Looks like the wife wants the rv bad ! So she says get a dually !!!! Life is good !! Thanks again for all the help.

 

I'm too poor to pay attention.

She's a keeper fer sure.

The difference between SRW and DRW pulling weight is significant, not to mention the safety factor of having a second tire temporarily holding things off if you blow a drive tire. Dropping one side to the ground when your towed weight is significantly heavier than the tractor is life threatening.

I always thought a 1 ton is called that because it is supposed to haul payload. (usually assumed to be about 3-4 tons) How they can take off tires and still call it a 1 ton is beyond me.

 

If I remember right, when I was looking at getting mine the weight difference (GVW) in a single and a duel was about 500lbs. I went with tires that had a 4000lb weight rating. Some even grab a after market rear anti-sway bar...
I've had over 3000lbs in the back of mine and it didn't feel unsafe at all. Felt rather... firm and sure footed.(?) It didn't even hit the 3500 springs yet. Thats winter time... with salt & sand and a spreader on the back and a plow up front.
(only difference in the 2500 and 3500 srw is a extra spring on my year truck)

 

I know in my earlier post I said I thought you were in dually territory, but if you are thinking of a new truck have a look at the 2013/14 SRW 3500's the GVWR is vastly improved and could probably handle that trailer, dually's are ok except they are a pain in parking lots and garages, have poor traction in slippery conditions or off road and there's 2 more tires to buy.

 

The problem with SRW trucks hauling a trailer that big and heavy is the E rated tires. Upgrade to G or H rated truck wheels and tires and it would be fine. Lots cheaper than a new truck.
That being said, I have a Voltage 3905 exactly like the OP wants. I'm here to tell you it's the biggest toy hauler on the market. It's 43' and has a gross weight of 19000 lbs. mine pushes about 20k heading out to the dunes. By the time you take the mfgrs 15.5k weight and and propane, batteries, food, clothes, 150 gallons of water, and whatever toys you have in the 14' garage, and the weight adds up fast.
The OPs truck will pull it, even with 3.73s, but a dually is the better tool for the job.

 

Looked up the payload on the 2014 SRW 3500 Laramie Crew long box 4X4 it's 4380lbs with GVWR of 12300lbs.

 

Ok surper Dave where can I get some of the g or h rated wheels and tires? Cuz I really like my truck ( plus payed for) and if this works then I will do that!! So I take it that u r in the same boat I am ? Srw truck? Also how do you like your voltage 3905?

 

I don't want to start anything but Superdave has a DRW, and for good reason. Please think this thru. My 5er is maybe 13k loaded and the 48re is terrible towing in stop and go and on bigger hills (it heats up really fast). I could not imagine adding another 8k and 10 feet. Stopping on a downgrade would be a nightmare also. Maybe ask if you can take it in a test drive and go up some inclines as well as the freeway and see how it goes. I hope I'm not coming off bad, but I would not feel comfortable driving that. Sorry.

 

I went to the dealer and I did pull it around and on the freeway, it wasn't that bad . Plus I have a break controller as well as an break exhaust too. I'm just was trying to see if I could get away without a dually. But it sounds like that's the way to go. I'm also looking in the conversion kits too. Read a lot about this as well? This would be way cheaper then a new truck . Thanks for the input.
Ps. Most of our trips are here in Michigan to Kentucky so not many hills . But thanks again

 

There was a guy near me that wanted to do the conversion for free. I almost pulled the trigger but I had just done the brakes, tires and line X on the bed. Would have been cool. I do like having my Timbrens, but if I was to do it again I would have gone with air bags. The ride when unloaded is horrible with the the Timbrens and I take them off. I know it is hard to find a wife that loves camping so I would do what I can to get the 5er she wants. I lucked out also, our honeymoon was putting a tent in the truck and going up and down the coast for two weeks before I had our first travel trailer. It was a blast. Best of luck and keep us posted!

 

Well I have a wk 1/2 before I take the new rig out so I'm going to upgrade my rear tires and put on a set of Firestone air bags . Let's see how it goes . Then when I get back I can get some more input on what to do next and more time to look at the dually conversion kit . I would like to look at all my options before I look at a new truck .

 

That has little meaning any longer...

In the old days, (say the 50's and 60's), you had 1/4 ton, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and etc. that related precisely to what the truck's cargo capacity was. That had a lot to do with how lightly those trucks were built back then too. The "ply" tires (4, 6, 8) was from back then too. And the bias ply tires really didn't load as well. Think of putting 500lbs in the bed of a '54 F100.

Remember the military "deuce and a half"? that was because it was rated for two and a half tons or 5000 lbs. (off road anyway... obviously they can haul much more).

So, the "rating" (one ton, 3/4 or whatever) is just a relative thing now days.
You must be an old guy, huh?

Sorry for the thread derail.

 

No not that old 50 lol but really green when it comes to pulling a fifth wheel . I've been doing a lot of reading on here and other sites too . Just seems the more I read the more I get confused !! Lol I think I will try what one guy said he does that worked for him. That is run a set of 19.5 rims and a g or h rated tire for the summer months ( towing season ) in Michigan is about 4 months and then goes back to his stock tires for the winter ? Anyone have any input? He was pulling the same weight as me . I'm still going to put a set of air bags on too

 

I might be over the hill, but I'm picking up speed as I lead a massive pack of boomers. '46

 

Go to RV.net. That is where the serious RVer's hang out. Ask the same questions there in the 5th wheel section and consider the feedback.

Going to 19.5's and h rated tires does solve the tire weight limit issue. Now you have a gearing issue. Also, you may not like how the truck will sit. It is possible that the truck height will change enough to nessistate an axle over conversion on the trailer to make it work. 19.5's are not short tires.

You may not have liked getting the answers you did. I hope you weren't just asking the question to get people to agree and support your choices; we're sincerely looking to keep you safe.