SRW vs DRW
 

I currently have a '01 F350 crew cab SRW. Will this be comfortable in front of a 38' Top Gun?? I know the DRW will be better but will the SRW handle the load on long distance hauls. Im talking handling as Im not worried about power. The twin turboed cummins under the hood should do the job.

Thanks!

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

you have a cummins under the hood of your 01 F350? :eek:

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I guess that's better than the infamous "cummings".

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Did you transplant a Cummins into your Ford?


Is your SRW truck a longbed? This will help with towing stability. Obviously the DRW is a better for towing, but the SRW is normally OK. I would suggest at least 8-9" wide wheels, E-load rated tires (should already have them), and Air Bag rear suspsension assist. Firestone ane AirLift make nice systems for your truck.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Yeah I transplanted a 12 valve cummins and a NV5600 into my F350. Its not a cummings but it does have an extra turbo that gets me down the road just fine thank you.

Anyways, BOT...it is a short box so the wheelbase isnt as long as it could be. Im sure guys do it all the time but I dont want to worry about how its going down the freeway on a windy day. If its risky then I might just check into doing a DRW conversion since I already have the powerplant that I want. Any other opinions??

Thanks!

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

i've been wondering the same thing. is there much difference between the two (drw/srw) when towing a sizeable boat? is it worth extra hassle of a dually? how much extra towing capacity does it give you?

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Legally, per the manufacturer specs, most models are rated to tow MORE with the SRW over the DRW due to the lesser amount of weight of the truck itself, and the less amount of rotating mass (adapters and wheels).

However, having towed with a bunch of different trucks; there is no way I would change back to a SRW over my DRW. I miss my old truck, a 2500 GM, but I not as much as I love driving the dually.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

A DRW F350 isn't enough truck for pulling a Topgun on the highway. it may squeak in under the max tow weight rating and you'll be OK in 95% of your driving situations. Where you'll have issue is when something goes wrong- an unexpected stop sign, some a$$hole cutting you off, and those things that "just happen".

I had the misfortune of finding this out firsthand with this exact combination.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Chris, sorry to here about your misfortune... So, what do you suggest for a tow rig for a 38?

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I bought a Freightliner. 85K/mi on it- put a 16' flat steel bed on it and a small boom crane. Have under $20K in it. Pulls the Apache like it's not back there (exaggeration, but compared to the F350 that's close).

My accident wouldn't have happened with a big truck- some idiot came across a median on a wet road and hit the side of the trailer. Just enough to get me off the berm. Unfortunately the boat whipped over and the berm sloped down. Boat pulled the truck off and we rolled down the embankment. I've had some close calls with the FL (and some attention lapses on my part) and the big truck has saved my a$$ more than once.

I have a buddy who just bought a nice Int'l 4400 ambulance. Has the 466 motor and an Allison. He's filling all the red-light holes but it has white spots on the 3 sides and back. Tons of storage in those outside lockers. In the back there will be 4 pedestal seats and a flat-screen. Another good low-buck, multi-use tow vehicle.

Too many people look attow ratings and assume they'll be OK. Those are only rating the mechanical capability to pull the load. They don't take into acount the panic stop/lane change/other unforseeable things that happen ALL THE TIME.

Plus, rarely do I see boats sufficiently strapped down. Stopping your rig isn't helpful if the boat keeps going.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Thanks Chris,

That ambulance idea is a good one. I was thinking of maybe a Brinks truck but the gearing is probably too low. Not so with an ambulance, and the storage would be real handy.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Too much armor in an armored car. They barely move themselves!

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Chris, you could've ended that post with "dumbazz". I wouldn't mind. :rolleyes:

No, actually I thought it could be stripped from the inside and underneath. The wheelbase might even be a little too short for stability though. I keep trying to think of a way to keep a 42' boat with a drive guard type trailer under the 65' overall length limit.

