Not wanting to start a war. Last summer I drove my son from NorCal to Denver to his school. On the way across Utah, Wyoming, Colorado I saw a ton of 5th wheels, and my unofficial guest is that 85% were being towed with SRWToday I drove from Nor Cal to just above San Luis Obispo, officially counting this time I came across 14 SRW towing 5th wheels of all sizes and only 2 that were DRWI know it makes plain common sense to me that 4 wheels on the rear end would have to give you more stabilityBut it just seems a lot of folks either put up with, get by, or don't seem to have a problem with SRWAs some of you know I am looking for a truck this fall at the end of the model year and it will be my last as I will be retiring in 4 years. I would prefer a short bed 1 ton CC so I am limited to the RAM in either Std CC, Mega CC in SRW or Mega in DRWThe only draw back with the DRW is parking etcto those of you who towed both ways, is it really that big of a difference. Certainly the numbers I see on the road are overwhelmingly SRW

Hi,I have a dual rear wheel motorhome, and it towed my Honda CRV nicely, until I replaced the factory Michelin all steel tires with Goodyear Wranglers. They have a polyester sidewall, and are much more flexible. Going down a long grade that we had taken many times, the rear of the motorhome was wiggling due to the sidewall flex, it was sort of disconcerning. The tiny 3,200 pound CRV was pushing the rear of the 16,000 pound motorhome into the corners - a bit sideways. After changing to all steel sidewall Goodyear tires, the problem went away. So I basically replaced a set of tires with only about 500 miles on them, my expensive lesson that I have tried to pass on as much as possible to others. So you can buy stable rear tires. You can also mistakenly buy unstable rear tires. I went to a FMCA RV show shortly after installing the Goodyear Wranglers and met with a Goodyear rep. He stated that the all steel tire was much firmer sidewalls, and would bring back the stability that I needed. He showed me a all steel Goodyear and polyester sidewall side by side, and you can tell by pushing on the steel sidewall it is much stiffer. Back in the 70's tires where not as strong as today. In the 50's you could count on needing to change a tire if you planned a 500 - 1,000 mile trip, and the spare tire was a requirement, tire life over 20,000 miles was almost unheard of. But with radial tires, my dad stated he never had a flat after 1970, because he replaced the tires with still a lot of tread on them, and never wanted to change another tire ever on the side of the road. So if you wanted to carry a really large load, then a dually was a requirement. Tires where typically rated at less than 3,000 pounds each, and the skinny dually tires only about 2,200 pounds each. In 2005, Ford came out with the higher weight rated trucks. They went to a 17" rim for the F-250 and 18" rim for the F-350 SRW. The DRW 17" tires where rated at 3,000 pounds each, while the 17" F-250 tires are rated at around 3,400 while the 18" rims are higher. So yes it is possible to load up a SRW F-350 with a larger trailer and have strong tires under the back. The 2005 and later F-350 SRW is rated to carry about 4,000 pounds. The DRW is even higher. Now Chevy and Dodge have increased their truck GVWR to keep up, and all RV'ers are the winners. We now have great trucks to pick from. Have fun with your new truck, it should last a long time, no matter if you have a dually or not. You will have a much stronger truck than what was built as little as 20 years ago. Fred.

Without knowing what you intend to tow it's tough to know if you need a DRW. I don't think people go get a DRW truck just to get one. Of course, they are a hassle to park live with so there isn't a reason to get one unless you need it. The payload ratings on a lot of the SRW trucks are getting up there pretty high these days. Unless you plan on packing the TV extra heavy you can tow a reasonably big 5th with a SRW truck. Like you say, about 80% of the 5ths you see out there are doing it.

OK as Golden HVAC has stated as well as mtofell1 the technology of these trucks have come a long way in recent years however to a laymans view of SRW vs DRW think of it as Point Of Contact x Surface Area x Payload... SRW as stated only a single POC and a slightly smaller surface area yet the payload can be high depending on the suspension and tire and wheel combination as ordered and or modified also with a standard profile parking and manuvering will be easier. DRW POC will be more spread out resulting an a larger surface area which will also result in the payload being more evenly distributed and greater stability from the wider stance of the DRW the payload will be higher also with or without modifications. The disadvantage to most DRW is something that can be overcome once you have adjusted your driving style and habits appropiatly and that is the hips on a DRW. All said and done it is your choice dependent upon your Trailer,FW,TC or whatever so please do your research and seek the advice of people who have the experience but in the end it will be yours Good Luck

Towing 10500# 30ft bunkhouse fifth with my F350 SRW. No probs and well under the max weight rating.

