Quite surprised on this one.. Stopped by dealer the other day (yes I'm 'still' looking at new trucks) and found this out...'13 3500 DRW 4x4 SLT Cummins/G56 and according to the charts it has a LOWER towing capacity w/ it's 3.42's (15,680) vs the '13 Cummins SRW SLT AISIN 4x4 w/ 3.42's as well of 17,150 lbs. Just dumbfounded that the SRW has a higher tow capacity the DRW I looked at (Admittedly due to the clutch & manual trans). http://blogs.cars.com/files/2013-ram...500-charts.pdfReason I'm looking is either would be fine for todays trailers (7k GVWR dump, 3500lb GVWR utility, 8k GVWR 3 horse slant bumper & 28' 8k GVWR TT) but I might have the need to pull a 14,400lb GN LQ horse trailer and want the ablitity to upgrade to a 5th wheel... So... Thoughts on Dually vs SRW for a 14k trailer?

Dually is more stable and less likely to sway. Also in case of tire failure on rear,you still have one left to hold the truck up.

Yep, a lot of things affect towing capacity.a 4wd generally has a lower capacity because of the weight of the extra running gear. A crew cab long bed has a lower capacity than a regular cab short bed due to the extra truck weight. Generally, a manual tranny is less than an automatic. Lots of things to consider....

The G56 vs the 68RFE vs the Aisin will result in different weights. I haven't had the pleasure of dealing with the Aisin but it is supposed to be a stout trans.The G56 trucks are derated to lower power output (is it still 650tq?), which is clearly the reasoning in the towing capacity difference vs their higher output Aisin-equipped truck. The DWR will still win the carrying capacity. That 14k horse hauler is questionable for a SRW. Short wall length/horse capacity, trailer length, how nice a LQ? These all come in to play on what the 'pin' is going to weigh.

Manual G56 vs the Aisin.Tow rating = how much trailer the truck can pull and has nothing to do with how much load the truck can carry. Looking at the '13 2500 trucks with the 3.42 gears shows a 150-300 lb higher tow rating than the '13 3500 SRW trucks with the 3.42 gears. You either need those big 9750 RAWR with the 3500 DRW for carrying 6k-7k payloads or you don't. Or you can choose a 3500 SRW truck with the smaller 7000 RAWR for 4k-4.5k payloads.Ram for '13 has lots of different truck configurations with the Aisin/68RFE or the G56. http://www.rambodybuilder.com/year.pdf

A DRW will tow any trailer better than a SRW, but you certainly do not need a DRW for a 14,000 pound trailer.As you and others mentioned, the bigger difference in the trannys. I did my time with a manual tranny in my last truck, and do not miss it even a little bit. The 68RFE has treated me well, but If I could go to the Aisin, I would do that.

SRW tows more than DRW! | Good Sam Community

52 Replies

_plit
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013
mpierce wrote:
Talk about comparing apples and oranges! Dually is for weight in the box. SRW is not.

Manual is limited by CLUTCH capacity.

You cannot compare TOWING capacity of the manual DRW to the Auto with Aisin SRW.

Apples and oranges.

X2

PIN weight vs Tow capacity is very different.. Also you need the AISIN tranny in the dodge and i think they can only be ordered when you customize the truck ( could be wrong ) but i have not seen any on the lots here with that tranny stock yet.

Split
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013
atvanish wrote:
Sorry NC, I forgot that...

Was the 1800 lbs in WC (weight carrying) or WD (weight distribution) mode?

Weight carrying from the way I read it....but again, I'm into the 5er end of it as opposed to towing anything with the Class V hitch..
Vanished
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013
Sorry NC, I forgot that...

Was the 1800 lbs in WC (weight carrying) or WD (weight distribution) mode?
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013
atvanish wrote:
Just 'confirmed' this morning and I was wrong - the '13 hitch is clearly a 2.5" vs the '12 hitch being 2"... Does anyone know conclusively the hitch capacity (WC) for each of them? Thanks!

Don't know exactly what you're asking...I think we stated that the hitch is a 2.5" hitch and it has an 1800# hitch weight capacity...This was stated earlier by me straight from the Ram website. I would take that as being "conclusive". I Have no clue what the weight capacity of the 2" hitch on the 12' was.
Vanished
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013
Just 'confirmed' this morning and I was wrong - the '13 hitch is clearly a 2.5" vs the '12 hitch being 2"... Does anyone know conclusively the hitch capacity (WC) for each of them? Thanks!
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jul 02, 2013
atvanish wrote:
Awesome - that's good to know guys about the 2.5" w/ 1800lb tongue WC standard... Sales guy must have been wrong - can you imagine that? ;)

Can't imagine an auto salesman not knowing about the product they're selling..............................yeah, right:)
Vanished
Explorer
Jul 02, 2013
Awesome - that's good to know guys about the 2.5" w/ 1800lb tongue WC standard... Sales guy must have been wrong - can you imagine that? ;)
mpierce
Explorer
Jul 02, 2013
2.5" std.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
cbconway wrote:
NC Hauler wrote:
atvanish wrote:
Thanks guys for the constructive discussion... I think either would do fine for my situation and sometimes just enjoy stirring the pot a little ;)

I really can't see however how I'm comparing apples and oranges of vehicles when the transmission is the only difference.. Maybe I should have entitled the thread "why are manual transmissions so weak"? I agree that is more fitting than a SRW vs DRW thread...

The class 5 2.5" hitch comment is very interesting - I haven't seen one on a Ram yet... Was that an option or tow package of some sort? I was pretty sure all of the 2013's here still have the 2"..

Mine is 2.5", rating is 1800# The truck actually came with a sleeve to put inside the 2.5" sleeve if needed....I used mine to mount my Bully dog Step...all I use it for....

Ditto for my hitch, too. I think it's standard. At least I couldn't find it listed as part of a package. Not easy to find a longer hitch pin lock, either.

yeah, I had to can my locking hitch pin that I used on the 12' and buy a longer one to hook my step to the receiver...I'd forgotten about that....
cbconway
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013
NC Hauler wrote:
atvanish wrote:
Thanks guys for the constructive discussion... I think either would do fine for my situation and sometimes just enjoy stirring the pot a little ;)

I really can't see however how I'm comparing apples and oranges of vehicles when the transmission is the only difference.. Maybe I should have entitled the thread "why are manual transmissions so weak"? I agree that is more fitting than a SRW vs DRW thread...

The class 5 2.5" hitch comment is very interesting - I haven't seen one on a Ram yet... Was that an option or tow package of some sort? I was pretty sure all of the 2013's here still have the 2"..

Mine is 2.5", rating is 1800# The truck actually came with a sleeve to put inside the 2.5" sleeve if needed....I used mine to mount my Bully dog Step...all I use it for....

Ditto for my hitch, too. I think it's standard. At least I couldn't find it listed as part of a package. Not easy to find a longer hitch pin lock, either.

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SRW tows more than DRW!

52 Replies

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