in my truck going down the road and the cows shifted from one side to the other. The other was in my buddies dually w/ 1 cow (this was no small cow, 1800lbs. ) going around a curve and she shifted (more like threw) herself from one side of the trailer to the other and about sent us off the road.



To me for what I do duallies just make the truck harder to get in and around places and adds 2 more tires I haveto replace when they wear out.



If I did hotsot runs or pulled a 5er all the time I would get a dually.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Howdy,



I'm putting a flatbed on the 2004 dually I've got coming, soon... . sigh ''



That way I'll there will be no clearance issues. This summer I put a good dent in a side rail turning a climbing swithchback while pulling an eight horse slant load. Plus, I don't have to worry about banging the side when I'm loading firewood. ':{'





Hope them dogs you are hauling are Border Collies. If not, you'll need an upgrade there also!''