Tow Vehicle - newbie

[RobH41]

Doubt you would need a Dually to tow an AS. The added tires just mean added expense unless you need the cargo capacity increase in the truck's bed. A GMC 2500HD short bed with a crew cab would serve you well. I do find the 4wd version like we have to be very useful on steep boat ramps and soft ground, as we also tow a boat a lot heavier than our Safari and have never felt the need to go to a Dually.

[xrvr]

Single rear wheel one ton is best for payload. Be sure tires are commercial rated to the payload if you look at used.

[m.hony]

Hmm...
Dual rear wheel has more payload.
I just don't think a truck capable of towing 20,000# while carrying 2,000# in the bed is necessary.
Nor do I want a $65,000 truck with higher priced oil changes, higher priced fuel, 6 tires, and DEF.


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[dcasr]

You do not need or want a 3500 dually for towing your AS. It will ride unloaded like a farm wagon and shake all of your fillings and crowns off. Probably your AS rivets too! You will always buy four rear tires instead of two. If an inner tire has a problem you have to take off the outer tire to get to it; a real hassle. Maintain two extra tire pressure monitors when changing tires. Unless you are loaded down you will have less rear traction on wet pavement or snow. Better only when really heavily loaded. Unless you own a 5th wheel Airstream (and there aren't many of them anymore) you don't need a one ton dually. A 2500 HD with E rated tires at 80 psi is plenty. If it comes with GoodForAYear tires, replace with Michelins at your first opportunity. This dealer is trying to move a vehicle no one is buying, and trying to get you to solve his problem; don't trust this dealer, go down the block and keep looking. Suggest you get a 4wd. In rain we put it into 4wd when towing and it provides an extra level of confidence and security. Good Luck.

[Moflash]

We tow our 28ft International with a F350 6.7 TD Supercrew with a 8ft box and single rear wheels.for us this is the ultimate tow vehicle.The ride is smooth and comfortable.This is our second one and we will not go back to a 1/2 ton any time soon.
There is no difference in ride quality between a F250 and a F350 as both share the same primary spring pack but when hitched up the F350 is a much better choice and just $600 more.


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[wbrisett]

Originally Posted by Moflash

There is no difference in ride quality between a F250 and a F350 as both share the same primary spring pack but when hitched up the F350 is a much better choice and just $600 more.

I'm curious, I know it's the same engine, but the F350 is heavier so I would assume there's a difference... Any idea on fuel economy between the F250 and F350?

I'm gaining with the 2500 Diesel over the 1500 gas towing, but I'm loosing 2 MPG unloaded in the city. Since my 2500 is my almost daily driver (I ride my BMW motorcycle when I can), I consider the upgrade to the 2500 a wash.

[dkottum]

One of the things that determine ride quality for us and our Airstream over rough roads is unsprung weight of the truck's rear axle, as well as how well it is controlled by the shock absorbers.

Look at the Chev dually rear axle, wheels/ires, differential and spring pack and try to imagine it bouncing along a rough roadway. When shopping we compared that type of assembly to our Ram coil spring setup to see a lighter axle, differential, wheels/tires, no leaf springs, overall much less unsprung weight.

We then determined the Ram would provide all the weight carrying capacity we could use in our Airstream travels and would give us and our Airstream a comfortable ride on all roadways. The EcoDiesel at 15-17 mpg towing and 26-29 mpg solo is also quite comfortable as a tow vehicle and daily driver months at a time away from home.

Heavy duty axles/suspensions provide great load carrying capacity for this who need it, but there are ride quality concessions that come with it. Determine your own load requirements, not what we or someone else uses to pick a good riding tow vehicle that works well for you.

[m.hony]

A 1/2 ton with leaf springs seems to ride better with the trailer coupled.
It feels heavier, more solid, more planted, wiggles around less.
The same goes for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks with leaf springs.
My pickup is primarily a tow vehicle for the camper because I have another car for a daily driver.
The truck has spent at least 75-80% of its life towing.

[Thiss]

Thanks for bringing us along for the shopping of a new truck and trailer! Sounds like, from your other active thread, you aren't settled on the trailer yet? Also, since it appears that you will be buying a tow vehicle specifically for the Airstream and not a daily driver, I would buy the trailer first and then the vehicle.

On the duallie, I would only have one to tow the biggest of goose necks or a camper. They are hell on gravel and winter roads... unless you love the feeling of loosing the rear end and rallying around on gravel logging roads and frozen pivots like I did as a kid thinking "my grandpa will kill me if I wreck his pickup and live through it"

[Moflash]

Originally Posted by dkottum

One of the things that determine ride quality for us and our Airstream over rough roads is unsprung weight of the truck's rear axle, as well as how well it is controlled by the shock absorbers.

Look at the Chev dually rear axle, wheels/ires, differential and spring pack and try to imagine it bouncing along a rough roadway. When shopping we compared that type of assembly to our Ram coil spring setup to see a lighter axle, differential, wheels/tires, no leaf springs, overall much less unsprung weight.

We then determined the Ram would provide all the weight carrying capacity we could use in our Airstream travels and would give us and our Airstream a comfortable ride on all roadways. The EcoDiesel at 15-17 mpg towing and 26-29 mpg solo is also quite comfortable as a tow vehicle and daily driver months at a time away from home.

Heavy duty axles/suspensions provide great load carrying capacity for this who need it, but there are ride quality concessions that come with it. Determine your own load requirements, not what we or someone else uses to pick a good riding tow vehicle that works well for you.

You will find there have been many advancements made in the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks in the past 5 years.A 1/2 ton that is maxed out or at the limit of its designed payload rides rougher than a 3/4 or 1 ton when hitched to a larger Airstream regardless of the WD hitch used.

I know as I have owned and towed the same trailer with both along with many others on this forum that have made the switch to a more capable tow vehicle.

Coil springs were used on light duty pickups in the 50's and 60's and were discontinued in favor of leaf spring suspension's more predictable ride and load carrying characteristics.


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[Alluminati]

Originally Posted by Moflash

Coil springs were used on light duty pickups in the 50's and 60's and were discontinued in favor of leaf spring suspension's more predictable ride and load carrying characteristics.

I was surprised to read that to, but a quick Google search says Ram reconfigured and reintroduced coil springs for their trucks 2009 to present.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Alluminati

I was surprised to read that to, but a quick Google search says Ram reconfigured and reintroduced coil springs for their trucks 2009 to present.

I believe thats one of the reasons for the lower payload figures on Ram trucks.

[Thiss]

For 2016, Ram 2500 has coils all around and the 3500 is leafs in the rear. Both offer the air suspension option.

[dkottum]

One of the things we liked most about our last two Ram trucks was the coil spring suspension front and rear. Less unsprung weight for better ride and suspension control on rough roads, softer ride for us and our Airstream for less damage to both, and they are mounted to the body a little further outboard than leaf springs for more stability.

We shopped the air suspension on these models, he ability to adjust the height and self-leveling of the truck are impressive. About $1500 MSRP, not bad. Our concern was reliability, something we never worry about with our steel coils traveling about the country.

[slowmover]

Millions of Class 8 trucks and trailers ride exclusively on air.