Possibly Downsizing to SRW from DRW

trail-explorer wrote:
I've been toying with the idea of switching to an SRW soon. Has anyone done it and later regretted it, due to the load you haul, such as truck camper, or towing a large trailer?

Looking for input.

Can't tell from your signature what you tow? If the SRW truck can handle the weight of whatever it is that you are towing, 5er??, TT??.....then go with the SRW truck..

flyairam wrote:
Jim,

Although I've always towed with SRW and can't comment on DRW manners, you might be interested in my experience.

My SRW Dodge 3500's limiting factor was the tires. My pin weight is 3600, loaded trailer weight of 16,000, which would have exceeded my OEM tire limits (the axle has the same components as DRW, even the brakes are the same). I installed 19.5 inch medium duty truck wheels/tires, a common mod with the truck camper crowd, to solve the tire safety concern.

My truck is very stable towing, in fact, it's more stable loaded than empty. These 19.5s are designed to carry weight-and lots of it. I'm sure having more tires on the ground would only add to stability, but I can't imagine my rig being more user-friendly, it's already night-and-day better than my 10,000 lb. travel trailer was.

One benefit of SRW is fuel mileage, we just completed a 3000 mile trip and averaged a shade over 12 mpg on the lie-ometer (it's very close, though). The 19.5s have less rolling resistance than either OEMs or duals.

Good luck with your decision,

Randy

The older Ram's may have been the same as far as rear axle, but not the new one's as far as rear axle goes. You "can" make the axle the weak link if you use tires that will handle "X" amount of weight, but the axle won't handle it....

I towed from WVa to Asheville NC, 5er weighing 16,300# with 3460# pin weight and lie-o-meter showed I got 10 mpg, but actually I got 9.8...thought that was pretty good for a combined weight of 25, 440#...If towing in the mountains on curvy roads, the Dually offers more stability with heavier 5er's.

IF the SRW has the capability and trailer is within ratings......otherwise DRW.

last year I went from a SRW with 19.5's to a DRW with 19.5's. I can definitely feel DRW tire scrub when driving tight corners and know that the more rubber you have on the road will cause that much more drag/resistance. There are too many differences between truck weight, power trains and age to make a fair comparison, but I am netting about the same mileage now as before but have the additional cost of DEF. If had a SRW version of my current truck, I know I would get better mileage.

I'm convinced any better handling I have with my DRW under load is due to the suspension more than the extra set of tires on the rear. Running my SRW with an 8000 lb rear axle weight was worry free with the 14PR 19.5's I used, but I could have benefited from a heavier spring pack.

Haven't owed a dually never wanted or had the use for one. Two of my winter neighbors went from dually to SRW. Like was said duallys have more cons than pros for them and me.

PRodacy wrote:

flyairam wrote:
Jim,

Although I've always towed with SRW and can't comment on DRW manners, you might be interested in my experience.

My SRW Dodge 3500's limiting factor was the tires. My pin weight is 3600, loaded trailer weight of 16,000, which would have exceeded my OEM tire limits (the axle has the same components as DRW, even the brakes are the same). I installed 19.5 inch medium duty truck wheels/tires, a common mod with the truck camper crowd, to solve the tire safety concern.

My truck is very stable towing, in fact, it's more stable loaded than empty. These 19.5s are designed to carry weight-and lots of it. I'm sure having more tires on the ground would only add to stability, but I can't imagine my rig being more user-friendly, it's already night-and-day better than my 10,000 lb. travel trailer was.

One benefit of SRW is fuel mileage, we just completed a 3000 mile trip and averaged a shade over 12 mpg on the lie-ometer (it's very close, though). The 19.5s have less rolling resistance than either OEMs or duals.

Good luck with your decision,

Randy

I agree with everything except the statement that SRWs get better mileage. We get around 14 on our dually with the camper.

Logic dictates that SRW should get better mileage because there's less wind and rolling resistance along with less weight. It shouldn't be a huge difference but SRW should get better mileage all other things being equal.

flyairam wrote:
Jim,

Although I've always towed with SRW and can't comment on DRW manners, you might be interested in my experience.

My SRW Dodge 3500's limiting factor was the tires. My pin weight is 3600, loaded trailer weight of 16,000, which would have exceeded my OEM tire limits (the axle has the same components as DRW, even the brakes are the same). I installed 19.5 inch medium duty truck wheels/tires, a common mod with the truck camper crowd, to solve the tire safety concern.

My truck is very stable towing, in fact, it's more stable loaded than empty. These 19.5s are designed to carry weight-and lots of it. I'm sure having more tires on the ground would only add to stability, but I can't imagine my rig being more user-friendly, it's already night-and-day better than my 10,000 lb. travel trailer was.

One benefit of SRW is fuel mileage, we just completed a 3000 mile trip and averaged a shade over 12 mpg on the lie-ometer (it's very close, though). The 19.5s have less rolling resistance than either OEMs or duals.

Good luck with your decision,

Randy

I agree with everything except the statement that SRWs get better mileage. We get around 14 on our dually with the camper.

Jim,

Although I've always towed with SRW and can't comment on DRW manners, you might be interested in my experience.

My SRW Dodge 3500's limiting factor was the tires. My pin weight is 3600, loaded trailer weight of 16,000, which would have exceeded my OEM tire limits (the axle has the same components as DRW, even the brakes are the same). I installed 19.5 inch medium duty truck wheels/tires, a common mod with the truck camper crowd, to solve the tire safety concern.

My truck is very stable towing, in fact, it's more stable loaded than empty. These 19.5s are designed to carry weight-and lots of it. I'm sure having more tires on the ground would only add to stability, but I can't imagine my rig being more user-friendly, it's already night-and-day better than my 10,000 lb. travel trailer was.

One benefit of SRW is fuel mileage, we just completed a 3000 mile trip and averaged a shade over 12 mpg on the lie-ometer (it's very close, though). The 19.5s have less rolling resistance than either OEMs or duals.

Good luck with your decision,

Randy

It's a tradeoff. DRW tows heavy better, SRW does everything else better. It just depends on how heavy and how much you tow.

I have a 15,000 LB 5th wheel/ 3200 LB pin weight. I've towed it with two SRW pickups and two DRW pickups. The DRWs both have felt more stable in towing the 5th wheel. All 4 trucks had plenty of capacity for the 5th wheel. Both SRWs felt squishy in the rear end when turning or quick avoidance maneuvers.

While towing with one of the DRW I had an inner dual go flat just at the beginning of a long bridge. I was able to continue towing until I reached the end of the bridge and the exit to get off and put the spare on. I'm not sure I would have been able to do that with a SRW.

I will always buy a DRW truck for heavy loads.