A yearly length permit, if available, would be the solution.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

chris, do you have any pics of your tow rig?? it sounds pretty interesting!! did you have to do anything special as far as licensing? is it (was it) considered a class 8 truck?

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Under 26,000 GVW so it's non-CDL. Class 6. Has air brakes- no special icence or permit needed.

This pic is before the bed went on. I took the interior out and sprayed the entire inside of the cab with spray-on sound deadener. Then all the walls & roof were stuffed with 2" foam. Made new door panels & covered the dash with auto-interior vinyl, Since the floor is pretty flat, I glued a short-nap black industrial carpet over the insulated rubber floor mat. Added power windows/locks. Decent stereo. New air-ride seats.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

that sounds pretty sweet!! i hate to be a pain, but do you have more pics? your project has got my mind workin'!! if you don't mind my asking, what kind of money do you have into rig?

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Without the interior stuff, under 20 grand. I did a bunch of peace-of-mind stuff to it that you wouldn't necessarily have to do. Did alot of the work on it myself including re-shooting the yellow.

I looked- no other pics. I'm getting it out tomorrow to use the crane to snatch a fallen tree from my backyard so I'll try to get a pic.

That's the only downside. I have a flatbed that carries 10K and has a crane- I have no shortage of "friends"

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

thanx for the info chris.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

So does this mean everyone with a boat 38' plus has to have a freightliner to haul the boat down the road? Im sure probably not. Anyone out there haul their boat with a single rear wheel one ton tow rig??

Although a Frieghtliner would be damn nice, its just not feasable for me at this time.

Thanks!

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I pull my 36 Outlaw that weighs in at 16000 lbs on the trailer with a 03 6.0 PSD SRW 4X4 with air bags. Pulls solid to 80 mph. It has six wheel disc brakes so I feel fine with it. It stops really well IMO. I don't think that Top Gun will weigh much more than my rig does. I make several trips that are 500 miles or more over the summer in 95 degree heat with no problems.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I will never owe another SRW. I only owe a 30' Baja OL and as I travel to SO CA to Havasu often. Power wise and braking my 03 Chevy 2500HD with Duramax pulled it fine. The greatest benifit with my 07 Chevy DRW is when caught in those desert wind storms. The stability is unbeatable. the truck doesn't sway and feel lite. The truck keeps striaght. Also I like that the rear end doesn't sag like my old 2500HD. I also like the idea if I ever get a rear tire blow out that I still have one tire to keep me straight. I have seen trucks that blow a tire out in the rear while towing especially speeds beyond 60MPH and it can cause you to loose your trailer and maybe the truck and everyone else in it. This is my 2 cents and I like to err on the side of safety.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

You're overweight and speeding. Not too smart.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

You need more these days...duals..and sway bars....yup...srw are not enough in many circumstances...I tried many set ups and boats ....you will get away with it for awhile.....but when stuff goes wrong....hey....you hopped it up....you surely can do some more.....you barely can do it with a dually with some of the idiots in populated areas....breaks and sway :D

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Your to polite...... :D

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Dually is the only way to go...just my 2 cents

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

That WAS the sugar-coated version.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Chris

So if I understand you correctly, you have never gone over the speed limit ?? Yeah right !!! I didn't say I run at those speeds all the time, I just said it is stable up to that speed. Also I am overweight by how much ?? You tell me by how much and I'll see if you are correct. Oh and by the way the stock hitch is in a garbage dump somewhere.

Smitty

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Hey, you're not going far and you're being really careful- plus, you don't do it that often...

You'll be OK, right?

