SRW or DRW??

[obie311]

Wife likes a 5'er with a 16300# GVWR. Contemplating a RAM or GMC Diesel tow vehicle. Am I in DWR territory for sure? I don't want to strain drivetrain components or have white knuckle towing experiences.

Thanks for any advice.

[taken]

That's one of the reasons I chose my RV over it's competition. At the scales, I am only at 6400 on my rear axle. Well under my 7k limit and under my tire ratings too. I used to have the little brother to your Cyclone and that Titanium front end really adds some pin weight!

[Winged_One]

lawnspecialties wrote:
I don't care about the "cool factor" here. I don't have this camper or either of these trucks anymore. But I can tell you first hand knowledge of what each one did and why I suggest what I do for the OP.

Reality. Nice. 🙂

Great looking trucks BTW. 🙂

[lawnspecialties]

I don't care about the "cool factor" here. I don't have this camper or either of these trucks anymore. But I can tell you first hand knowledge of what each one did and why I suggest what I do for the OP.

Here is the day we brought the Cyclone home. Afterwards, we had a race 200 miles away. On the way home, we hit a wicked storm traveling west to east as we were traveling north on I-85 near Lexington, NC. Although the crosswinds were tough, everything did great. During nice weather, traveling 70 mph was little to no effort at all. Unfortunately, a trip to the scales weeks later showed I was 1000 lbs. over on the rear axle of the truck. That was the only reason we traded her in.



This was about a month later. New F450. Plenty of room on the rear axle ratings now. But in all honesty: no difference in how it pulled regarding stability.



In the end, if you could discount the rear axle rating, the SRW is by far a better choice for me. Easier as a daily driver. Not a huge factor on keeping tire pressures equal. Not as fat in the hips for the McDonald's drive-thru. But since you can't eliminate the rear axle rating of the truck, you have to go with the DRW if your pin weight requires it.

[Halmfamily]

I love these threads.

[taken]

That's the bottom line brother!

[Lantley]

taken wrote:

Lantley wrote:
I would prefer to see a dually instead of the SRW Ford extended cab. While I don't know the weight of the triple axle XLR, that combo would appeal to me more if the truck were DRW. Is the rear of the extended cab sagging a bit?
What is the GVW and pin weight of that XLR. The entire combo maybe within the towing parameters, nevertheless I'd prefer to see a dually in front of that XLR.
The above Photo has no drool factor for me

You can prefer anything you like. Just as I can prefer anything I like. Not here to make you drool...

The pin of my trailer is about 2850 with the garage empty. Drops about 150 when I load the garage. Truck and trailer are both within 3/4" of siting level with no airbags. Trailers GVWR is 21k but weighs a measly 17k or so without the garage full. The pic does look like both the truck and trailer are high in the front and low in the back. Fun fact. The trailer is actually just under 3/4" lower in the front.

Oh, and that driveway it's on? It's about 500 feet long with a 100x100+ paved area at the end. My plow on a DRW would a bit less than a one finger driving experience dragging it's rear wheels in the snow banks pulling the snow back in and taking forever to turn around at each end...

Got to do what works for the individual.

You said it all Here "You can prefer anything you like."
For a 21K gvw trailer I would prefer a dually.
But just as important you said "Got to do what works for the individual"
Truth is I don't have to drive your combo. If you're happy with it. I'm happy for you.;)

[transamz9]

mkirsch wrote:
Ok, now that everybody is done talking about "feelings" let's talk FACTS.

Fact: The OP will not know what "feels best" or what he is "comfortable with" until he tries it for himself.

The OP is likely not made of money and will not be able to trade trucks once he takes delivery on whatever he chooses.

If he is not comfortable with his choice, HE IS STUCK WITH IT regardless.

You guys forget that all this playing around costs big money! He could have $150,000 sunk into a rig that he's scared to drive, and the only way out is to take a huge financial hit.

Fact: While a SRW truck will probably work okay, be safe, and some people will be comfortable with it, a DRW truck DEFINITELY will work, DEFINTELY be safe, and... the person who says a DRW truck doesn't handle a 16,000+lb trailer better than an SRW is a bald-faced liar.

I can tell you this,( yes I have pulled my previous rig with both) it is more in the set up of the truck not how many tires it has. I will also tell you that my 2013 SRW truck will tow and handle a 16,000# 5er every bit as well as your 2002 DRW, in some cases better.

None of us know the OP's towing experience or capabilities but I do know that a new 3500 SRW truck will handle a 16,000# fifthwheel without having to have finger imprints and but cheek imprints left in the truck. The OP is going to have to make a call based on how comfortable he or she is in towing. Either way it's going to be towing heavy so what ever decision is made it's not going to be like driving unloaded , solo, or driving a sports car with one finger.

[taken]

mkirsch wrote:
Ok, now that everybody is done talking about "feelings" let's talk FACTS.

Fact: The OP will not know what "feels best" or what he is "comfortable with" until he tries it for himself.

The OP is likely not made of money and will not be able to trade trucks once he takes delivery on whatever he chooses.

