DRW or SRW?
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: McHenry, Il
Been said.....but.
It's pretty much been said here but just went through it. Had DRW since 01, bought cabin in upper WI. Last winter. In 14" of snow could barely get through with the DRW in low 4*4 and new tires. Neighbor came in with small Dakota with plow and cleaned it all up, no problem. The outside rear wheels really do "float" on the un-grooved snow. I have traded for a new SRW 350. Originally bought the DRW to pull 5th-sheel but never happened. Agree the DRW is better look, but for many reasons mentioned in this post, would not do again.
Good driving........
Good driving........
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Northeast GA
Originally Posted by MadMedic20
Plain and simple, if the wife is gonna drive it at all get the SRW. 
Nothing worse than the wife tearing off a fender. I don't think a DRW is any different a beast than a SRW. I can't fit my SRW F250 SC in a drive through anyways. Besides that fast food ***t will kill ya.
As for handeling or traction I have not noticed any difference. But I am comparing E350 SRW to E350 DRW ambulances. If anything the DRW handles better at high speeds.
Nothing worse than the wife tearing off a fender. I don't think a DRW is any different a beast than a SRW. I can't fit my SRW F250 SC in a drive through anyways. Besides that fast food ***t will kill ya. As for handeling or traction I have not noticed any difference. But I am comparing E350 SRW to E350 DRW ambulances. If anything the DRW handles better at high speeds.
My DRW will fit thru drive thrus, it's the diesel that is the bad thing. You have to turn the truck off to hear them. I just love my DRW! I can't even remember owning anything else!
Michelle
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 1
From: Apex, N.C.
It's nice when the wife can drive the dually. I like it when I can hook-up the 45' gooseneck, get in the back seat and sleep with no worries. It's really nice since she got her class "A" CDL's, now I can sleep in the big car. Handles it better than most guys I know. She don't even complain about the 18 speed in town.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
From: Shenandoah Mountains
Originally Posted by vmax
It's simple, "If it's not a dually it's just another four wheeler!"
And yes you are right as long as it is a SuperDuty you are in a real truck
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Northeast GA
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
New User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Iuka, MS
I was in your shoes a few years ago and decided to go with the F-350 DRW because I wanted it and didn't really need it. Personal opinion, I loved the way it drove and towed. I had some big loads behind it and it handled very well. I traded for a F-250 SRW in 2002 and also love it. Some of the post have good points. More aftermarket parts for a SRW in the lifting area but if you have a DRW whats the point in lifting. You have it for towing and not off roading. If you want the DRW get it. You will regret it if you don't at least try it once. If you are like me once the "gotta have it" wears off, you will go back and trade for a SRW. My wife loves to drive either. The DRW takes a little getting used to if you have never been in a truck of that size. Don't cut too short. Rotating the tires is not that difficult. Just switch side to side and you will get 40k easily.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
From: Iberia, USA
my dad and i are starting our own business and im thinkin bout gettin an 05 model this winter. i to had the same delima but decided that i will go with the dually for a couple reasons. we will be doing frequent towing and some cross country. also i think a flat bed would be more practical for us and i cant stand a flat bed on a srw truck. it just doesnt look right. right now my biggest decision is to get the v-10 or the powerstroke. i dont know if the diesels fuel mieage will make up the cost differance and im still not convinced the 6.0 has prooven itself to be as great as the 7.3. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 4
From: Western NC
This may not apply if we are talking about 6.0s, since mine is a 7.3, but if you get a dually with the 4.10 or 4.30 gears, you won't be getting that 18-22 MPG you read about on here sometimes. I think I could make mine get 15MPG, IF I kept my speed down more and tried to drive a little more conservatively. 14-14.5 is more typical for me and my crew cab long bed dually w/ 4.10s. I can ususally be found in that 5-10MPH OVER the speed limit range.........
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
From: Iberia, USA
yea, i know a dually will drop the fuel mileage noticeably. but if it drops a diesel it will drop a gasser also. ill get one with 3:73 gears or maybe 4:10s if i get the gasser. will just have to wait and see.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: MN
Cons: In the land of snow, alotta people just park a dually in the winter. The outer 2 tires wear much faster than the inner 2 tires. Rougher ride. Dually generally gets worse mileage.
Pros: STABILITY, HANDLING, WAY safer if a rear tire blows out! SRW blowouts end up BAD.
Just buy what you want the 1st time. I always wish I did it right the 1st time. When making a correction & buying what I originally wanted Always costs more money in the long run.
If you have lotsa money, then you can afford to just keep trying different things. Ain't it great to be an American!
Dennis
Pros: STABILITY, HANDLING, WAY safer if a rear tire blows out! SRW blowouts end up BAD.
Just buy what you want the 1st time. I always wish I did it right the 1st time. When making a correction & buying what I originally wanted Always costs more money in the long run.
If you have lotsa money, then you can afford to just keep trying different things. Ain't it great to be an American!
Dennis
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Flatland, Saskatchewan
The thing I love about my Dually is the Stability, with or without a load. Without a load its so stable feeling. Like nothing can affect it. Then you drop a 10 000 pound Fifth Wheel on there and its the same feeling. Stable. I used to have a SRW Superduty, then I upgraded to a dually because i started to tow a lot. Now I don't think I will ever go back...