Thinking about a DRW vs SRW

[MChrist]

If you have the opportunity to pick out a truck, go for the dually. Since you tow/carry heavy, that would be your best bet.
I didn't catch where you live, but if you live where you deal with a some snow, throw 1000 lbs in the back and you'll be fine with 2WD. if you live in Alaska, you may consider 4WD...

Now, what color and gear ratio??

 

[mfurrh55]

I used to have a F-350 Ford 7. 3 ,4 door dually and i wound getting that heavy sucker stuck all the time, it wasn't the rear end that got me stuck , it was the front end, wished it was 4 wheel drive then, Good luck on the new truck, Monte

If you have the opportunity to pick out a truck, go for the dually. Since you tow/carry heavy, that would be your best bet.
I didn't catch where you live, but if you live where you deal with a some snow, throw 1000 lbs in the back and you'll be fine with 2WD. if you live in Alaska, you may consider 4WD...

Now, what color and gear ratio??

 

[rrnut-2]

My '91 2wd, CTD was the same way. It was the front end that got stuck in a hole, groove or anything it could find. Next truck was a 4wd. And now it looks like my next truck will be a dually.

 

[MChrist]

I used to have a F-350 Ford 7. 3 ,4 door dually and i wound getting that heavy sucker stuck all the time, it wasn't the rear end that got me stuck , it was the front end, wished it was 4 wheel drive then, Good luck on the new truck, Monte

... hence my comment about putting 1000 lbs in the back. And, also that comment was directed toward winter and snow, although I failed to mention it. We've just received another snowstorm and that was what was on my mind when I wrote that. Personally, I would get 4WD unless I knew I wouldn't be taking that truck off the road. That being said, the front suspension is much more comfortable than the solid axle 4WD front end.
Just options for the OP to consider, that's all...

 

[MChrist]

I used to have a F-350 Ford 7. 3 ,4 door dually and i wound getting that heavy sucker stuck all the time, it wasn't the rear end that got me stuck , it was the front end, wished it was 4 wheel drive then, Good luck on the new truck, Monte

... hence my comment about putting 1000 lbs in the back. And, also that comment was directed toward winter and snow, although I failed to mention it. We've just received another snowstorm and that was what was on my mind when I wrote that. Personally, I would get 4WD unless I knew I wouldn't be taking that truck off the road. That being said, the front suspension is much more comfortable than the solid axle 4WD front end.

Just options for the OP to consider, that's all...

 

[RustyJC]

That being said, the front suspension is much more comfortable than the solid axle 4WD front end.....

... ... and us 2WD folks don't have to be concerned with "death wobble"!



Rusty

 

[Bill Stockard]

... ... and us 2WD folks don't have to be concerned with "death wobble"!



Rusty

. . and don't have all those other front suspension problems the 4x4 owners complain about. We have rack and pinion steering and don't have the 4x4 steering gear related problems either.



Bill

 

[EGroeneveld]

If a truck is two wheel drive might as well just call it a car I personally would never have anything but a 4*4 truck. I do camp on the beach some and camp out off forest service roads for riding ATV's and RZR.



If I lived in AZ or something maybe I'd have a 2*4, but I'd likely get stuck in a sandy wash finding a camping spot so never mind... .

 

[Grizzly]

4WD sit up higher and look better.

I still prefer my 4WD. It's gotten me out of trouble more than once and it's also gotten some 2WD out of trouble.

george

 

[RustyJC]

In 17 years my "girlie" 2WD duallies have yet to be pulled by anything. :-laf



Rusty

 

[Oil Stain]

I like the 4x4 drw setup. From the research I did and from others that had srw then to drw, they said the drw is the way to go. I also park far away into the parking lots at stores, even at Lowes and Home Depot which can handle the bigger trucks with larger spaces. I don't want any dents or dings if I can help it. The only tight spot I ran into is at bank drive throughs. The rear tires started to get wedged in, I was creeping in and new it was going to be tight, but had to back out. Lucky for me, no one was behind me. Been through lots of other drive throughs with no problem.

 

[HBarlow]

Me too. I always park at the end of big box store parking lots farthest from the front door and sometimes angle park or split the line and take two spaces to keep fat folks from parking too close and banging my truck with their doors.

My truck will fit through fast food drive-throughs but I don't eat there so it doesn't matter.

Ram duallies fit inside the lines of standard parking spaces with space to spare but the towing mirrors and extended fenders leave narrower margins on each side.

 

[mfurrh55]

If you can't afford a 4X4 just say so, Don't make excuses

 

[whiteknight]

Well, before owning a DRW I used to say I had outgrown riding tricycles a long time ago, but now I have to say it's been a pretty good tow vehicle. I used to have a 37' TT and with the SRW 2500 I could definitely feel the trailer pushing on the rear end of the truck in a curve, the DRW is very stable. I had a rear tire blow out when towing that TT doing about 70 on the interstate. I heard the tire blow, but felt no difference in how the truck handled (inside dual naturally). Stopped to check what had happened then drove to the next exit for a safe place to change the tire. Only thing I have noticed is if the outside dual happens to ride up on a lip on the side of the road or were they are repaving a highway and the pavement is uneven, the back ends does feel a little squirmy with that one tire a little higher than the others, but that doesn't happen very often.

 

[HBarlow]

If you can't afford a 4X4 just say so, Don't make excuses

Is that a joke?

How's your buddy with that Allison transmission in his Dodge? That was a good story. We all got a good chuckle out of it.

 

[mfurrh55]

YEAH, That was a joke, Can't you handle it

 

[mfurrh55]

And he still has the Alison

 

[Liecha]

My two cents would be to go with the DRW if you are towing as the primary use of your truck. I would get the 4x4 if you are planning on going forest service roads or off road much. Here in the Pacific Northwest I cannot count the number of times the only reason we did not have to get the chains out was because we had the 4wd. Gets you out of the spot so you can go back to 2wd. I would stick with the 2wd only if you are just going to be driving on established roads for 90% of your time (KOA Hopping). On most of the Forest service roads out here you end up being a road block if you cannot get yourself out.
That being said, I purchased a 2012 3500 right now. I am looking at about five years at a minimum before I am in the market for a fifth wheel. I can still pull one (and occasionally do (10%)) of time. But 90% of my driving are just pull behind or just the truck itself. I am hoping that when it comes the time for a fifth wheel, I can convince my wife that we need an additional truck, a DRW.

 

[d6c]

Though it is not listed in my signature, I have owned dually's for just about 30 years. You better have four wheel drive if you go off-road at all, and even on-road they do not get around near as good as a srw if there is any ice or snow involved. Mud is a whole another matter, they perform REALLY poorly. Anybody that says otherwise needs to try a little bit harder. Towing or hauling the drw is the ticket for increased stability and safety.

 

[Kennywould]

Replaced my Megacab with a dually, I had a dually in 05' kicked myself for getting rid of it. Liking the new one...