DRW or SRW?

[wvpolekat]

I am going to be buying a new-to-me truck in the next week and I am soliciting input on if I want DRW or SRW.

Currently have an 01 F250 with the v10. But it is only extended cab, and I need more space, and I would prefer diesel, and my 2wd truck is helpless in the winter.

Looking at 2004-2005 F-350, crew cab, diesel, 4wd, long bed

Looking closely at 2 of them, one is SRW and one is DRW.

My towing ranges from 2-10,000lb bumper pull and 8-10,000 fifth wheel camper.

So far, my current truck tows everything I need just fine, but more power would be nice. Diesel should take care of that.

My gut is saying to go with DRW for stability and make sure I can upgrade the camper in the future.

I don't drive a ton of miles, about 10,000/yr, so tires are not a huge concern to me. But, this will be my only vehicle, so I have to think of parking at least a little. This thing will be a boat anyhow, so not sure that some wider fenders will matter much.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would go with SRW. I drove a 1997 Dually GMC 4x4 and it sucked in the snow. My SRW F-250 and F-350 diesel 4x4's will go though a lot more. That being said the diesel trucks are not the best in the snow. My 1/2 ton Titan is much better. My F-350 really stunk with the Factory Continental Tires. I put on a set of Toyo and it is now a different truck. Dually are a pain in the rear to park, take it through the bank drive up, and fast food drive ups. Also how are your local roads? Mine are narrow and every dually has beat up fenders.

A properly equipped F-350 SRW will handle 16,000# on the 5th wheel no problems. Just make sure you get one with a high GVWR.

Chris

 

[wvpolekat]

Good info. I am assuming they lower PSI of ground pressure of the DRW is the reason for suckage in the snow.

As for diesel in the snow, it will just have to work. The v-10 is about the best you can get for towing with a gasser, and it really has to work on the hills with the camper. I won't go with another gasser. And, the v-10 is thirsty.

Local roads are about the same as rural Indiana (I grew up by Linton), but nowhere near as straight. Good point on width.

 

[Bird]

Many years ago (1989 in fact), I bought a Chevy dually to pull my fifth-wheel travel trailer. I do prefer the dually for the stability and for the weight they can carry, but as has been said, they aren't the best for travel on slick surfaces. While visiting my in-laws in West Virginia, I pulled a U-Haul for my brother-in-law to move his son from college back home, backed the trailer into their yard to unload, and then found just on a hard surface, but green grass, I did some wheel spinning to get out of there.

Since that was our only vehicle for a couple of years, my wife did finally learn to make right turns without running over the curb.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Good info. I am assuming they lower PSI of ground pressure of the DRW is the reason for suckage in the snow.

As for diesel in the snow, it will just have to work. The v-10 is about the best you can get for towing with a gasser, and it really has to work on the hills with the camper. I won't go with another gasser. And, the v-10 is thirsty.

Local roads are about the same as rural Indiana (I grew up by Linton), but nowhere near as straight. Good point on width.

Yes, the bigger foot print of a dually is the issue in the snow. I know quite a few guys with dually's who push snow and better than 1/2 take off the outers in the winter to allow the rear of the truck to sink and get to the pavement.

As for the diesel engine the issue is weight. It makes the front of the truck heavy so it likes to sink and plow in heavy snow. I have been stuck more in less snow in my diesels than I have in my 1/2 tons. My F-150's were the best trucks in the snow until I got my Titan last year. Its by far the best I have driven.

I know Linton well. I lived in Terre Haute for 5 years or so and used to hit many strip pits down that way. Many good friends live in Sullivan and Bloomfield so I get down that way 3-4 times a year. While they get snow its nothing like we get up in Norther Indiana around Muncie.

I wanted a Dually in 2003 when I got my 2004 F-250. The dealer talked me out of it by insisting I take it on a test drive. He knew me well. He said take it to WalMart, the ATM, through our local Taco Bell (its really tight), ect. I made it to WalMart and Taco Bell for a coke and went back and got the SRW.

