On 9/7/2013 I posted information about my new dually pictured below. I drove it almost 700 miles this weekend and I am answering below the quote from Catsmobob.Catsmobob wrote:Nice lookin setup. I will be curious to here your opinion on if the difference in handling is worth the upgrade and the downside of the extra width with the four rear wheels.Last Friday, we left in a real hurry to visit my wife's uncle who suffered a very bad heart attack. My son and I took the time to install the Torklift Stable Loads on the RAM before loading the TC. He loaded his Lance and we took off.The DRW performed flawlessly. I mean, no side-to-side roll, no porpoising, and straight as an arrow down the road. We traveled near 75 MPH most of the way and one car driver decided to latch on the rear of my camper (about 10' back) after I had passed him. I kicked it up a few mph and my son passed him too. Then he decided to pass my son back and fall in behind me. I did exceed the speed limit, but he forfeited his game at 90 mph.Coming home, I followed my son most of the way. I would see his Lance 820 on his Chevy 2500 roll from side to side. My DRW and Lance 1050S stayed rock solid.I previously enjoyed at least 70 or 80,000 miles with my 2500 and my 3500 SRW carrying the Lance campers. I was outfitted correctly to carry the loads with both of those trucks.I do know now that with only adding Torklift Stable Loads to my DRW, I will have many pleasant driving miles.DRW - Was it worth it? Is it worth it? To me, Yes and Yes. Your mileage may vary. Well, speaking of mileage - the 2008 and 2013 are almost identical, but the power of the 2013 is amazing. At 75 mph(1800 RPM), there was not a single hill from Fayetteville, AR to St. Joseph, MO that required a transmission downshift or even the slightest variation in speed.

I'd never do a TC again without a dually.That's a beautiful rig!!!

Is yours the straight six or the new V8.My 2012 Ram Laramie 3500HO drw Crew Longbed Cummins 6 is simply amazing, withand without the camper.Mine has 4.1 rear diff. Loose a bit on fuel consumption, but has fantastic pickup at 60mph, for quick passing.DRW is the best. Had a 2002 F250 longbed srw 7.3, was great, then a 2011 Chev srw diesel longbed supercab, that was awesome, but 2012 Ram 3500 HO longbed crewis even better.I can't imagine how fantastic a Cummins V8 might be, with new hydraulic rear suspension?Ram, "Sheer Driving Pleasure".Enjoy! Happy Camping

Very nice rig.Hope the wife's uncle is doing better.

I bought a dually because the camper I wanted (AF 811) would be too heavy for a SRW Chevy truck at the time (2009 model year trucks).My truck is primarily used as a camper hauler.It hit 31,000 miles today. It's 4 years and 2 weeks old. Of the miles on it, a good guess is that 26000+ miles are with the camper on it. I've been in some nasty cross winds and was glad I had a dually.Since I don't daily drive the truck, having a phat truck doesn't bother me.Most people might ask "why do you have a 52,000 truck that you hardly drive?"My answer: because I wanted a diesel dually! I bought it because I could - it's the first new truck I've ever purchased.I tow a lot too. I wanted more power, and an effortless drive when traveling.

DRW - Are they REALLY better? | Good Sam Community

chalet05
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
Thanks for posting the photo of your rig! If I ever sit somewhere long enough to find a truck, I will have the same setup. Wondering if you had to order yours.
jimh406
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2013
RockyRoadCamper wrote:
My outside right dually blew out like a cannon had hit it. I could stick my arm thru that hole. Took out some of the fiberglass fender. If I had not had duallys I would have rolled that F450 with the Okan 116 double slide.

If your outside tire hit it, you would have likely missd it with a SRW.
RockyRoadCamper
Explorer
Sep 22, 2013
Duals all the way. Last Thurs. at dark on I-24 coming across the Ohio River at Paducah, KY I hit a huge hole in the right lane. Worst hole I have ever hit. Did not see as getting dark. My outside right dually blew out like a cannon had hit it. I could stick my arm thru that hole. Took out some of the fiberglass fender. If I had not had duallys I would have rolled that F450 with the Okan 116 double slide.

I reported that hole to the hwy dept.
CAJW
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
First off, sorry to hear wife's uncle is to the point of hospice care. Hopefully he's got most things on his bucket list checked off. That's one of the reasons for our camper purchase as one never knows when our time is going to be up. Regarding the DRW question, as a kid I drove our SRW with about a 1500 lb camper and although I was a newer driver, I never could get used to the sway it had and it was well equipped (for the day) with overloads, sway bar etc... Fast forward to this year and our dually, not a second thought about running down the highway at the speed limit, wind or no wind. Our Chevy is getting 13mpg fully loaded and 18-20 unloaded, both freeway numbers. Nice looking rig, go out and have fun getting it dirty!
Catsmobob
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
Thanks for the response Jumbojet and good luck with that sweet new ride.Almost bought 2011 Dodge dually but couldnt get the deal I wanted. Also after driving a propane bobtail for the last 25 years thought it might be easier to keep a SRW between the lines LOL. Well being that I promised the DW that my last three trucks were going to be my last new truck I may never know. Happy camping.
elkhornsun
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
I have a 4,000 lb. camper on my Chevy 2500 and it is very stable though I did add SuperSprings that cost me $445. If you son's truck sways that much it needs either more spring capacity, new shocks, new tires or properly inflated tires.
bwc
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
Wife and I just got back from a 3200 km three week trip through New England and upper state New York. We had a great time. The roads varied from flat to mountainous. Never did we experience any rolling or swaying even in heavy rains and winds. I have had SRW's before hauling much lighter campers and you could certainly tell you had something on the back with those trucks. I have added Stable Loads and that is it. I am grossed at 11,650 lbs on a 11,500 GVWR so it is loaded. I have the 3.73/4 spd auto and averaged 18.89 CDN mpg (15.74 US mpg) for the trip travelling right around 55 mph, 1400-1500 rpm. Like someone mentioned, up and down hill on cruise and it held speed 99% of the time. I personally would not go back to a SRW just for the fact that it handles so well. No issues driving into coffee shops, turning around or parking. That is a sweet set up by the way JumboJet!
Nautique200
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
The new V8 Cummins is for the 1/2 ton truck market and will be available in a Nissan Titan. The I6 is still the big dog.
mooring_product
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
Sheriffdoug wrote:
Pete, 12.6-13.1 mpg at 60mph, diff ratio 4.1, what's yours? Over that speed, consumption drops dramatically.

I went with the 3.73. Our speed limits are 65-70mph in our area and feel unsafe traveling below the speed limit.

I drive city 80 percent of the time.

My old truck averaged 13-14 MPG and I thought that was crazy....

My future plan is to order a tuner and delete the DPF and block the EGR.
69_Avion
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
I have owned the SRW and the DRW trucks with campers and if I'm going to haul a large camper (over 2500#), it will be with a DRW truck if I have the option. Having said that, I currently own a SRW truck because it is handier and my wife likes it better. That is why I now pull a trailer.