Srw --> drw

[aknavy]

Wow, what a difference! I was towing at the limits of the SRW F350, maybe a little over. Today was the first tow with the new DRW F350.....talk about a nice ride! Sure would be nice if we could test drive the truck with a trailer attached, cause it took all of five mile for me to be sold on the DRW.


If you're debating between SRW and DRW, the DRW is a definite must if you're towing over 15k pounds. Yeah, you can do it with a SRW, or SRW and airbags....but the dually is way better!

[Old-Biscuit]

Stay within the capabilities of the truck and they all will tow sweet......1/4 ton, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton. 1 ton SRW, 1 ton DRW etc

[tuffr2]

aknavy - you are spoiled now. A Dually truck really does create a very stable tow vehicle. And the nice quiet ride as you roll on down the highway. You can not beat it. My dually actually rides better when towing.

Enjoy

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Stay within the capabilities of the truck and they all will tow sweet......1/4 ton, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton. 1 ton SRW, 1 ton DRW etc

Agree. But "within the capabilities of the truck" means within ALL the weight limits of the tow vehicle. GVWR, GAWRs, GCWR, hitch weight ratings. If the hitch is not the limiter as to the max weight of any trailer you can tow, then GVWR probably is, or rear GAWR on some F-150s.

Originally Posted by aknavy

... the DRW is a definite must if you're towing over 15k pounds.

I would lower that to a TT of not more than 14k pounds for a CrewCab 4x4.

Half-ton with towing pkg and max GVWR pkg = TT up to 8k
Three-quarter ton with towing pkg = 5er up to 10k
One-ton SRW = 5er up 14k
One ton DRW = 5er up 18k

Over 18k gross and it's time to shop for a Class 5 or 6 or 7 cab&chassis with a tow body. Like this one:

[tuffr2]

Ok, I have to chime in yet again.

Using the word 'sweet' is not correct if you at the max of any tow vehicle.

For example.

1/2 ton truck.

Sweet is 2,000lbs - 4,000lbs.
Semi sweet is 5,000lbs to 7,000lbs
Sour is 8,000lbs. to 10,000lbs

For example my perfect combo of a 5,500lb trailer and 2011 5.0l F-150 the trucks mileage dropped from 20 mpg highway to 10.5 mpg.

Another nice combo is my diesel dually towing either my 6,500lb TT or my 15,000lb 5th wheel. But mpg drops in both cases. Is that 'sweet'? No, it is semi-sweet.

Towing with any vehicle will go from sweet to sour as weight increases closer to the max.

Smokey is correct. There are some 5th wheels that need a medium sized truck.

[MnTom]

I just recently went from a Dodge 2500 2wd SRW to a Dodge 3500 2wd DRW. I realize that going from a 1996 to a 2005 is an improvement in itself, but both were towing the same 38' 12,200 pound trailer. In a side wind of approximately 30 moh I have parked the SRW. With the DRW I was in 30 to 35 mph gusts from the left side and the wind did not push me at all. OK, going from a standard steering box to rack and pinion helps, but wow what a difference between trucks!

[Scottybdivin]

Originally Posted by aknavy

Wow, what a difference! I was towing at the limits of the SRW F350, maybe a little over. Today was the first tow with the new DRW F350.....talk about a nice ride! Sure would be nice if we could test drive the truck with a trailer attached, cause it took all of five mile for me to be sold on the DRW.

I experienced the same euphoria the first time I towed with the DRW. It was night and day different. You especially appreciate it when you hit a windy day.

[tuffr2]

Got to ask, I never notice wind unless it is a head wind where I drop to 9 mpg or a tail wind where my mpg is 11.5.

I never notice a side wind towing with a dually. Now, I tow in the east where the wind is not as crazy as in the west.

What kinda winds are you guys talking about?

[mowingman]

I wonder how much short bed vs. long bed factors into this when pulling a trailer? I just went from a 2016 4wd F250 SRW short bed, up to a 2016 Ram 2wd 3500 long bed SRW.
I think the increased capacity and long bed will help with pulling my 34' 5er.
Just not ready to try a dually yet. The dually makes it extra tough when parking at our local Kroger or Walmart.
Jeff

Originally Posted by MnTom

I just recently went from a Dodge 2500 2wd SRW to a Dodge 3500 2wd DRW. I realize that going from a 1996 to a 2005 is an improvement in itself, but both were towing the same 38' 12,200 pound trailer. In a side wind of approximately 30 moh I have parked the SRW. With the DRW I was in 30 to 35 mph gusts from the left side and the wind did not push me at all. OK, going from a standard steering box to rack and pinion helps, but wow what a difference between trucks!

[tuffr2]

mowingman - interesting question. I have always heard a long wheelbase helps control a trailer. But how much would be difficult to quantify.

Maybe you can give some input when you know more.

[mowingman]

We will see how it handles in June. Taking a long 3 1/2 week trip, right after Memorial Day. I will report back after the trip. I hope I did not waste my money on this deal.

Originally Posted by tuffr2

mowingman - interesting question. I have always heard a long wheelbase helps control a trailer. But how much would be difficult to quantify.

Maybe you can give some input when you know more.

[tuffr2]

I think you will notice an improvement. How much, you will need to let us know. I do not think you wasted any money...yet. SRW is SRW so the wheelbase length is the main variable. I test drive a 2018 Ram 6.4 8' bed Hemi and thought it was a very nice truck...but looked odd because it was long and skinny. My dually looks more proportionate long and fat.

[Go Dawgs]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Got to ask, I never notice wind unless it is a head wind where I drop to 9 mpg or a tail wind where my mpg is 11.5.

I never notice a side wind towing with a dually. Now, I tow in the east where the wind is not as crazy as in the west.

What kinda winds are you guys talking about?

For me wind here in the PNW is 30-35 mph. With my Dually I don't notice it at all. Last month was coming back from Sequim, WA area and had winds in the 30's and had to cross the Hood Canal Floating Bridge and the Narrows Bridge. On the floating bridge the waves were splashing on the road. Didn't even notice it.

[mrgrayaz]

Interesting!