[font='Verdana','sans-serif']Drw trucks dont have bigger brakes i have 2 2005 f-350 one a srw and one a drw they have no differences only rear end gears and two more tires. Having a drw will not help you stop....[/font]

 

I would say it was the driver who couldn't handle the situation.
He was simply following too close.

And I recommend the dually for that extra margin of safety.
I've had a blowout on the rear inner with my truck and didn't even feel it. Just heard it. I was able to, very safely, pull over to change out the tire.

 

A DRW WILL help you stop. The two extra tires add rolling inertia (angular momentum), which helps keep the wheels from locking up, and you have more rubber on the road to help keep them turning while slowing down.

ABS does fail from time to time, and I've found that many people have no clue how to brake with ABS in an emergency anyway, whether it's all-wheel or Ford's old RABS (rear-only).

Drive the two on an interstate in a 40-mph crosswind towing a long, boxy trailer, and you'll know the difference right away, especially if the road is wet (common in the Midwest in summer, those t-storms can be doozies).

Jason

 

I think cross winds are about the only advantage a dually as far as driving down the road. I dont agree with wet conditions. The more wieght you have down on the pavement per square inch the better. I hated my dually in the winter even loaded it was a pain to drive down the interstate on bad roads. My srw handles those conditions much better. Dont even think about getting on a muddy road with a dually.

 

Good discussion. As for the initial question, yes a dually is more stable for towing. No argument there, other than from the newbee.

While the GCWR might not be legally binding, I'd bet good money that if you seriously injured or killed someone while being over the GCWR that there would be some civil liability issues.

As for the CDL requirements, these are generally not necessary for private vehicles and RV's. I've heard different stories, but sort of hard to not require a CDL in one state but require it in another state, that's why the Feds have minimum standards for CDL requirements.

An even better and more important point is that anyone that is operating a vehicle over 10K GVW is required to have a Medical Examiner's ceritificate, regardless of needing a CDL. Once again, AFAIK, this applies to commercial vehicles, not private. But most of the newer 350\3500's fall into that category now.

IMO, the no requirements for private vehicles and CDL's is a crock. You get people that have never driven something larger than a Yugo now driving cross country in a pusher motor home with air brakes or even guys pulling 13,000# trailers all over who quite often have little to no experience with this size vehicle. Why are they any different than truckers?

 

The gentleman got a ticket for following too closely and overladen vehicle. The tire marks on the pavement showed an angular skid marks that started out heavey and fat, then lighten up and got thinner and then went dark again. I don't know skid length. of particular note, there were NO skid marks from the trailer.
No I did not sue him, i don't believe in it really as no one was seriously hurt in my vehicle.
I appreciate the views of all the folks on here, really opens the mind a bit about what I had taken for granted in the past in regards to srw vs drw trucks. this is a very good site with useful info. Thanks

 

GCVWR is legally binding, it is the manufacturers recommended GCVWR that is not. As long as your tow vehicle and trailer are rated for whatever wieght you have on them you are legal, and within all specifications. Even though I use to gross 42k with my hotshot rig using a f350 I could not exceed the gvwr of the pickup. Each vehicle is designed to carry its own wieght, in my case the pickup could haul 12000 and the trailer 30000. Each vehicle has its own brakes and suspension to handle the wieght.

 

Hey im not towing those HUGE 5 ths toy haulers etc but ive got a 04 F350 dually C/C 4x4 4:10 gear carrying a 10.5 ft camper and towing a 16 ft cargo trailer.It will sway if i get aggressive at hwy spd changing lanes,but others wise thats it for sway.Yes its a bitch to park as for buying tires i havent had to do it yet but i bought my wife new rubber from ProComp get 4 pay for 3 tire,if you do that for a dually you get a new spare plus 2 for free....8 tires for the price of 6...No complaints with the dually................Paul

 

I'm new to this section of FTE, I have a 2005 F-350 6.0 CC/SB 4x4. Yes, I have a CDL class A doubles/triples with tanks.

Knowing your legal GCVWR is only half the battle, you got to have a brain to drive that rig.

First, it's not a car, so leave some space between you and the car in front, so you can slow down and stop safely.

Second, when you do lane changes, it's not a corvette. Take it easy, and check your mirrors.

Third, when going down a grade, slow down to a speed that the truck can handle to stop if needed. I see too many people flying down the grade and losing control of their rigs.

And fourth, it's not a race! Take the time to get there and you will get there in one piece. Don't try to keep up with the cars that are going over 65 mph, you're just asking for trouble.

I've spent alot of time on the road only to see idiots drive their trucks/fivers like it's a sports car. That's where we run into problems out there.

My big rig was set up to haul double A and B trains with the GCVWR at #105,500. So, no I'm not driving a F-350 with a 5ver over the road everyday.