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

[benbovac]

my 3500 SRW GMC pulls and stops my 38' 14000# fiver very well. it feels very stable towing on the flatlands or mountains. As others have suggested, I suggest looking at any of the new 3500SRW trucks.

[ricatic]

Duck wrote:
We have a 08 Ford F350 SRW and pull a Bighorn 3055RL. I have air bags on the rear of the truck but it only takes 20 pounds to bring us level. I ordered my Bighorn so I upgraded the axels, tires, and brakes. Probably not needed, but I like to have a safety factor in these areas. Visit the Heartland Owners web site for some good information.
Don

to the OP...this poster has told you some very good information...I will add to it a bit.

We have the same Big Horn fiver they have...at 35.5 feet long, it was the smallest fiver in Big Horns lineup when we bought it. I weighed the rig the day we picked it up. I found Heartlands shipping weight to very close to the published numbers...in fact, they were a bit higher than actual weight. Empty the trailer weighed under 11000 pounds. We pulled the Big Horn for two summers with a 2004 F 250 CC SB 4x4 diesel. The truck handled the trailer just fine when it ran...The fiver weighed in at just over 12000 pounds ready to camp for a week. 2150 pounds were on the pin...

When the POS truck died yet again, We traded for a 2011 Ford F350 CC SB 4x4 diesel. The new truck was rated at 11500 pounds GVW. This truck, when it ran(remember it was a Ford) pulled the fiver very nicely with an additional 1000 pounds of weight and 2450 pounds on the pin. This truck was comfortably under all of it's manufacturer's ratings...GVW, FAWR, RAWR and GCVWR...I would still be using this truck if the engine would stay together...

I am now pulling the same trailer with a 2006 GM Dually. It is a bit more stable than the SRW truck but not enough to sway a decision to go back to a SRW 3500 series truck...My reason for going dually was for the next trailer...it will require a dually...

Hope all that hot air helps...

Regards

[Stefonius]

I'm sure it's technically possible to pull my fifth wheel with a SRW truck, but I wouldn't want to go barreling down the highway with a 36' long, 8' wide, 13' high box behind me without an extra set of tires on the road. If I get a flat or hit a crosswind, I'm not going to be spending the next few days in a hotel waiting to hear from my insurance adjuster.

It doesn't take that long to get used to the extra width and different handling characteristics of the dually, and when you're using it for towing, it's not any wider than your trailer. Unless the wife is planning to make you find a 6' wide trailer, I'm not sure her objection serves much purpose.

Just my 2¢.

[nodepositnoretu]

You can never have to much truck.
When mama ain't happy no one is happy.
Marriage is a compromise .
All famous saying ,why? Because they are true.keep looking there will be a combo that you both like.
Perhaps a SRW 3500 with 19.5 g tires ? The turtle expidion and other use single rears, and after, 11 years I still do not like my Dually .want singles.

[wandering1]

You dont need a DRW. Check the specs for the truck. If you are not looking at the tow specs from the manufacturer then you dont know what you need.

[JIMNLIN]

Part of the problem lie with the wife not wanting to drive a DRW truck which IMO is understandable and you not understanding how much weight a new gen 2500/3500 SRW truck is safely/legally able to carry .

I have a crew cab chevy 454 one ton DRW 4x4 beater and its rides like a log wagon. My wife doesn't like to drive it so no one will/can make her like it. A 4x4 truck can ride rough compared to the same 2wd version.

IMO any of the 350/3500 SRW will have no issue pulling trailers with a 14k GVWR if its configured correct.
Some of these trucks (GM and Ram) have payloads up to 4500 lbs and tow rating well above 14k.

Hell even some of the 2500 GM trucks has payloads in the 3300-3500 lb range. Use this handy website from GM. It has a weights calculator that figures each trucks options and gives a front axle payload and the rear axle payload and GVWR payload. http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/

Play around with this website and especially the weights calculator. Ford and Ram needs one just like it.

[Javi1]

sidney wrote:

fly4fun wrote:
Get rid of the *****y wife and enjoy your retirement. I get so sick of all the guys that let the old lady make all the decisions about what they are going to do when the guy probably made all the sacrifices his whole life and most of the money to support their lifestyle. At this point in life, buy what YOU want and if she doesn't like it, leave her at the curb.

How much do you pay in alimony?

:B

No alimony in Texas... 😄

To the OP there are a few 5'ers that are very nice and can be towed by a heavy 250/2500 or a 350/3500 SRW for instance take a look at the Cougar 333MKS

[Veebyes]

Tell her to get used to the DRW or lower the expectations for a trailer. In the begining my DW was told that she would be doing some of the driving or we were getting nothing at all.

No grumbles at all. She enjoys the roads that make me drowsy. Doesn't like urban roads with trailer but is perfectly happy to drive the dually anywhere without the trailer.

Yes, the dually is a bit of a pain in carparks & really sticks out in streetside parking. Adapt to it. Park further from the door where you can take up 2 or 3 spots & walk. Learn how to use mirrors. Who says women can't drive large vehicles? Look who drives so many schoolbuses.

[Slownsy]

As far as if the mirrors fit the mudguard will is rubbish only in a straight line when turning rear cuts in and that is why so many duallys drive around with wrecked mudguards.
Frank.

[gitane59]

My DW loves driving and towing with HER dually. It is her daily driver and she loves the looks many other guys and girls give her when she climbs out of it. It is also a good excuse to get more exercise by parking in the back forty and walking into the shopping stores.
we both love the stability while towing over our F350 SRW.

I'm with you. Get the dually and she will appreciate it after you have towed through a couple go strong wind storms and had to make a couple quick lane changes to avoid a situation on the highway while towing.

[MTPockets1]

"He" will never be 100% with the SRW or smaller 5vr, and"She" apparently doesn't want the DRW. This isn't going to work. Get a TT.

[Duck]

We have a 08 Ford F350 SRW and pull a Bighorn 3055RL. I have air bags on the rear of the truck but it only takes 20 pounds to bring us level. I ordered my Bighorn so I upgraded the axels, tires, and brakes. Probably not needed, but I like to have a safety factor in these areas. Visit the Heartland Owners web site for some good information.
Don

[mudmaker]

I don't know what the payload of my 2012 srw is off the top of my head but the fifth tow weight is around 17300 capacity. Payload is held back somewhat by what the tires will hold up.

[sidney]

fly4fun wrote:
Get rid of the *****y wife and enjoy your retirement. I get so sick of all the guys that let the old lady make all the decisions about what they are going to do when the guy probably made all the sacrifices his whole life and most of the money to support their lifestyle. At this point in life, buy what YOU want and if she doesn't like it, leave her at the curb.

How much do you pay in alimony?

:B

[fly4fun]

Get rid of the *****y wife and enjoy your retirement. I get so sick of all the guys that let the old lady make all the decisions about what they are going to do when the guy probably made all the sacrifices his whole life and most of the money to support their lifestyle. At this point in life, buy what YOU want and if she doesn't like it, leave her at the curb.