SRW vs. DRW

[marine02]

I am looking to get a tow rig, and am looking for input from people who have driven both SRW and DRW. I am leaning toward the DRW because of max Payload, and GCWR. What other advantages or disadvantages are there.

[pmurf1]

You have to watch the fenders going through drive thru's, the bank, etc.. and have to park farther out, but it's worth it. Most 3/4 ton longbed trucks SRW aren't exactly the easiest to park anyway, so it's not that big of a deal. You do have to buy two extra tires when it comes time to swap. I like my dually, will buy another one if I need a light duty pickup in the future.

[J Bruce]

A DRW is a heck of a lot more stable with a camper on. Twisty section with a 11ft camper are no fun in a SRW.

[withamc]

My 05 F350 SRW with a 12 foot Lance handles much better than my 86 GMC DRW. Air bag placement helps. The only concerns I have now are making sure I don't exceed payload.

[jasonmt]

I was looking for a new “work” truck back in May and I was looking at both Dodge and Ford one tons, 4x4, SRW and DRW, 4 doors.

One of the reasons that I went with Ford when I was looking at 05’s was that their GVWR and GCWR specs for a F-350 CC SRW were quite a bit higher than the Dodge 3500 QC SRW. Not to mention that the common theme at all three Dodge dealers I went to were clueless salesmen who couldn't tell me the GVWR/GCWR ratings or understand the phrase "cash, no trade".

With a 3.73 ratio Ford offered a GVWR of 11,400#'s and a GCWR of 23,000#'s.
With a 3.73 ratio Dodge offered a GVWR of 9,900#'s and a GCWR of 21,000#'s.

The extra 1500#'s of payload offered by the Ford allowed me to not get a DRW truck which I would of had to if I had went with the Dodge.

Before this truck I have had 6 Ford 1 ton DRW and 1 Dodge DRW 1 ton, all diesel with various cab configurations. Things that I have noticed are that city driving is much nicer with SRW and a 6’ box; I can actually go through the drive thru in the morning for coffee now. I am also not AS scared to let the GF drive it in and out of the garage or around town; she has in the past wiped out a dumpster and the side of the garage with a DRW truck.

With a larger camper or a heavy trailer (15K+) I would be going with a DRW truck but the SRW trucks have come quite a ways since I last had one.

Funny thing is that some of the F-250 models have higher GVWR and GCWR than a comparable Dodge 3500 SRW.

[nbaff]

My 05 F350 SRW with a 12 foot Lance handles much better than my 86 GMC DRW. Air bag placement helps. The only concerns I have now are making sure I don't exceed payload.

I think suspension technology has improved quite a bit from 86 to 05. Comparing at 05 dually to an 05 SRW might make it easier to draw a better conclusion

[Po' riggity]

I bought a 2500 SRW dodge long bed, and Im happy with it, but knowing what I know now, and the fact that Im going to be hauling a camper on my truck, and coming close to exceeding payload with it, I woulda bought a DRW, for the stability in slide in camper hauling.. that being said, I love my truck just the way it is.. and it does make it easier to navigate through bank and fast food drive thru's... :D
Scott

[speedo]

For hauling the camper I prefer the added stability of the training wheels.

Gus

[CanuckJeeper]

I towed the same trailer & load with both of:

'01 F350 DRW
'04 F250 SRW

The F350 DRW was much more stable and easier to control.

JP

[Tim84K10]

I bought a 2500 SRW dodge long bed, and Im happy with it, but knowing what I know now, and the fact that Im going to be hauling a camper on my truck, and coming close to exceeding payload with it, I woulda bought a DRW, for the stability in slide in camper hauling.. that being said, I love my truck just the way it is.. and it does make it easier to navigate through bank and fast food drive thru's... :D
Scott


If you have a camper on a 2500 AND you're pulling a trailer, you're going to be overloaded.

See my post, with weights, on TDR if you don't believe me. Tongue weight of the trailer + passengers alone will put you near your GVWR. The camper is going to put you hundreds, if not thousands of pounds overweight.

