Your experience with a Dually vs SRW hauling 5ver

[MN_Ben]

I am contemplating selling my Crew Cab long bed dually and am looking at getting a crew cab short(er) bed single rear wheel. I would stay with a Ford 6.0L diesel 4x4 and prefer the 1 ton but am finding many 3/4. I have the dually because of a truck camper which we are selling. The SWR would become my daily driver when the snow flies again.
I would like to hear from those that have experience with both a dually and a srw hauling their 5th wheel. Maybe even experiences with the long box vs the short box. My 5ver is a Keystone Lariat 29 foot with a GVWR of 10900 pounds.
Thanks, Ben

[cummins2014]

Well the older Duramax certainly had their share of injector problems, which was not a cheap fix .

[laknox]

Or get a Duramax and don't worry about the engine. :B

Lyle

[cummins2014]

discovery4us wrote:
Keep in mind also that in 2005 and possible the two following years there was little difference in towing or carrying capacity between a F250 and an F350. My 2005 6.0 F250 crew cab short bed pulled my 40' FW TH flawlessly.

With your FW any of the 6.0 Fords should be fine. I have always had SB but if I ever go back to a FW I will probable go long bed just to eliminate the possible need for a sliding hitch.

On a side note I like people talking bad about the 6.0 so it keeps the price of the trucks somewhat reasonable. A few upgrades and they make great towing and hauling trucks.

Although the reliability of the 6.0 was terrible, their power, and towing ability was significant compared to the 7.3 Also the 5 speed 5R100 transmission was a great improvement , and much more reliable then that crappy 4R100 they put behind the 7.3. Apparently the 6.0 bulletproofed can't be beat.

[discovery4us]

Keep in mind also that in 2005 and possible the two following years there was little difference in towing or carrying capacity between a F250 and an F350. My 2005 6.0 F250 crew cab short bed pulled my 40' FW TH flawlessly.

With your FW any of the 6.0 Fords should be fine. I have always had SB but if I ever go back to a FW I will probable go long bed just to eliminate the possible need for a sliding hitch.

On a side note I like people talking bad about the 6.0 so it keeps the price of the trucks somewhat reasonable. A few upgrades and they make great towing and hauling trucks.

[MFL]

rhagfo wrote:


I would think that going back to a SRW to tow a 5er of 10,900# GVWR would be fine. He might feel a slight loss of stability. I enjoyed the gain in stability going from our 2001 Ram 2500 to our 2016 Ram 3500 DRW towing our 12,500# 5er. The 2500 felt solid, but the 3500 DRW is like a ROCK.

Not saying I agree, but many manufacturers consider a FW with 10,000 GVWR 1/2 ton tow able.

Russ is giving a good example of his experience in this post, but not really a fair comparison IMO. While his 2001 2500 was a good/capable tow vehicle, he is comparing it to a 2016 DRW great TV. A 2016 SRW is also a great TV, and would be a more fair comparison. No question the same year DRW will carry more rear axle weight, but the stability of the two would be less obvious in most conditions.

Jerry

[rhagfo]

MN Ben wrote:

twodownzero wrote:


The 6.0 is junk. I am honestly surprised every single one wasn't recalled. I almost bought one, too, in 2005. If you're used to 7.3 reliability, you're not going to be happy with a 6.0 at all.

I've had my 2006 6.0 for 4 years now. It is a virgin. No issues, none, zip, zilch, nata, zero.
If you could share your experience on switching from a dually to a SWR or a long box to a short box I would be interested.

The OP has stated that he has a mechanic friend that is a certified Ford diesel mechanic, the 6.0 is not the issue being discussed.

I would think that going back to a SRW to tow a 5er of 10,900# GVWR would be fine. He might feel a slight loss of stability. I enjoyed the gain in stability going from our 2001 Ram 2500 to our 2016 Ram 3500 DRW towing our 12,500# 5er. The 2500 felt solid, but the 3500 DRW is like a ROCK.

[Lantley]

MN Ben wrote:


I've had my 2006 6.0 for 4 years now. It is a virgin. No issues, none, zip, zilch, nata, zero.
If you could share your experience on switching from a dually to a SWR or a long box to a short box I would be interested.

As long as you have your friend to help you with the 6.0 you'll should be OK. Don't be naive to think the 6.0 is not a troubled motor with a notorious past. Don't be surprised if you are not as fortunate with your next 6.0. I'm just saying Beware the concerns are real.

[MN_Ben]

twodownzero wrote:

MN Ben wrote:

IdaD wrote:
Are you wanting the 6.0 because you can get one cheap? If so I guess that makes some sense, if not you can do a lot better in a used diesel.

