She didn't like the DRW.

[wgm2011]

After years of research and planning, 2014 is (was?) the year we get a nice 5th wheel and do some traveling.

The good news is the wife and I both really like the Heartland Big Horn and Big Country 5th wheels. We're looking at their smallest unit but even those at around 35' length loaded will come in at 14,000#.

I'm in this to travel for relaxation. I've no interest in any white knuckle driving. We will mostly travel the nice and flat Mid-Western USA but don't want to rule out a trip or three into the Rockies at some point. Just trying to be realistic, we need to buy a 1 ton DRW pickup at a minimum.

The bad news, we test drove a nice Chevy 3500HD crewcab 4X4 this past weekend. We barely made it around the block and my wife, the driver, pulled the truck over and said "NO, I'm not driving this thing."

She has no problem with a surburban, but those two extra wheels just don't sit well with her.

I still want the Heartland but now she wants me to find an RV that is 2500HD acceptable. I've not worked up the numbers recently, but last spring we were trying to find a fiver that would work with a 3/4 ton pickup. I don't know what others consider an acceptable pin and loaded trailer weight, but I don't think there is much out there that's really rated for a 3/4 ton truck.

So I've got three options. 1)Find a 5th wheel small enough to work well with the smaller truck (might be able to talk her into a 1 ton SRW, but that don't increase the ratings by much) or 2)keep trying to convince her the 1 ton DRW will grow on her in time (married 35 years and really don't see this happening) or 3) just blow it off and make some hotel reservations.

Any recommendations? Anyone out there that really hated those dual rear wheels but after a while just got used to them? Or am I being too critical on how much a 3/4 ton can carry? Those of you with 3/4 ton trucks, what do you consider acceptable?

I guess I'm just sort of burned out. Had it all figured out and that goes out the door with one little test drive. (Oh, and to all those truck salesmen that have a funny line to use in this situation, trust me. They will not think its nearly as funny as you do.)

Thanks.

Bill

[greende]

DW gets carsick when riding so she does all the driving with the DRW including the 5er. Granted, it does take some planning when going to some small shops and big cities but neither she nor I have issues with it. Now I need to convince her to learn to back the trailer up (have to pull the Chinese Fire Drill thing). Lord knows I try.

[Cummins12V98]

breeno wrote:
My wife has yet to drive our DRW. But then she's complained loudly (but would drive) my previous 1/2 ton trucks. I was dead set against getting a DRW when I was truck shopping, but was on the limit with the 5er we wanted and was tired of towing on the edge as I'd previously done so bit the bullet and went DRW.

Pretty anti-climactic it turns out. About the only time the hips are a problem is finding a place to get the thing washed honestly. And maybe some tighter drive-thrus. Parking hassles stem from the length (8' bed) moreso than the width (I always back in, which seems to be the key)

But to the OP concern, I definitely get the DW disdain factor! Mamma needs to be happy. I've never towed with a SRW 1 ton before, but I sure love how relaxed I am towing with this DRW beast. Look forward to towing now.

What you say is so true about being relaxed. We traveled with friends from Palm Springs to Phoenix on I-10 last April they were in a 40' motorhome (i know not a fair comparison) the winds were hitting us from the side at 40mph+. I was very surprised at how stable the truck and RV were. It was a one handed driving experience.

When we made it to Phoenix our friend was a bit frazzled. He was working it the whole time to keep it in the lane.

Dually is the ticket for any heavy or long RV.

[jevanb]

you can always get a DRW and remove the bed and extra tires when not towing, buddy did this and bought a Single wheel bed for when he did not need the extra wheels.. all you need is a bed and 2 extra tires and wheels for the back but the fronts will still be for a DRW

[breeno]

My wife has yet to drive our DRW. But then she's complained loudly (but would drive) my previous 1/2 ton trucks. I was dead set against getting a DRW when I was truck shopping, but was on the limit with the 5er we wanted and was tired of towing on the edge as I'd previously done so bit the bullet and went DRW.

Pretty anti-climactic it turns out. About the only time the hips are a problem is finding a place to get the thing washed honestly. And maybe some tighter drive-thrus. Parking hassles stem from the length (8' bed) moreso than the width (I always back in, which seems to be the key)

But to the OP concern, I definitely get the DW disdain factor! Mamma needs to be happy. I've never towed with a SRW 1 ton before, but I sure love how relaxed I am towing with this DRW beast. Look forward to towing now.

[brirene]

Due to a variety of circumstances, DW just drove our drw for the first time, about 25 miles. Although she's not ready to make it her daily driver, it wasn't as scary as she had envisioned. As I watched in my mirror, she had no problems at all keeping it between the lines, and did great. Helpful for both of us to know she's ok with driving it if need be.

[Stefonius]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

RAS43 wrote:

Stefonius wrote:
I think that picture and comment were tongue-in-cheek.

But we can't be sure due to the "must have a dually" mentality here.;)

I must say there is a "must not have a dually at any cost" attitude here also. 😉

I have been cursing my dually lately with all the snow we've gotten. The extra wheels act like snowshoes and put me on top of the snow and ice instead of through it and down onto the road. Oh well, I may have lousy traction in snow/ice/water/mud/sand when unloaded, but at least I look cool doing it.

[garyp4951]

I'll gladly trade yall my SRW for your DRW. DW never drives my truck anyway.

[Seattle_Lion]

kaydeejay wrote:

Look at some of the new 1-ton SRW trucks, they have pretty impressive payloads, over 4000# in some cases.
You do need to do the math (PIN WEIGHT) on any fiver you looks at as you will be more limited than with a dually, but there are lots of good sized fivers out there that a SRW 1-ton can cope with. Yes, even that 14K Big-Horn if the pin weight is a typical 20%.

Our new Bighorn 3160 is exactly the same weight. The pin weight is 17% and well within our F350, short bed, crew cab SRW 1 ton's rear axle and payload limits.

[Seattle_Lion]

We just bought a Bighorn 3160 which is 12,000 lbs dry. We figure it will be 13,500 loaded. We have a 2014 Ford 350 SRW Lariat crew cab short bed. The rear axle MGWR is 7000 lbs. The trailer will put 2,400 lbs on the rear axle. The rear weighs 3,300 lbs with the truck loaded, so we have plenty of carrying there. We have 3,500 lbs payload, so the truck will have no problem with the fiver. I have heard that DRW will tow smoother, but we aren't going to buy yet another truck. My point is that you should be fine with a 1 ton SRW even with a crew cab.

[larry_barnhart]

the picture shows the truck is not the best choice for that load, maybe groceries would be a better choice. Yep just being a smart ass as others on this post.
chevman

[Cummins12V98]

RAS43 wrote:

Stefonius wrote:

I think that picture and comment were tongue-in-cheek.

But we can't be sure due to the "must have a dually" mentality here.;)

I must say there is a "must not have a dually at any cost" attitude here also. 😉

[Us_out_West]

Back on Topic....good luck to the OP in his research and choices.

[ricatic]

My guess based on experience:E:E:E...looks like the crawler loader rolled back when someone moved the truck...I see the operator and have a hard time believing her forgot to drop the ramps...

Regards

[abom2]

The rear differential needed servicing and this is the easy access way. 🙂