SRW vs DRW

[Hemling]

At what weight / length FW is DRW a necessity? Realizing it's very subjective, but is there a consensus? Assuming everything else is equal on the tow rig.

[Cummins12V98]

I have noticed way more DRW trucks recently at the full timer parks. Lots of them pulling SRW RV's.

[Lantley]

PADRVR12 WROTE: "If I'd gone right to the dually at the middle trailer, I'd have saved a fair amount of $$ and hassle..but didn't need a dually, so didn't get one".

This is a profound statement that most of us only learn the hard way.
A little vision can go a long way when you tally up the full cost.
It's nice to run the numbers,and ensure everything matches up.
But a wise RV'er needs to see the full picture including a peek into the future to find and buy the correct truck.

[PA12DRVR]

Hemling wrote:
We'll buy the truck first, tow our current TT with it, and then get a FW a few years later. When we go window shopping we never go down in weight or length, so I'm sure by the time we get around to buying a FW we will need a DRW.

Recognizing that length/weight always increase is 80% of the solution. My progression was 19' TT, 27' TT, 39' FW. If I'd gone right to the dually at the middle trailer, I'd have saved a fair amount of $$ and hassle..but didn't need a dually, so didn't get one.

Get whichever vehicle makes sense for you. There's no inherent qualities of either dually or SRW that can't be defined, evaluated, and compared to your planned use.

Not to further confuse the issue, but I've had several SRW's and DRW's with full 4-door crew cabs and full 8' bed. In those situations, the DRW vs. SRW adds mayby 5% more difficulty in daily use...but even the SRW crew cab / full size bed is 75% more difficult to work with than a single cab, 6.5' bed pickup...in other words, I've always found length to be the critical factor in the "is it hard to drive" determination; DRW much less so.

[Hemling]

We'll buy the truck first, tow our current TT with it, and then get a FW a few years later. When we go window shopping we never go down in weight or length, so I'm sure by the time we get around to buying a FW we will need a DRW.

[ACZL]

I've had nothing but SRW until '18. Towing 5er's since '05, Driving semis since '85 (oh man saying this makes me feel old.....LOL). Always thought my '03 & '15 were towing greats and yes I did slightly mod the rear susp to aid in squat and body roll. I was over all the weight capacities of the '03, still towed and handled fine, but just had to keep in mind of not getting into a wreck. Traded the '03 for a '15 SRW and that handled the '06 5er even better and I loved both of these trucks. Then came the upgraded 5er which was within most of the '15's limits, but not by much. Tires were the weakest link. Again, truck towed it great, but had this gut feeling in pit of my stomach that wouldn't go away as we are now thinking of summer trip to FL for '18. Knowing the tires were the weak link and other factors, decided to go w/ the DRW----hence a left over, yet new '17 DRW. Towing wise it's AWESOME and DW said she feels more comfy driving it when towing when she relieves me for spells and she does NOT tow very often. Yes I have to adjust for drive thrus and that's about it cuz I park far out in lots and getting fuel is no different than when town anything.

Biggest gripe and it's been said is winter driving. It stinks even w/ 1200 lbs of tube sand. In this instance, I'd prefer a SRW. I cannot afford a smaller truck to bop around in which would be nice, but playing the cards I'm dealt with, I make due w/ the DRW. If I have a app't that I know I cannot fit the truck into their lot, DW & I swap vehicles for the day as she has a VW Passat.Bottom line is, yes I would love to have a SRW truck but weight of RV dictates the need for a DRW (some would say otherwise here), but for a heavier weight pin/RV, DRW is way to go. I don't go off-road and and use truck in winter to tow a 4 place V-nose enclosed snowmobile trailer and again, truck stinks in snow, but make do. So OP you need to consider the weight of the RV you have now or may want to upgrade to later so just have to make 1 truck purchase. For us, it was piece of mind with the RV and actually, IMO was worth it especially when the DW is driving and feels comfy w/ it.

[valhalla360]

Lantley wrote:
Do SRW drivers regularly park in spots that are so narrow they require folded mirrors?

Sure, do it pretty regularly.

Judging by the number of dually fenders that clearly have made contact with something hard...the mirror width theory works fine as long as you are driving straight ahead but once making turns it doesn't work the same.

If you need the extra payload/capability of a dually, by all means buy one.