[makeupqueEn]

Im planning on air bags on the truck. Im going to be doing research before I put the camper on, and if it really is going to be THAT overloaded, then I won't do it.
Scott

[makeupqueEn]

Another thing.. the SRW 3500 is rated at 900 lbs more GVWR than my 2500, and the only difference is the overload leafs on the rear suspension. My thinking is, air bags, and maybe additional overload leaves, and my truck should be able to handle the weight of the camper and trailer tounge fine. SandiegoCJ has a lance camper and trailer he hauls with his 3500 dually 2wd that has the slightly higher GVWR than my truck, so I don't feel it'll be a problem if Ive got bags.
Scott

[u2slow]

My thinking is, air bags, and maybe additional overload leaves, and my truck should be able to handle the weight of the camper and trailer tounge fine.

:rolleyes:

Highway patrol won't give a damn what you did to your truck and what you think it can carry.

Bottom line is to weigh your rig when loaded and have enough truck to haul it legally.

[Tim84K10]

Even a SRW 1 ton isn't going to take a camper + trailer tongue weight.

You'd have to weigh yours for sure, but with my trailer and just with the coolers and typical stuff I take for the weekend, I don't have enough payload left over for even a small camper and my truck IS a 1 ton.

Most SRW trucks, even without any fuel in them or a driver, still don't have enough payload for a camper alone, much less a camper + 1000 lbs of tongue weigh that your trailer is going to have.

Campers do not belong in SRW trucks. Some campers are so heavy that no pickup, even a dually, can carry them without being overloaded.

[withamc]

Even a SRW 1 ton isn't going to take a camper + trailer tongue weight.

You'd have to weigh yours for sure, but with my trailer and just with the coolers and typical stuff I take for the weekend, I don't have enough payload left over for even a small camper and my truck IS a 1 ton.

Most SRW trucks, even without any fuel in them or a driver, still don't have enough payload for a camper alone, much less a camper + 1000 lbs of tongue weigh that your trailer is going to have.

Campers do not belong in SRW trucks. Some campers are so heavy that no pickup, even a dually, can carry them without being overloaded.

05 F350 SRW has a payload of 4100 lbs. 1989 Lance Squire 11.9 weighs just under 3000 lbs. Wife, dog and I weigh about 400 lbs. Tongue weight is 600 lbs. Figure about 300 lbs of clothes, food, and extra crap. We're right on the hairy edge of being over, but not much. I have to weigh this thing sometime.

[J Bruce]

05 F350 SRW has a payload of 4100 lbs. 1989 Lance Squire 11.9 weighs just under 3000 lbs. Wife, dog and I weigh about 400 lbs. Tongue weight is 600 lbs. Figure about 300 lbs of clothes, food, and extra crap. We're right on the hairy edge of being over, but not much. I have to weigh this thing sometime.

You're way over. You haven't put fuel in the truck, water in the camper, or propane in yet. Run it across the scales - just make sure nobody is watching you :D

Don't forget.. If you've over on the front axle - that's a ticket. If you're over on the rear axle - that's a ticket. If you've over the GVWR that's a ticket... Notice a pattern here :flipoff2:

[tdavis]

Don't forget.. If you've over on the front axle - that's a ticket. If you're over on the rear axle - that's a ticket. If you've over the GVWR that's a ticket... Notice a pattern here :flipoff2:

Going over the vehicle's GVWR will not get you a ticket in California. You may be liable if your in an accident, but that is what insurance is for.

Going over the vehicle's GCVWR could get you a ticket.

Axle weight is debatable also - if you have tires capable of handling the load, you may also pass. Depends on the mood of the officer.

Most GVWR's on todays trucks are set for warranty, license and insurance reasons.

Time for the weight nazi's to come out..

[ramv]

Another thing.. the SRW 3500 is rated at 900 lbs more GVWR than my 2500, and the only difference is the overload leafs on the rear suspension.
Scott

And stiffer front springs, (although if you have the snow plow package they MIGHT be the same).

