Srw or Drw
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 3
From: Hanover, PA
Srw or Drw
Currently towing with a crew cab 8-ft bed 1 ton single wheel. Did anyone here go from a single wheel to a dually? Do you feel that it made a big difference in handling? Looking to maybe purchase a new truck next spring not sure if I really want to go with the dually or not, I know weight wise it's not required. I pull a Grand Design 311 BHS that grosses at 14,000 lb and 37 ft. I could probably be more talked into the Dw if they offered the wide track front end again in 350 as I don't want the 4:30 gears or 19 and 1/2-in wheels that come on the 450. I would likely order the dually with the same gearing as the single wheel 3.55 assuming they stay with that in 2020.
I will stick with the diesel probably will not consider the new 7.3 gas.
I will stick with the diesel probably will not consider the new 7.3 gas.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,640
Likes: 4,727
From: Itinerant
Dually will always out perform a srw while towing but there are trade offs.
I personally like the dually for the stability especially where I drag the 5th wheel in the off road conditions. Never really gave it much thought to steering, if it takes a little backing/ forward for maneuvering not the end of world.
The down side is if you do back road trips, might have to be planned a little more or be more daring where/ willing to go.
I personally like the dually for the stability especially where I drag the 5th wheel in the off road conditions. Never really gave it much thought to steering, if it takes a little backing/ forward for maneuvering not the end of world.
The down side is if you do back road trips, might have to be planned a little more or be more daring where/ willing to go.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Pros and cons both ways. Duallies add stability, but if you do a lot of in town driving in congested areas we found out dually to be a pain and our reality is even though we haul out truck camper a lot and our fiver at times, more often we are driving our truck with much lighter loads as in trips to Lowes or Home Depot and far more often around town then on the Interstate. it's just another of "it just depends" kind of question in my opinion. Thus we are happier with our SRW than we were with our DRW and the trade off in handling when towing doesn't seem to be much. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 12
Reconsider an F450 if you go with a dually. They turn tighter than even a short bed SRW and have great stability. I find it easier to park than a long bed SRW, especially with the 360* camera system. They are also fantastic backing a long fifth wheel. I daily drive mine.
I like the 19.5" tires. They are very strong, last a long time, and tow very well. The 4.30 gears make the truck more fun to drive, tow better, and for me, don't seem to impact fuel mileage much. My F450 is still very quiet, even at 75 MPH and averages 15 MPG when empty (14.5 in the winter, 15.5 in the summer).
I like the 19.5" tires. They are very strong, last a long time, and tow very well. The 4.30 gears make the truck more fun to drive, tow better, and for me, don't seem to impact fuel mileage much. My F450 is still very quiet, even at 75 MPH and averages 15 MPG when empty (14.5 in the winter, 15.5 in the summer).
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
I went from a 2017 F250 to a F450 and would not go back. The turning radius, 5th wheel stability, bigger breaks, and beefier axle far out weigh the unloaded in town cons. I find it much easier to park than the F250 with the wide track turning radius. Helps with backing the 5th wheel into tight spaces too.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 3
From: Hanover, PA
If the 450 could be had without a 4:30 rear and 19.5 rims I'd be sold easily. I don't really want to try and buy tires several times for those rims and the choices are severely limited, in comparison.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
They do last 60-70k miles compared to the Michelin's that were on my F250 that were almost done at 30k when I traded it.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 3
From: Hanover, PA
They may. But I also don't want anything close to a highway tire. I need to drive in snow and off road. I've put the Goodyear Kevlar tire on each of my trucks I've had over the past 10 years and like how they perform for me, and I've gotten about 50-60k out of those.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 107
From: Seattle area
There’s absolutely zero reason to fear 4.30 gears, too. Only people that don’t have a 450 say the 4.30 is too short. Everyone with one says that 4.30 is fine.
Just go test drive one. Find one with the 360 camera. Take it on the highway and pull it up to the speed limiter. It’s not screaming, it’s just driving along. Then take it to the Walmart parking lot and back it into a space. Then go back to the dealer and sign the papers. Swap out for 245 wide (or 265) M608Z and sell your new stock tires to help offset the cost. You won’t look back.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 294
Likes: 3
From: Hanover, PA
Appreciate the input on tires, I know there is some options out there. I do a pretty fair amount of unload miles so that's really my reasoning for wanted the 3.55 over a 4.20 if that's what the 20s end up having. Every mile counts a lot when you can only assume to get 15-18
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 107
From: Seattle area
Appreciate the input on tires, I know there is some options out there. I do a pretty fair amount of unload miles so that's really my reasoning for wanted the 3.55 over a 4.20 if that's what the 20s end up having. Every mile counts a lot when you can only assume to get 15-18
Banned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 359
Likes: 19
We moved from a SB CC SRW to LB CC DRW truck towing a Reflection 337RLS fifth wheel that specs out very much like yours (3,000 lbs. on the pin). LOTS of difference in how the rig handles while towing. As mentioned, there are trade-offs and it all depends on how much you tow. We are full-timers and put 12 - 14K per year on the truck and trailer, so the trade-offs were very much worth it for us. After we traded trucks, my wife started telling people I would let her buy more than 6 rolls of toilet paper...
Rob
Rob
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Steven Walch
6.7L Power Stroke Diesel
38
Mar 20, 2013 12:08 PM