Chris

 

[ol'oilburner]

I agree with SRW idea, the only time you would benefit from DRW is when you're pulling your fifth wheel. The bumper pull trailers won't make much of a difference one way or the other and as for the diesel, a good set of tires in the snow makes all the difference in the world. I've got an '04 Dodge with a Cummins in it and I love it in the snow.

 

[turbo36]

Yes, the bigger foot print of a dually is the issue in the snow. I know quite a few guys with dually's who push snow and better than 1/2 take off the outers in the winter to allow the rear of the truck to sink and get to the pavement.

As for the diesel engine the issue is weight. It makes the front of the truck heavy so it likes to sink and plow in heavy snow. I have been stuck more in less snow in my diesels than I have in my 1/2 tons. My F-150's were the best trucks in the snow until I got my Titan last year. Its by far the best I have driven.

I know Linton well. I lived in Terre Haute for 5 years or so and used to hit many strip pits down that way. Many good friends live in Sullivan and Bloomfield so I get down that way 3-4 times a year. While they get snow its nothing like we get up in Norther Indiana around Muncie.

I wanted a Dually in 2003 when I got my 2004 F-250. The dealer talked me out of it by insisting I take it on a test drive. He knew me well. He said take it to WalMart, the ATM, through our local Taco Bell (its really tight), ect. I made it to WalMart and Taco Bell for a coke and went back and got the SRW.

Chris

If you have 4wd, then the diesel isn't a problem. I used to run diesel F250 crew cabs with the long wheelbase back when I raced snowmobiles. Did a lot of driving deep into Canada, 80 mph in 4" of fresh snow wasn't a problem. I always ran the Firestone Steeltex 80 psi tire.

 

[DIRTROAD]

I am in the process of changing one of my trucks over to DRW. My issue is that I have had blowouts while towing and that is not fun if you are SRW. My vote would be to go ahead and get the dually.

 

[MikePA]

Our farrier got a Chevy Duramax 3500 DRW, 4 x 4, crew cab, 8' bed a few years ago. He carries a forge plus all his other farrier equipment in an 8 foot, self contained unit that gets lowered into the truck bed the day he buys the truck and it stays until he trades it in. He also hauls a dual axle equipment trailer with a large Kubota tractor every now and then. I asked him why the DRW. He said the backend of his SRW trucks (his previous truck was a Dodge) wandered all over the place. DRW solved that problem.

 

[Diamondpilot]

If you have 4wd, then the diesel isn't a problem. I used to run diesel F250 crew cabs with the long wheelbase back when I raced snowmobiles. Did a lot of driving deep into Canada, 80 mph in 4" of fresh snow wasn't a problem. I always ran the Firestone Steeltex 80 psi tire.

I am talking about going through 12" of fresh stuff or more. I can run my little Saturn though 4" of snow. Well maybe at 30 mph, not 80. Anyway the heavier front end seemed to be a negative compared to my 3/4 ton gasser I had and the many 1/2 tons.

The end result is I would only personally own a Dually if it was a fair weather vehicle that spent its life on the paved roads pulling a big GN or 5th wheel. You could not give me one for a daily driver.

As for a blow out they have that going for them on 50% of the tires but what about the fronts? Heck, around here all the Semi's are converting over to Singles to beat the tax man.

Chris

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I am going to be buying a new-to-me truck in the next week and I am soliciting input on if I want DRW or SRW.

Currently have an 01 F250 with the v10. But it is only extended cab, and I need more space, and I would prefer diesel, and my 2wd truck is helpless in the winter.

Looking at 2004-2005 F-350, crew cab, diesel, 4wd, long bed

Looking closely at 2 of them, one is SRW and one is DRW.

My towing ranges from 2-10,000lb bumper pull and 8-10,000 fifth wheel camper.

So far, my current truck tows everything I need just fine, but more power would be nice. Diesel should take care of that.

My gut is saying to go with DRW for stability and make sure I can upgrade the camper in the future.

