newb with a DRW/SRW question

[2RR2NV]

Hi ya all.

My wife and I will be purchasing our first 5th wheel in the 2016. Yeah yeah, you're probably like... WTH are you asking NOW when it's so far away. Well, we want to get a truck that will fit our needs without having to upgrade every 2, 3, or 4 years because we wanted to get a "bigger/better" 5th wheel down the road. we are looking at a Ram3500 4x4 CC auto CTD. But can't decide on whether to get an SRW or DRW. I "think" we should have a DRW to pull a 38' Montana since it weighs so much. Am I wrong and that an SRW will pull it too just fine? another issue we have is that if we want to go hunting up on the Plains, there are plenty of spots where a dually is gonna have problems compared to an SRW. soooo what should we do? DRW or SRW.


if possible, please give thoughts on why or why not, one or the other, will work or not, please.

on a sidenote, we intend to get the truck late 2015 and then go buy the 5er spring of 2016.
also, more time will give me more time to do more research before the purchase.

thank you ahead of time.

Scot "Z" a.k.a. TOTAL newb! 🙂

[B_Sjulestad]

BB_TX wrote:
The payload ratings for the trucks keep rising every year. The new SRW trucks can support weights not considered even just a few years ago. I know there are many on the Montana Owners Club forum that do tow the larger Montanas with SRWs and say the weight is within their new truck ratings. And they say stability is no problem either.
I pull a 35' Montana with my 2012 F350 SRW. It is within the weight and tow ratings. It tows the 5er great and stability is also great, even in strong cross winds. And pulls Colorado mountain passes with little effort.

I agree the new 350/3500 SRW trucks are more than capable to tow some big rigs. However I traded my SRW for a DRW and can tell you that I do notice a difference on windy days, going down hills with curves and when passed by semi trucks. Mine is my daily driver and I would rather drive it over the DW's Buick Lacross any day.

[Me_Again]

My plan would be a SRW and if it needed more capacity someday I would purchase 19.5" rims and tires. The tire is the limiting factor. The 18" tires RAM installs are rated to 3750, so there is 500 lbs of of extra capacity over the 7k RGAWR. Chris

[tsetsaf]

Find that perfect 2014 truck and then wait till 2016 to buy it... used. Will save you about $20k plus each and every hiccup, bug, and upgrade will be well documented for you online. This way you can pick out a srw and a drw and then buy what you need at that time.

[bigmichael]

2RR2NV wrote:
Hi ya all.

My wife and I will be purchasing our first 5th wheel in the 2016. Yeah yeah, you're probably like... WTH are you asking NOW when it's so far away. Well, we want to get a truck that will fit our needs without having to upgrade every 2, 3, or 4 years because we wanted to get a "bigger/better" 5th wheel down the road. we are looking at a Ram3500 4x4 CC auto CTD. But can't decide on whether to get an SRW or DRW. I "think" we should have a DRW to pull a 38' Montana since it weighs so much. Am I wrong and that an SRW will pull it too just fine? another issue we have is that if we want to go hunting up on the Plains, there are plenty of spots where a dually is gonna have problems compared to an SRW. soooo what should we do? DRW or SRW.

if possible, please give thoughts on why or why not, one or the other, will work or not, please.

on a sidenote, we intend to get the truck late 2015 and then go buy the 5er spring of 2016.
also, more time will give me more time to do more research before the purchase.

thank you ahead of time.

Scot "Z" a.k.a. TOTAL newb! 🙂

Personally, I think the answer is in your question. If you really believe that you may want to move to a "bigger/better" fiver some time down the road, and not have to upgrade the truck, then I think you need to be looking at a dually. If you decide for instance that you want to Full time, and want to move into something built for true residential living, 365/24/7, you will be limited in your choices.

For instance, our 36 ft. has a GVWR of 18750. A 38 ft or 40 ft go up from there. As soon as you move into something that takes you away from I-beam frames, and moves you into boxed 12 and 15 inch frames, 8000 lb axels, bigger wheels and hydraulics etc., the pin weight issue others have explained becomes the factor, not the ability to pull. Then a dually becomes the minimum. So all of a sudden, some Excels , Mobile Suites, Hitchhikers, Spacecrafts, New Horizons, Lifestyles, are no longer in your options.

[rickeoni]

I went through the same dillema when upgrading to my current ride. I went with a dually and now will never be without one again.

[noteven]

You want a dually for the stability and the pin weight. Those single-tire truck axles are not stable and can't take the weight:

Single wheeler

[jerem0621]

I went from a half ton F150 to a F350 crew cab dually.... And noticed...that it took more fuel to operate, harder to park in my works parking garage, I couldn't use automatic car washes, and the suspension was much stiffer. Actually towing the trailer was about the same. The f150 was properly matched to the trailer which is probably why I didn't notice a quantum leap in towing performance. I needed the dually to carry a golf cart and 1000 lb of tongue weight and my family.

If you need a dually for the chosen trailer then by all means get one.... DRW carries heavy weight extremely well which is exactly what it is designed for.

This stability argument with feet is not really correct. The DRW is there to carry substantial weight..

