GlennWest Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 Looking at trucks and making plans. I really don't see where I need a large condo. Some times we are forced to get in rather old rv parks that were built before slide out and long units. In Blessings TX we were challenged with the crew cab long bed dually. I am considering a 610/630 singled and haul a Smart. These units don't look odd singled, at least the ones I saw didn't. What are your thoughts on this. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdonlybob Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 My past HDT was a 610 factory single axle.. Perfect for us, and loved it. When I lived in WV we took it for overnight camping in areas similar to what you are describing...We had the bunk beds and found it totally adequate for our needs, and I am 6'5". A great all around HDT in my opinion. Cheers, and good luck, Bob 1989 Safari Serengeti 34'Towing a 1952 M38A1 Military Willys Past HDT owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyates007 Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 I have both and like the looks of the 610 singled better than the larger sleepers unless you single mid to long. Our 610 has always had plenty if storage and space and that's traveling with 3 kids, two of them under 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 My past HDT was a 610 factory single axle.. Perfect for us, and loved it. When I lived in WV we took it for overnight camping in areas similar to what you are describing...We had the bunk beds and found it totally adequate for our needs, and I am 6'5". A great all around HDT in my opinion. Cheers, and good luck, Bob Would love to find one factory single. Probably got a heavier axle also. Cool 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 What wheel base did ya'll end up with 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad & Jacolyn Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 I have a 630 singled short and we are very happy with it. The WB is 218" Brad and Jacolyn Tucker the Wonder dog and Brynn the Norfolk Terrier 2009 Smart "Joy" 2004 VNL630 "Vonda the Volvo" 2008 Hitch Hiker 35 CK Champagne Edition VED12 465 HP, Freedomline, 3.73 ratio, WB 218" Fulltiming and loving it. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 I see them with stock tandem anywhere from 190ish-230ish. What did yours start life as. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 We are singled short at 186. When we rebuild our bed, I'm planning on moving the axle back to the "Mid" position, or 26" back. This puts us at 212" which I think will better balance our rig. We have the M-11 Cummins which is a lighter engine to begin with. If I put our pin weight (4800lbs), 6 feet begin the rear axle it will lighten the front even more, even with a smart car behind the cab. So with having the axle moved to mid, we should balance better. Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 I assume yours had the shorter wheel base with tandems. I am trying to figure out what wheel base to buy so I can simply move rear axle to front axle position. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil D Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 I am trying to figure out what wheel base to buy so I can simply move rear axle to front axle position.  Standard spread tandem sets are on 52" centers, Glenn. Once you figure how much wheelbase you'd like to have for what you're planning to do, if you find a truck that has a WB that's 26" longer than your "target" wheelbase, you'll be exactly where you want to be when singled short. Phil  2002 Teton Royal Aspen 2003 Kenworth T2000 - Cat C12 380/430 1450/1650, FreedomLine, 3.36 - TOTO . . . he's not in Kansas anymore. ET Air Hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 THANK YOU. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 I have a 630 singled short and we are very happy with it. The WB is 218" So yours was tandem at 244" right. In truck paper 235" is longest I have found on a 630 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlvillestu Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Extreme example  http://www.truckpaper.com/list/list.aspx?bcatid=27&DidSearch=1&EID=1&LP=TRK&ETID=1&ParentCategoryID=207&Mdltxt=vnl64t630&mdlx=Contains&LiftGate=All&Cond=All&WB=260&SO=2&btnSearch=Search Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Didn't look at any that new. Was looking in pre 2007 due to emissions. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 In Blessings TX we were challenged with the crew cab long bed dually. I am considering a 610/630 singled and haul a Smart. I have a T2000 singled short. I am in the 180 something wheelbase range (I forget exactly and the truck is in for its annual service so I can't go measure it). My hitch is just behind the axle at the rear of the bed. My bed is fairly short (not big enough for a Smart). My HDT is about 18 inches or so longer than my Chevy long bed dually was. I am about 8 feet longer overall with my trailer attached than I was with my Chevy (because of the hitch placement and the extra length of the truck). I find I can get into much tighter spots now than I could with the Chevy. Sites that used to take multiple tries to get into, now can be gotten into in one try. This is because of the hitch being at the back of the truck instead of over the axle and because of the much sharper front wheel cut. I wouldn't worry so much about the tight campgrounds. 