Hello to DTR, new member. I am looking into hotshotting, pulling camper trailers, fulltime from driving semi. Requirements would be fifth wheel, gooseneck and reese style receiver hitch, long bed and dually. I have a gas 3/4 ton Dodge to use, which is fine for backup. Anyways, I was wondering how I should go about setting the truck up for fulltime work pulling trailers. I know it will be a six speed manual, and most likely two wheel drive. What axle ratio would be best? Do exhaust brakes help as much as say a jake brake in a semi? Any recommendations on hitches too? Any other advice on the setup?

 

You're On The Right Track(my Opinion)2 Wheel, 6 Sp, Dually Does Help W/stability Only W/long Travel Trailer, Not W/fifth Wheel.
If You Have Ample Power 355 Gears R Fine, Otherwise 373's R Good.i Drove Big Rigs Too-jake Brakes Work Fine, But Not Quite As Well As A Big Rig.i Owned A Trucking Co And Have Been Towing Rv's, Boats, Gooseneck, Ect For Years.i Love To Help Answer Any Questions,please Send Me A Pm. Jr

 

The ultimate for hire RV towing machine IMO would be a Dodge Chassis Cab 4x4 Regular Cab with a sleeper, possibly an extra fuel tank and a flatbed.

I would do 4X4. It gets nasty up in Indiana and you will not have 34,000 lbs on your axles to give you traction!

Sleeper - Sleeping on the front seat gets old very quickly.

 

A built clutch would be good, gauges obviously, def a exhaust brake. Also I have the 22.5 on my truck and the stability while towing is amazing I also have airbags and trac bars. I also have a transferflow aux tank which comes in nice for long trips.

Also the 22.5 have made my gears very tall and keeps rpm's way down, when I pull is when I really enjoy having these rims and tires.

 

An air ride seat would be nice.

 

And an old lady and a good hound

 

I was going to ask if you really live with Wiggs---but your answer to the last response says yes!

 

True, but a tight limited slip or locker will have all four rear tires trying to power me, and it will have a couple thousand on the tires. I'm up in the air yet as far as 2WD vs 4WD, kind of leaning towards 2WD as of right now.

 

So do the larger tires jsut provide better stability or better mileage or both?

 

That would be my setup, only thing I would add is some 19.5s.

 

It also does not qualify as off duty time in your log. If you're going to do this professionally, Patrick's suggestion is the best way to go about it.

 

if your going through mid west allot, I'd say 4x4. the weather here is erratic at best.

 

Having lived in Rhinelander WI, I know about the weather. I also know that a two wheel drive pulling a trailer will do it. I have seen a 91 Dodge 250 2WD with a 11,000 lb gooseneck with hay doing amazing feats in ice/snow conditions. If it gets bad enough to where I feel the need for 4WD, I simply park it. It's a philosophy I've had since day one in the semi, if forward motion is halted, or if it fishtails loaded, it's time to pull over. Never had problems before. My big thing is why have all that drivetrain spinning, or there, if the possibilities of use are way down, and the time frame of usage is around 3 months. Let's face it, winters just aren't like they used to be.

 

Id get a 3500 cab chassie, flat bed, 4x4 Quad Cab. Get the solid back doors, and turn the back seat into your sleeper... its cheaper...I just saw a really nice version of this and it was PERFECT...

Mike

 

That will not qualify as a sleeper though....