Trailer / Truck styles ????

[lawdog]

I have a few questions for you towing folks out there. I currently have a 2000 Ram QC SB 2500 CTD that I pull a 4 place snowmobile trailer with. I am currently trying to sell the truck and get an 04 this fall. I am considering also a new sled trailer for nicer accomodations when at the race track (Sno-Cross).



I really prefer a S/B, but will the QC S/B pull a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer ok, probable triple axle in the 38-44 ft range Maybe 48 ft. or is a long bed and or dually that much better. I only tow this in the winter months, so I like the S/B for getting around town and BFG 315's for summer style



Also which is better... Gooseneck or 5th wheel... again towing in winter and some snow covered pit area's?



Any advise would be appreciated...

Current rig attached, but trailer a little narrow 7' for working in, but great for towing...

 

[DPelletier]

My vote: 3500 dually 4x4 6spd. I don't know how heavy your proposed setup is, but it sounds big!

Dave

 

[DHayden]

The training wheels are easy to get used to, and in my opinion there is no comparison for towing. A dually is sooo stable even in strong crosswinds (especially with GN or 5th) compared to the single. You are going to have a long set up, I don't think 2 feet will make a big difference.



Your obvious solution is to get a big a$$ boat so you will have something to tow in the summer also

 

[lawdog]

I think I am going to need some corporate sponsorships for all these toys... ...

 

[Casey Balvert]

I agree with DHayden. I was very pleasantly surprised when I first pulled our fiver this past weekend. The difference from my 97 2500 to this dually was quite impressive. I won't go back to SRW for towing again. FWIW.



Casey

 

[jerryrigg]

If you towing a low profile trailer SRW are fine, but if your towing a mobile billboard get the duallys, the training wheels make a big difference in stability in windy conditions. Another point the heavier the tow vehicle the less the trailer will be able to influence the direction of travel. Don't go cheap on brakes get them on all axles or the controller and if your looking at over 30' get triple axles, makes a big difference. I pull a 44' GN Billboard and duallies are the only way to go.



Matt

 

[lawdog]

Ok, I think if I talk her into a new trailer before the truck gets ordered I will go 3500 DRW... Black H. O 48RE. . I hate shifting... ... Now the trailer will be i suspect 40-44 ft triple axle I would guess about 11,000-12,000 lbs loaded... Does it make much difference 5th or Goose Neck????????

 

[jerryrigg]

Goose or 5th...



Most cargo type trailers are GN's, unless specifically ordered with

a 5th usually at an additional cost and lighter GVW. They both pull fine if loaded properly the choice is all yours but I personally like the mobility of the GN as they have more flexiblity in off axis situations. The fivers only have so many degrees of movement before they start flexing the truck instead of just pivoting. But this is also influenced by the hitch choice and trailer coupler choice

many newer fiver hitches now have more flex in them. Look at all the hitches out there, look at where you might be driving and make your choice.....



I'm sure you are aware of this but walking on to a trailer lot is generally a good way to say good bye to your greenbacks. My last trailer I bought was 2000 miles away but the price was excellent and even with a moderate delivery charge I saved almost $1500 from the next cheapest dealer. So look around and surf the web. If your interested PM me and I'll give you the dealer info where I bought my 44' and he is alot closer to you than I was.



Matt

 

[lawdog]

Matt,



I was told there is a dealer in Toledo Ohio that sells for a couple of hundred over cost, about an hour or so from here... ..... Do you have a brand recomendation... Pace, United cargo Expressline , Classic ????



Also on the H. O. Dually 4x4 recommend 4. 10 or 3. 73 gears. . I currently tow in O. D. as light weight, can you tow the heavier in O. D. with the H. O. ????? Newbie to heavy weights... . only 13,800 combined now

 

[HBrink]

I went through the same thought process while I was deciding what to order on my new truck. I received several thoughtful suggestions from some experienced people on TDR and then researched the details further.



One place to look is dodge.com. Look for the information regarding towing. I began by stating that my loaded trailer would weigh 15,000# and asking which truck would pull that kind of load. The site pointed to 3500s with 4. 10 gears as the only ones that would match that kind of weight.



The transmission is your choice as they now have a 48RE automatic transmission to match the HO engine. I personally choose the same kind of setup that Casey Balvert has: Dually, HO engine, 6 speed, 4. 10 gears. It is scheduled to be built on 4-2-2003.



I really enjoy my current truck, but CAN'T wait for my new ride.



Take care.

Harry

 

[Underdog]

Something that I would certainly take into consideration is

turning with a short wheel base. I've seen swb trucks

towing 5th wheels with sliders and sometimes the sliders

don't want to slide, which results in pretty frustrated drivers.

Also I'm not sure that a goose neck will work with a short

bed. Again,due to sharp turns. However,since I don't own

a short wheelbase truck,this is pure speculation on my part.



cbarber,per forum guidelines.

