DRW back to SRW

JD5150 wrote:

billtex wrote:

JD5150 wrote:


I do think no matter how big your hard side TC is on a SRW...you will be at a stand still here in Kansas when the wind wants to blow 60 mph gust.
That is another reason I'm looking at pop ups. I don't want to be a sitting duck if the wind wants to blow at 50/60 mph gust. 40 mph might stop you in your tracks with a SRW and a hard side. Lot to think about when using a SRW and a hard side TC

Hi JD, not sure what you are trying to say here as same engine/trans in SRW and DRW?

Yes, those prairie winds do blow-we have taken our current SRW Duramax x-country twice and I know what you mean. But the diesel SRW with hard side did fine with the wind-just uses more fuel in those conditions...

Thx, Bill

Side winds is what I was saying. I've read where others that had a SRW and now a dually....say that the dually handles the side winds way better than a SRW. Dually has the extra tire to handle the load better. Some say they had to wait and ride out the winds with a SRW but with a dually they just keep on going down the road. Depending on how tall the TC is, strong side gust could put a dually waiting it out.

I've seen some of those triple slides sitting 13 foot plus high on a 350/450 dually. Looks like a big wind sail :).

Crazy thing in Nebraska/Kansas/Oklahoma the winds can blow with 50 to 70 mph gusts for two or three days in a row. When the storms roll in they can kick up to 50 to 70 mph without warning and last for hours

Got it. Thx!

If the wind is blowing too hard, you probably should plan better or be parked.

billtex wrote:

JD5150 wrote:


I do think no matter how big your hard side TC is on a SRW...you will be at a stand still here in Kansas when the wind wants to blow 60 mph gust.
That is another reason I'm looking at pop ups. I don't want to be a sitting duck if the wind wants to blow at 50/60 mph gust. 40 mph might stop you in your tracks with a SRW and a hard side. Lot to think about when using a SRW and a hard side TC

Hi JD, not sure what you are trying to say here as same engine/trans in SRW and DRW?

Yes, those prairie winds do blow-we have taken our current SRW Duramax x-country twice and I know what you mean. But the diesel SRW with hard side did fine with the wind-just uses more fuel in those conditions...

Thx, Bill

Side winds is what I was saying. I've read where others that had a SRW and now a dually....say that the dually handles the side winds way better than a SRW. Dually has the extra tire to handle the load better. Some say they had to wait and ride out the winds with a SRW but with a dually they just keep on going down the road. Depending on how tall the TC is, strong side gust could put a dually waiting it out.

I've seen some of those triple slides sitting 13 foot plus high on a 350/450 dually. Looks like a big wind sail :).

Crazy thing in Nebraska/Kansas/Oklahoma the winds can blow with 50 to 70 mph gusts for two or three days in a row. When the storms roll in they can kick up to 50 to 70 mph without warning and last for hours

JD5150 wrote:


I do think no matter how big your hard side TC is on a SRW...you will be at a stand still here in Kansas when the wind wants to blow 60 mph gust.
That is another reason I'm looking at pop ups. I don't want to be a sitting duck if the wind wants to blow at 50/60 mph gust. 40 mph might stop you in your tracks with a SRW and a hard side. Lot to think about when using a SRW and a hard side TC

Hi JD, not sure what you are trying to say here as same engine/trans in SRW and DRW?

Yes, those prairie winds do blow-we have taken our current SRW Duramax x-country twice and I know what you mean. But the diesel SRW with hard side did fine with the wind-just uses more fuel in those conditions...

Thx, Bill

billtex wrote:
This is the OP. Appreciate if we could stop handing out troll house cookies and get back on topic.

Anyone running one of the new SRW 1 tons with 4000#+ payload?

Would love some input based on real world experience.

Thx, bill

'16 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins (4k payload) hauling a '19 Northern Lite 8-11. I'm near the 7K RAWR with the camper loaded (almost 4k). When we first purchased the camper, we drove home (1400 mi.) with just Timbrens. Handled fine. There was a slight amount of single-motion sway with each high wind gust--totally expected. Just to maximize safety and handling, we elected to replace the OEM tires with Michelin 295/70/18's (4080 lbs.) to get an additional 800 lbs. of tire capacity on each axle. We replaced the Timbrens with Air Lift 5k air bags (camper was heavier on one-side). Also installed a Roadmaster sway-bar and lower stabil-loads. Can't say any one mod all-by-itself made any dramatic improvement, but as a whole it has made the truck even more fun to drive with the camper on-board. Very little steering correction necessary---even in 25-30 mph side-winds (and gusts over 50 mph). No complaints---fun to drive.

I think the newer SRW trucks like the F350 will do better with a hard side TC without a basement or 7.5 wide camper like a NorthStar Igloo, Capri Retreat, Bundutec Bunduvry can get it 7 or 7.5 foot wide.

Hard side without a basement your outside sidewall is around 10.5/10.8 feet high sitting on the truck. Be sitting at 11 foot or just over that with an AC on the roof.

I do think no matter how big your hard side TC is on a SRW...you will be at a stand still here in Kansas when the wind wants to blow 60 mph gust.
That is another reason I'm looking at pop ups. I don't want to be a sitting duck if the wind wants to blow at 50/60 mph gust. 40 mph might stop you in your tracks with a SRW and a hard side. Lot to think about when using a SRW and a hard side TC

brholt wrote:
The SRW's payload may be approaching 4,000 pounds but my 2013 DRW's payload is over 6,000 pounds and I use almost every pound of that payload.

Actually over 4k and have been with Fords since 2005 at least. Of course, SRWs won’t work for everyone.

5 years hauling a NL 811 on a 2500 Dodge SRW, 6 months hauling an Adventurer 86SBS on a Ram 3500 DRW. For the way we use our truck, no, won’t consider going back. The stability difference in our newer rig is exceptionally noted by the wife (& me). Of course I’m comparing an 8 year old truck to a 18 year old truck but the ride is so much nicer and all the new old truck has is air bags.

The SRW's payload may be approaching 4,000 pounds but my 2013 DRW's payload is over 6,000 pounds and I use almost every pound of that payload.

I am hauling +- 3000 lb commercial cap on a 2019 2500HD CCLB un-modified at this point. It drives like a Cadillac, can't really tell it is there. It does not have the height of a truck camper so that would make a difference in sway probably. I am right at the limit on tires, but I have 19.5s to put on it when I wear out the factory tires or when I add an in bed auxiliary fuel tank. I had this cap on a 2013 2500HD CCSB and added 3500lb helper springs, air bags and upgraded shocks and it didn't handle as well as the 2019 un-modified.