I don't drive a ton of miles, about 10,000/yr, so tires are not a huge concern to me. But, this will be my only vehicle, so I have to think of parking at least a little. This thing will be a boat anyhow, so not sure that some wider fenders will matter much.

I've got an F350 4X4 crew with SRW and the V10...I love it for everything I need it for, however, with the overall length of the truck and the weight distrubution being what it is I have traction problems as well. Don't see a dually making a difference one way or the other (I've had both). Downside...the 4.30 rear kills the gas mileage (10.4). The upside...with this combo towing around 7,000 lb. my gas mileage remains at 10.3-10.4. That tells me it is a perfect towing combo for me.

 

[QRTRHRS]

My biggest issue with driving a dually in many northern winters was keeping the back end where I wanted it. The duals track on either side of the front and tend to not stay where you like them. My Dodge had an aluminum bed and was making 350-400hp so it was kind of like bobtailing a big truck. That engine weight over the engaged front axle pulled me along just fine though.

I would agree though that tall narrow tires with good tread are the best in snow.

Avoiding the drive up windows and parking out away is probably a good thing. Get a little exercise and avoid the door dings too.

That said, with only 10k to pull, a SRW will be fine. Just stay with a good stout truck tire like a Michilin.

 

[JESSE1]

I've been driving dually trucks since the early '80's, all diesel. You get used to making allowances for parking, the best solution is park well away from others if possible. You'll love the way the dually drives and handles loads. I don't have to deal with much snow so I can't give any advice on that. The times I've driven on small amounts of snow or ice they seem to handle as well as any other pickup. I do think it's a good idea to have a 4x4 dually. Being able to shift into 4 low helps when pulling a load off road.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Looking closely at 2 of them, one is SRW and one is DRW.
2*So far, my current truck tows everything I need just fine, but more power would be nice. Diesel should take care of that.
3*My gut is saying to go with

4*I would go with SRW. Chris

5*I agree with SRW idea,

1*I'll take the SRW you can have the DRW.
2*If it does then why do you need a
3*DRW for stability ?
4*Me too.
5*You got my vote.

 

[wvpolekat]

It looks like by sheer virtue of what is out there, it will more than likely be DRW.

While I only tow up to 10k right now, my boys aren't getting any smaller and the current camper was bought before I adopted them. So, I didn't exactly plan for a 2 and 9 year old tagging along. So, I do see a larger camper in my future.

All of that is pushing me towards DRW, with the only real con being drive thrus and snow. Parking is going to suck no matter what with crew cab and LWB, not sure that the extra width would really matter anyhow.

If my 2wd pig got me around this winter, I am sure a 4wd DRW will do just fine as well. I work from home, so worst case is I can't get short-round to daycare or we can't go to grandmas.

 

[wvpolekat]

1*I'll take the SRW you can have the DRW.
2*If it does then why do you need a
3*DRW for stability ?
4*Me too.
5*You got my vote.

1) I will remember that when YOU are buying it.
2&3) Because it's always good to try to plan for the future. When I bought this truck, I was towing a popup, then a small travel trailer. 5th wheel now, and with the growing family, it will probably get replaced with a bigger one. No sense limiting myself in the future with my choice now.
4&5) See #1

 

[Ryan03]

My biggest issue with driving a dually in many northern winters was keeping the back end where I wanted it. The duals track on either side of the front and tend to not stay where you like them. My Dodge had an aluminum bed and was making 350-400hp so it was kind of like bobtailing a big truck. That engine weight over the engaged front axle pulled me along just fine though.

I would agree though that tall narrow tires with good tread are the best in snow.

Avoiding the drive up windows and parking out away is probably a good thing. Get a little exercise and avoid the door dings too.

That said, with only 10k to pull, a SRW will be fine. Just stay with a good stout truck tire like a Michilin.

