Thought on SRW vs DRW

[CJ Lagos]

I've got an 02 2500 ETH/DEE Long Bed. I have thought about how easy it would be to convert it to a dually if I ever wanted to.



Everyone says that the 3500 is much better for towing, and for travel trails I believe it since the combo sway together. My trailer is a gooseneck, and I am within the limits of the load range e rear tires. Would a DRW make a noticeable difference on how it tows?



CJ

 

[QRTRHRS]

CJ,



What are you experiancing? If it is not swaying and your not pushing the weight limits, why bother? You also need to look at what your doing. If your going to be doing a lot of traveling, then maybe the dually is the way to go.



Trouble is, most people learn by buying wrong. Better to hook up with someone who will does not mind giving out free lessons. Post a request for someone with a dually in your area. Get together, hook up some trailers. Share your knowledge.

 

[clem]

Once you tow with the extra set of wheels on the rear. There is nothing like it. 4 tires planted on the rear don't move around. The side wall flex of the bigger tires is not there. Don't matter what trailer you tow. The trailer can't push the rear end a round. Started towing RV's in 1960. Won't go back, people will give a lot of reason why they would not have a dully. It all comes down to money.

 

[Big-D]

Dually

I agree with Clem, the extra two wheels make all the difference in the world when towing. I like the stability, two extra tires meeting the pavement for stopping and should I have a blow-out handling the vehicle is much better. Granted, when you are running down the road with 100K or more worth of investment, having good tires is a must, but I've seen a lot of things happen to tires when running heavy on hot days. My 3500 cost a little more, but I feel I have more.

Dave

 

[John Berger]

Dually gets my vote

Other than increasing my post count I can't really add much. Once you go to training wheels while towing, it would be really tough to want to go back. One word: Stability. When you're towing, that's critical. I can't prove this, but I believe the reason my truck didn't go over when my travel trailer did was the extra set of wheels. The only proof is one destroyed travel trailer and one solid functioning truck in the driveway.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I have both;

2001. 5 2500 4x4

2003 3500 drw 2x4



I would take the DRW anytime I have to tow heavy. Too bad the 2500 has so much power.

 

[klenger]

I think it's interesting that we (almost) never hear about anyone with DRW who wishes they had SRW. My best guess as to why this is the case is because getting the DRW is such a major decision, that no one chooses to get them without seriously considering the RAMifications (no pun intended, well maybe). Once they determine that they can live with the increased width, the benifits outweigh (no pun intended, ... really) the downsides.



I don't think that I would ever consider getting DRW becasue the truck is my daily commuter, and I need to park it in a garage. I would consider getting a 3500 SRW, now that it's an option.



My truck is a rec. puller, but if it was a work truck, then DRW might be a consideration. I do think that Dodge builds the best looking dually.

 

[QRTRHRS]

klenger, That's what I was implying.

I also would not want it any other way then my dually. For some, it's a no brainer. Some applications absolutely call for it. Some just like the look, whatever.



Not everyone needs this much truck. There is a learning curve with towing and sometimes it can be costly in terms of money and safety. Back to CJ's question, would DRW make a difference? Yes it would. Does he really need it?

 

[catoiler]

Only draw back to the drw is the stupid parking spots at the malls!otta put up "honda only"parking signs love the dwr.

 

[Dkevdog]

Having had both, and now having a DRW, so long as I am towing I will never go back to owning a SRW. It just handles so much better when towing. Simple as that. If you don't tow, or seldom tow, then its a matter of personal taste and choice. But you can't beat a DRW when it comes to towing.



Kev

 

[MidwestMotorman]

A factor that I consider when towing is whether or not I can see the tires of the trailer. I tow a short 20' car trailer, and I like to see the tires while towing. With a dually, it would take some learning to recognize the tilting load and vibration when suffering a night blowout. If the trailer was longer, say 35-40', then I would get a dually just for the safety factor. I have towed over 20k gross with a 20' trailer and the truck handles it just fine. As said above, the 2500 really outdoes itself. I have towed with a dually, but my wife puts a lot of miles in town driving. The 2500 has avoided lots of trouble due to less width.



Another drawback is the off roading. Cleaning mud from a packed up dually is no fun. A factor to consider is whether or not tight spaces are to be encountered. I guess the real point of your question is how you feel with a dually. Take the previous advice to do some swapping with a fellow member with a dually.

 

[Sageair]

Dual rear wheels are really nice if you do alot of heavy towing,just one blown rear tire without the drama is enough to make you a believer. But I do think drw have one major drawback. They are the shizzling drits off road. In snow you will pushing a two foot wide wall of snow and you will not get as far a srw truck. Also if you drive on on two track dirt roads much the sidewalls on the outside duals take a real beating. If you are just a pavement pounder none of the above applies