I remember the foot illustration but the premise is incorrect. The premise has you start standing with your feet together and then have someone push you. This does not apply to trucks.... Half ton, 3/4 ton or 1 ton start with their feet spread apart.... Then you spread your feet slightly wider... Now you have a more accurate illustration of the SRW vs DRW

The feet together illustrating is like comparing a motorcycle trying to tow a fiver vs a dually...it's not accurate and it's impossible.

If the SRW will carry the weight you need then by all means get one. My next truck will probably be a SRW short bed.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[allimax]

It's usually a good idea to match the truck to the trailer, if you don't currently have either. In your case, if you don't know how much trailer you're going to need, or how often you intend to upgrade, best to get the biggest, baddest truck you can afford. Which would be a dually in some shape or form, I suspect.

[Veebyes]

Why not get a beater of a small car for the commute then sell it for whatever or junk it when you are finished with it.

You won't regret getting a DRW right off the bat. That way you will save money by not taking a beating on buying a SRW first only to find out that you really should have bought the DRW. The DRW is really not that bad because of its size. It just means that you have to park further away from the door in the carpark which is good cause everyone could use a walk.

[JIMNLIN]

Looking at the Keystone website the 38XX Montana GVWRs are in the 16XXX range. That means a possible 2800-3200 lb pin weight.

The '14 Ram Body builders web show some 3500 SRW crew cab longhorn/etc 6.7 Cummins has payloads up to 4500 lbs. With the right truck selection the 3500 SRW will handle a 38xx Montana.

The 3500 DRW 6.7 Cummins Longhorn/etc crew cab long bed has up to 5800-6000 lb payloads.

The standing with your feet together or apart is a poor analogy at best of the difference in the new gen SRW vs DRW.
The SRW with those big 18" or 20" E tires at 3700-3800 lbs capacity with a 9"-9.2" wide tire tread/wheels aren't the old skinny LT235/85-16 E tire with a 7" wide tread from past years.

[dave17352]

therink wrote:
My 2 cents says:
How much will you be towing? Full time or part time?
What is the gvwr of the fiver you have in mind?
If gvwr is under around 13500, SRW would be ok. More that matters is how much will you be towing? If full time, then no question DRW. If the truck will also be a daily driver, then you will need to decide using weight of fiver and pin as main factor.
My 1 ton SRW tows my 12k fiver with no issues and DRW would be overkill in my case. I also drive it daily for work and tow about 2k year.

I agree with this post exactly. I have basically the same truck and and same size fiver and I totally concur. I would say if you do get a DRW and you going to drive it on snow or ice in the winter make sure and get 4 wheel drive because they Su$% bad when empty!

[therink]

My 2 cents says:
How much will you be towing? Full time or part time?
What is the gvwr of the fiver you have in mind?
If gvwr is under around 13500, SRW would be ok. More that matters is how much will you be towing? If full time, then no question DRW. If the truck will also be a daily driver, then you will need to decide using weight of fiver and pin as main factor.
My 1 ton SRW tows my 12k fiver with no issues and DRW would be overkill in my case. I also drive it daily for work and tow about 2k year.

[wandering1]

Depends on the weight you are going to put over the rear axle. Check out the specs for the truck on line. I have had both, a SRW is just as stable as a DRW. The suspension system provides the control. You should be just fine with a 1 ton suspension to control the trailer. If you don't know the weight you will be towing the only thing you can do is go with the top configuration for the tow vehicle. The 5th wheel towing specs will tell you what TV configuration you will need. Use the specs to base your decision on, facts, facts, facts, not personal opinions.

[2RR2NV]

Roger that!! I was thinking there had to be something I was missing and ya all have answered it. The only drawback for me is that the truck will be my commuter in the cooler/colder months and then TV in the summer (since I have a motorcycle to ride to work). unless the wife is fine with me taking her ride and leaving her the big 1 ton. LOL.

Thanks ya all. We might not do too much camping in 2016, but once the wife gets her job, that might change... then I'm gonna hang it up and enjoy retirement. WOO WOOOOT!!


Scot "Z"

[kaydeejay]

2RR2NV wrote:
Hi ya all.

My wife and I will be purchasing our first 5th wheel in the 2016. Yeah yeah, you're probably like... WTH are you asking NOW when it's so far away. Well, we want to get a truck that will fit our needs without having to upgrade every 2, 3, or 4 years because we wanted to get a "bigger/better" 5th wheel down the road. we are looking at a Ram3500 4x4 CC auto CTD. But can't decide on whether to get an SRW or DRW. I "think" we should have a DRW to pull a 38' Montana since it weighs so much. Am I wrong and that an SRW will pull it too just fine? ..................
Scot "Z" a.k.a. TOTAL newb! 🙂

While both trucks can PULL a similar load, the huge difference is the payload (ie the weight the truck can carry).
If you are looking at a SRW, just make sure it can comfortably carry everything you put in it, plus the hitch plus the LOADED pin weight of the fiver you want to pull.
At 38' that Montana is going to push the SRW close to (or over) its payload rating while the DRW will have payload capacity to spare.