Tires and rear axles were upgraded too on the 3500 SRW but yours probably is fine if its the HO or 600 CTD.

Heavy trucks stock, only about 2000 lb payload, did you get one of those light weight campers? Pricey, but some look pretty nice.

GVWR is 9900 on 3500, isn't it 8800 on the 2500? I can't remember if the CTD got a different GVWR.

[Jrod-13]

Even a SRW 1 ton isn't going to take a camper + trailer tongue weight.




thats a pretty inane comment, hell I can remember back when every slide in on the road was hauled with a 1/2 ton, usualy pulling boat behind it.(and I'm the same age as you) I've seen slide in's small enough that ANY modern 3/4 ton or even 1/2 ton will haul them easily without exceeding any rating.
That, and comming from my expirance hauling commercialy, the HWP & scale houses care about rating on your tires, and the weight on your licence plates, not what your door sticker says.

[zukfreak]

More than any thing the peace of mind knowing that if I have a blowout at max payload and 80 MPH that I still have a tire supporting the rig till I can get pulled over to change it with out losing control and killing anyone, I like my training wheels. I pulled a 48 ft carhauer with three rigs from Florida to Attica, IN with an 01 2500HD Chevy and every fuel stop we were checkin tire temp and getting worried but never had any problems and it pulled really nice that same truck made a few trips from FL to TN with a 34ft gooseneck loaded up gcvw of a little over 24,000lps and running 80 plus and it was very stable but always in the back of my head the dreadfull blowout although it never happened that truck was replaced with a 3500 duelie and now I tow alot more peasefully.

[u2slow]

Going over the vehicle's GVWR will not get you a ticket in California. You may be liable if your in an accident, but that is what insurance is for.


Interesting. Where do I sign up for one of these policies? (I want to break the rules still be covered too. :p )

Going over the vehicle's GCVWR could get you a ticket.

Because that officer has the master index of GCWRs in his pocket and knows your axle ratio. :laughing:

Axle weight is debatable also - if you have tires capable of handling the load, you may also pass. Depends on the mood of the officer.

Weight laws are well documented. I can appreciate the range of moods an officer may have over the course of his/her shift. I don't perceive the load-rating of the tire to have mood-altering influence if you're already pulled over on suspicion of being overloaded.

Most GVWR's on todays trucks are set for warranty, license and insurance reasons.

Licensing doesn't apply and the other two are secondary reasons. Primary reason for a given GVWR is a group of engineers have approved the vehicle for this capacity under its intended use.

Time for the weight nazi's to come out..

Who? Me? :angel:

Enforcement of weights for non-commercial vehicles around here is largely not enforced - except for that odd holiday weekend they decide to setup shop on a major route. Over GVWR - nifty fine and trip is over until you can lighten the load. Over licensed GVW - another fine - that is sized according to how much you are in excess.

[tdavis]

Enforcement of weights for non-commercial vehicles around here is largely not enforced - except for that odd holiday weekend they decide to setup shop on a major route. Over GVWR - nifty fine and trip is over until you can lighten the load. Over licensed GVW - another fine - that is sized according to how much you are in excess.

Please quote the California DMV code for this.

Note, I said California, not Canada.

[tators]

[QUOTE=u2slow]Interesting. Where do I sign up for one of these policies? (I want to break the rules still be covered too. :p )

So your insurance doesn't cover you if you do something stupid or illegal??

Run a stop sign? hit someone while speeding? fall asleep at the wheel?
So why so different if you overload your truck?

My policy specifically states that I'm not covered if drag racing or in an organized racing event... but thats about it....

No exclusions for overloading my truck...

Perhaps you can quote your policy that states this???? :confused:

[Tim84K10]

05 F350 SRW has a payload of 4100 lbs. 1989 Lance Squire 11.9 weighs just under 3000 lbs. Wife, dog and I weigh about 400 lbs. Tongue weight is 600 lbs. Figure about 300 lbs of clothes, food, and extra crap. We're right on the hairy edge of being over, but not much. I have to weigh this thing sometime.

