3500 - Single or Dual Wheel

[MRiehl]

All - My dad is considering purchasing a new 3500 for his business (he has a 94 3500 currently). They tow a trailer rated for 12,000 pounds, typically carrying a track loader that weighs ~7600 pounds or Bobcat loaders.



What are the pros and cons of the single wheel 3500 versus the dual wheel 3500?



Thanks,

Mark

 

[FDavid]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111784

 

[RMcCulloch]

SRW pro: 2 less tires to buy for a full set; fits through narrower spaces; looks like a 1500 with marker lights added.



DRW pro: carries heavier in-bed [pin/hitch] weight, more stable when loading heavy equiptment onto trailer, tows heavier loads, doesn't look like a 1500 with marker lights, intimidates BMW drivers.

 

[SHobbs]

Mark, from my experience with my DRW I would tell dad to go with the DRW. My current 5er tips the scale at around 13k and the stability is worth the added cost of having DRW. Another plus, if you have a blow out while towing you have an extra tire to help you out. Narrow spaces, nah. As long as your mirrors clear, the fenders will clear. I have had my truck for 4 years and it is my first DRW and I have had no problems with the fenders.

 

[mtnranger]

Test Drive !!!!before You Buy

I just bought an 04 3500 DRW and below 65mph it drives like a dream, above 65 it turns into a POS. It has a drive line vibration soo bad that you can't make out the vehicals make that is in your rear viem mirror. My mistake was that they all drive differently, I drove several that didn't vibrate over 65 but decided on a differnt color and just didn't drive this paticular one over 65. Now after doing a search on tdr on 04 vibrations Dodge certainly has a problem and now its my problem too. BE CAREFULL, TEST DRIVE AT ALL SPEEDS !!! KNOW THE DEALERS REPUTATION Do a check on Tom Martinos "troubleshooter.com" web site for auto sleze bags in your state.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

mtnranger, sorry to hear about your vib misfortune. The last issue of TDR had a list of fixes which brought satisfaction to a number of owners. Hopefully you can find a fix there.



I know what you mean about different trucks. When I test drove my first 04 it was fantastic. Then I drove one to score a freebie promo while I was waiting for mine to come in. I thought, "Gee, I hope my truck doesn't sound like this!". Fortunately, I got a gem.

 

[JRMora]

I just bought an 04 3500 DRW and below 65mph it drives like a dream, above 65 it turns into a POS. It has a drive line vibration soo bad that you can't make out the vehicals make that is in your rear viem mirror. My mistake was that they all drive differently, I drove several that didn't vibrate over 65 but decided on a differnt color and just didn't drive this paticular one over 65. Now after doing a search on tdr on 04 vibrations Dodge certainly has a problem and now its my problem too. BE CAREFULL, TEST DRIVE AT ALL SPEEDS !!! KNOW THE DEALERS REPUTATION Do a check on Tom Martinos "troubleshooter.com" web site for auto sleze bags in your state.

I have 24,000 miles on mine the majority of which is at 75-80 mph. I have never had any vibrations.



Good advice to test drive at all speeds, though.



Juan

 

[kober]

For the kind of money these trucks cost these days tell your dad he may as well go all the way and get the dually. There is simply no comparison in the stability vs. SRW especially with heavier loads. The difference in price is well worth it.

 

[Bertram65]

Nothing against the DRW but, I do not understand the stability comments, I do not have any side to side sway or loose feeling when towing, I have been passed by tractor trailers going 20 MPH faster and I cannot even feel it, same goes for wind. The only time I feel the trailer is when I hit a series of ridges in the pavement and then it moves the truck forward and back, the dual wheels would not help in that situation.

The 3500 SRW truck with the auto has the highest towing rating of any of the Doge trucks. My truck weighs 7200 lbs, the GVW is 9900 lbs, if I figure 700 lbs for my family and hitch, that leaves 2000 lbs for pin weight, what trailer has that much pin weight?

 

[mconstable]

Not trying to be argumentative, but I think my dually has a GVW of 12,000... not positive... but there are a lot of fifth-wheels out there with more than 2,000 lb pin-weight, almost all toy-haulers included.

 

[Marty1]

Dual wheels make a HUGE difference... especially if your towing with a receiver hitch as opossed to a gooseneck or fifth wheel.

Once you get the added leverage that far back from your axle it simply overloads your tires.

There are some improvements with Rickman or Alcoa wheels running the 19. 5 tires but none that will help as much as Dual rear wheels.