I guess Ford is all I've run. The 7.3 for a while and now the 6.0. I have a good buddy who is a certified Ford Diesel mechanic, so that makes life easier.
I love the look and feel of the '06 4 door Lariat with the (fake) wood grain and power rear sliding window. I would not know where to start. I never could figure out the good-better-best trim packages of dodge/chev/gmc.

The 6.0 is junk. I am honestly surprised every single one wasn't recalled. I almost bought one, too, in 2005. If you're used to 7.3 reliability, you're not going to be happy with a 6.0 at all.

I've had my 2006 6.0 for 4 years now. It is a virgin. No issues, none, zip, zilch, nata, zero.
If you could share your experience on switching from a dually to a SWR or a long box to a short box I would be interested.

[94-D2]

I have a 16k GVWR Big Horn. It’s a 42’ er that has lots of leverage. I currently own a 2018 Ram 3500 SRW short box with air ride, rear anti sway and leaf set up. When I first got the trailer, I used by friends 2017 Ram 3500 DRW. The 2 trucks were identical except for the long bed and dually set up. In my experience between the two, the dually was effortless while driving in any circumstance and the SRW must have attention paid to while in a corner and is not as forgiving if not.

That said, the shorter wheel base is better for turning, backing, and everyday driving and the dually is not. The SRW is cheaper on tires, changing a flat, can be rotated easily and has cheaper maintenance like brakes etc. overall, the benefits gained by the dually does not justify the expense and inconvenience of everyday driving for me. And, having a 1999 2500 I will tell you the two are definitely not the same at pulling the 5’er. The 2018 3500 SRW Is far superior to my 99 and very much the same as a DRW, which is just a little more capable.

Good luck with whatever you do. If your sticking it out with the 10.5k, my vote is definitely the SRW (although I would consider a short box dually) (They are hard to find however).

[blofgren]

As long as it doesn’t decide to give a bunch of trouble thousands of miles from home......:M

[Lantley]

twodownzero wrote:

MN Ben wrote:

IdaD wrote:
Are you wanting the 6.0 because you can get one cheap? If so I guess that makes some sense, if not you can do a lot better in a used diesel.

I guess Ford is all I've run. The 7.3 for a while and now the 6.0. I have a good buddy who is a certified Ford Diesel mechanic, so that makes life easier.
I love the look and feel of the '06 4 door Lariat with the (fake) wood grain and power rear sliding window. I would not know where to start. I never could figure out the good-better-best trim packages of dodge/chev/gmc.

The 6.0 is junk. I am honestly surprised every single one wasn't recalled. I almost bought one, too, in 2005. If you're used to 7.3 reliability, you're not going to be happy with a 6.0 at all.

I would agree with the junk comment, but the OP stated he has a buddy that is a Ford Diesel Mechanic. The OP has also owned a 6.0 PSD for a few years so I imagine he knows what he is getting into.
Personally I would never own a 6.0, however I don't have a friend that is a Ford diesel mechanic.
At this point the 6.0 has been somewhat sorted out to the point that it is a viable option for someone who has a Ford diesel mechanic as a friend.

[twodownzero]

MN Ben wrote:

IdaD wrote:
Are you wanting the 6.0 because you can get one cheap? If so I guess that makes some sense, if not you can do a lot better in a used diesel.

I guess Ford is all I've run. The 7.3 for a while and now the 6.0. I have a good buddy who is a certified Ford Diesel mechanic, so that makes life easier.
I love the look and feel of the '06 4 door Lariat with the (fake) wood grain and power rear sliding window. I would not know where to start. I never could figure out the good-better-best trim packages of dodge/chev/gmc.

The 6.0 is junk. I am honestly surprised every single one wasn't recalled. I almost bought one, too, in 2005. If you're used to 7.3 reliability, you're not going to be happy with a 6.0 at all.

[MN_Ben]

IdaD wrote:
Are you wanting the 6.0 because you can get one cheap? If so I guess that makes some sense, if not you can do a lot better in a used diesel.

I guess Ford is all I've run. The 7.3 for a while and now the 6.0. I have a good buddy who is a certified Ford Diesel mechanic, so that makes life easier.
I love the look and feel of the '06 4 door Lariat with the (fake) wood grain and power rear sliding window. I would not know where to start. I never could figure out the good-better-best trim packages of dodge/chev/gmc.

[MN_Ben]

2oldman wrote:
More dually w/5er 2011
Dually vs single 2014 in fivers

Thanks, I knew this was asked a few times before.

[MN_Ben]

4youngs1 wrote:
I've towed for 15 years with a 2500HD, now I tow with a 3500HD DRW, there is absolutely no comparison. The 3500 is so much more comfortable and stable, I will never return to a SRW.
BTW, you'll get used to driving the DRW, I do it everyday, and I still work for a living.

I have had the dually for about 4 years, and have used it for the DD in the winters. I guess you could say I am quite used to it. The lariat is quite comfy 🙂 .