DRW vs SRW ??

[baggy_pants]

I've been flip floppin like a fish out of water. Don't have the FW yet but pretty sure it's going to be a 3750FL Bighorn (40' x 16,000 lb.) or something similar. We don't plan on running up and down the highway every day, maybe pull it 6 or 8 times a year. I really don't want the hastle of the duelly for daily driving but want to be prepared if plans change. Can I get the job done safely with a SRW? Any advise?

[Bedlam]

Upgrading a SRW with heavier suspension and 19.5" wheels will safely give you a 9000 lb rear axle rating, but you're looking at about $4k or more in upgrades that could have paid for a DRW. So yes, it is possible to safely tow something large with a SRW. If I already owned a reliable SRW truck and wanted a FW with more than 3000 lbs pin weight, I would consider spending the money to upgrade. If I was looking to buy a truck, I would be scaling it for something larger than I currently want tow to give me choices later (that means DRW). If I was adamant about keeping a SRW for daily driving, going to 19.5's is your only option for pulling something that heavy.

[benb21601]

ive towed with both and the difference is night and day. slightly less convenient as a daily driver, but on your first tow you will realize how worth it the drw is.

[Ric_Flair]

Anytime you have to ask this question, the answer is always "doolie"

[taken]

No problem Jeremiah! Sometimes it's hard to have a discussion on a thread without it being taken the wrong way. I'm often on the opposite end of it. The same conversation in person, when you can hear the tone of the other person's voice and see their expression, rarely rubs someone the wrong way...

Anyways, OP, glad you got good info from all sides and made an informed decision!

[blt2ski]

45Ricochet wrote:
Thanks for the kink in my neck Ian :W
Like gtwum posted though, his is clearly 1k pounds heavier than your BIL's Ram. Like I said, must be something in the water up there :B

I heard it is true, they have heavier water as it has more of that alkihaul stuff in it! hic! or so I've HIC been told......HIC!

Marty

[jerem0621]

taken wrote:
Not calling you out. Just saying I do it and it's all within specs. Current F350 SRW's have about 3k of payload by the scale and Rams have 3500. You mention a lot of additional gear too which you might need to bring but the op could do without or place in his trailer storage to reduce weight on the truck. You also mention having a large family in the tv but the op is looking at what I would call a retirement floor plan that is a two person luxury trailer. I'm guessing it's a him and her situation in the truck. I do agree with you the a DRW gives more flexibility on loading etc. though.

Great points! Thanks for the discussion. It's amazing how people view these threads through the lens of their own circumstance. In my case it's my family since I have kids at home still. After my last response I had to run to the store to pick up a tool. On my way to te store I saw a BigHorn fiver being pulled by a SRW Superduty. Kinda made me chuckle to myself thinking about this thread.

Your 100% right, as long as it's in spec it doesn't matter if it's SRW or DRW. In my case it would have to be a DRW. But not everyone is in my situation and not everyone loads a trailer up to GVWR.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[ib516]

:B

[45Ricochet]

Thanks for the kink in my neck Ian :W
Like gtwum posted though, his is clearly 1k pounds heavier than your BIL's Ram. Like I said, must be something in the water up there :B

[Cummins12V98]

baggy pants wrote:
Thanks all for your input. I think I'll go with the dually and not have to worry about it.

YAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good call.

[baggy_pants]

Thanks all for your input. I think I'll go with the dually and not have to worry about it.

[gtsum]

45Ricochet wrote:

ib516 wrote:
Depends what model year and make SRW you're looking at. Some new Rams can have 4000# payload.

Show me one big boy:B And no regular cab 6.4 Hemi's please :W 4k payload minus you, your wife, couple of kids, big dog, hitch alone is what 250 lbs, firewood, bedliner, stuff, and etc.
Your payload just got really smaller if you have a 3500 lb pin weight on a SRW truck. Also your going by RAWR which is really only the tire ratings. Even my old DRW has a RAWR of 9700 lbs or so which is almost double the new SRW truck ratings.
Some just hook up and go, others think about it.

My 2014 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins has 4074lbs per door. I weighed it 2 weeks ago with me and a full tank of fuel and I was 8700. 12400 GVWR...3700lbs real world payload left after me and fuel in the tank. And this is a loaded Laramie with every option available

[gtsum]

Ram 3500 SRW have over 4k payload..firestone tires are rated to over 3600 each...with a 7k rear axle and 12400 GVWR. After running all the numbers time and time again and weighing mine at a scale, I am going with a 16500 GVWR toy hauler (12500 empty) with a 3000-3200 pin. The only time I would be over 14klbs in the TH would be with quads or rzr in the back, lightening up pin weight a couple hundred lbs...if your numbers come in somewhere around that I think you would be fine...but then again I have never towed with a DRW either...

[ib516]

I got him to text me pics. Payload is 3870# as per sticker.

That means his truck is 7830# curb weight.

11700-7830=3870#.

[taken]

Sticker is always light. Figure you're around 85-8750 loaded and ready to travel so real payload is GVWR minus that. Only way to really know is to scale.