Tow vehicle questions (Solitude)

[PrePre]

Hi all,

We're picking up a Solitude soon, only we don't have the tow vehicle yet. Looking through the photos in the 'show us your rig' thread I see both single and dual rear wheel tow vehicles. Kinda at an impasse here. I've heard plenty of opinions for both sides (mainly from dealers, sales reps, etc), but I've not been able to talk to anyone actually pulling one of these beasts. Figured I might try this forum and see what y'all think. What do you use? Any insights would be appreciated!

Thanks,
PrePre

[Second Chance]

We use a single-rear-wheel - wish we had a 1-ton dually (even for the Reflection). I've never heard anyone complain about having too much truck...

Rob

[LCBoyer]

I tow a379 with a Ram 3500, dual rear wheels. I wouldn't feel comfortable towing with any thing smaller

[Barbara & Dave]

I think you'll find that a Solitude would push the payload limits of a SRW, once you account for the weight of passengers, fuel, cargo in the bed, etc.

Dave


Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

[perfpix]

Don't forget you also have to also decide long bed or short bed and which rear end ratio to get

Here's my 2 cents:

I pull a 33ft long 12000lb (fully loaded) Reflection 5th wheel with a F350 Single Rear Wheel Crew Cab Short Bed with the 6.2L Gas engine and 3.73 rear end ratio.

I never want for any more truck until I get into the hills. Then I wish I had a diesel. I've driven a F350 diesel pulling a large cargo trailer and it pulls like a freight train, seldom downshifting even going up steep hills. The 6.2L gas down shifts at the first sign of an incline. As the hills get steeper it keeps downshifting and increasing RPMs which makes for rather tedious driving.

If I was going to tow anything heavier, or even my current Reflection over longer distances, at a minimum I'd want a diesel, and possibly DRW. One thing to keep in mind, a diesel engine weighs upwards of 600-800lbs more than a gas engine, at least with the F350. This is quite a hit on the payload of the truck.

John

[MountainFolk]

Check out the "DRW vs SRW" in here. It has the subject covered.

[PrePre]

Yeah, not trying to re-hash any age-old debates here, was just hoping for some tips from those actually doing the driving.

Regarding 'DRW vs SRW' I tried the search feature but came up short. Guess it doesn't like searching on three letter words or trying to put it in quotes...

Regarding payload - it is indeed on the limit. A Ram 3500 SRW has a 4k payload...the Solitude a 2600 pin weight. Add passengers, fuel, cargo, etc it's potentially pretty close to that limit.

[Paul Adams]

I tow a Reflection 337 with my Chevy 3500 SRW, 6.5 foot box, and it handles like a dream with the Duramax diesel. I would spend my money on a diesel before the DRW. Also I find my truck big enough when I am driving without the trailer.

[CWSWine]

We are going to find out in a week or two. We have the lightest Solitude still in production at 12,100 UVW and 2635 dry pin on order (310GK-R). We have a 2015 F350 Diesel SRW with a yellow tag cargo capacity of 3744 and a ready to camp weight of 3280. We are just part timers so we don't pack heavy but do spend a couple of 30 day trips each year. We pass by a scale on the way home from picking it up so we will know it we are looking at a new truck before the end of the month.

[MountainFolk]

Yeah, not trying to re-hash any age-old debates here, was just hoping for some tips from those actually doing the driving.

Regarding 'DRW vs SRW' I tried the search feature but came up short. Guess it doesn't like searching on three letter words or trying to put it in quotes...

Regarding payload - it is indeed on the limit. A Ram 3500 SRW has a 4k payload...the Solitude a 2600 pin weight. Add passengers, fuel, cargo, etc it's potentially pretty close to that limit.

Look on page 3 of this thread or
http://www.mygrandrv.com/for...426-Drw-vs-swr

good luck, I love my long bed dually. I have added a tool box/fuel tank combo (at 10 MPG it's nice to control when/where you stop for fuel
when pulling a long trailer) Love how stable it is, especially in the wind.