Posted 2011-04-25 9:47 PM (#133531 - in reply to #133471) Subject: RE: Is this too much trailer?
Member
Posts: 37 Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada
Wow that sounds scary...I am wondering if the 450 will handle any better on a front tire blowout than a 350. I am not being sarcastic- I was just wondering the logic? Pls. explain.
Posted 2011-04-25 10:23 PM (#133537 - in reply to #133471) Subject: RE: Is this too much trailer?
Member
Posts: 37 Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada
Hey Baxter, I think you definitely made an excellent point for a dually. I just got the visual in my head on that back tire blow out and that is freaky. Actually, freaky with any size trailer - but I get where you are coming from for sure. Thanks
Posted 2011-04-26 5:30 AM (#133540 - in reply to #133471) Subject: RE: Is this too much trailer?
New User
Posts: 2
Location: salem, in
Don't miss understanding, I absolutely love my trailer and I have friends that have the next size up and they love theirs. The point is to make sure you have enough truck to pull and stop the trailer. You need to understand the difference between a 250, 350 single, 350 dually and 450 are more than just tires. Almost everything under the cab of the truck is heaver with each step up. The tow weights posted earlier, I beleive are for dually's and not single wheeled 350's. Their is more than just adding 2 more tires. Here is another point, take the weight of the truck and then add 25% of the total weight of the trialer loaded. Truck loaded should be about 9000# + (17100 x 25% = 4250) = 13250# on 4 tires. Now go out and look at the sidewlls of the tires on your truck and see what the max per tire is. I will bet that you are maxed out or maybe even over the maxium combined weight of the tires. You need a safty factor of no less than 10% and 25% is a lot better for those emergency's. I have spent a lager part of my life in constuction installing and moving heavy equiptment. This is they way we looked at hauling. Most of what we done, there was no manual's or charts, it was the first and only time it was done. So we had to be right, it was our lives at stake and this is how we looked at it. When I moved up to the 450, I went from the 10% safty factor to the 25% and their is a big difference. The big advantage of a dullay is If you have a blowout on 1 tire, you still have 1 tire on that side to hold the truck up. Now you have 3 tires on the back helping you stop and prevent the truck and trailer from jack knifing vs 1 tire doing all of that work.
Posted 2011-04-26 8:38 AM (#133546 - in reply to #133471) Subject: RE: Is this too much trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
Baxter makes excellent points. There is a big difference between a dually 350 and a 450 (550 in my case). I will tell you that I pull a Bloomer 1' shorter than your Bison and would consider the 450 or 550 the minimum pulling rig. We pull 200-500 miles on the average weekend and I wouldn't want to task my DRW350 with that task, certainly wouldn't want to do it with a single wheel. All that being said, that is my opinion. We see people all the time pulling large trailers with regular pickups. I guess you need to think about your situation and possibly hook the trailer up before you buy it and see what you think. Some of it depends on your comfort level, some depends on the numbers you've researched, Fyi my trailer is 15,000# empty. Have a friend pulling a Sundowner just like yours with a single wheel Chevy and gets along fine. That's a big trailer for a single wheel truck.
Posted 2011-05-01 3:03 PM (#133718 - in reply to #133471) Subject: RE: Is this too much trailer?
Member
Posts: 37 Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada
Well I decided to buy the trailer anyway and take all your advise too. We are looking for a duelly diesel but for now for our short runs (1 hour) we put on brand new Toyo M55 steel sidewall commercial tires. The weight on the back including the hitch will be ok. The deal on the trailer was awesome - so we will have to get a new truck! (now the deal on the trailer isn't lookin' so hot lol) But I still love the trailer.
Posted 2011-05-01 3:38 PM (#133719 - in reply to #133471) Subject: RE: Is this too much trailer?
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
There are thousands of used trucks on the market. With a little searching and patience you will find a good deal on truck with the capacity to haul your new trailer.
Is this too much trailer?
