Need advise on tow vehicle 3500 or 3500 dually

So I am sitting under the awning reading this post and I look over at my 2014 Ram Longhorn I got a couple of weeks ago. It has a 29,000 lb tow rate not counting the truck and almost 5500 on the payload. I have towed with a 3/4 ton Ram ctd and a dually ram ctd before this one. All are 4x4 also. I don't worry I know I can tow it. You can never have too much truck.

There have been times that I was glad to have a dully and times I wish I didn't have a dully. While driving in Charleston and Savanna the streets are very small (built in the 1700's)and it was close to drive down them and they didn't want me in there parking lot(took up too much space), then there were times I was driving with a side wind and over mountains that I was glad to have a dully give or take a dully is good to pull with but not to sight see with. You have to make your own choice. We are pulling a 36.8ft fifth wheel and we like it.

I was looking at upgrading my TV, and was doing some research. A 2014 Dodge 2500, is rated for towing and bed weight of within 100 pounds of a 2009 Dodge 3500 DRW! So why the big deal over the DRW? Yes the current 3500 can tow a lot more, but how much heavier are todays 5th wheel, then a couple of years ago!

If you pay attention on the forum what folks feel is best is what they have and use. I feel what we buy and use is what we liked best at the time of purchase.

SO I am the same.

chevman

driveandfish wrote:
I think even if you bump the wheel size and capacity of the tires you are still limited by the GAWR. My SRW drive 1-ton Dodge has a GAWR of 6200 lbs. With my 32.5 ft trailer (34' actual) loaded for weekend camping, my scaled weight on the rear axle is 6000-6200 lbs depending on how I have packed. If you plan on full timing then I say absolutely the DWR. If you are weekending then the SRW will suffice but the DWR gives you a lot more safety margin. I wish I had gone the dually route but talked myself out of it as it is my daily driver.

Yep, air bags and a tranny cooler can have that Ford Ranger moving down the road with that 40' Teton 5er...no sweat...he he he.

Ken

driveandfish wrote:
I think even if you bump the wheel size and capacity of the tires you are still limited by the GAWR. My SRW drive 1-ton Dodge has a GAWR of 6200 lbs. With my 32.5 ft trailer (34' actual) loaded for weekend camping, my scaled weight on the rear axle is 6000-6200 lbs depending on how I have packed. If you plan on full timing then I say absolutely the DWR. If you are weekending then the SRW will suffice but the DWR gives you a lot more safety margin. I wish I had gone the dually route but talked myself out of it as it is my daily driver.

Your SRW uses the same axle as the DRW, you won't overload it even with most 19.5's at capacity. The axle itself is rated for 10,912lbs, but the highest RAWR given to your frame is 9,350 which is just above a set of Vision 19.5" wheels at 9,000. Your OEM RAWR is based on tires, so use that. The highest GVWR given to your frame is 12,200 so take that for what it's worth.. that's also a number many people with big 5er's or TC's violate. Personally I try to keep my truck at or under 12,200 which means ±7,500lbs on the rear axle.

SRW vs DRW is a tiresome debate on this site, and it's comes down to needs. A SRW can tow a lot with upgrades, a DRW can tow more without upgrades. For the most part tires are the SRW limit, medium duty tires (19.5's), will make that limit nearly unreachable.

Many new, and used, SRW trucks run OEM 18's which give a RAWR of 7K which is a nice bump over the pitiful 17" tire ratings.

I think even if you bump the wheel size and capacity of the tires you are still limited by the GAWR. My SRW drive 1-ton Dodge has a GAWR of 6200 lbs. With my 32.5 ft trailer (34' actual) loaded for weekend camping, my scaled weight on the rear axle is 6000-6200 lbs depending on how I have packed. If you plan on full timing then I say absolutely the DWR. If you are weekending then the SRW will suffice but the DWR gives you a lot more safety margin. I wish I had gone the dually route but talked myself out of it as it is my daily driver.

billyray50 wrote:
Would having 19.5 wheels and tires on a SRW truck help with with a fifth as it does with a truck camper? I know the real limiting factor is wheel and tire ratings. Looking to upgrade to a fifth and thought with my new 19.5 visions and 19.5 16 ply tires would give me more options.

Don't forget the air bags and then you can tow anything :R

Thx. erveryone for the advise and Cummins12V98 for adding my extra info

As I was advised...You can't have too much truck!