I've been pondering. Is there much of difference between the SRW and SRW in actual GCVWR different or is it a comfort thing.
Main reason I ask is I am looking at both trucks (single and dual) the difference is just under $1K from one to the other.

I had my mind set once on the dually, then after I had to drive tight, winding back roads with some narrow bridges on Monday I got to thinking.......

I see lots of people towing much larger 5'ers than I could ever afford or really have a use for with 2500's. What is the point in me getting a dually if 75-80% of it's like is going to be spent in non-towing capacities?

Lastly, is there a point in getting the 3500 SRW? Not sure why I even started to look at them instead of the 2500's?

Any thoughts?

 

If you're looking at large 5th wheels, the difference is GVWR. You can figure that a 5th wheel will carry approximately 20% of its total weight on the truck as pin weight where it counts against the truck's GVWR. Even if GCWRs are equal, the SRW truck will run out of GVWR before it approaches its GCWR rating when towing a heavy 5th wheel. That's why a heavier dually with the same GCWR and a lower trailer tow rating (due to its greater curb weight) can tow a larger 5th wheel without exceeding any of the truck's ratings (i.e., GCWR, GVWR and GAWRs) - it has the additional GVWR to handle the pin weight.

Rusty

 

I was kind of in the same boat, wanting the truck for a 5th wheel, and using the truck as a daily driver in an area with narrow streets...

I should be well under all the ratings with my 30' toy hauler and 3500 SRW, but as time goes by I've been oogling bigger 5th wheels, and by the time you figure the weight of passengers, the hitch assembly, tools and cargo in the pickup, I'd need a dually to be legal, plus duallies are just more stable when you are looking at 35' and up...

Anyhow, I would recommend at least a SRW 3500 as you do gain some payload capacity for a small extra price, but if I were to do it over again I would have bought a dually to begin with.

P.S. I also see a lot of people towing 40' 5th wheels with a 2500, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea (or legal, or stable).

 

I can simplify this a bit. I won't be shopping for anything 35 Ft. AND above.

What does that mean for me?

Rusty, what is the diference in GVWR between the two then? Does it go up when you compare the 2500 & 3500. Am I am PITA?

 

The easiest thing to do is take the GVWR on the trailer and take 25%. So, on a 10,000lb GVWR trailer, your pin weight on a 5th wheel is suppose to be in the 20-25% range. You are looking at 2500lbs. You need at least this much left over from your trucks GVWR one you weight it fully loaded with hitch, passengers, luggage, full fluids, etc.
The diesels should be about like this
2500 = 9000 GVWR
3500 = 9900 GVWR
3500 DRW = 11500 GVWR

 

Check for specifics for the truck you're considering, but the following are typical GVWR ratings over the years:

2500 SRW - 8800 to 9200 lbs

3500 SRW - 9900 lbs

3500 DRW - 10500 to 13000(?) lbs

I'm not sure about the 13000 lbs for the 3rd gens - this may be a Ford F-350 dually Tow Boss rating that I'm thinking of.

Rusty

 

I think your question should be, "What's the point in getting a 2500?" The 3500 SRW gains 900 lbs of cargo capacity over a 2500 and costs virtually the same. Driving the two unloaded you probably will not feel a difference.

I feel one needs to shop 5th wheels based on the coaches GVWR, not its claimed unloaded weight. When towing you'll probably be closer to the GVWR than the empty weight and its better to have a little rating left over rather than be over the rating.

If I were in your shoes, I'd buy a 3500 SRW. If you keep the trailer in the 35' range with a gross no more than 14k lbs you can get by with a SRW. A DRW would be better, but I wouldn't hesitate to pull that kind of load with a 3500 SRW.

Good luck!

 

Wow, if I had a dime for everytime I heard this question.. I think you should be fine with the 2500 or the 3500 srw.. I pull a 31 ft Gulfstream with no problems.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I suppose I will end up with the 1 ton if even just because I can. (not to be a jerk).
I don't want to be a nervous Nelly everytime I get in tight situations with a dually around town.

 

$1000 is not that much of a difference. If you were interested, you could *probably* get a set of 5 19.5's (cast from Vision) with tires, for $1500, and sell your stock wheels and come out even!

Some guys pay less insurance for 3500 even if its a SRW (Canada?) some people pay more (USA?). Otherwise you are looking at 900 more lbs GVWR and the overload springs on the rear.

 

Interestingly, I called about the insurance the other day and they are telling me it's only $16.00 more semi-anually for a 2006 1 ton than my current 2001 3/4 ton?
Certainly more truck to replace if I total it?

There is the exact truck I am looking for about 200 miles from here, the dealer I am working with may have sold my truck to one of his customers today. I'll find out about that tomorrow.

 

Whether you are talking chainsaws, cows, trucks, or women, bigger is always better.

Buy the dually; soon, you will learn that the inside tire lapped over the yellow-line will intimidate oncoming traffic to give you the road.

Mileage between a SRW and a DRW is negligible, with some DRW out-mileaging the SRW's.

It is always best to be over-gunned, than out-gunned.

 

Oh, man.
The saga continues..... Dealer offered me a VERY fair price (above private party value in some books) for my truck tonight. The icing on the cake is a good friend of my wife's son in-law works up at Chrysler in Newark, I have one of his auth. numbers for another $1,0000 off the final price.

My local dealer has the silver dually on his lot, the other truck I have an interest in is a 3500 SRW (Inferno red, long bed) out in Western PA that he can have for me on Monday.

Decisions, decisions. It's tough for me, one hand I want to be able park in a normal parking spot, at the same time I don't want to have to worry about my weight in the future with a 5'er

The Dually is straight HOSS, thing is just stout! The SRW is more practical for use with anything other than towing.
The DRW rides like a dream compared to mine. It is still, yet not bouncy and tracks straight as can be.

It's to the point that I want to pull it from a hat or have my son decide......

 

I haul 5'ers all the time, infact its my job, I haul from Indiana to canada all the time. I have a 2500 and never had a problem with anything i have hauled. The biggest i have hauled is a 34 behind me and pulling it approx 1800 miles each week, its no problem for me. I personally dont like the dually as its 2 more tires to buy each time you replace them, and when you dont have a trailer, you have to watch the back fenders alot. Some people might think 2 tires aint much, but when you change tires 3-4 times each year it adds up.. For me when i replace this truck, it will be a 3500 SRW ,,Much easier to handle when you are around town.

 

I have had my 2500 upgraded to a 3500 with DOT. With the addition of air bags. I can haul 1100lbs and if I wanted to I could have it licenced up to 12,500. Those training wheels get expensive to replace when you add an extra 2 tires on a tire buy.