Forget the published payload ratings and weigh the empty truck full of fuel. Then subtract that weight from GVWR to get payload capacity.

My Dodge 1 ton SRW weighs 7080 empty. 9900 lb GVWR gives me 2820 payload. That means camper alone puts me overloaded.

Btw, 600 lb tongue weight is very conservative. My trailer has about 1200 lbs the way I load it, and it couldn't be reduced safely below 1000 lbs.

[mbuck]

DRW and don't look back...you'll be very happy

[withamc]

Forget the published payload ratings and weigh the empty truck full of fuel. Then subtract that weight from GVWR to get payload capacity.

My Dodge 1 ton SRW weighs 7080 empty. 9900 lb GVWR gives me 2820 payload. That means camper alone puts me overloaded.

Btw, 600 lb tongue weight is very conservative. My trailer has about 1200 lbs the way I load it, and it couldn't be reduced safely below 1000 lbs.

My only concern is the weight on the rear tires. Tires are rated at 3580 IIRC, which means I should be able to safely run 7K on the rear.
Note to original poster - if I had it to do over again, I would most likely buy a dually.

[Mechanos]

Now I'm not 100% sure on this, so don't take it as gospel. It's my understanding that it depends on what type of load you are putting on the truck. For instance, if you are running a gooseneck or a 5th wheel trailer, it's my understanding that the truck & trailer are then considered as an articulated vehicle and the capacity limits are then governed by axle and tire capacities.

Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.

[thump93yj]

Back to the original question (not this dmv drivel of a discussion)

I went from a 2500 ctd to a 3500 drw ctd, both 4x4s. I've pulled goosenecks, bumper pulls, campers with both.

Disadvantages: obviously... takes more to park and drive a wider vehicle. Ya got a couple of more tires to rotate and buy with a drw. If you want to use your tow rig for mild offroad... hunting etc. SRW is gonna be better suited for backroads and more aggressive tire selection.

Advantages: Stability. If you're planning to pull a heavy trailer, gooseneck, travel trailer, truck-bed camper, etc. DRW is way better. My drw feels much more solid than the srw I've driven over the years (fords and ctd) Also, lose a tire on the rear of your rig on a twisty mountain road or 65mph down the highway and you've got one next to it that will hopefully keep her straight while you get it safely off the road. Resale value is always a plus too... lots of market for drw pickups in the construction and ag world.

Really depends on what you plan to use it for. Good luck.

[79uglytruck]

More than any thing the peace of mind knowing that if I have a blowout at max payload and 80 MPH that I still have a tire supporting the rig till I can get pulled over to change it with out losing control and killing anyone, I like my training wheels.
IMO that's the main reason for DRW. 20k lbs pushing on a flat is not good. Gotta be quick on the trailer brakes.

[offroad_joe]

IMHO anyone pulling a max load at 80 MPH is an accident waiting to happen. :rolleyes: :shaking:

[ramv]

IMHO anyone pulling a max load at 80 MPH is an accident waiting to happen. :rolleyes: :shaking:


What kind of comment is this? Off topic but... in most western states (not counting Ca) the speed limit is 75 mph on the Interstate is for everyone. And if you are doing less then that then you are "an accident waiting to happen.". The guys running 80 000 lb easily do 80 on the flats and downhill. If the truck is rated to haul/tow a certain amount, it better do it at the speed limit.

That right there is why have a tow rig with a decent motor and brakes is improtant, so you aren't a hazard, running 55 mph on the road.