I had the same issues with my 99 F350 reg cab 4x4. It should be noted that dualies come in two different track widths in the rear. Pickups are wide rears, where the outer back wheel is almost entirely outboard of the front track width. Many cab and chassis configurations use a narrower rear end, resulting in the outer rear wheel being only about 3in or so outboard of the front wheel. These narrower rear trucks track much better in the snow than the wider pickups.

Another issue is tire replacement. Rear dualy tires should be replaced in pairs per side to keep the height as close as possible. For example when a new tire is paired with a say 70% tread tire, the new, slightly taller tire will turn less revolutions per mile than the one worn to 70%. The result is rapid wear of the 70% tire, as well as potential overheating of the 70% tire.

 

[Ryan03]

As for the diesel engine the issue is weight. It makes the front of the truck heavy so it likes to sink and plow in heavy snow. I have been stuck more in less snow in my diesels than I have in my 1/2 tons. My F-150's were the best trucks in the snow until I got my Titan last year. Its by far the best I have driven.

I know Linton well. I lived in Terre Haute for 5 years or so and used to hit many strip pits down that way. Many good friends live in Sullivan and Bloomfield so I get down that way 3-4 times a year. While they get snow its nothing like we get up in Norther Indiana around Muncie.


Chris

While I agree with you 100% on the dualy vs. single in the snow, my experience has been comepletely the opposite between 1/2 tons and 3/4 and 1 tons in the snow, the latter being better. In Chardon Oh, we see in excess of 150 inches of snow annualy, so we also get our fair share of lake effect as I am sure you do to.

I am a Fleet Tech for a county highway dept., and most of my winter is spent out on the road chasing, recovering and repairing medium duty plow trucks. I am out driving the roads when they are ticketing people for being out period, and most of the time I will be in either a late model F250 v10 4x4, a 2000 k3500 single 4x4 with a utility body, or a 1500 chevy or 150 ford 4x4, unless I am recovering a stuck dump truck, in which I will be piloting our army surplus 5 ton 6x6 wrecker. My experience is that the larger pickups hold the road much better than the smaller half tons. However, Chris as you have made mention of on several occasions, Tire selection is everything in the snow.

 

[rdln]

On my second f350 dually, the first was a cab & chassis with stahl tool box, the current is 22 footer crew plus long bed. Surprisingly f350 rear springs are the same for SRW or DRW.

I was looking for the same truck with SRW, but saw this just show up on dealers lot used, one owner and jumped on it.

The only time I know of when a SRW would have been nice is while camping, we would venture the 2 tracks on state land looking for firewood. two tracks and this shiny dually fenders dont go together well.

AS to replacing rear tires at the same time, its not RPM differences that are a problem IME, its the newer tire on the outside that stresses wheel bearings.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It looks like by sheer virtue of what is out there, it will more than likely be DRW.

While I only tow up to 10k right now, my boys aren't getting any smaller and the current camper was bought before I adopted them. So, I didn't exactly plan for a 2 and 9 year old tagging along. So, I do see a larger camper in my future.

All of that is pushing me towards DRW, with the only real con being drive thrus and snow. Parking is going to suck no matter what with crew cab and LWB, not sure that the extra width would really matter anyhow.

If my 2wd pig got me around this winter, I am sure a 4wd DRW will do just fine as well. I work from home, so worst case is I can't get short-round to daycare or we can't go to grandmas.

2 guys on my road pull large 5th wheel campers with SRW 1 tons. Both are 4x4 and both are long beds plus diesel. One is pull a 36' that is right at 14,000# and the other is pulling a 38' that is probably 16,000#. Neither has any issues. They pull them all over. One guy has 50,000 miles on his truck and I would guess 30,000 is pulling the camper. They just went to FL last week. First of June he is going to Seattle then Vegas and home. They make 4 or more big trips each year the shortest being 2,500 miles at a time. They make 10 or more weekend trips in the spring and fall usually 300 miles round trip. He has never had any issue with his 3 different SRW truck I can remember him having.

As for the dully not tracking I had forgot all about that. The 97 GM I drove could not make up its mind which tire wanted to follow the front tire in the snow.

Chris