 

[lawdog]

Thanks. I have seen a couple of trailer this past weekend that had GN's and had the hitch was extending forward of the start of the trailer box area. I guess that is for more turning clearance, but does not look as good... . I am just trying to fit ALL aspects of the truck uses together in 1 expensive little package.....

 

[lawdog]

Ok, now i am totally wacked out here... ... I went to Dodge.com and did the trailer tow thing... How bizarre that I do a 3500 QC SB HO auto and get a 500 lb HIGHER weight to tow than a 3500QC LD DRW HO auto?????

 

[DPelletier]

Lawdog,

Don't put too much faith in the factory ratings. After all, according to them, my camper package reduces my payload! (by the weight of the sway bar and overloads). My quad cab long box is rated at significantly less payload cap. than a reg cab swb w/o the camper package, but I know my truck is a far safer and more capable vehicle to haul a big load. A little common sense goes a long way here!

Dave

 

[JerryB]

trailer towing

I routinely pull a 20 foot goosneck livestock trailer. The trailer weighs 5500# empty, and we put up to 12,000# of cattle in it, making for a 17,500 total trailer weight. This couples to a B&W Turn-over Gooseneck ball.

My takes:



Go with the Gooseneck if you can. My B&W is rated up to a 25,000# trailer, and takes about 3 minutes to flip the ball over, giving me an unobstructed cargo bed when you want it. Even if you don't need an unobstructed bed, the goosneck ball can easily be straddled by an ATV or sled, wheras the 5th wheel stuff will be in the way. It IS a little harder to see the ball, way down low, especially if you have an extended cab, or toolbox, but I feel the trade-off is worth it. A mirror magnet mounted on the trailer stem lets you see the ball, also.



To dual or not to dual is a tough question. I don't have a dually, neighbor does. I have never had a tire failure, and running empty, I feel the single wheel is the way to go. Remember, in rain, mud, or snow, you will have 3 'tracks' to make. With a single wheel, the rears should track behind the fronts, making hydroplaning the light (compared to the front) rear end less likely. Single wheels are also less squirrely in mud. That said, the dually is notably more stable in a crosswind, and carries a bigger load without sinking in soft ground as deep. Also, you can 'limp' to a service station on only 1 rear wheel if the loads aren't too great.



I say, go gooseneck with the trailer, and as for dually or not, that would be up to what you think your uses would be.



Jerry B

(aka Farmr123)

 

[lawdog]

Jery, Thanks, I definantly think the GN is the way to go as well from reading on here. . I saw some GN trailers with the extended nose hitch for S/B trucks. I know the wife would rather have the SRW as she thinks Dually's are Stupid... . Oh evil words there. . I think they are cool... . BUT. . it is HER Dad that gets me the employee price, so I am kind of stuck on her opinions... . lol

Living around D-Town (Detroit), the shorter wheel base of the SB would be nicer for all the parking lots, especially if she has to drive it... ... Don't know, I guess I will have to look more at trailer features before I can finalize my fall order... At least I know it will be Black SLT 3500 4x4 H. O. Auto... ... Really like the Larasmie grille, but not the leather with the vinyl rear seat for the kids... . I like the cloth better.

 

[lawdog]

I went looking at trailers this weekend, even though she does not thiunk we need one. . I really got to find some more sponsors... lol... I decided it will be 38 or 40 ft GN tripple axle. I looked a t Pace this weekend, the Shadow GT, I have to look at Classic still as well, Anyone have any opinions ????? She still says NO to a Dually ... ... Another friend is trying to talk me into a LWB just for the longer bed to haul stuff. . like drywall and such... The guy at the trailer store Questioned why I would want a DIESEL... :--) . He sais his GAsser CHebby pulls fine with 4. 10 gears and thinks 5-6mpg is good I think I wil stay with stinky fuel. . no wheezy gasser toad for me...

 

[sewman]

I live in Toledo,Oh & know the place your talking about.

John's Trailers 800-471-1175

It's probaly worth a call

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

[lawdog]

Thanks, I will give them a shout tomorrow. .

 

[JerryB]

Trailer

Oh, I forgot to mention, if you are afraid that a SB won't have as much clearance for the trailer when turning and such, you can get an 'offset' stem for the trailer (sets the trailer back about 6 inches or so, and, at least on some livestock trailers, you can get a 'small' nose, which is narrower than standard, so you don't hit the side of the cab in very short turning situations.



The SB will always have a higher load rating than a LB, ditto 2wd over 4wd. Dodge has a max weight rating for a given chassis/axle/engine/transmission combo, so with all other things being equal, the less the truck weighs, the more cargo you can haul. The limiting factor would be TOTAL scale weight.



Also, there is a factor of the Government classifications by GVWR. Even though the truck can probably haul more, to be a light truck, they have to stay within certain GVW specs.