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I had a F350 dually last year and a F250 this year. I have more stopping power with the F250. Both of them had 4wheel disks and pulling 16k 5thwheel trailer. It could just be the angle I have the trailer set at though. Anyways I recommend the dually just for the saftey aspect but you have less towing capacity with DRW.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

ive towed everything from snowmobiles to 50' boats and house trailers,I WILL NOT EVER TOW WITH ANYTHING LESS THEN A 1 TON DAULLY!!!!,,,ive all over this country and europe and its the only i feel safe anymore with all mthe clowns on the road and weather condutions,,plus they ride better as crew cabs and 8' beds and ill probluy never buy a 2wd truck again ,my 4wd o6' duramax 3500 crew cab daully will out run and out pull my old truck a 02' 2wd 3500 duramax crew cab dauly and it gets the same fuel milage,i used to tow with a 2500 chevy and i can't tell you how many times a**holes did stupid things on the road,, just my .04 cents

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I tow a 42 sonic, with a 3500 chevy dually no problem stopping or pulling ramps.. A dually is the only way to go for me...

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I am curious how the 36' baja weighs in at 16,000lbs? Dry weight is 8300, fuel tank is 235gal and then trailer? So figuring the fuel on the heavy side is 8lb per gal, that means the trailer weighs 5800lbs or so?

My Apache is 10k dry + 3k for eagle trailer+ 1,000 lbs worth of fuel and I come up with 14,000. The last time I actually weighed it it was less than that, but I was low on Fuel and there wasn't any gear in the boat.

Regardless, I recently pulled my 36' apache with an 05 dodge cummins 3500 4x4 SRW from Sturgeon bay to St. Louis with no problems. I would love to have a top kick or international but the one ton will get the job done. If the person that started this post is buying a new truck already then I would get the Dually if you can deal with the foot print for your daily driving, but SRW will work.

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

You can't buy a single wheel if your going to be towing stuff...just because you can't park it....easier to drive..I gotta park out in left field....pleeeeze....I chuck a 4500 around like it is a toyota...get a grip on it...bunch of girls :evilb:

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

I would like to know where you guys are getting your info? :confused: Everything I research (on Ford at least) says srw 12,500k drw 15000k???????

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Gearing makes a difference as well. 3.73 gears, 4.10's, and tow Boss 4.30's. I have the 4.10's in LWB CC dually as my daily drivers. My equipment is 22k but I tow it in my 4000 acre community from job site to jobsite where speeds don't exceed 35mph. I have towed it on a freeway twice to the next ramp for a tire repair, a mile down the road, it pulls it, no question, not exactly legal. My 4300 Nortech is a breeze with this truck, I never tow over 72, 73mph. I always stay in the right or middle lane, and always take my time. Is it legal, don't know, am I going to buy a Freightliner, No. Jeff

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

No matter what the published weights are on the majority of boats they usually weigh more,my bud had a 29 baja,with full tank of fuel and his 3500 lb trailer and gear it would whip his long box crew cab srw 99 chevy around,we figured it was approaching 11,000 lbs. Once in a while if the trailer brakes didn't "hit" right away it would literaly skid his truck through a intersection if pavewent was wet at all. I had about 10,000 lbs behind my 06 duramax and you could definately tell truck was being worked hard, I wouldn't think of putting even 16,000 lbs behind it,Smitty

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Im not knocking Your Duramax Dually or any of them in general. They all have their better/weaker points. I also own a 06 GMC Dually with the 350/650 and obvious Allison. I love the powertrain, (and that's all) but what you stated on towing 16,000 lbs behind it is correct, on the GM product. This truck I use for 12k and under applications, and I should say 10k and under, the suspension, while being smoother is no way capable of pulling the 16k (Nortech) like the Ford. Big difference between these 2 models in just this area. Jeff

Re: Mr
 

So don't know if you posted this to confirm my understanding or not? But if I am reading the chart correctly it says what I posted 12,500 for srw and 15,000 for drw

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

Thanks dudie..... :D

Re: SRW vs DRW
 

SRW tox max rating is 15k with a 23k max total vehicle weight, i bet you are way over both... (my title to my 05 f250 PSD CC 4x4 said it weighed 8300 lbs dry) you said your boat weighed 16k on the trailer, plus 8K plus for the truck, you are already over the GCVW....