dave17352
LINCOLN, NE
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Joined: 09/20/2004
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Veebyes,
Out of curiosity what gave way the trailer or the hitch?
* This post was
edited 11/04/09 09:15pm by an administrator/moderator *
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mcmills
Fort Worth, Texas
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All: Thanks for the lively responses, and sorry for the confusion. I had my 2500's rear springs upgraded to those of a 3500; that's why I asked about the 1-ton capability. (Yes, I know this doesn't legally make it a 1-ton.) Anyhow, I'm pretty skeptical about my SRW after reading your opinions. Guess I'll have to break open my piggy bank and go shopping.
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thecampingman
Wilmington, OH, USA
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mcmills wrote:All: Thanks for the lively responses, and sorry for the confusion. I had my 2500's rear springs upgraded to those of a 3500; that's why I asked about the 1-ton capability. (Yes, I know this doesn't legally make it a 1-ton.) Anyhow, I'm pretty skeptical about my SRW after reading your opinions. Guess I'll have to break open my piggy bank and go shopping.
All you'll gain in a trade is brakes. Suspension can be upgraded with aftermarket products. You can even address the brake issue with an exhaust brake and/or hydraulic camper brakes.
The driveline will be the same on a 3/4 ton thru MDT. And you really don't need a heavier front end.
'03 GMC 4500 Topkick with Duramax/Allison
'04 36' McKenzie Medallion triple slide
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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A Mobile Suites is HEAVY and you need an F450 to do the job. Forget about all of the folks that are pulling way too big with a SRW truck. You do not take a knife to a gun fight. Get the right truck or forget the big trailer.
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
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Veebyes
Bermuda
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Out of curiosity what gave way the trailer or the hitch?
Lucky for us the trailer tore out of the hitch. The last I saw of our trailer was looking in the driver side mirror. Left trailer wheels were already off the ground. She was on her way. DRW stability saved our bacon.
Again, to the OP, look hard at these pics. This could happen to any of us.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter
RV: slightly pre enjoyed 2006 Alpenlite 34RLR LTD
2006 Chevy 3500 crew cab LT 6.6L Diesel
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NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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Joined: 05/20/2005
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thecampingman wrote:mcmills wrote:All: Thanks for the lively responses, and sorry for the confusion. I had my 2500's rear springs upgraded to those of a 3500; that's why I asked about the 1-ton capability. (Yes, I know this doesn't legally make it a 1-ton.) Anyhow, I'm pretty skeptical about my SRW after reading your opinions. Guess I'll have to break open my piggy bank and go shopping.
All you'll gain in a trade is brakes. Suspension can be upgraded with aftermarket products. You can even address the brake issue with an exhaust brake and/or hydraulic camper brakes.
The driveline will be the same on a 3/4 ton thru MDT. And you really don't need a heavier front end.
You need to think a little harder on this...there is a HUGE difference in stability between a SRW and a DRW truck..I've owned and towed with both through curvy mountainous roads and there is no comparison, the dually wins hands down...Each truck has it's application for towing. No matter what some think or there wouldn't be a difference in price range or badging, or for that matter, GVWR. It is what it is. We're talking about towing a 17,500 GVW 5er...I don't think some in here understand just how heavy that is..especially when your putting 3200-3400# of pinweight into the bed of the truck. If you frequent any of the websites where Teton Home, Carriage or Mobile Suites owners meet...it's rare that you'll see one of these heavy 5er's towed with even a 1 ton dually...should tell you something. If I were to even think about towing with a 1 ton dually, it would have to be the Ford F350 w/Tow Boss..
I also love it when someone towing with the same truck I have, or very similar comes on here towing a heavy 5er and states: "Don't even know it's back there" Hook that heavy 5er up to that 1 ton dually and just pull I 26 from TN into NC..just one example..just one..and it's in the east...THEN tell me you don't know it's back there...I could understand if I was towing a 9,000-10,000# 5er behind a typical dually..but you start getting up to 14,500# and heavier...sorry, in the right terrain..you'll know it's back there......
Bottom line, the MS the original poster is talking about, at the very least is in Dually territory...more into the MDT range...again, just plain old common sense and basic math should point in that direction.
Jim & Kathy
07.5 Chevy K3500DRW/CC/LB/LMM/D/A/6speed/ LTZ,Prodigy,Reese 20K Ht.
08 Jeep Liberty Sport Trail Rated
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Couple of years ago neighbor got a job transfer to the Seatle area from here in Southern Maryland. They owned a MS 36TK3 and wanted to take it with them. Their tow vehicle was a 2004 GMC 2500HD D/A. Since they had been stationary fulltimers, they downloaded a lot of belongings out of the trailer. Him and I took the truck/trailer to the scales. Even when almost empty the trailer weighed a tad over 18,000lbs. We installed Timbrens on the truck, he hitched up and drove solo across the country. The truck did a terrific job, though loaded well past the manufacturers ratings, just like any other SRW truck.
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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Veebyes wrote:Out of curiosity what gave way the trailer or the hitch?
Lucky for us the trailer tore out of the hitch. The last I saw of our trailer was looking in the driver side mirror. Left trailer wheels were already off the ground. She was on her way. DRW stability saved our bacon.
Again, to the OP, look hard at these pics. This could happen to any of us.
Imagine this situation...going down the freeway about 60 mph and looking to your left and seeing a car coming head first towards you (was spinning out of control) and hit our passeneger door and preceded to bump its way down the side of our truck and new Jayco Designer...the truck and the trailer did not move although I thought for sure we were going over the side...can never say enough about a dually and its stability!
ERIC & BEV
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS fith wheel
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houtrz
Lake Jackson Texas
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I have a 39' fiver that weighs 16,900 pounds with a 3,450 pound pin weight and I'm towing it with a Ford F-350 crew cab dually and I'm overloaded. I am considering buying a MDT but I can't imagine towing mine with a SRW truck.
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NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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Capt Skup wrote:Couple of years ago neighbor got a job transfer to the Seatle area from here in Southern Maryland. They owned a MS 36TK3 and wanted to take it with them. Their tow vehicle was a 2004 GMC 2500HD D/A. Since they had been stationary fulltimers, they downloaded a lot of belongings out of the trailer. Him and I took the truck/trailer to the scales. Even when almost empty the trailer weighed a tad over 18,000lbs. We installed Timbrens on the truck, he hitched up and drove solo across the country. The truck did a terrific job, though loaded well past the manufacturers ratings, just like any other SRW truck.
"MIGHT" be alright for one time, but absolutely no way would I want to put my family in a 2500 towing an 18,000# 5er all the time. Timbrens might help it to sit level, but that's it. Emergency maneuver or emergency stop with that combo..could end up with pictures similar to the ones that have been posted here, and that TV was a dually...should tell some in here just how dangerous things can become, and sometimes, you can't prepare for it when it "comes out of nowhere"....Nope, 18,000# on a 2500HD wouldn't be the smart thing to do, but hey, it worked "that" time....what about the next time, or the next...my family's and my welfare are worth too much to take such chances as to tow an 18,000# 5er with a 2500HD truck.
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