Ok, I started a firestorm. So to clarify. I am moving to what has become more popular. A commerial rig that meets both legal and good handling requirements that I think is best. The price difference, and yes these trucks are too expensive but I am older and perhaps I cant take it with me so why not damit, is not that different. I loaded up a CC 3500, 4500, 5500 and there is little difference. Called stable camper owner who built a 5500 and posed all the questions that cover a lot and more of what you all have above. The response was going from single wheel to dully was an improvement and going to the 5500 was 2x that. We both agreed that the ride quality empty sucks and that the difference between the 4500 and 5500 likely not something important or dramatic. So why the 5500. OK. If I resale which may be real down the road the commercial market probably better having the 5500 (like adding the PTO for 300 when I wont use it but insurance for resale). Secondly, having dually great, I dont need the full loading of 19.5 but the tire selection for 20s much better, can air down, etc. I can save the 19.5 for resale. The payload is what I need to reduce and control sway caused by tall campers AND if I go from my SB AF811 to a larger camper I am not limited. So the payload of the 3500 is 5140, not nearly what I need. My sb camper is 4000 wet with no gear and I want to have at least another 500-1000 ability, towing ability, etc. So the next one up is the 4500 with 8520. Now one could argue this is enough by the numbers with the 5500 at 11450. But everyone I speak to who has driven these says both are so stiff empty you cant really tell the difference. So why not go to the 5500, steel platform, steel upper and lower storage, drop my 4K camper on it and I probably wont really notice the difference but if I go to some triple slide huge camper I will be happy to have the extra capacity.
As far as the single wheel conversion, I think not. I dont want a higher COG, I want the redundancy if one rear wheel goes flat I can safely stop and in a pinch remove it and hobble out on one tire.
So I am not degrading anything but rather matching to my needs and if I sell the truck anyone can do what ever they want in both the camper and commercial world. I am even going to look into downgrading the capacity if NV allows that to try to avoid higher insurance prices as you can always change that.
Now I am sure I havent thought about all the issues here but I am narrowing things down for my situation without limiting future possibilites is the way I am trying to look at this.
Now if the dam trucks were not so expensive I could retire instead of working more to pay this dude off prior. Not sure how much my Limited 3500 might help offset the price so will be looking into that.
Then there is the problem that the wife wants a new car....ouch but I guess I could drive her old one. At our age who knows we might not need to purchace again.....sad but true.
Thanks everyone to applying critical thoughts into this. I learn a lot from this site.