Deciding Between a Single Rear Wheel and Dual Rear Wheel Truck for Towing a 5th Wheel
Question:
Im preparing to buy a GMC Sierra 3500 diesel with a long bed to pull a fifth wheel RV. I live in Montana and we get some pretty strong crosswinds along I-90. So I am wondering if a six-wheeler would be better than a four wheeler? Are there trade-offs? Finally, considering that I drive in inclement winter weather, would you recommend four wheel drive? My apologies for so many questions in one fell swoop.
asked by: Ray
Helpful Expert Reply:
A truck with dual rear wheels is going to be more stable with strong crosswinds, having a higher weight capacity, and endure less stress while towing when compared to a truck with single rear wheels. A truck with single rear wheels is going to be more cost effective, experience greater mpg, and more comfort while not towing when compared to a truck with dual rear wheels. Therefore, if you will be towing constantly like across the country then it might be best to get a dual rear wheel model but if you only tow say a few months of the year and use the truck for transportation during the rest of the year then you may want to consider a single rear wheel model.
If you will be towing in inclement weather then I absolutely recommend you go with a truck that has four wheel drive. The traction on the front two wheels is already going to be reduced when towing and you will need as much traction here as possible when driving in snow. The front two wheels are responsible for 60% of the vehicle's braking so getting traction to these wheels is going to be crucial for stopping.
If you can let me know what year GMC Sierra 3500 you are looking at I would be glad to set you up with a 5th wheel setup if you don't already have one.
