"a DRW may offer slightly better handling but not much. "
I used to tow my trailer with the same truck as Hitchikker has in his signiture.
My trailer is about the same size and a little lighter. It is odd but my experience in going to a dually was really noticeable. What kind of dually were you pulling with when you tested the difference and came to the conclusion a dually only did slightly better but not much?

 

Moss,
My dually was a 98 Dodge diesel LB extra cab. Now I don't haul the kind of weight some of these guys here do and that may be the difference. My trailer weighs about 4500lb empty and I've had it loaded up to about 11000lb gross weight. I really don't see much difference while pulling....

I do have some good news though..


I just saved a boatload of money on my insurance..

 

Thanks for the imput Dodgezilla.
After 1080+ views and 47 replies and a lot of poking and proding it is unanimous so far there is some difference between towing with a DRW and SRW.
Reviewing what I learned in this thread.
1)If you are pulling above Dodge's recomendations a SRW is almost just as good as a DRW.
2) There is some intangable difference but not much for some people between pulling with a SRW and DRW.
3) None claims a SRW is better for the original question,
" 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".

HaulinRoans welcome to the board I enjoyed your thread. Best of luck with your new truck. The only thing I think everyone agrees on is the Cummins will pull that trailer whatever truck version you choose.
Randy

 

Moss,

I had a '96 Dodge CTD 1 ton dually reg cab in my farm equipment business. My first CTD although I also sold CTD engines in farm tractors (both B and C series engines).

I sold the business and the truck went with it. They still have it.

I bought a new '98 2500 CTD club cab, srw, auto and it was the best truck I ever had. Rode like my 1/2 ton ford and got better mileage. I had to trade it for a 1 ton when I bought my 5vr and DC didn't make a SWR 1 ton so I bought a new '01 Ford PSD, SRW supercab, long box. It pulls my trailer great until I get in the Rockies. No sway, trucks do not bother me and I've pulled with side winds to 25 mph with no problems.

I've found that duals can give you problems on worn out highways that have the ruts in the wheel tracks. These don't bother me with the SRW.

It's now time for me to go back to my beloved Cummins and I'm looking at an '04 CTD, SWR, Quad, LB, Laramie. I'm still debating 6spd or auto and 3.73 or 4.10. About 1/3rd of mileage is towing my 14000# 5vr. I have decided that I would prefer 4.10s with the auto and 3.73s with the 6 speed.

 

Well in a nut shell, the dually was intended for people that haul large trailers, or hual heavey loads. If you haul goosenecks, 5th wheeels, you should have a dually (3500 DRW). I know there are people of here that will contend they pull there triler just fine with a SRW, good for them. With the high hitch weight of a gooseneck, or 5th wheel, I would not want to pull with a SRW, I would prefer the stability and safety of the extra wheels. If in fact you are going to use this truck primaraly as a tow vehical, and it is going to be towing the weights you posted, I think the wiser choice would be the DRW.

 

Mileage might...might suffer one mpg not 2 or 3. Been there and done that with a few trucks.

Also, the rear tires will not wear out as fast on a DRW as the SRW towing.

I prefer the DRW for resale, stability and looks. ;D

 

If you're off road DRWs' can pick up rocks between the wheels sometimes causing flats. A lot of us opt for SRWs' because back country flats on uneven grade surfaces makes tire changes tricky. Depends on where y'all use the truck.