3500 - SRW VS. DRW

[Chris611]

I've got an '05 K2500 Duramax/Allsion CCSB. I pull a 25' LoadMax 14k lb gooseneck trailer. I mainly haul a 8500lb pulling truck. With my '05, I have the pulling truck backup up on the triailer which reduces pin weight to keep the ride bearable. I have ride-rite air bags, Rancho RS9000XL shocks, Firestone Transforce AT tires. (all to try and improve the ride). I am close to overloading the rear axle weight rating on the truck. I am looking to upgrade to a 1 ton model. I only put about 3000 miles a summer on with the trailer and 500-1000 during the remainder of the year. (mostly when we travel and snow is a possiblity).

I would like to stick with the SRW 3500 due to gargae/parking lot issues. However if the DRW will improve the ride drastically over the SRW, I would consider going that route. I'm hoping either will improve the ride over my '05 3/4 HD. Also wish GM made a 1 ton SRW Crew Cab short bed or ideally, a 1 ton SRW or DRW Creb cab - extended cab truck with a shorty bed. I haul 2 carseats, 3 adults and 1 dog everywhere. We completly fill up a crew cab with diaper bags and peoople..

Any thoughts on SRW vs. DRW?

Thanks

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I haul approximately the same setup as you but with an 05 ram 3500 SRW (air bags, GN 14.5k 25', E range tires) I believe that my gvw is 9900 and my empty weight is around 7200 SO, rounded off I can put about 3k on the ball. Now I pull a fairly heavy trailer from time to time about 12k(on the deck) and its all I ever want behind me in the hills of PA. The brakes are enough but not enough to give me ease of mind. I also get a hard bounce in the rear end of the truck due to the high pin weight. (I dont know exactly what it is) Even with 15lbs in the air bags. That is an arbitrary number that I have found keeps the truck just resting on the "overload" springs. I'm seriously considering moving up to a dually/medium duty truck for my needs. I think with 8500lb load, a SRW would be sufficient, but I would try my hardest to borrow a truck and test it before I committed to it.


If at all possible, I reccommend the dually. The rear end is much more stable and will take alot more pin weight. The downside is of course the obvious size issue, more tires, and I am not a fan of them in the winter. Hope that helps!

 

[dodge man]

I don't know about Chevy, but with Dodge, the only difference between a SRW 1 ton and 3/4 ton is the rear spring package. Same axles and same brakes. I guess I'm wondering if you already have air bags, which in my opinion would make it close to a 1 ton in towing ability, what would you gain going to a 1 ton SRW? I don't think you will gain anything, unless you go to a dually.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have had them all. I will never own another dullay if i can help it. My 06 F350 srw has the 11,500# gvwr package and is a beast. I have pulled 25,000# with it a few times and it does great. Its normal job is to haul my 16,000# boat and it does that without complaint. Its a world of difference how much for truck this F350 is over my 3500 max and my 2500 Dodge and F250 Ford.

Do your research and get a heavy gvwr package truck. Not all 1 tons are created equal.

Chris

 

[slowzuki]

Why don't you get some pin suspension for the GN tongue either hitch mounted or trailer mounted. It helps isolate the truck from the hammering of the trailer.

Shocker Hitch - Air Suspension Trailer Hitches
Hitch Crafters, Air Suspension Ride Fifth Wheel Hitch
The Cody Cushion Gooseneck Trailer Hitch Air Ride
RV Trailer Hitches - 5th Wheel Hitches & Air Ride Suspension Trailer Hitches

etc etc, there lots of types out there.

 

[Turbys_1700]

The axle's and drive train components are the same for 250's/350's...
The spring packs make the difference...
I have a dually and like it...
The only advantages I can see with the dually is side to side stability, some additional load capacity, and safety in case of a blow out on the rear...
The disadvantages are drive-ability, including ease of access to drive throughs, parking, and automatic car washes...
IMHO, 4 door crew duallys are more visually appealing than their single rear wheel counterparts...

 

[case245]

chris i have a 2011 3500 reg cab srw 6.0l 4x4 my 4.11 gear gvwr is 10700 i pulled 13k with it not a problem with handleing the wieght up hills was the story i grossed out of scale with stuff on truck bed only at 15300 a little heavy but it hualed it

 

[Chris611]

Why don't you get some pin suspension for the GN tongue either hitch mounted or trailer mounted. It helps isolate the truck from the hammering of the trailer.

Shocker Hitch - Air Suspension Trailer Hitches
Hitch Crafters, Air Suspension Ride Fifth Wheel Hitch
The Cody Cushion Gooseneck Trailer Hitch Air Ride
RV Trailer Hitches - 5th Wheel Hitches & Air Ride Suspension Trailer Hitches

etc etc, there lots of types out there.

I've looked at these and the seem like they would help. However i have already spend almost $2000 on a 7 year old truck to try and get it to stop jerking. I hate to throw another $700-$1000 for a cushioned hitch. I would rather have put all that money towards a new(er) truck that doesn't need all the "stuff" to make it tow properly. Seems like in the last few years, they have really beefed up the HD trucks from all the manufactures. We'll see. I am starting to see a trend, that duallies are for towing only. If you get into snow,mud,etc... the duallies can be a real liability.

Thanks
Chris

 

[case245]

i would forget about a dualie they suck in the snow muddy a non hard surface peried i own a 2wd 12 foot stake body and a truck with a gvwr of 10k or greater insurance company hate that higher insurance rate i went thourg the ringer on that erie insurance aint to bad

 

[SteveO89]

I would go with a DRW , i own a 3500 wih a dump body, 4wd,drw and i plow snow with it and never have any prolems getting stuck.
And it does a great job towing my 18 ft trailer.

 

[sheriffav8r]

If you spec out the newer 3500 SRW vs the DRW you will be surprised at how little difference in pulling/weights there is. I have a Dodge '11 3500 SRW 4x4 Crew Cab. It's got a 51 gallon aux tank and over the scales it sits at about 9K#. I've recently pulled an 8.5x20 trailer worth about 10,000# and the truck didn't even know it. These newer trucks are heads and shoulders better than trucks from even a few years ago....

 

[JIGBUILDER]

The '11 3500 DRW Dodge/Cummins specs out at 22700 lb tow rating and has those big 9350 RAWR for carrying those big payloads.

The 3500 SRW has those wimpy 6500 lb RAWR with only a 17XXX lb tow rating.

Granted the newer gen trucks are hands down better at pulling and hauling than earlier models.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I have had srw trucks and after buying my 1st drw truck only thing I use for work/pulling are drw trucks. I have 2 right now a 3500 dodge 2004 and a 1997 f450. I have itch for a new ford but the price has kept me from pulling the trigger. With the loads your pulling drw all the way.

For those who say dwr don't go in snow or mud if its 2wd you need to add weight and they do as well as any heavy rwd vehicle.

 

[slowzuki]

The jerk comes from the trailer, it will happen to a dually too as the frame/box etc don't weight much more. When you have proper pin weight, when the trailer hits bumps the force gets split between the trailer axles and pin. Force = mass x acceleration, so since the force is the same you can either try to increase the mass of your truck (semi?) or let it accelerate on a suspension hitch without jerking your truck as hard.

I've looked at these and the seem like they would help. However i have already spend almost $2000 on a 7 year old truck to try and get it to stop jerking. I hate to throw another $700-$1000 for a cushioned hitch. I would rather have put all that money towards a new(er) truck that doesn't need all the "stuff" to make it tow properly. Seems like in the last few years, they have really beefed up the HD trucks from all the manufactures. We'll see. I am starting to see a trend, that duallies are for towing only. If you get into snow,mud,etc... the duallies can be a real liability.

Thanks
Chris

 

[Soundguy]

I am close to overloading the rear axle weight rating on the truck. I am looking to upgrade to a 1 ton model. I only put about 3000 miles a summer on with the trailer and 500-1000 during the remainder of the year. (mostly when we travel and snow is a possiblity).

I would like to stick with the SRW 3500 due to gargae/parking lot issues. However if the DRW will improve the ride drastically over the SRW, I would consider going that route. I'm hoping either will improve the ride over my '05 3/4 HD. Also wish GM made a 1 ton SRW Crew Cab short bed or ideally, a 1 ton SRW or DRW Creb cab - extended cab truck with a shorty bed. I haul 2 carseats, 3 adults and 1 dog everywhere. We completly fill up a crew cab with diaper bags and peoople..

Any thoughts on SRW vs. DRW?

Thanks

i used to pull a trailer with a half ton and occasionally a 3/4 ton. I now won't hitch a trailer to anything other than my 1t or 1.5t drw setup.

so much better feel.. you have to intentionally overlaod and load the trailer wrong to feel any negative issues.. etc.

night and day difference between towing ( stability ) with a drw over srw.

I also was always near overlaoding my axle rating.. and when you are near limits and bad things happen.. you get bad results. get an over-rated tow vehicle and tow under it's limits and be happy. yeah.. parking is a lil more work.. but IMHO.. it's worth it.

 

[flyingcow]

Following this thread. I have a 2006 3500 CC8ft bed SRW. I just started pulling my TN75 with bushhog. Once i found the sweet spot on where to place tractor on the 26ft GN deckover, it's seems to limit the hammering from trailer. Still there but not as bad. Also, I put about 40/50lbs in the air bags and seems to help a lot. I basically load tractor on and roll ahead on deck until truck starts settle a little.

Pic of loaded truck. i was kinda disapointed with the hammering, never hauled a combination like this. Handles great, but rough roads it's a bit rougher than i thought.

Any thoughts?

http://www.uscconlinealbum.com/life...1ea-86c8-4159-852b-cd1e541a1b61?th=450&tw=610

 

[case245]

they dont a have one a 84'' ca that thing gets stuck in an inch of mud or snow it 2wd 4wd aint no better

 

[sheriffav8r]

Here's the specs for my truck:
3500 4x4 CC 8' Bed Auto 4.10 gears Laramie:
SRW: GVW 10,100, Payload 2,600, GCWR 24,000, Gross Trailer 16,350, front axle 5,500 rear axle 6,200

DRW: GVW 12,300, Payload 4,430, GCWR 28,000, Gross Trailer 19,550. front axle 5,500 rear axle 9,350
Differences, but not huge in my opinion. These SRW numbers are loads better than in years past. For example, a 2001 3500 DRW GVW is 11,000 with a 4,850 front axle and 7,500 rear axle. Nothing like technology....

 

[Soundguy]

4.1 gears on both right?

 

[sheriffav8r]

Yes, 4.10....