Hi y'all,

I'm a newbie and I've been lurking at this great site for a while. I'm in the market to move from a 2500 w/5 spd & 355s to a 3500 w/6 spd & 373s. Where I'm stuck now is in deciding whether I want a DRW or SRW. (I searched and wasn't able to find a specific thread on this, but if someone knows where one is, just send me to it--thanks!)

My gooseneck fully loaded will weigh between 11-12000K max. This new truck will be almost entirely a hauling vehicle. I do lots of highway driving and occasionally do haul in the mountains.

I'll admit I did drive a 3500 dually for the first time this morning, and really liked the way it felt (stable), but at the same time I kept worrying that I was gonna rip a fender off on something. Thanks for any opinions!

 

I think you've got it boiled down pretty good. Dooley's give you more stability when pulling heavy loads and redundancy in the event of a blowout; but drive thru's and mailboxes too close to the road can wreak havoc on those nice fenders.

I like they way they look, but prefer the convenience of SRW's for the time being.

My old F350 CC dooley 4x2 didn't like the snow to much either.

 

You get used to the "training wheels" pretty quick.

It now feels strange to drive Wifey's Landcruiser.
Less stability, more leaning on turns and exit ramps.
The dually is rock solid.

If you're really hauling heavy most of the time, sounds like there's a dually in your future.


Here's another thread on the subject.
Topic: Dangit...what to get, a 2500 or 3500??

 

What Ed said....

It doesn't take long at all to get used to the hips. After a few days you'll be zipping in and out of parking lots no problem.

I pull a 10K 5er and really like the stability. ;D

 

[quote author=HaulinRoans link=board=11;threadid=20972;start=0#msg196734 date=1066156946]
I'll admit I did drive a 3500 dually for the first time this morning, and really liked the way it felt (stable), but at the same time I kept worrying that I was gonna rip a fender off on something. Thanks for any opinions!
[/quote]

I just picked up my dually on Saturday and like it. I have hit a few curbs with the tires, but nothing serious.

If the side mirrors clear, then the rear fenders should as long as you don't turn too sharp.

Brian Elfert

 

Go for the duallies. Towing that much, it makes all the difference in the world with stability. No comparision between my SRW and this dual. As stated, you get used to the wide fanny. Just not handy at the bank drive thru. :-[

 

Hmm, try reading this for a starter . . .
TRAILER LIFE FORUM > Fifth-Wheels > 350 SRW + heavy fiver + weight slip and talked with Fords top guys

 

Isn't there a difference in the way the axil bearings are configured in a dually compared to single? Don't the Dually's have full floating rear axils?

I know I've read this somewhere before.......HELP!

 

Both the 2500 and 3500 Dodges have full floaters.

 

Oh Boy, Here goes! I debated for months on this same issue this past winter. My 35' 5er weights in at 12,000lb. loaded and I just bought a 3500, HO, AUTO,410, SRW. I've pulled it four times so far the longest was from MICHIGAN TO MYRTLE BEACH SC. lots of mountains and very curvey. My speed on this trip was 70mph and it pulled like a dream, NO SWAYon the curves , NO SWAY FROM SIDE WINDS, MPG WAS 11.1. I just can't understand why I should have a DUALLY ! This truck is also used as a daily driver, try that with a dually bet the wife won't drive it much. One of the other couples in our party had a dually " GUESS WHO DROVE EVERYNIGHT GOING OUT TO EAT, ME!" Ya, I heard all about blow outs on this site, Just make sure you have good tires on it , My wife and I love our SRW!!! Pulls like a dream and parks just as well. It took me three months of research on this site SRW vs DRW I'm very happy with my SRW.

 

Hi again,

Thanks y'all for all the great input. I was just about 100% decided to go with the dually, til that last post--LOL! I have a couple of good hauling friends who are pretty anti-dually, and in the past they've always managed to talk me out of it. Still, this isn't going to be a daily driver at all, and I have learned my lesson on pulling trailers thru the bank drive-thru. (It was a little 2H tagalong--empty-- and I actually forgot I had it on.)

Any noticeable fuel economy differences between the two?

Anyway, I'm still thinking on it. Any additional comments are welcome! Thanks again.

 

After Phonses reply, I think its pretty clear. Get the Dooley, or you'll be the designated driver for now on!

If its not a daily driver, I think you'd like the dooley. They make a noticable difference when pulling heavy loads. The difference in mpg is minor if non-existent.

 

I'd go with the DRW, more stability. However, my SRW pulls my 5er just fine. Now I'm thinking about changing mine into a DWR whenever I get the cash and time... :
Big dawg

 

[quote author=HaulinRoans link=board=11;threadid=20972;start=0#msg197485 date=1066273737]
Hi again,

Thanks y'all for all the great input. I was just about 100% decided to go with the dually, til that last post--LOL! I have a couple of good hauling friends who are pretty anti-dually, and in the past they've always managed to talk me out of it. Still, this isn't going to be a daily driver at all, and I have learned my lesson on pulling trailers thru the bank drive-thru. (It was a little 2H tagalong--empty-- and I actually forgot I had it on.)

Any noticeable fuel economy differences between the two?

Anyway, I'm still thinking on it. Any additional comments are welcome! Thanks again.
[/quote] Duallys' get about 2-3 LESS MPG and remember TWO more tires to buy.

 

If I was using it to haul all the time and not daily driving, I would get a dually.

Mike