Who has driven SRW VS DRW In Snow

[Superduty123]

All

I have approval from the wife to buy my last truck before retirement as I have noted to some of you in recent posts

I am leaning to the current 2013/2014 Ram in the following configurations

3500 4x4 CC/SB

3500 4x4 Megacab DRW S/B

Both with the Cummins. A local dealer has a loaded 2013 Mega with the Asian Trans and 3.42 axle that I may be able to get a good deal on.

I will put a small self contained cabover on it when I am fishing on my own or tow a 30-33ft 5th when the wife is with me

We are planning on buying a small cabin in the lake tahoe area to spend 8 months out of the year and while I will try to avoid as much as possible being in the white stuff I wanted to know from any of you who have actually owned and driven both SRW and DRW in the snow what it would be like

My guess is if I am caught up there in the winter the truck would be unloaded except for a shell

Any input would help

thanks

[christopherglen]

I have had no problems going over 80 in the snow empty. Caltrans asks if it is locked in 4x4, and waves me through. Biggest issue is idiots sliding around thinking 4x4 is gods gift to low traction.

[Vulcaneer]

In Snow...No weight, the SRW is better. A little weight, the SRW is better. Lotsa weight, the DRW is better.

[DirtyOil]

DRW good on smooth roads, up here you'll be hard pressed to find many DRW service trucks or welding trucks, owners sick and tired of busted wheel studs and having outside dually racing them in the ditches. Never mind how the mud packs up between the dual wheels turning your truck with training wheels into large rolling pins...good if yer making pie crust...not so good when ya need traction. :W

[NC_Hauler]

greende wrote:
We AVERAGE 120" of snow a year here. I had an '08 2500 Duramax SRW and now an '11 3500 DRW. Both were 4x4 and drove the same in the snow. 2500 had a cap for weight. Leave firewood or other such in the DRW for weight & have had no problems. Just my experience.

Very good point, same as mine...couldn't really tell any difference between the two and it appears, instead of an "overwhelming majority" saying DRW are worse in the snow than a SRW truck, those that have driven both in some ugly weather see no difference....I've done some major "sliding" in the snow and ice with SRW trucks as well as dually's...no difference there either:B.

though, "urban legend" seems to be the rule with a Dually not being able to go in the snow as well as a SRW truck, it appears on ALL the threads that have been brought up on these forums on this topic, that the "myth" has basically been debunked by the majority of posters....at least, doing a search on it on this forum as well as "thedieselplace" and the cummins forums....you get the same information...some feel that SRW are better, but normally the "majority" seem to KNOW, FROM EXPERIENCE, that there really isn't much of a difference...and this from posters all over the United States as well as Canada, and some post stating the dually does fine in what some would deem as places that get a lot of snow, thus, experience, in this case DOES speak volumes.

As stated by another, I surely wouldn't rule out purchasing a dually because one has "heard" that they don't do well in the snow....if one uses some common sense when driving in the snow, has the right tires, maybe even add a little weight in the rear,(I've even put added weight in the bed of SRW trucks also to help with traction in the snow)....the dually does as well as a SRW truck....been my experience as well as quite a few others in here it appears.....:)

[blt2ski]

mileshuff wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
The other key NOT being talked about is tires.Marty

Very true! I've been running Michelin LTX M/S's for years. They stick like glue in snow. In AZ we have rather powdery fluffy snow. Slush or hard packed ice is usually late season only. Truck came with the LTX A/S's which quickly clogged up and became an ice wheel.

We do not have dry fluffy snow up here in the NW US. We have what is called "Cascade Concrete" or " favorite ski area name">"BIG FLAKE" If you can not literally squeeze water out of the snow, it is rare, and then one has something called dry snow!LOLOLOL

Tires for the type of snow, mud, sand, rock, concrete only.....can make a BIG difference in how well ANY vehicle you drive will behave in the environment you travel in. Just because folks like Michelin XPS ribs, or the ltx m/s, does not mean those tread types will work for someone else. The ltx for how I drive is an aggressive street tire. The XPS a racing slick! I am sure someone out there thinks these tires is the next best thing to sliced bread........If I can not get thru with my M55's or equal......TIRE CHAINS! That is life when you drive up and down 10-20% grades with wet snow!

Marty

[greende]

We AVERAGE 120" of snow a year here. I had an '08 2500 Duramax SRW and now an '11 3500 DRW. Both were 4x4 and drove the same in the snow. 2500 had a cap for weight. Leave firewood or other such in the DRW for weight & have had no problems. Just my experience.

[Scott16]

I have a Friend who lives in Wyoming and has a 85 Ford F-250 Diesel 4x4. He picked up two Truck intertubes cut a hole fills with 50lb of sand, ties them off hanging over the rear fenders on both side to add weight to the rear during winter for snow. He never has had any trouble with snow with his Ford.
Scott

[Me_Again]

Superduty123 wrote:
All

I have approval from the wife to buy my last truck before retirement as I have noted to some of you in recent posts

I am leaning to the current 2013/2014 Ram in the following configurations

3500 4x4 CC/SB

3500 4x4 Megacab DRW S/B

Both with the Cummins. A local dealer has a loaded 2013 Mega with the Asian Trans and 3.42 axle that I may be able to get a good deal on.

I will put a small self contained cabover on it when I am fishing on my own or tow a 30-33ft 5th when the wife is with me

We are planning on buying a small cabin in the lake tahoe area to spend 8 months out of the year and while I will try to avoid as much as possible being in the white stuff I wanted to know from any of you who have actually owned and driven both SRW and DRW in the snow what it would be like

My guess is if I am caught up there in the winter the truck would be unloaded except for a shell

Any input would help

thanks

If I was getting a duallie, I would get at least 3.73 gears. I just have a hard time buying into the 3.42 gears!

Chris

[mileshuff]

blt2ski wrote:
The other key NOT being talked about is tires.Marty

Very true! I've been running Michelin LTX M/S's for years. They stick like glue in snow. In AZ we have rather powdery fluffy snow. Slush or hard packed ice is usually late season only. Truck came with the LTX A/S's which quickly clogged up and became an ice wheel.

[4x4ord]

Duals don't do well in snow but SRW can' carry any weight. Use the expected pin weight of your fiver to make your decission. I get stuck in the snow every winter with our dually but a srw wouldn't do what I need the dually for so I pull it out and plow a trail. Once loaded duals do fine in the snow.

[davisenvy]

In all my trucks, DWR included, I would shovel the driveway snow into the back of the truck. This would give me enough weight to get the job done and I never had to unload it.

[NC_Hauler]

Very good point Marty, the tires you use DO have a lot to do with how well a vehicle will go in the snow....

[blt2ski]

I've had no real issues with my dump truck or the crew cab dually. Not sure what locker is offered with the dodge, if it comes with an eaton like GM does, do not by pass that option. GET IT! helps a lot in snow, be it a Single or dual rear.

The other key NOT being talked about is tires. In the NW where I am, having an open tread tire is a must! I've been runnign Toyo M55's on the rear only of my GM dually, I've been able to go MANY places in rwd only vs the stock general street tires, I would need 4wd to get places. Having the correct tires for the type of snow you will drive in is a must. Out here, it is wet slush for the most part. Hence why the open tread is a must.

Marty

[Superduty123]

thanks to all for the info

I am going to contact the dealer on that 2013 and see what kind of deal they will cut