Buying new truck need input

[dodgeliner]

I currently have a 2003 2500 HO with banks 6 gun rated to pull 13,000

The horse trailer I pull weighs 11,000 dry and around 15,000 loaded

I can cruise at 65-70 all day without downshifting, but I am over the weight limits for this truck.



I am looking at a 05 3500 but am not sure to get it with dual rears or the 4. 10 gears

The dualie is rated 500lbs less than a single axle but using 4. 10 gears raised the rating by 2,000 lbs.

I know I will have no problems pulling the 3. 73 gears as I do that now and I can't see where using a 4. 10 gear to get "the rating" is worth it as it has nothing to do with steering, braking, or safety and they will just waste fuel. . Actually with the 6 gun I really could use another gear as I have all the torque I need at 1800 rpm

My questions are is the dual rears better and is using 4. 10's worth it to get legal tow specs??

 

[klenger]

You need to know your pin/hitch weight. In most cases with a SRW, you will exceed the truck's GVWR long before the GCWR. I'd recommend the dually if it would work for you. As to the rear end gears, it depends on if you are thinking auto or 6 speed. The 6 speed is only available with 3. 73. The auto is available with either, but for towing heavy, the 4. 10's work better. Bottom line is that the 3500 DRW with an auto and 4. 10's or the 6 speed with 3. 73's would work well.

 

[Scrappy]

a SRW with 4. 10's can pull more than the dually, both are rated @23000# and the dually is heavier. But the dually can carry more on the truck than the SRW. I got the SRW mainly because I don't need a dually yet, otherwise I would probably have gotten a dually. 4. 10 gears aren't all that great unless you tow heavy ALOT, mine came w/4. 10's and I put 35" tires on it to lower the final drive ratio and am still looking for another gear on the interstate. I get my best mileage between 45-60 mph, anything above and it drops.

 

[RustyJC]

As was said, the advantage of the dually is the higher GVWR needed to tow a 5th wheel or gooseneck that puts more weight on the truck. The higher "trailer tow rating" of the lighter SRW truck isn't worth much if one is over GVWR before they even get close to GCWR.



Rusty

 

[BHolm]

I think the first thing you need to do is get it wieghed while loaded. You should be able to get a rear axle wieght to determine where you need to be. You wont overload the axle but the tires are suspect. If you are at or near the tires max the dually is a very good idea. All three of my trucks are 3. 73 autos and they tow amazing amouts all the time. I personally wouldn't bother with the 4. 10s but others have different ideas.

 

[RMarkey]

I went with the auto w/ the 4:10's, pulled a dump truck at approx 16k great! But how often is anyone ever going to do that, including myself again. I ended up using up the 4:10's (so to speak) by putting on bigger tires. With me not pulling much big things, the 4:10's were a bit un-economical with the stock tires.