need help with 3500 srw/drw man/auto.

[run2trouble]

I need a little help, I am not trying to start any flamming or anything, just looking for truth. Oo.



Currently I have a chevy c4500 4x4 with the allision rds1000 auto, and I don't like how it shifts. #@$%!





I am looking at getting a 3500 mega cab 4x4 with the 6. 7l. I am torn between the srw and the drw. It will be used to pull a 30' flatbed with 10-20k worth of equipment. I do live in the mountains, I am curious how well the automatic transmission works in the hills.



Thanks in advance,



Ky

 

[captaindean]

Srw

I have a 2007. 5 with the 6spd auto and tow a 33' fifth wheel. it weighs in at about 13k I live up near jackson hole wyoming and new trans and exhaust brake work very well together in the mountains. the only thing is that the mega cab does not come with 8' bed that is why i got the quad cab srw. Dualie with short box just does not look right to me. my 2 cents.

 

[Jeepstang]

I went through the same thing as you. I drove both the Chevy and Dodge SRW and DRW 2500 and 3500 trucks and ended up getting the 3500 DRW Mega cab. In my opinion the DRW on both brands has a softer ride than the srw and the 3500's had a nicer ride than the 2500's and my thought is this

with light loads the sticker on the door reads 40 PSI in the rear tires and 65 PSI in the front tires. also the 3500's from what I understand ride softer until a heavy load is on the truck to hit the helper leaf which then rides firm. the 2500's do not have this extra leaf so the extra spring rate is in the spring packs and they do not have the extra helper leaf. I also have the 68rfe trans and love it. I just hauled 10k or so with a bumper pull from MD-PA-NJ and back through the mountians and the truck was able to pull 80 mph in 6th gear without any trouble at all. the exhaust brake works great. I can not be more pleased with my choice. At first i thought I made a mistake getting the DRW but now that I have been driving it for 4,000 miles I dont even think about the extra wide rear tires and my wife is used to it as well. My only complaint is the short bed only option from the dealer.

 

[TulsaOkie]

Love mine to death, I have the mega 4x4 w/ 6. 7 and auto. So far 25k pulling a 28' gooseneck 99% of the time. And thats in 2 months. I sure miss the long bed... .

 

[jelag]

We have a 04 3500 with 242K miles... . frankly we pull a large trailer, actually 22 ft long full of HD Clutches for class 8 trucks... . usually close to 20K in trailer weight alone... and its beating the 3500 to death... . I've just ordered a new 5500 which I think will handle the load better...

The trailer has hyd. disc brakes controlled with an electric pump... . lots of brakes but they have been more of a problem than we'd like... . they stop well and the exhaust brake almost holds the load on a 6% grade... . its just more than we'd like. .

All my trucks are sticks with the new 5500 being an automatic... . Ky, have you had your truck to an Allison dealer, not a GM dealer to see if re programing can help your shifting problem... I do really like the firm stopping power of the pacbrake and allison in the mid range trucks... .

 

[run2trouble]

Jelag,



I have not had the truck to the Allison dealer, I am thinking I might pur in a 9speed or so manual into it if I end up keeping it.



thanks,



Ky

 

[run2trouble]

I am going to go with a SRW Megacab 6. 7, just not decided on the transmission.