But assuming you are well within the capabilities of a SRW, it's silly to get a dually.

[Lantley]

Hemling wrote:
No this is all great. This is why I come to these forums I want to hear real world experiences from those who actually have experience, not necessarily to make my decision for me. We will be going the 5th wheel route in the next few years we have decided. Looking at new trucks right now that might be 2-3 years old with some factory warranty remaining when we buy.

The reason I have a dually is for the additional payload and the overall towing performance. I want the stability and braking of a dually.
I want to buy my 5'er without limits. I want to tow without limits.
This is an RV towing forum where dually is king.
Reasons not to go dually: Off Roading,driving in snow, fits in garage, insurance category, commercial registration issue etc.Curb Appeal
There are lots of reason to go with a SRW but none of those reasons are towing related.

[Me_Again]

Bumpyroad wrote:

IIRC those mirrors will fold back if bumped.
bumpy

I have habit of pushing the mirror fold button when parking in a store parking lot.

[Hemling]

No this is all great. This is why I come to these forums I want to hear real world experiences from those who actually have experience, not necessarily to make my decision for me. We will be going the 5th wheel route in the next few years we have decided. Looking at new trucks right now that might be 2-3 years old with some factory warranty remaining when we buy.

[Lantley]

Groover wrote:
I fold my mirrors in drive thrus or when getting my mail, it saves a lot of stretching. Also when I have to park on a street and in some parking lots. I know that I hate parking next to a dually in most parking lots. Actually, when going shopping I generally take my Ranger because my F150 is so big.

I get it a bigger vehicle is harder to park, but my dually fits in 90% of the places your F150 will go.
My whole point is there are not many places besides drive thrus that a SRW can go and a DRW cannot.
Both SRW and DRW can be a pain to park at times because they are big vehicles. But the bottom line is a DRW has the same access as a SRW.

[Groover]

I fold my mirrors in drive thrus or when getting my mail, it saves a lot of stretching. Also when I have to park on a street and in some parking lots. I know that I hate parking next to a dually in most parking lots. Actually, when going shopping I generally take my Ranger because my F150 is so big.

[BB_TX]

Lantley wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
Not really subjective. Wouldn’t have a DRW unless absolutely needed. Too difficult to park, drive off-road etc.

Typical comment from someone who doesn't drive DRW daily.
Tell me why a comparable DRW is harder to park than a SRW?

Payload , stability and better braking are why you chose DRW over SRW

seems to me that DRW trucks sort of stick out wider than SRW ones??????
bumpy

The rear wheels are no wider than the mirrors on a SRW truck.
Besides a few drive throughs I have no issues taking my dually anywhere a SRW can go. I don't off road in my Dually.

The discussion was about overly narrow drive thrus, not backing.
IIRC those mirrors will fold back if bumped.
bumpy

I have yet to fold back my mirrors before backing up. I don't think you fold them back first in a SRW truck either?
Do SRW drivers regularly park in spots that are so narrow they require folded mirrors?

[RoyJ]

time2roll wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
seems to me that DRW trucks sort of stick out wider than SRW ones??????
bumpy

Yes I am still wanting a SRW with some type of super singles tucked under the rear of a SRW body with dually payload capacity.

Going to say the exact same thing - anyone know what's the maximum load on a single tire on current 1 tons?

Sprinter vans have gone to super singles, 285/65/16 tire with 4300 lbs or 131 load rating, pretty impressive:



That's only a 30" tire. If we scale it up to 33", it should easily do 5,000 lbs @ 90 psi, giving a near 10k axle rating.

[Lantley]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
Not really subjective. Wouldn’t have a DRW unless absolutely needed. Too difficult to park, drive off-road etc.

Typical comment from someone who doesn't drive DRW daily.
Tell me why a comparable DRW is harder to park than a SRW?

Payload , stability and better braking are why you chose DRW over SRW

seems to me that DRW trucks sort of stick out wider than SRW ones??????
bumpy

The rear wheels are no wider than the mirrors on a SRW truck.
Besides a few drive throughs I have no issues taking my dually anywhere a SRW can go. I don't off road in my Dually.

IIRC those mirrors will fold back if bumped.
bumpy

I have yet to fold back my mirrors before backing up. I don't think you fold them back first in a SRW truck either?
Do SRW drivers regularly park in spots that are so narrow they require folded mirrors?