SRW tows more than DRW!

wintersun wrote:
I count trucks pulling 5th-wheel travel trailers (don't count horse trailers) on my trips. More than 80% of the trucks are SRW. Hard to believe that 4 out of 5 people are wrong in their choice of a SRW truck for towing.

Everyone I know that tows a 5th wheel using a SRW truck. Once the trailer is at a campsite they would much rather be driving a SRW truck around the area.

DRW helps with a very heavy load in the bed of the truck as 4 tires support more weight than 2 tires, but DRW provides no similar advantage for most towing situations. The drivetrain has to work harder with DRW and that affects the towing capacity as you have just learned. Where I have usually seen a DRW truck used is with 2WD trucks where the extra tires at the rear help with traction on dirt and gravel surfaces.

LOL
Someone failed physics or maybe it wasn't offered.
1. Your right in that 80% of the lighter 5th wheels don't need DRW's. Problem is about half of em have never seen a scale or know they exist.

2. Why is it that " Once the trailer is at a campsite they would much rather be driving a SRW truck around the area." :H Those hips are no wider than the mirrors. Wheelbase turning radius is the same and if your a bad driver not watching your mirrors then yes waiting for the closest parking spot to Wally World can be a issue.

3. LOL, a 2WD dually is worthless in winter in my area and frankly I've never seen one locally except travelers going through town this time of year. Traction on gravel roads would be better with a SRW truck IMO.

Bottom line is a DRW will always have the maximum amount of payload and with the wider stance of the rear tires, it's more stable side to side.
Simple high school physics, and a certain football coach who always said, keep your feet apart or get knocked on you rear end.