Forum Discussion

wgm2011's avatar
wgm2011
Explorer
Feb 11, 2014

She didn't like the DRW.

After years of research and planning, 2014 is (was?) the year we get a nice 5th wheel and do some traveling.

The good news is the wife and I both really like the Heartland Big Horn and Big Country 5th wheels. We're looking at their smallest unit but even those at around 35' length loaded will come in at 14,000#.

I'm in this to travel for relaxation. I've no interest in any white knuckle driving. We will mostly travel the nice and flat Mid-Western USA but don't want to rule out a trip or three into the Rockies at some point. Just trying to be realistic, we need to buy a 1 ton DRW pickup at a minimum.

The bad news, we test drove a nice Chevy 3500HD crewcab 4X4 this past weekend. We barely made it around the block and my wife, the driver, pulled the truck over and said "NO, I'm not driving this thing."

She has no problem with a surburban, but those two extra wheels just don't sit well with her.

I still want the Heartland but now she wants me to find an RV that is 2500HD acceptable. I've not worked up the numbers recently, but last spring we were trying to find a fiver that would work with a 3/4 ton pickup. I don't know what others consider an acceptable pin and loaded trailer weight, but I don't think there is much out there that's really rated for a 3/4 ton truck.

So I've got three options. 1)Find a 5th wheel small enough to work well with the smaller truck (might be able to talk her into a 1 ton SRW, but that don't increase the ratings by much) or 2)keep trying to convince her the 1 ton DRW will grow on her in time (married 35 years and really don't see this happening) or 3) just blow it off and make some hotel reservations.

Any recommendations? Anyone out there that really hated those dual rear wheels but after a while just got used to them? Or am I being too critical on how much a 3/4 ton can carry? Those of you with 3/4 ton trucks, what do you consider acceptable?

I guess I'm just sort of burned out. Had it all figured out and that goes out the door with one little test drive. (Oh, and to all those truck salesmen that have a funny line to use in this situation, trust me. They will not think its nearly as funny as you do.)

Thanks.

Bill
  • This is what I told my wife when we traded the 2500 for the first DRW. The mirrors are the exact same with as the 2500. If you think you are going to hit something, like the post at the drive up, look at the mirror. If the mirror made it by...the bubble will too! They are the same width. The real selling point was that she drove the 2500 while towing once. She tows with the DRW all the time!
  • Check the specs. A new 3500 SRW has a bigger payload capacity than you think. 14K may be doable. I believe payload maybe as high as 4K
  • Well I didn't hate our 3500 dually when we got it, but I was definitely very intimidated. Took a few months of driving for me to become accustomed to the size, especially when turning or parking, but now it's no big deal. I think your wife would get used to driving it if she gave it a chance and some time.
  • Have a look at a SRW 3500 and see if she likes driving it. You can get it beefed up a bit and most likely will be able to pull the 35' 5er. Before you go smaller, at least try bigger SRW. Just my perspective.