What Are The Upsides & Downsides To Driving A DRW Truck?

As a camper / hauler of my toys, there isn't a downside. As a daily driver, the weight of the truck makes for stressful driving. Starting and stopping 8,000 lbs of truck in a daily commute situation is unbearable for me. Unlike many, I don't find parking it difficult at all. I'm willing to walk a little to park in the boonies.

sleepy, I think you need to do a DRW search on ebay or autotrader if you think most DRWs are outfitted like SRWs. :) Also, you need to look at the prices compared to SRWs. Did they tell you what they were offering? I wouldn't know if I hadn't been looking. I could have query issues though.

Of course, there are exceptions, and besides your older DRW isn't exactly a heavy duty DRW compared to the newer trucks that have dramatically more capacity. Your truck is barely more capacity than my SRW Supercab and almost identical to a GAS model SRW of the same year as mine. It compares really awfully to the new DRWs.

Things have changed in 10 years.

My GMC SLT has the same interior as thw Cadalic Escalade... leather, heated seats, the whole works... so you can get the interior that you want if you get one of the better trucks

people actually knock on my door wanting to buy my truck... so what is hard about a resell?

and more points ??????

I think "fact check" needs to be activated after reading a cople of the posts.

Here is a small list. NOTE: I'm considering trading for a gas DRW since I no longer drive my SRW as my daily driver.

1. The number of people who will buy them is dramatically less, so the resell market is soft compared to SRWs. Good if you want to buy a used one, bad if you want a big selection to choose from.

2. You need special brackets to load a TC and the brackets are weaker sense they are extended.

3. The individual tires are typically weaker than a SRW with higher capacity tires.

4. There is less ability to customize and most are more commericially oriented which means that they have less creature comforts.

5. They have hips and many consider them ugly.

6. They are less maneuverable by a lot due to more width and typically only Crew Cab.

7. Typically longer than a supercab since they frequently come as Crew Cab only. They weigh more.

8. They can’t park in most garages, or even make it through the entrance.

9. They barely fit or don’t fit in smaller traffic lanes. That also makes them harder to park inside the lines with them being almost 2 ft wider.

10. They are wider, so it may be impossible to maneuver between rocks/logs/trees off road.

11. The back tires float more so traction is worse without a load.

12. They typically get worse mileage due to weight more tires and less gearing options.

If you own one, you think it is the only possible choice … joking.

If a DRW truck is needed to do what you want it for then get the DRW truck. It's not as if you have a choice. Weight carrying, handling, stability and safety. Yes, it's a must for a 4300 lb dry TC as adding in your items to travel will put it over 5000 lbs. Not done yet as there will be passenger etc weight also in the cab. DRW with that weight will be near it's max also. Some brands of trucks of the same model segment can handle weight much better than others. Especially high off the ground weight.

Another downside to add to the above lists/posts is you will be replacing 6 tires instead of 4 and at Australian prices. DRW trucks usually average at least 1 mpg less fuel economy and that's an added expense. Snow, ice, soft sand, etc are like a plague to DRW trucks unloaded but not quite as bad with a heavy TC on. What about insurance, license or registrations costs for DRW trucks VS SRW trucks in Australia?

Sheriffdoug wrote:
What are the down sides to owning, driving, parking a large DRW/ Dually?

When I find a downside, I'll let ya know!!!:B

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

parking is more difficult in crowded lots.
The dual wheels can let a low or flat tire sneak by. you can't tell visually when it's low. You have to check pressures or at least thump them with a club or bar.

DRW's are too wide for many automatic car washes and ATM/Teller drive throughs. Not very adept at off roading either.

But the pros are pretty substantial when hauling a truck camper. You have to weigh the pros and cons for your situation and the type of camping you do.

There really isn't any downsides if you are using it for what you intended to... hauling your camper... or other large items

We have had a big, long crew cab dully for nore than 10 years... Janet drives it with the camper on... she'd never drive it with the camper off (then it feels big)

I drive it anywhere, any time... but it was never meant to be a grocery getter at 15.1 mpg camper (loaded)... a little better empty.

We have a 2008 Toyota Prius (54.6 mpg) for Dr visits, groceries, etc... it has never been more than 50 miles from home.

If you have learned how to easily load your TC then why would you have trouble parking or driving on a street?

We have driven our TC loaded dully on every street in the French Quarter in New Orleans with no problems.

We usually park "out" in the parking lot weather we are in the Prius or in the GMC dully when we go to crowded places... or even when they aren't crowded... in our Prius and in our dully... I don't like the unskilled drivers hitting my vehicles with their doors.

So, if you know how to drive... it really won't make any difference.

The circles that you drive will be a little bigger than you would be able to do comfortably with your auto or a smaller truck... some of ours have been more than 6000 miles and took more than 6 months. :W

You will enjoy it... like you have enjoyed what you have now...but you'll actually have less limitations.

Sleepy

BTW... how often do you drive through a bank of fast food... (we don't even in the Prius)

WE got excellent millage on the tires... the total weight is distributed over more contact area.

I have had a couple of them over the years. The biggest pain, as already mentioned, is parking. The other issue is dealing with the dual wheels and tires. If you go off road, which I did, you need to watch for rocks wedged in between the duals. Other than that they are just fine.