New Ram 4WD Crewcab longbed. Should it be SRW or DRW?

[skeeter_ca]

Just bought a Forest River 36mbq 5th wheel. It is 42ft long and gross weight is 14415lbs. I am looking at 2020ish Ram 3500 crewcabs 4WD with a long bed. I cannot decide whether it should be SRW or DRW. Both have more than sufficient load carrying capacity needed. I would prefer the SRW but can anyone give me a good reason to go with a DRW?

skeeter

 

[CharlesinGA]

People in the know will say for that weight, you will be marginal for the handling on a SRW. DRW will be much more stability, however, driving that truck with "hips" all the time can be an aggravation.

You are looking at a pin weight of between 2500 lbs (20%) and 3500 lbs (25%). Look at the PAYLOAD of those trucks and consider all the weight of people and gear you will be carrying in the truck, plus the weight of the hitch (200 lbs or more depending on what and how its mounted), and the pin weight. Towing capacity means nothing, its payload that is important.

WARNING, look at actual door sticker payload numbers on the truck you are looking at, Do not go with website generic numbers, which are for stripped out gas models. Heavily optioned trucks weigh a lot more than bottom line trucks do. This cuts into the payload numbers.

Are either of the trucks set up with factory pucks? Are these both the HO motors with the Asin transmission? or the standard engine with the 68RFE transmission? Do both trucks have the towing mirrors? (they are NOT part of the tow package on any brand, separate item)

Charles.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Good advice from Charles.

A 3500 crew cab longbed is gonna be a BIG truck regardless of SRW vs DRW, so I'd probably go with the DRW unless I had some solid reason for the SRW, e.g. the wide DRW hips won't fit in the garage

 

[Derby6]

With no research, I'd bet that Fiver will max or exceed SRW payload? That being said if you are not traveling far or often, I would say you could get away with a SRW.
However, if you are traveling far and often, I would say you want/need the DRW. You probably could get away with SRW, but I would lean DRW.

My unit is 37 1/2 and when I was looking it was hard to find one with acceptable pin weight for a SRW which is what I wanted. Everything in the 40' range "Legally" required a DRW.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Really? Can you please show us this law where it is "legally" required to tow a 40' 5er with a DRW?

 

[MN Blue Skies aka Max]

First I'm not even close to being an expert on this subject but I can tell you about our experiences.

We have a SRW 3500 RAM 4WD with a crew cab and a long box. It's a BIG Truck.

We love our truck and are happy with our decision but our experience is that It can be hard to find parking spots for this truck even though it's an SRW. (Perhaps we can share some tips on finding parking for an "oversized" truck?)

There have been many times we've been glad that we didn't choose a dually. One recent example... we just got back from a trip that included the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Very narrow roads.

I can not help with the load carrying capacity. I leave that tech stuff to our experts here on the Forum. (Respectfully sometimes referred to as the weight police.)

We're happy with our truck performance pulling our 38' 5th wheel. Perhaps a dually with your 42' would be a better option for you??? The experts here on the RV Forum can help you.

 

[Derby6]

Really? Can you please show us this law where it is "legally" required to tow a 40' 5er with a DRW?

Legally meaning withing payload capacity with the 5ver pin weight and everything else in the truck.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Legally meaning withing payload capacity with the 5ver pin weight and everything else in the truck.

Right, but there is no "legal" requirement that a private vehicle adhere to those ratings. Commercial vehicles are subject to regulations concerning weights, driving license, etc. but private vehicles are typically exempt from those (check your state laws).

 

[CharlesinGA]

I think that is why he put the word  legally in quote marks.

Charles

 

[Derby6]

Right, but there is no "legal" requirement that a private vehicle adhere to those ratings. Commercial vehicles are subject to regulations concerning weights, driving license, etc. but private vehicles are typically exempt from those (check your state laws).

kind of confusing I guess.
Yes commercial vehicles (even pickups) that are used commercially with a DOT# have to adhere as they can/will be checked at scales. Special licenses only required when you get bigger. (This could include large pickups with BIG trailers)
Private most likely will never be be checked, BUT if you are involved in an accident and they find you are exceeding your vehicle weight ratings you risk tickets, fines, and potential lawsuits because you exceeded those ratings. If it were "Legal" they could not ticket you.
I guess it's possible to get ticketed without an accident, but that is not very likely. Would take a zealous, knowledgeable, bored, cop or DOT official...LOL

 

[Gr8bawana]

You're just speculating on what COULD happen.
I've asked many times on various RV forums for someone to show an example where a recreational RV was stopped, inspected, weighed and ticketed for being over the GVWR.
It does not happen.

 

[poohbear]

I can say honestly I towed a Jayco real close to that weight for several years with SRW but when I got a dually it was so much easier on me towing since the rv wasn't close to the capacity of the truck.
ive had a dually since 2012 and just don't see y'alls problem parking. Think "small" when driving, plus you might go off the deep end like us and get a bigger rv . Which leads to a bigger truck

 

[Derby6]

You're just speculating on what COULD happen.
I've asked many times on various RV forums for someone to show an example where a recreational RV was stopped, inspected, weighed and ticketed for being over the GVWR.
It does not happen.

We 100% agree but your coming across as argumentative.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Private most likely will never be be checked, BUT if you are involved in an accident and they find you are exceeding your vehicle weight ratings you risk tickets, fines, and potential lawsuits because you exceeded those ratings. If it were "Legal" they could not ticket you.

It's true that being overweight or under-licensed or negligent in maintenance can be used as evidence against you in a civil suit, but the definition of illegal is that a law or regulation has been violated and that doesn't apply to weights on a private vehicle. A LEO might right a ticket for reckless driving if severely bad judgment was in use and death or serious injury resulted, but most LEOs (and prosecutors) would leave the issue to the civil attorneys to argue.

 

[Derby6]

Well as you stated it varies by state--Never know which ones you will be traveling thru. I only have seen 1 Pick-up pulling a 5ver ticketed for being overweight, but that was in another country--Canada.
Funny as it was a trucker friend of mine that I escorted heavy hauls with from time to time. He was taking his 1 ton dodge and fiver to the Lower 48.

 

[Gr8bawana]

We 100% agree but your coming across as argumentative.

Pot calling the kettle black

 

[John From Detroit]

I have heard of RVers here in the USA being cited for violation of the length or weight laws BUT only in the event of a crash... Normally the police do not break out tape measures for Bumper-Bumper length (Just for skid marks) or call the Motor Carrier officers with their scales.

But I've heard of it happening when they had their tape measures out for the skid marks already.

 

[RayIN]

Just bought a Forest River 36mbq 5th wheel. It is 42ft long and gross weight is 14415lbs. I am looking at 2020ish Ram 3500 crewcabs 4WD with a long bed. I cannot decide whether it should be SRW or DRW. Both have more than sufficient load carrying capacity needed. I would prefer the SRW but can anyone give me a good reason to go with a DRW?

skeeter

Driving stability is 2x better with a dually. However, either truck means you'll have to park on the outskirts of parking lots where space is more open. Just consider the walk to/from the mall your exercise for the day.
I had a 2002 K3500 Chevy Duramax 4wd, CC, LB dually, towing a 40' 15,500# Grand Junction 5er. That setup worked great for the 8 years we owned that 5er.
Keep in mind Load range E tires are the sturdiest tires available for a 1T pickup. That will likely be the limiting factor for a SRW, @ 80PSI inflation it will ride harsh when the 5er is parked in a CG. With a dually 55PSI was the listed rear pressure for towing that 5er, 80 was listed for steering tires.