I am casually truck shopping (waiting for 2014 models) and trying to fit a tow vehicle to a future 5th wheel. Most of the 5er models we like are in the 9000lb-11000lb dry weight and 12000lb-14000lb GVWR. The length of the 5ers we like are anywhere from 32' to the largest 36'11". Of course the wife likes the big 36'11" model the best! It looks like all of the big 3 1 Ton SRW gas trucks can handle these weights. What weights would you consider the need for a dually? Is 36'11" to long for a SRW? Burch

I personally like the srw for ease of everyday driving, which I just purchased a new '13 model. based upon the weight specs for my truck, I would say anything over 15000+ gvwr for a 5er should be dually territory.

If you stay within the payload & gcwr ratings of the vehicle it will be fine. If you think you need DRW then you should almost certainly be considering a diesel powerplant. A gas engine won't have the torque to comfortably tow more than #13k.

The DW and I were talking about a new 5'er this past week... I told her that we had bought our last SRW pickup... I drove dually pickups daily for years and let myself fall for the internet hype one time too many and ended up buying an F250.... won't happen again until I'm too old to pull a trailer... and by then the kids will probably have taken my DL and put me in a home anyway...

Javi1 wrote:The DW and I were talking about a new 5'er this past week... I told her that we had bought our last SRW pickup... I drove dually pickups daily for years and let myself fall for the internet hype one time too many and ended up buying an F250.... won't happen again until I'm too old to pull a trailer... and by then the kids will probably have taken my DL and put me in a home anyway...LOL that's funny! Make sure they drive you to the home in a dually!

While a SRW might have the capacity, a dually will be a much more comfortable tow. I could not believe the difference the dually made. I never feel a semi pass, and never feel cross winds. Yes, one can almost forget it is back there. I don't find the duals make it any more difficult to park. I have a crew cab long bed and the length is more of a problem.

1 Ton SRW Truck | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

JamesBr
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
I agree that you are on the right page. What I meant to say is that the SRW is not as happy close to its max payload as the DRW, so pin weight over 70% of maximum I think is more noticable on the SRW.
MetalGator
Nomad
Jun 07, 2013
JamesBr wrote:
welcome to the overbuilt forum for RVers. I would say the only thing to watch when shopping and staying within a SRW truck would be the pin weight. Otherwise, I cannot tell the difference between my SRW and my friends DRW other then his is wider and has a lower gear for the higher GCW.

The highest pin weight of the 5ers we are looking at is a little over 2000lbs dry weight. All the SRW trucks I am looking at have over 4000lbs+ payload capacity. It's the length and GVWR of the 5er that concerns me. I don't need a diesel since I only work 6 miles from the house and only put 7K miles a year on my current truck. Plus, I live in flat Florida so I don't think the gas motor will be an issue. The few times I tow out of state, I don't mind hearing the gas motor rev a bit on hills.

Burch
JamesBr
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
welcome to the overbuilt forum for RVers. I would say the only thing to watch when shopping and staying within a SRW truck would be the pin weight. Otherwise, I cannot tell the difference between my SRW and my friends DRW other then his is wider and has a lower gear for the higher GCW.
brirene
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
I would say you're approaching too long and too heavy for a srw. Not there yet, but getting close. Definitely at least consider diesel too, for your own towing satisfaction.
Lantley
Nomad
Jun 07, 2013
benbovac wrote:
I personally like the srw for ease of everyday driving, which I just purchased a new '13 model. based upon the weight specs for my truck, I would say anything over 15000+ gvwr for a 5er should be dually territory.

I agree with the 15K GVW as the threshold for dually territory.
Keep in mind this is with the 2011 and newer trucks that have the larger payloads. The older SRW models are not as capable.

In too many cases we look for a one size fits all answer. Each combo should be examined on an individual basis vs. looking for safety in numbers or the fact that Joe Smoe is doing it.
dbbls
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
While a SRW might have the capacity, a dually will be a much more comfortable tow. I could not believe the difference the dually made. I never feel a semi pass, and never feel cross winds. Yes, one can almost forget it is back there. I don't find the duals make it any more difficult to park. I have a crew cab long bed and the length is more of a problem.
Lantley
Nomad
Jun 07, 2013
Javi1 wrote:
The DW and I were talking about a new 5'er this past week... I told her that we had bought our last SRW pickup... I drove dually pickups daily for years and let myself fall for the internet hype one time too many and ended up buying an F250.... won't happen again until I'm too old to pull a trailer... and by then the kids will probably have taken my DL and put me in a home anyway...

LOL that's funny! Make sure they drive you to the home in a dually!
Javi1
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
The DW and I were talking about a new 5'er this past week... I told her that we had bought our last SRW pickup... I drove dually pickups daily for years and let myself fall for the internet hype one time too many and ended up buying an F250.... won't happen again until I'm too old to pull a trailer... and by then the kids will probably have taken my DL and put me in a home anyway...
netaq
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
If you stay within the payload & gcwr ratings of the vehicle it will be fine. If you think you need DRW then you should almost certainly be considering a diesel powerplant. A gas engine won't have the torque to comfortably tow more than #13k.
benbovac
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
I personally like the srw for ease of everyday driving, which I just purchased a new '13 model. based upon the weight specs for my truck, I would say anything over 15000+ gvwr for a 5er should be dually territory.

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1 Ton SRW Truck

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