gitane59

Ontario, Can

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Well from first hand experience pulling the trailer in my sig which has about 3100 - 3200 lbs pin weight ready to travel with a F350 SRW and now a F350 DRW I can tell you the stability and confidence making quick lane changes is so much better with the DRW.
And yes you get more physical exercise with the DRW as you can't park as close to stores and to major event parking lots with the DRW as you can a SRW, but for us who tows long distances the extra hassle of the size is worth it.
Our truck is my wife's daily driver and using her mirror's she has gotten very proficient backing into parking places at her office which is quite a confined parking lot.
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richfaa

Ohio

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The Norsky and oters ar right on about cargo caacity and pin weight.If your Rv falles indise the stated specs you are good with a Single wheel if not you need the dually.
We have the big ole ugly big butt dually and it is IMO a Pain to drive around town but we did not buy it to drive around town we purchased it to pull a big ole 5th wheel within specs.We had a 05 dually and when we purchased this 08 we drove a SWD home to let the wife look it over.She is a experienced rig driver and she took one short look and said..."it does not have enough wheels...
2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky. 08 Ford F-350 6.4L
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Denny & Jami

Home Base Nebraska

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Pulled 5vers with SRW form 1987 to 2000 and I can tell you we would never go back to a SRW after owning a DRW.
Denny
2013 F350 SC DRW 6.2 V8 4.30 gears Air Lifts
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wandering1

Texas

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I have had both. Dual rear wheels are needed if you are going to haul more weight than what single rear wheel axle is rated for, has to do with weight over the rear axle, not what you are going to tow. SRW is just as stable as DRW towing a 5er, stability is due to having a 1 ton suspension system and not having two extra tires. The only advantage of a DRW over a SRW other than hauling more weight is you have an excuse to buy two more tires.
* This post was
edited 03/12/12 02:38pm by wandering1 *
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Delaine and Lindy

Linden Tn. (The View)

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Pin weight is the key between what truck you will need. If you have a light weight RV you can use a light weight Truck.. Its a choice do you want to stay inside your weight ratings or be over weight ??? Its a choice.. I have been Blessed to have owned both light Trucks and heavy Trucks.
I just down sized from a Freighliner M2 and had no issues with parking, except parking garages. But in most cases there is a oversize parking area.. I admit the turning radius was much better with the Freightliner vs Chevy 3500HD DRW's. I haven't had any issues with parking any DRW Truck I have owned.
Our Mobile Suites is just to much trailer for anything less than a DRW's Truck... There is much more comfort pulling the Suites with a DRW Truck. Common sense will tell anyone the answer to heavy 5th wheel is a DRW Truck.. And yes I know people are towing with SRW's every day. And if you do the research you will find most towing heavy 5th wheels with SRW's are over on pin weight or over gross. Again its a decision...
I do believe "You can have to much Trailer but never two much Truck... I hope your decision is correct and your happy with your decision... Happy Trails...
P.S. I have owned a 2011 and now the 2012 Chevy 3500 DRW's and can say the 2011's and newer ride the best of any prior GM 3500's I have owned.... I owned a 2005, 2007, 2008 all GM 3500HD with DRW's.... Great Truck....
2012 Chevy Silverado 3500HD DRW's LTZ ******Traded******
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larry barnhart

wenatchee. wa usa

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NHIrish wrote: Depends, doesn't it. The Mad Norsky is correct.
My fifth wheel GVWR is 15000 lbs. Pin weight is about 2900 lbs. I am approaching the limit for a SRW, but chose a 2011 Chevrolet 3500 SRW duramax for my new truck. The truck sits level and has no issue with acceleration or braking...but none of them do.
I am within spec on the truck. It is far superior to my 2006 Ford F350 PSD...between the transmission and exhaust brake I rarely even have to use the brakes to stop for a light. I was opposed to the dually as I use my truck to plow in the winter, and have enough trouble with the size of the 3500 long bed anyway...
My take on the whole thing is that I have never felt a stability issue with a SRW, but sure can't deny the benefit of another set of tires back there. Crucial to your decision is the payload rating of the tow vehicle. I feel that this is one of the most important considerations in deciding what you can safely tow. They can all tow it....
Another thing to think about when considering what to buy is the length of the wheelbase of the truck. Longer wheelbases give more stability....so perhaps another question you should ask is long bed or short bed. Depends on your situation. Head to head, a dually has more capacity, but may have downside issues you can't live with.
Your words "can't live" could be a good reason for the 4 rear tires.
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jaycocamprs

Ringgold Georgia

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Mastercraft06 wrote: We have a bumper pull now and hope to trade up to a fifth wheel in the future but for now we are looking to upgrade trucks.
If you buy the dually now you won't have any of the do I have enough truck issues later. If you were looking at "X" trailer you could do the math and have your answerer.
2005 Silverado 3500 DRW
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Fire5er

Port Orchard, WA

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For me, had a new 2006 SRW F350 to tow a 2007 15500lbs max 5er that is loaded for camping at 13800lbs. Towed with the 2006 F350 for 4 years and though it was a good combination. Then purchased 2011 DRW F350 and WHAT a difference in towing...much more stable ride. For me, I will only use a DRW from now on.
2011 F350 CC, 6.7, LB, DRW.
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Dave & Ginny

peoria, IL

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MTPockets1 wrote: We have F350 SRW and 14,000 GVWR 5vr. with about 2200 lbs. Pin weight - Truck & rig sits level and pulls like a dream.... Anything bigger I would have gone w/DRW.
The 2011 and newer F350 SRW Diesel 4x4 short bed is rated for 15800 5er and max cargo of 3890. You can check with GM and see what they're rated for and Iknow the Dodge is much less.
I do agree with everyone else...a dually is better for towing BUT a SRW will safely tow a 5er if it's within the legal limits. For some reason some folks think a dually is a must and it isn't.
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NC Hauler

Asheville NC

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Dave & Ginny wrote: MTPockets1 wrote: We have F350 SRW and 14,000 GVWR 5vr. with about 2200 lbs. Pin weight - Truck & rig sits level and pulls like a dream.... Anything bigger I would have gone w/DRW.
The 2011 and newer F350 SRW Diesel 4x4 short bed is rated for 15800 5er and max cargo of 3890. You can check with GM and see what they're rated for and Iknow the Dodge is much less.
I do agree with everyone else...a dually is better for towing BUT a SRW will safely tow a 5er if it's within the legal limits. For some reason some folks think a dually is a must and it isn't.
Sometimes the "rated amount" for a 5er a truck is stated to tow by the manufacturer may not work out....it all depends on the trucks GVWR....if it has enough payload left after fueling up, adding a 5er hitch, toolbox, wife, kids, pets and whatever else one puts in their truck, then see how much payload you have left to handle pin weight of the 5er.....Ball parking approx. 20% of the 5er's GVW to approximate pin weight.
I know most, like myself, don't load their 5er up to it's full GVW, BUT, until you weigh it after it's loaded up, it very well might surprise you as to how much everything adds up to...
better safe than sorry, or...an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, for those who have heard these as a kid
Jim & Kathy
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