Towing > 40ft - drw vs srw?

[NCRugRat]

I have a triple axle toy hauler with a top weight of 18k pounds. Four years ago I research the heck out of the type of tow vehicle to get and decided on a drw. I ended up with a 2009 F-450, but unfortunately someone decided to pull out in front of me last week and it totaled my truck. Now I’m in the market again and it’s just hard to find a good drw for a good price. I am still leaning towards a drw, but maybe it’s overkill. I notice a lot of people towing similar or larger campers with srw 350 or 3500s. My question is for those people - do you feel safe or wish you had gone with a drw? How about any sway? I do mostly flat towing with very little mountains. I appreciate any comments and it sucks to have to look for a new truck. My F-450 was solid.

[Cummins12V98]

"Maybe it was because you didn't have the B&W in the back of the 98."

Actually I did and towed the AVIOIN for 5 years with the B&W.


"There's a world of difference between a 98 model truck and how it handles than a 11 or 15."

I agree but have ridden in a newer SRW in the same area and noticed the wind more than my Dually.

[4x4ord]

TakingThe5th wrote:

4x4ord wrote:

TakingThe5th wrote:
Two days ago I was driving the interstate solo in my DRV. It seemed like it might be windy because cars were being blown around and grass and trash and SRVs were also blowing in the crosswinds. I've had the same experience lashed to the 5er. Really a nice ride! So if a new SRV can perform the same as my 'ol DRV - just think how well a new DRV must handle.

Why would the wind blow a SRW truck around more than a DRW truck? I would expect it to be the other way around.

Confused! Why would you expect a truck with a wider stance and more rubber on the ground to blow around more then a lighter truck with roughly the same profile? In any event, I've owned and driven both and I enjoy the DRV for it's better stability.

In actual fact I don't really expect there to be a lot of difference between how the wind affects a dually vs a srw but I try to imagine what is happening when a cross wind hits a truck. If the tires slip a little on the pavement, I would expect the srw to resist slippage better.....such as srw vs drw on an icy surface. If the wondering effect is due to sidewall flex or soft suspension than maybe a dually would do better.

[larry_barnhart]

We see what side winds do for the rv's including TT's and MH's. We know we are not what we see the styles mention above. Problem might be faster driving than we tow as they are going around us. Saw this on the trip south in Oct so I remember how they swayed left to right. Looked like hard work at the wheel.

4 rear tires for us.

chevman

[Bedlam]

NCRugRat wrote:
So - my main reason for looking at SRW vs DRW was both cost and availability. My wife looked at me last night and said if you are questioning it then you already know the right answer. When towing with my F-450, I always felt comfortable towing with no effects of wind and the chassis handled the weight great. I'm now waiting to see what I get for my old truck so I can see how much new truck I can reasonably afford. It really sucks as my old truck was working great with no issues, but at least no one was hurt or even worse killed.

You have to understand that you will be taking a step backwards in capability by going to a SRW or even a F350 DRW compared to what you had driven. If the new F450 pickups are too expensive, consider going to the F450 chassis cab. It will not have all the bells and whistles of the optioned out pickup, so it will be less expensive. If you are not set on Ford, compare a Ram 4500 to it and see if it meets your needs for less money. That will bring up all kinds of new questions about how to finish off the rear: Pickup bed, Flat bed, Hauler bed...

I have posted this many times - If you are buying a new truck, order what you want rather than accepting the configurations ordered by the dealers. I have been happy with my last two custom configured trucks whether they were a Ford or Ram.

[Bedlam]

Unless the side winds were strong enough to lift a rear wheel, DRW or SRW should not make a difference. Most likely your DRW has firmer suspension with a better stabilizer bar that really makes the difference.

[NCRugRat]

So - my main reason for looking at SRW vs DRW was both cost and availability. My wife looked at me last night and said if you are questioning it then you already know the right answer. When towing with my F-450, I always felt comfortable towing with no effects of wind and the chassis handled the weight great. I'm now waiting to see what I get for my old truck so I can see how much new truck I can reasonably afford. It really sucks as my old truck was working great with no issues, but at least no one was hurt or even worse killed.

[transamz9]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

4x4ord wrote:

TakingThe5th wrote:
Two days ago I was driving the interstate solo in my DRV. It seemed like it might be windy because cars were being blown around and grass and trash and SRVs were also blowing in the crosswinds. I've had the same experience lashed to the 5er. Really a nice ride! So if a new SRV can perform the same as my 'ol DRV - just think how well a new DRV must handle.

Why would the wind blow a SRW truck around more than a DRW truck? I would expect it to be the other way around.

I travel a lot in the PalmSprings, CA area where the windmills are for good reason. When towing or solo with my 98 SRW you sure noticed when the wind was blowing. Same roads with my 11 and now 15 Dually I have to look at the foliage along side the road to see if the wind is blowing in most cases.

The Dually is FAR more stable than the SRW trucks.

There's a world of difference between a 98 model truck and how it handles than a 11 or 15.

