Is Dually a must for Solitude 5th wheel

[Corzo99]

Hello,

We are getting a Solitude 378 and we need to order a tow vehicle. We are considering a 2021 F350 Diesel short bed SRW. I was wondering if anyone here could share their experience towing a heavy 15k lbs 5th wheel with and without a dually. I prefer not to go dually if I have to but I have no experience towing heavy 5th wheels.

MC

[Bill & Jeri RV Travels]

F150? Hope that’s a typo and you meant F-350. I would recommend you skip over the F-250 3/4 ton and go to a 350 one ton. We tow a 35’ Montana (GVW 16,300, but we keep the trip loaded weight down to around 14,200) with a F-350 Lariat CC SRW SB 4x4 diesel and it’s a sweet handling rig, but I will be the first to admit that a dually would be better, especially if we loaded it to over 15,000 or so.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hoopy Frood]

That's a huge difference in choices: between an F150, and a 1-ton dually. IMO a dually will always be more stable simply because of the larger footprint. As to whether you need it or not, that's up to the individual. I consider a dually a good choice for 15,000 lbs., probably not necessary, but a good choice ne'er the less.

[Corzo99]

Yes, that was a typo.

MC

[WhittleBurner]

Yes, that was a typo.

MC

A little friendly forum hint, select reply with quoote (lower right corner of each post) when replying to a specific post and the person quoted will be notified you replied .

This might help you understand how to pick out the right tow vehicle for the job https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...ing-Capability

If it were me hauling around a 40+ ft trailer I would get the dually, you will be on the road often and no matter how hard you try justify a SRW the Dually is a less stressful tow for a large trailer. Especially in the wind or mountains.

[Captcolour]

I pull my Solitude 380FL with a F350 diesel dually long-bed and would not have it any other way (except a F450!).

[SolarPoweredRV]

I pull my Solitude 380FL with a F350 diesel dually long-bed and would not have it any other way (except a F450!).

I agree, towing a 5th wheel is a lot of responsibility and the F-350 Dually is a very stable platform for towing the Solitude.

I also would not want to tow a 5th wheel as wide as the Solitude with a short bed pickup (the Solitude is 101 inches wide, the widest allowed on the streets).

Driving the Dually around the city is not too hard to get used to and you simply learn to park at the far end of the lot where there is more space.

[Corzo99]

Captcolor,

Do you find it easy to back up and move around with the dually? We won't be stationary with this rig. We plan to spend a week to 10 days on a site and move on. Any other issues with the dually vs SRW to consider?

Just out of curiosity what mpg can I expect with a dually?

Thank you for the feedback.

MC

[Corzo99]

Hi Bill,

What mpg are you getting with the Ford?

MC

[Bill & Jeri RV Travels]

Hi Bill,

What mpg are you getting with the Ford?

MC

Towing on the flatland our F-350 diesel gets around 11-11.5 mpg. Towing out West and in the mountains around 8-9 mpg. Not towing, around 18-20. I typically tow at around 62-65 mph. In the mountains 55-62 or less, depending on how steep the roads are. No shortage of raw power with the big diesels. [emoji16][emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk