Do I need a dually?

[TXiceman]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

Don't listen to those that tell you to ignore the weight ratings of tow vehicles. The engineers that developed those ratings are bright guys that know their business. Yes, you can use "seat of the pants" impressions to give you an idea of how you're doing, but the CAT scale is your best friend if you wish to keep you and yours safe on the road. Just because others overload their tow vehicles doesn't make it a good idea.

Well stated... Just because you see someone else doing something dumb, does not make it right for you.

Ken

[Al Mighty]

I'm not saying to ignore weight ratings, but technically if everybody followed the advice of this forum, anyone pulling more than an 8k lb. bumper pull trailer of any sort would be doing so with a dually, and anything more than 12k lbs. would be attached to a f450. Several DOT officers I spoke with have told me that as long as I am not exceeding the rating of the truck, more importantly the tire ratings, and as long as I am not overloaded on the trailer (regardless of what ford specified it to pull) that I am good to go. I do have a cdl, which changes things a bit...I asked...so if I'm not overweight on my truck, and I have a gooseneck with 3 7k lb. axles, and I am not overweight anywhere on the axles, if I would be okay with a gcw of 29k lbs., and they said yes. A 3 axle trailer with heavy axles and brakes on each axle is going to have more braking power than a 20' enclosed trailer with 2 3500 lb. axles with brakes on one or two of the axles.

Take a big truck for instance, even with the weight that they are rated to carry, and not being overweight on any axle what-so-ever...they really only have ONE good panic stop in them...which is why it's important to pay attention to your surroundings etc., same goes for a loaded pickup. Hell, you can not have enough braking power with a trailer rated at 7k lbs. behind a ext. cab chevy pickup and cause an accident just the same way you could in a heavier rated pickup. The biggest thing is to pull your head out of your ass, don't drive beyond your comfort zone/safety zone and pay attention to what's going on around you. Accidents will happen regardless of being overloaded or not...and, I am willing to bet money on the fact that nobody hauling their race car to the track without a weight distribution hitch being used that has been a tad heavy and caused an accident, has EVER been sued and taken for everything that they own.

I am not discrediting this forum, or anybody on it at all..just stating that forums can get you jaded on some things that you wouldn't normally have that opinion of. Read enough and you will be pulling your 5x10 open trailer with a 4 wheeler on it with a 550 crewcab at 55 mph, because that's what everybody recommends.

[86GLHS]

If you want to win races get the dually because you'll be less stressed on the way to the track.

I haul all the time with the SRW and DRW. Most commonly on the trip from the job to the house I use the SRW loaded. With a good sized load it's a white knuckle drive with both hands secured tightly to the steering wheel. The next day I'll unhook the SRW from the trailer and hook up the DRW for the trip to the dump. One hand on top of the wheel at 10mph more speed. Worth getting a few mpg less with the DRW. Very little to no sway with the DRW.

With an empty trailer the SRW does a fine job as does the SUV.

Ask if you can test drive the DRW/trailer combo than your SRW/trailer combo.