My 2016 SRW 3500 handles and drives in the wind a whole lot better than my 2006 3500 DRW that weighs 12,000#. I don't think I have ever felt the back of my truck get pushed sideways in a cross wind. It has always been the front end and have to counter steer the effects. It's been a couple months since I've looked at trucks but the last time I did they all have single wheels on the steer axle. Maybe it was because you didn't have the B&W in the back of the 98.

[Cummins12V98]

4x4ord wrote:

TakingThe5th wrote:
Two days ago I was driving the interstate solo in my DRV. It seemed like it might be windy because cars were being blown around and grass and trash and SRVs were also blowing in the crosswinds. I've had the same experience lashed to the 5er. Really a nice ride! So if a new SRV can perform the same as my 'ol DRV - just think how well a new DRV must handle.

Why would the wind blow a SRW truck around more than a DRW truck? I would expect it to be the other way around.

I travel a lot in the PalmSprings, CA area where the windmills are for good reason. When towing or solo with my 98 SRW you sure noticed when the wind was blowing. Same roads with my 11 and now 15 Dually I have to look at the foliage along side the road to see if the wind is blowing in most cases.

The Dually is FAR more stable than the SRW trucks.

[TakingThe5th]

4x4ord wrote:

TakingThe5th wrote:
Two days ago I was driving the interstate solo in my DRV. It seemed like it might be windy because cars were being blown around and grass and trash and SRVs were also blowing in the crosswinds. I've had the same experience lashed to the 5er. Really a nice ride! So if a new SRV can perform the same as my 'ol DRV - just think how well a new DRV must handle.

Why would the wind blow a SRW truck around more than a DRW truck? I would expect it to be the other way around.

Confused! Why would you expect a truck with a wider stance and more rubber on the ground to blow around more then a lighter truck with roughly the same profile? In any event, I've owned and driven both and I enjoy the DRV for it's better stability.

[Halmfamily]

4x4ord wrote:
I can see how my post might be confusing. I started using my gooseneck behind my 2011 F350 srw. It handled some big loads.....up to 30,000 lbs. My neighbor borrows my gooseneck and tows similar loads with his new GMC srw. He's happy with the way his truck handles the trailer as well. So although we tow some heavier loads with our SRW trucks and we are happy with the way the trucks perform I realize that a dually would be better for heavier loads like that. For the little RVs the new SRW diesels are more than adequate. I think my 2017 f350 SRW is rated for 20600 lbs. I'd be amazed if someone who is happy towing his 14600 lb rv with his 2008 dually wouldn't be even happier towing an 18000 lb rv with a new SRW.

I probably would be happier but I don't want a truck payment. Also, if I get a newer truck the wife wants a bigger FW so two reasons to stick with my old reliable 08 DRW.

[4x4ord]

Bedlam wrote:
When I posted, I assumed the worse case:

20-25 percent pin weight of 18,000 lbs
200 lbs for fifth wheel hitch
800 lbs of people and gear in the crew cab
3200 lbs rear tire rating (F250's)

You have a good way of looking at it. If everyone was like you the engineers wouldn't have to design huge safety margins into everything. Guys like me operate in that safety margin quite regularly. We bought our Kenworth with full intentions of loading 70,000 lbs on its back (14,000 lbs over its GVWR). It doesn't seem to bother the truck in the least. (We only use the truck off road)

[4x4ord]

TakingThe5th wrote:
Two days ago I was driving the interstate solo in my DRV. It seemed like it might be windy because cars were being blown around and grass and trash and SRVs were also blowing in the crosswinds. I've had the same experience lashed to the 5er. Really a nice ride! So if a new SRV can perform the same as my 'ol DRV - just think how well a new DRV must handle.

Why would the wind blow a SRW truck around more than a DRW truck? I would expect it to be the other way around.

[TakingThe5th]

Two days ago I was driving the interstate solo in my DRV. It seemed like it might be windy because cars were being blown around and grass and trash and SRVs were also blowing in the crosswinds. I've had the same experience lashed to the 5er. Really a nice ride! So if a new SRV can perform the same as my 'ol DRV - just think how well a new DRV must handle.

[Bedlam]

When I posted, I assumed the worse case:

20-25 percent pin weight of 18,000 lbs
200 lbs for fifth wheel hitch
800 lbs of people and gear in the crew cab
3200 lbs rear tire rating (F250's)

[4x4ord]

Redwoodcamper wrote:
I have towed many different goosneck loads between 15-30k lbs in both single and drw trucks. There really is no comparison. It can be done with a srw truck, but stability and feel is completely different. Under 15k or in a pinch it can be done safely with srw. If you tow regularly over 15k it isn't much of a choice.
Obviously it is silly to talk about total trailer weight when the rawr is what matters, and most fifth wheels over 14k or so overweight the ratings of the rear tires and axle. Losing a rear tire at 60+ with 8k+lbs on the rear of your truck is not fun.

The axle rating on the new Ford is 7300 lbs.....tires are 7500 lbs/ pair. The wheels are a little more limiting at 3590 per aluminum rim.
The curb weight of the rear axle on a '17 4x4 crew cab diesel is about 2900 lbs....It is going to take about 4300 lbs before your going to be over the rear end rating of the new SRW truck.

There are very few RV's that are going to overload the tires or rear axle of a new SRW Super Duty.