Ever driven a dually? Around corners you'd think you were in a Viper they are so stable... . plus they look cooler than the 1500 with clearance lights! :-laf :-laf

 

[Bertram65]

I would like to know what hitch you are using that can overload a SRW rear capacity, last time I checked the highest was the Titan at 1700 lbs TW and 14K lbs static, but that was WD so it is not really the same. Viper, yeah sure, have you ever driven one? at least I have driven a dually, and I do not see the huge advantage.

 

[DPelletier]

Bertram65,

I will agree that most trailers don't have enough tongue weight to put a 3500 SRW over GVWR. Medium to large 5th wheels and virtually any slide-in camper on the other hand will put the SRW way over GVWR. On the stability issue, I have both trucks (SRW and DRW) and have hauled the same trailers with both of them (I have 4 trailers). The DRW is slightly more stable with the largest trailer than the SRW, but the real difference is with the slide-in; here the dually has a huge advantage in stability.



Dave

 

[RMcCulloch]

My truck weighs 7200 lbs, the GVW is 9900 lbs, if I figure 700 lbs for my family and hitch, that leaves 2000 lbs for pin weight, what trailer has that much pin weight?

Mine does - and an additional 500# to boot! :-laf



Gooseneck trailers, generally, have a higher hitch weight than fifth-wheels that, generally, have a higher hitch weight than a conventional "bumper" hitch.



Many of the ranchers/farmers around here think nothing of a 3K hitch weight for their gooseneck trailers. After all, that's light in comparison to the weight that they're pulling.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Another advantage of the dually is when one of the rear tires decides to go south (no offense to those beyond the Mason-Dixie) while pulling a loaded horse trailer, you still have a training wheel to see you through.

 

[Marty1]

Viper, yeah sure, have you ever driven one?QUOTE]



Yes, As a matter of fact I owned a 2001 GTS ACR until a few months ago. Put 18,000 miles on it & am aware of how they handle.

I was joking when I said that but I think you get the idea.



Honestly... I'm not saying this to make you feel bad... many people wouldn't drive a DRW for all the tea in China but I guarantee you this... if you take a DRW pickup on a 1000 mile trip towing your trailer, you won't be very happy with the way your truck tows the next time you take it out.

There is a reason they build DRW trucks & it's not so we can all buy 2 extra tires every couple of years. The tow trucks you see driving around don't have 4 tires in the rear so they can look cool. (Although they do)

A dual wheel truck has a huge advantage loaded & towing... this is not folklore.

As for my hitch, it's not the hitch. . what if I have 2500lbs in the bed like I do in the last picture I posted for you? How about if you have a camper on the back & your towing a 10K lb trailer as well?

There are many ways to overload tires on a SRW truck & the further you are away from your limit the better your truck will tow.

If you're happy with the SRW there is no reason to be mad. I'm happy if you're happy but as for a comparison between the two vehicles towing... there is none.

 

[kober]

Nothing against the DRW but, I do not understand the stability comments, .....

I used to drive a SRW 3/4 ton Dodge V10. With the airbags and airshocks, it felt ok when I loaded it to the gills with my Lance slide in, loaded for a week of camping, and hooked my bass boat to it.



Loading my DRW with the same camper, boat etc, there is simply no comparison. Maybe the big difference is going from 3/4 to 1 ton. The dually drives so easy, smooth and stable that I sometimes forget that I'm loaded to the hilt, something I was always keenly aware of when driving the SRW truck.



Empty, it certainly gives you the impression that it will take any corner at speeds even a Viper would be proud of.



In my experience the dually is worth every penny.

 

[Bertram65]

If we are talking about towing, not hauling stuff in the bed or slide in campers I stand by my statement that I do not see or have felt that much of a difference when towing with a dually.

Marty1,

I am not mad, as for the "plus they look cooler than the 1500 with clearance lights!" comment, as nice as the 1500s are I somehow do not think you meant it as a compliment. My rear tires are rated for 3100 lbs each, the weight on my rear tires is 2800 lbs, that leaves me 3400 lbs before I overload the tires, the truck will be overloaded long before the tires will.

 

[Marty1]

I was just kidding about the 1500 comment... I think the 1500's look like F150's but more people buy them than DRW trucks so I guess that says something about my taste!

It sounds like I can't make you see the light.

I used to think just like you until I bought a Dually by accident! Long story I won't get into.

Nobody wanted the Crewcab trucks 20 years ago either but once people drove them & got used to the advantage they had to have them... that's what happened with the DRW for me & now I spend as much time as I can preaching to all the sinners! :-laf :-laf