DRW vs. SRW for towing fivers

therink wrote:
My fiver is 37' and 12k lbs. I have never towed with a dually but my 1 ton srw tows my fiver just fine. No stability issues whatsoever.
It is also my daily driver and tow only about 12 short trips per year.

It's hard to know that much about the stability difference unless you've towed the same 5er with both trucks. I have towed the same 5er with both trucks over the same mountainous terrain and the DRW truck offers a more stable towing experience.

If your 5er is only 12,000#, then in reality the SRW truck would be just fine...The dually has it's place and it's "normally" with towing heavier 5er's, but believe you would be surprised in the difference in stability between a SRW and DRW even with your 12,000# 5er.

Mine is also my daily driver..don't particularly care for that, but even if I was only going to tow a couple of times a year, I'd want to make sure I got the right truck for the job...I actually enjoy driving my dually , I guess it's what you get use to...

Thanks everyone for the responses. I tow a 13k# fiver and may eventually tow as much as 18k. From what I've read, the DRW is the wise choice. I use the truck primarily for towing the fiver, so around town driving is not an issue.:D

Here is good enough reason to spend the extra for a dually.



Huge broadside gust of wind.



Stretched the 5th wheel jaws open & tore trailer out of the truck.



The trailer barrel rolled down this embankment. The truck stayed up top save by the stability of being a dually & not going with the trailer with possibly deadly consequences.

NC Hauler wrote:
It's hard to know that much about the stability difference unless you've towed the same 5er with both trucks. I have towed the same 5er with both trucks over the same mountainous terrain and the DRW truck offers a more stable towing experience.

If your 5er is only 12,000#, then in reality the SRW truck would be just fine...The dually has it's place and it's "normally" with towing heavier 5er's, but believe you would be surprised in the difference in stability between a SRW and DRW even with your 12,000# 5er.

I towed the same 9000# 5th wheel with a 04 2500HD and with the 05 3500DRW truck we have now. There is a differance even at that weight. If you think that you may ever want a bigger trailer get the DRW truck 1st or get one later. Your $$$, your choice.

tvfrfireman wrote:

Denny & Jami wrote:
I have towed with both and will never go back to a srw.

Denny

x 2

x3

jaycocamprs wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
It's hard to know that much about the stability difference unless you've towed the same 5er with both trucks. I have towed the same 5er with both trucks over the same mountainous terrain and the DRW truck offers a more stable towing experience.

If your 5er is only 12,000#, then in reality the SRW truck would be just fine...The dually has it's place and it's "normally" with towing heavier 5er's, but believe you would be surprised in the difference in stability between a SRW and DRW even with your 12,000# 5er.

I towed the same 9000# 5th wheel with a 04 2500HD and with the 05 3500DRW truck we have now. There is a differance even at that weight. If you think that you may ever want a bigger trailer get the DRW truck 1st or get one later. Your $$$, your choice.

I agree with you on that, was just saying the lighter weight 5er's wouldn't require a dually, but even then you would tell a difference in stability if towed with a dually, as your experience showed.

Buy it right the first time.Letting considerations like "fit in garage or drive thru or car wash" etc. colour your judgment is in MHO the hight of short sighted stupidity.
Unless you really love that new truck smell.
Myself I hate sending the gov a huge check for sales tax every time I change vehicles .
So I don't

PapPappy wrote:
I don't think I recall anyone saying that they wish they had the SRW, but lots do say that they wish they had the dullie.:)
Just saying.
No personal experience though.

So haven't had a dually, but I tow 11,000# with an 01 Ram, with Camper Spring package. I have no issues, and don't need bags to be stable. If I were replacing my TV most likely would get a dually.

We have never pulled a heavy 5th wheel with a SRW for the simple reason that both of our 5th wheels exceeded the Pin weight capabilities if a SRW. If you can find one that is within spec's for the 5th wheel you plan to pull no problem.