SWD wrote:Towing 10500# 30ft bunkhouse fifth with my F350 SRW. No probs and well under the max weight rating.Same here, but I just picked up a nice 99 f350 drw and will start towing this year with it and compare both. I am keeping both as I picked up the drw at great price

Unofficial SRW vs DRW road survey | Good Sam Community

rhagfo
Explorer III
Apr 26, 2014
I would agree the OP, we looked for a 2nd Ram 3500 DRW all we found were not in good shape even with low miles. We ended up with a 2500 camper special. Tow over GVWR, but well under axle and tire ratings (3500 springs), never an issue with handing or stopping, also no issues going! Would DRW be more stable, no question, but for the 11,000# I haul I have plenty of TV.
bfast54
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
06Fargo wrote:
nevadanick wrote:
...My current truck is a dually and you plan where you park instead of just pulling in...

:) which then sets off the huddle up of vehicles you find around your truck when you come back to it, even though you parked by yourself in the middle of 40 acres...:)

Why the heck do people do this????????..... I park my Large Dually out in the Back 40............and find Junkers,etc parked around it....so tight some times.....Urrrgghhh

For O.P.,try both if you know someone with a Dually.........For Full Timing.....I say go with dually......;)
ib516
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2014
DRW will "tow" better with heavy loads. I think why most people choose SRW is where the truck will only be towing part time. SRW wins there IMO.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
I've had both. F350 SRWs and an F450 DRW. Unless the weights call for the DRW, I'd far rather have the SRW F350. For me, stability wasn't a big deal for either. It was solely a choice based on weights.
nevadanick
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
06Fargo, thats why i try to park in the end space where i can just back straight out. Doesnt matter how many park around me. I can park and unpark anywhere but i just try to make it easy.
kennethwooster
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
As a farmer in and out of fields, I have always ran SRW. Started RVing in 03 so pulled with my regular truck and made it fine. We are pulling a Cameo and realized we are very overweight. We have a desire for a longer Lifestyle Rv and know we had to go to DRW. Bought a 2014 DRW F350 with top carrying capacity. First thing we did we drove to Memphis Tenn. and drove all over into Malls or wherever with zero problems getting around. I was also surprised at how easy it turned and how well I like the long bed verses short beds. I've pulled only about 200 miles and really liked the way it handled. Installed a B&W puck hitch. very impressed with that hitch. Anyway to go along with the discussion, DRW works great, My only griped is it won't go in the garage.
dbbls
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
There are those towing with a dually that don't need it just as there are people towing with a SRW that need a dually. Many of the SRW people towing large 5th wheels are overloaded but don't want the hassle of the dual wheels.
beaslwd
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
Our last two TVs were a 95 Dodge 2500 SRW and a 2003 Dodge 3500 SRW, Towing an ALFA 31RL and currently towing a Big Country 36'. We have towed many a mile with the Dodge trucks and I love the Cummins engine.
We currently tow with a Ford F-450 and seriously I don't know how we managed NOT being pushed off the road by crosswinds in some of the weather we've been in. The dual rear tires on a dually are MUCH more stable, and those that say they make no difference are only fooling themselves.

Are there drawbacks to a dually, sure just as there are with a SRW, it's all up to what you are willing to live with.
noteven
Explorer III
Apr 26, 2014
nevadanick wrote:
...My current truck is a dually and you plan where you park instead of just pulling in...

:) which then sets off the huddle up of vehicles you find around your truck when you come back to it, even though you parked by yourself in the middle of 40 acres...:)
steelpony5555
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
My trailer comes in at around 12.5k lbs and I have towed it with both a 2500 SRW and a dually 2wd and now a dually 4wd. The 2500 towed it just fine but moving up to a dually made it a more relaxing ride and drive. Like was said if you tow a lot then definitely go with the dually. Lots of folks are afraid of driving duallys full time and feel they are just not good for a daily driver. Here in Texas there are tons of duallys driven as daily drivers, mine included. No they don't fit in bank drive thrus but I do fit in a Sonics. Besides what few times I may have to park further out or have to walk into a bank is good for me health wise lol lol...

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