I'm buying a new truck for work, so I'm pretty slim on options on what truck to buy since it has to match the fleet. So I'm looking at a crew cab long box 2017 gmc, either the Denali or slt depending what they can find me.. I'm really suprised to see the the srw is rated at 4188 with the duramax engine! The dually bring you up to 5410. Now my camper is a 04 okanagan 811sl which according to online is around 2600lbs dry. I figure with all our stuff and water we're around 3500. Now I'll be towing my seadoos behind use at around 2200 pounds and sometimes my Jeep, which will proably be 6000 pounds with the trailer. Is the drw going to be worth it for the extra hassle?

Are you referring to pin weights?

sasq40 wrote:I'm buying a new truck for work, so I'm pretty slim on options on what truck to buy since it has to match the fleet. So I'm looking at a crew cab long box 2017 gmc, either the Denali or slt depending what they can find me.. I'm really suprised to see the the srw is rated at 4188 with the duramax engine! The dually bring you up to 5410. Now my camper is a 04 okanagan 811sl which according to online is around 2600lbs dry. I figure with all our stuff and water we're around 3500. Now I'll be towing my seadoos behind use at around 2200 pounds and sometimes my Jeep, which will proably be 6000 pounds with the trailer. Is the drw going to be worth it for the extra hassle?I don't think so, but the cost of the drw versus the srw is so minimal, why not? You don't come close to even needing it really, but again, cost to upgrade is so small, why not :)

Well you have to consider this carefully. Your maximum payload includes the weight of all your passengers, your hitch, your camper, and the tongue weight of your jeep trailer. I think just the tongue weight and the loaded camper weight will put you over with a SRW, and you still need about 600 more pounds for passengers and hitch at least, maybe more.Plus you might overload the rear axle as it is based on the tires and their capacity. DRW sounds better.

DRW. Easy decision. You've already stated the camper and gear will be 3,500. Your Jeep on a trailer at 6,000 pounds will likely have at least 600 pounds of tongue weight. That's 4,100 pounds without adding any truck accessories, passengers, pets, or gear to the truck. I assume you'll be adding some or all of those things which will put you over the rated payload of the SRW.I've carried a 4,000 pound TC while pulling a 4,500 pound boat with both a SRW and a dually Chevy. The dually had way less bounce and sway. It just feels so much more stable and solid than the SRW.A dually really isn't that much extra "hassle". I've been driving mine for 12 years. I use bank and restaurant drive thrus on a regular basis. Your camper is 8' wide so you aren't any wider when hauling the camper than you would be with it on a SRW anyway. Yes, you have to buy 6 tires instead of 4 but that only happens once every couple of years. Where I buy my tires they rotate them for free every 5,000 miles so I don't even have to do that.

In that case I too would go with a dually.

Dually or srw | Good Sam Community

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Jul 09, 2017
Cummins12V98 wrote:
I highly advise towing first before thinking bags.

I agree that truck should not need air bags.

chevman
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2017
I highly advise towing first before thinking bags.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2017
I highly advise towing first before thinking bags.
JTrac
Explorer
Jul 09, 2017
sasq40 wrote:
Now next question is, should I add air bags?

Since we have pretty much the same truck (mine is a 15) I'll give you my experience. I pulled a set of Air Lift's from my previous truck before I sold it. Since I already had them I put them on the dually. I can tell some difference in the empty ride as it seems to be smoother. My Excel weighs 15,500 and the hitch weight is right at 3000. If I put more than 25 pounds of air in the bags when towing it starts to ride too rough. I usually run 20 pounds. I never towed without the bags so really can't say how it would be without them. My guess is they are not really needed. I would try it first and see what you think.

Not sure you will get much sag with the camper but the bags would help to bring it back to level.
sasq40
Explorer
Jul 09, 2017
Now next question is, should I add air bags?
1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Jul 07, 2017
For a truck camper other than a pop-up it would be a DRW, for a TT sub 10k SRW, for a 5th wheel a DRW.

It's all about stability for me after ownig a truck camper on a SRW then going to a DRW it makes all the difference in the world.
Wood_chip
Explorer
Jul 07, 2017
sasq40 wrote:
well found a truck, just waiting on the financing department

I have same truck in the chevy Badge. I have only 700 miles and have towed yet.
JTrac
Explorer
Jul 06, 2017
Congrats. Looks just like my 15, color and all. Let us know how the new engine performs.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2017
sasq40 wrote:
well found a truck, just waiting on the financing department

If RAM/CUMMINS did not exist that would be pulling my 23K MobileSuites at FULL towing capacity. IMHO much better looking than the Chevy.
sasq40
Explorer
Jul 06, 2017
well found a truck, just waiting on the financing department

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