2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)My First Solar Install ThreadMy Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the buildMy MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com    West Coast HDT Rally Website     Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 thank you. I sorta figured that from other reading also. Another big problem in that park was using my 3500 for daily work commute. Getting out of our spot was several back and forth moves before leaving. I could park the HDT out of the way. The Smart would be simple. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 If the truck has a heavy N-14 Cummins in it, can singling short cause a front axle overload? I am asking about the 61" cab. There is considerable deck space behind cab before front tandem. I have seen 610 with a Smart and car wheel was in line with single short axle truck. So lots of this weight on front axle. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 I have an N14 in my T2000. My front axle weight is right about 10000 lbs (plus a few depending on how much fuel I have in the tanks). But again, I don't carry anything on the bed other than a generator and some bicycles. 2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)My First Solar Install ThreadMy Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the buildMy MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com    West Coast HDT Rally Website     Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Glenn - as wheelbase gets shorter more weight is transferred to the drive axle(s) from the steer axle if nothing else is changed such as cargo placement "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever.  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 My 610 was singled short at 182". That is about as short as you can get a 610/630. It would carry a MC but not a smart. I needed a minimum of 16" more deck to carry a smart. Rather than invest in that truck and rebuild the bed I bought another truck. On a 610 class truck I'd be wanting something over 200" to carry a smart. And you do NOT want to just single long because that will tend to bias weight (in most cases) to the front axle when you have deck cargo. There is a spreadsheet somewhere in the Resource Guide that will help you calculate axle loading with various scenarios.  I ran an ISM in my 610 (a baby engine) and was nowhere near front axle loading. With a high displacement engine you should do the calulations carefully, because you "can" get into an overload situation in some cases. Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail 2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it) 2022 New Horizons 43' 5er 2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units 2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck -------------------------------------------------------------------------See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 So based on that a truck with a 225-230 wheel base would be a good candidate for singling short. That would narrow down the search. Going to check out resource guide. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdonlybob Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 My 610 was an older (2001) ex FedEx truck that was owned and maintained by Watkins Motor Freight. It had an N14 Cummins and was factory singled at ~192 or so if I remember correctly. Very nice set up, and really perfect for what I wanted. Most all of the Watkins trucks were spec'd close to the same. They are still around, but getting harder to find. I hauled my Harley on the back and did not have front axle weight problems, but was close. Cheers, Bob   1989 Safari Serengeti 34'Towing a 1952 M38A1 Military Willys Past HDT owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad & Jacolyn Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Hi Glenn, Vonda started life as a Canadian steel hauler so she is now in her retirement years. I had the singling done before I took possession. Rick Lacombe brokered the deal and handled everything. My 2004 630 had the front axle removed and the rear axle moved to the front position. I did not shorten the frame and just built the bed around the original frame length. I could hold a dance on my bed. One other thing. I have a 14.6K front axle so I have no problem with to much weight up front when we singled. Â Brad Brad and Jacolyn Tucker the Wonder dog and Brynn the Norfolk Terrier 2009 Smart "Joy" 2004 VNL630 "Vonda the Volvo" 2008 Hitch Hiker 35 CK Champagne Edition VED12 465 HP, Freedomline, 3.73 ratio, WB 218" Fulltiming and loving it. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Brad, I have always said that your truck just doesn't look like it was singled "short". You are at 218 singled "short" and I am at 226 singled "mid". I understand that trucks are spec'ed different and I think Vonda was a long truck to begin with. Maybe we need to pull some tape on trucks this year at Hutch to see how much variance other "short" and "mid" trucks have from BOC or something?  Maybe the term " singled short" or "mid" shouldn't be used so much as a designator for length but rather a reference to the method/position used to single?? Lord knows I am not a bed builder and am making my conclusion based on looks, but I have seen some short "short" trucks and yours isn't one of them. I mean, look at Hdonlybob's "short" truck in the pictures above, he is 26" shorter than yours yet I am singled "mid" and am only 8" longer than you. If our measurements are all correct, you are much closer in size to my "mid" position than his "short". MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~ 2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 2014 smart Fortwo    Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Agree 110%. That what got me to looking at wheel base length. Hadn't even considered it before this. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.