[RickyR]

Neil,
Get a Dually.. I just got one, and it tows my junk like a bitch in heat..The training wheels make it stable, and awesome in the rain.
I had to park in a parking garage last month, and the asshole attendant gave me some shit about taking up 2 spaces. I told him that when I parked in a normal spot my ass end hung out into the middle of the drive, almost 4 feet. I also pointed out that there were about 25 empty spots here, and there wasn't a big crowd, so what did it matter????
He told me I'd get a ticket parked that way. So I told him, I'd move it back into a regular spot, and let him deal with the traffic.
I went to move it back (while letting him think about it), and he changed his mind, told me to leave it there... Fawker :flipoff2:
Anyway, here's a pic from last weekend's trip to URE..
Stay safe over there..
Ricky...seeya...
http://www.knology.net/~ericselz/Dually%20jeep%20URE%20comp.jpg

[marine02]

Thanks for the input I am about 99.99999 sure I'll get the Dually. Nice looking Truck Ricky. Only 6 more months to go, man how time fly's. Pat and I want to really hussle when we get back and get both our rigs going. Hopefully around March or April, we will have to do another URE trip when we get done. The last one was a good time, but I dont want to go again without the waggie. I think Pat is thinking the same thing.

[RickyR]

We will have a big time bash when y'all get back.. Thats' Pat's trailer ramps in the pic...
Save your money, fuel is getting stupid here..
Ricky...seeya...

[Devil Dog]

hey i recognize that trailer ramp!!!!!!!

ya.. i might be upgrading to a duallie also.. the wife and i are looking at slide in truck campers when i come home for leave... we would like to get one about a year after i get back... fawkin ricky rubbin off on me.. makin me soft.. :flipoff2:

[Aaron871]

hey i recognize that trailer ramp!!!!!!!

ya.. i might be upgrading to a duallie also.. the wife and i are looking at slide in truck campers when i come home for leave... we would like to get one about a year after i get back... fawkin ricky rubbin off on me.. makin me soft.. :flipoff2:

Ricky is such a fawkin pussy..... he slept in the back seat of that dually and ran the engine all night so he wouldn't get his precious little ass cheeks sweaty...
:shaking: :flipoff2:

[BarrelRoll]

Ricky is such a fawkin pussy..... he slept in the back seat of that dually and ran the engine all night so he wouldn't get his precious little ass cheeks sweaty...
:shaking: :flipoff2:

He was probably just trying to keep you away since my dog wasn't there :flipoff2:

[RickyR]

Ricky is such a fawkin pussy..... he slept in the back seat of that dually and ran the engine all night so he wouldn't get his precious little ass cheeks sweaty...
:shaking: :flipoff2:


Yep....

And I was a comfortable MOFO too.. Shoulda' seen the puddle of water under my truck...

his precious little ass cheeks

jealous ? :barf:

I'm not the one who can't hack it, and spends the night in the hospital because your lips are swollen... You are the PUSS :D

seeya...

[Aaron871]

Yep....

And I was a comfortable MOFO too.. Shoulda' seen the puddle of water under my truck...



seeya...

To keep this teck:

How much did it cost you in fuel to idle that thing all night?

oh and


I'm not the one who can't hack it, and spends the night in the hospital because your lips are swollen... You are the PUSS :D

seeya...

You need to get yourself checked out... they said that shit can be sexualy transmitted :flipoff2: It could have been dormant in my system when I shot that load in your moulth :laughing:

[RickyR]

I shot that load in your moulth :laughing:


Damn, good thing I don't have a "MOULTH" .....Maybe you were dreaming about me again??? :rainbow:
And about the fuel .................. :grinpimp:
seeya...

[RockDoc]

I just bought a '06 Ford SRW F350 PSD. I drove a DRW as well. Since I'm not hauling every weekend or even every other weekend, I went with the SRW. I thought about the tow boss with its 26000# GCWR, but there aren't any around for as far as I could see. Otherwise, the DRW and SRW both had a 23000 GCWR. That was enough for me to go with the SRW. I've been happy thus far. The gooseneck's on order.

doc

[jekbrown]

several good comments about the benes of having DRW with a camper... but how about when towing a 5th wheel or gooseneck style trailer? Will there really be that big of a difference between single and duals in that application? Trailer would be a dual axle 10,000lb job built to haul by K5.

j