If he is not comfortable with his choice, HE IS STUCK WITH IT regardless.

You guys forget that all this playing around costs big money! He could have $150,000 sunk into a rig that he's scared to drive, and the only way out is to take a huge financial hit.

Fact: While a SRW truck will probably work okay, be safe, and some people will be comfortable with it, a DRW truck DEFINITELY will work, DEFINTELY be safe, and... the person who says a DRW truck doesn't handle a 16,000+lb trailer better than an SRW is a bald-faced liar.

This is precisely why blanket statements don't work. We have no idea of what the OP, who has long disappeared, has for a comfort level. We also don't know what his needs are when not towing.

Also, I don't think anyone said a DRW wouldn't feel more stable in some situations. I just don't need that additional comfort... That said, my next truck will likely be a DRW. I need a bigger back seat for my daughter, I'd like a longer bed so I don't have to be careful in turns, so while I'm at it, I may as well add the DRW. It will however, involve me having to change other equipment for snow duty. Luckily for me, I love buying new stuff and tweaking the system. So sell the plow, sell the ATV's, buy a UTV, and buy a 72" UTV snowblower. Sounds like fun! Even though I'll have a DRW at that point, I'll still be on here saying that I felt perfectly comfortable with my previous SRW though...

[mkirsch]

Ok, now that everybody is done talking about "feelings" let's talk FACTS.

Fact: The OP will not know what "feels best" or what he is "comfortable with" until he tries it for himself.

The OP is likely not made of money and will not be able to trade trucks once he takes delivery on whatever he chooses.

If he is not comfortable with his choice, HE IS STUCK WITH IT regardless.

You guys forget that all this playing around costs big money! He could have $150,000 sunk into a rig that he's scared to drive, and the only way out is to take a huge financial hit.

Fact: While a SRW truck will probably work okay, be safe, and some people will be comfortable with it, a DRW truck DEFINITELY will work, DEFINTELY be safe, and... the person who says a DRW truck doesn't handle a 16,000+lb trailer better than an SRW is a bald-faced liar.

[transamz9]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Anyone that believes that the RV just stops getting heavier when it reaches the GVWR is delusional.

Perfect example, 21K GVWR actually weighs about 23K with 100G water on board.

So I would advise a dually. Combo in pic is a one finger driver.

Your truck drives so much easier than a SRW just imagine how nice it would be if you had a HDT. You could probably take your hands completely off the wheel. Heck if you bought a sleeper truck you could probably get up and go in the back and drink coffee until you arrived at your destination and all that through 75 MPH side winds through a blizzard. Not all of us collect rocks.
BTW I can drive my rig with one hand too and I'm about 30' longer than you. I just choose not to. I would rather run 75 with 5 fingers. 😉

[taken]

Lantley wrote:
I would prefer to see a dually instead of the SRW Ford extended cab. While I don't know the weight of the triple axle XLR, that combo would appeal to me more if the truck were DRW. Is the rear of the extended cab sagging a bit?
What is the GVW and pin weight of that XLR. The entire combo maybe within the towing parameters, nevertheless I'd prefer to see a dually in front of that XLR.
The above Photo has no drool factor for me

You can prefer anything you like. Just as I can prefer anything I like. Not here to make you drool...

The pin of my trailer is about 2850 with the garage empty. Drops about 150 when I load the garage. Truck and trailer are both within 3/4" of siting level with no airbags. Trailers GVWR is 21k but weighs a measly 17k or so without the garage full. The pic does look like both the truck and trailer are high in the front and low in the back. Fun fact. The trailer is actually just under 3/4" lower in the front.

Oh, and that driveway it's on? It's about 500 feet long with a 100x100+ paved area at the end. My plow on a DRW would a bit less than a one finger driving experience dragging it's rear wheels in the snow banks pulling the snow back in and taking forever to turn around at each end...

Got to do what works for the individual.

[Lantley]

I would prefer to see a dually instead of the SRW Ford extended cab. While I don't know the weight of the triple axle XLR, that combo would appeal to me more if the truck were DRW. Is the rear of the extended cab sagging a bit?
What is the GVW and pin weight of that XLR. The entire combo maybe within the towing parameters, nevertheless I'd prefer to see a dually in front of that XLR.
The above Photo has no drool factor for me

[taken]

transferred wrote:


SCSB one ton diesel, very capable and very nice looking. Enjoy.

Thanks much!!

[transferred]

taken wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Taken I agree with you that the GVWR includes full tanks. However Cummins12V98 has a sharp looking combo. I don't mind if he likes posting pictures of it. His pictures gives me something to drool at.

Mine isn't all that hard to look at either. I just don't post it in every thread...

SCSB one ton diesel, very capable and very nice looking. Enjoy.

[blt2ski]

If that photo works, that was one finner driving too. ANd the trailer weighs what the gcwr of the truck is. 12500 lbs! Truck was way under axel limits, trailer is close.......otherwise, pulled straight as an arrow.

Marty