Unofficial SRW vs DRW road survey

[Superduty123]

Not wanting to start a war. Last summer I drove my son from NorCal to Denver to his school. On the way across Utah, Wyoming, Colorado I saw a ton of 5th wheels, and my unofficial guest is that 85% were being towed with SRW

Today I drove from Nor Cal to just above San Luis Obispo, officially counting this time I came across 14 SRW towing 5th wheels of all sizes and only 2 that were DRW

I know it makes plain common sense to me that 4 wheels on the rear end would have to give you more stability

But it just seems a lot of folks either put up with, get by, or don't seem to have a problem with SRW

As some of you know I am looking for a truck this fall at the end of the model year and it will be my last as I will be retiring in 4 years. I would prefer a short bed 1 ton CC so I am limited to the RAM in either Std CC, Mega CC in SRW or Mega in DRW

The only draw back with the DRW is parking etc

to those of you who towed both ways, is it really that big of a difference. Certainly the numbers I see on the road are overwhelmingly SRW

[Bionic_Man]

My truck is a dedicated recreation truck, and that is why I got the DRW. My 5er is about 12,000 pounds, and I usually tow tandem with a boat or utility trailer. I have towed the same trailers wtih a SRW and a DRW. The DRW is without a doubt a better towing machine. The SRW was much easier to live with on a daily basis.

I really like my truck, but my SRW comfortably towed my trailer. If I were buying today, I am not sure I would buy another DRW. I KNOW if I had to use it as a DD I would not have a DRW.

[Superduty123]

I appreciate all the nice replies

I don't know how heavy the 5th will be. I will have at times a small self contained camper on the back when it is just me

It will never be a daily driver. I have a 2005 Prius that I will use to run around town, I have 114K miles on it, a friend has 300k miles on hers with no issues, so that will be my grocery getter

[mr__ed]

I dunno, but I've been successfully towing my fiver with a single-rear wheel dodge diesel all around the country and have no stability issues I can think of. I can be passed by a large 18 wheeler on the interstate and never have to grab the wheel to compensate for sway. It's non- existent. And I sure like SRW as a daily driver!

[ReneeG]

We currently tow a 3055RL Bighorn weighing in around 14K fully loaded with a 2011 F350 DRW. We previously towed the same FW with a 99 V10 F250 SRW, 4.3 RAR and heavily modified headers with a Magnaflow Cat back exhaust. With all the power we had, it was just too squishy feeling towing that much weight. We too saw a lot of SRW's towing fifth wheels and we would justify our SRW by seeing the others but it really was too much weight for what we had. Since switching to our DRW, it made the world of difference in towing stability and power (I know the power issue was not in your original question plus we went from an F250 to an F350). We wouldn't go back. As or width, the DRW is no wider than your mirrors as another said and easily stays within the lines. Added bonus with the DRW, I now take over and tow for DH. But as one poster here said, depends on the fifth wheel you're going to get. A lot can easily be towed with SRW's.

[Cummins12V98]

I honestly have to look at the foliage along the roads to see if the wind is blowing with the Dually. 45 mph sidewinds no effect at all with 28K combined load. Really a stress free towing experience!

My 98 2500 20K combined towed fine but any larger winds would effect it. Not fun getting pushed across the lanes when a big side wind hits you going down a grade!

Parking is not an issue 99% if the time with the hips.

[Old-Biscuit]

All vehicles can tow provided they are properly matched....

My 5vr is 14K GVWR
Towed it FT for 7 yrs with 3500 SRW
Great towing combo.

GENERAL rule of thumb (my thumb) :B
1500....8k to 10K depending on how truck is set-up
2500....12K
3500 SRW....14K
DRW..above 14K

[rhagfo]

I would agree the OP, we looked for a 2nd Ram 3500 DRW all we found were not in good shape even with low miles. We ended up with a 2500 camper special. Tow over GVWR, but well under axle and tire ratings (3500 springs), never an issue with handing or stopping, also no issues going! Would DRW be more stable, no question, but for the 11,000# I haul I have plenty of TV.

[bfast54]

06Fargo wrote:

nevadanick wrote:
...My current truck is a dually and you plan where you park instead of just pulling in...

🙂 which then sets off the huddle up of vehicles you find around your truck when you come back to it, even though you parked by yourself in the middle of 40 acres...:)

Why the heck do people do this????????..... I park my Large Dually out in the Back 40............and find Junkers,etc parked around it....so tight some times.....Urrrgghhh


For O.P.,try both if you know someone with a Dually.........For Full Timing.....I say go with dually......;)

[ib516]

DRW will "tow" better with heavy loads. I think why most people choose SRW is where the truck will only be towing part time. SRW wins there IMO.

[lawnspecialties]

I've had both. F350 SRWs and an F450 DRW. Unless the weights call for the DRW, I'd far rather have the SRW F350. For me, stability wasn't a big deal for either. It was solely a choice based on weights.

[nevadanick]

06Fargo, thats why i try to park in the end space where i can just back straight out. Doesnt matter how many park around me. I can park and unpark anywhere but i just try to make it easy.

[kennethwooster]

As a farmer in and out of fields, I have always ran SRW. Started RVing in 03 so pulled with my regular truck and made it fine. We are pulling a Cameo and realized we are very overweight. We have a desire for a longer Lifestyle Rv and know we had to go to DRW. Bought a 2014 DRW F350 with top carrying capacity. First thing we did we drove to Memphis Tenn. and drove all over into Malls or wherever with zero problems getting around. I was also surprised at how easy it turned and how well I like the long bed verses short beds. I've pulled only about 200 miles and really liked the way it handled. Installed a B&W puck hitch. very impressed with that hitch. Anyway to go along with the discussion, DRW works great, My only griped is it won't go in the garage.

[dbbls]

There are those towing with a dually that don't need it just as there are people towing with a SRW that need a dually. Many of the SRW people towing large 5th wheels are overloaded but don't want the hassle of the dual wheels.

[beaslwd]

Our last two TVs were a 95 Dodge 2500 SRW and a 2003 Dodge 3500 SRW, Towing an ALFA 31RL and currently towing a Big Country 36'. We have towed many a mile with the Dodge trucks and I love the Cummins engine.
We currently tow with a Ford F-450 and seriously I don't know how we managed NOT being pushed off the road by crosswinds in some of the weather we've been in. The dual rear tires on a dually are MUCH more stable, and those that say they make no difference are only fooling themselves.

Are there drawbacks to a dually, sure just as there are with a SRW, it's all up to what you are willing to live with.

[noteven]

nevadanick wrote:
...My current truck is a dually and you plan where you park instead of just pulling in...

🙂 which then sets off the huddle up of vehicles you find around your truck when you come back to it, even though you parked by yourself in the middle of 40 acres...:)