so, if you have to choose between 2 things you don't need..

2008, 4x2 DRW or 4X4 SRW, which way do you lean? same price (without negotiating), DRW has 45k miles, SRW has 95k miles.

how do you decide. last 4x4 I had, 13 yrs ago, I didn't like the drive much.
don't need the extra lift up.

so, I think I slide to the 4x2, regardless..

Sam

 

sdetweil: Here is my info and I hope it helps you to make a decision one way or another.

I tow up to 15K, fifth wheel trailer, 36' on a monthly basis for long distances. I installed air bags on my rear axle to help with the handling and bounce and they are the best thing since they put sliced bread in a bag. My F250 4X4 handles the trailer and weight better than the Silverado 3500 dually I had before this truck. I have not had any instability issues, even in stormy weather or winding through two lane state highways. In fact, it mates to my truck better than the 28' travel trailer I pull to go camping with.

In my opinion you would be fine with a SRW unless your tongue weight exceeds 6K, which is what the load range E tires are rated for. My 36' fifth wheel trailer loaded to the gills does not go over 6500 lbs. on the tongue weight. It does have triple 7K axles which do help with the weight. I don't know much about car haulers, so you should find out if the car hauler loaded will press you in the 7K range on your rear axle.

Also, my current F250 is the first 4X4 I have used for towing and I have to say that the package as a whole must be a benefit to making it a hoss of a tow vehicle. Far and away the most stable truck I have ever driven. Maybe the extra weight on the front end is what does it? I don't really have any facts, just my gut feeling.

Crazy, the Silverado's I have had in the past were a 2500HD 4X2 with the 8.1 gas and the Allison of course. The mirrors did extend and were o.k. but the big "fish eye" on our new SD's makes a huge difference. The 3500 Duramax we had did have power extend mirrors but they are about the size that Ford puts on the Expedition. Insanely in-adequate and darn near useless. No fish eye either. We also have a GMC 2500HD with the 8.1 gas and the mirrors are the same, barely adequate for a trailer of any size unless it's a flatbed.

I agree with you on the Torqshift being nice, locking up in higher gears and staying there on medium to small grades. Very pleasant to drive all day and not have to pay attention to a hyperactive transmission. I do dream about the ability to lock out over drive though. Maybe the folks at Spartan can work something up for the TCM? When loads get really heavy I would very much like to turn O/D off and just run a 2K RPM when i'm in the hills.

Fun thread Crazy, Lets get sdetweil fixed up with an awesome truck too!

 

call me Sam,

so you added bags to assist the springs, vs using the heavier springs in the upper level model. (f350).

how often do you use 4x4 mode? I assume this is non-towing mode only.

now, given the same price, why add the non-used 4x4 equipment to the wear list.

I've looked for a 4x2 F250, but they all seem to be gas only.

yes, mirrors are one of the cool things I want... my wife HATES adjusting mirrors.

Sam

 

based upon your location you probably would not need 4x4. But up where I am and where I go camping, these are heavy trucks so 4x4 does come in handy for me. And as stated above the extra stability at 70 mph is good.

 

Sam, I use the air bags for support so my truck rides level with the fifth wheel trailer in tow. The truck dropped more than we thought it would, just did'nt know at the time. My next truck will probably be a 350SRW. The bags do work great, infinitely adjustable and when I don't have a trailer I'm riding on 250 springs instead of 350 springs. Not a big deal but it is a benefit.

I don't use 4X4 much, rarely with a trailer on the road. Around the yard, chasing firewood on friends farms/property, pulling my camper around various fields or the occasional need to turn around in an open pasture. I like having it. I am not trying to push it on you, my feeling is that the extra weight in the drivetrain and suspension helps when towing heavy, that's why I offered that opinion to you.

I'm sure a 4X2 that you like will be great, not a deal breaker if you know what I mean.

 

absolutely didn't feel any push.. just making sure I understand the uses.
I wonder how the ride differs.. there is a 4x4 DRW down the street too (King Ranch of course) I should probably drive that one too.. (don't want the rear seat buckets tho).

Sam

 

I'm a northern boy (Illinois,Michigan,NY) transplanted, so I understand snow, mud, ...

Sam

 

As far as handling, I tend to think that the 4x2 front end would be advantageous to the solid front axle. I've driven E-series vans with the Twin I-beam front end, and to me the front end seemed more connected and less hesitant to react to steering input.

Compared to the F150 I used to drive, this thing handles like a limp noodle. Not that I'm complaining, as I've always thought this is the price we pay for HD.

Part of my aversion to DRW is that i use my truck as a daily driver, not just to tow with. I'm already longer than most parking spots, being wider than most would just be an aggravation to me. Also, the rear axle has less than 3,000 lbs on it with the truck empty, meaning you have around 3-4K lbs legal, safe capacity on that axle. For towing two cars I couldn't imagine needing more capacity than that, as I don't think you'd be going over 13-14K lbs gross trailer weight.

And, as ruschejj has posted numerous times, a SRW truck is easily capable of more weight than that. Just depends on how much you want to push it, I guess...

And ruschejj, I've looked at Firestone Ride-rite airbags for a couple years now. I've been sold on the concept for that long, but I don't want to spend the money if I won't use them often. Right now even loaded up to the 10,000 lb GVW on my trailer, I'm nowhere close to needing them. But if I had a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer I'd get them in an instant!

 

thanks.. according to the towing capacity charts(for 2008), the 250 4x2 SRW is 12500 for bumper and 5th wheel is the same for 250/350 4x2 SRW. (15700)
the 350 4x2 DRW (15000) adds some capacity for bumper pull, but not for 5th wheel (15700). 4x4 in both cases is 500 less for 5th wheel (15200 vs 15700), same for bumper pull.

So, if I could find a 250 4x2 6.4L SRW it would fit the bill.

so far, all I've found are 4x4s..

I too think about the DRW width. 12500 bumper pull is WELL above my 6600 current trailer.

Sam

 

I have a GMC 1988 Crew Cab DRW 4x2 with a 454 that passes everything but a gas station on the road. I like the stability of the DRW if you are traveling long distances. Singles get a little wiggly but tire sidewall ratings play a part of that feeling on SRW.

Installed a set of Firestone Ride Rites on the Bro in Laws F-350 DRW that pulls a 4 season goose neck camper, he loves them. Air up with the camper and air down when unloaded. With out air bags he would get a rocking/pushing effect over rough roads.

 

We can map the standard shifting or tow/haul shifting in any manner or fashion you like at any HP level, including alterations to the tow/haul downshifting, ect.

 

Hi all. Proving once more that opinions are like ......well you know the rest. I pull a 16,500 lb 5er. I had a 4x4 F250 SRW when I bought the trailer. Had been pulling a 12,000 lb 5er with the 4x4 (7.3liter). I spent a good bit of money trying to make the F250 SRW truck bigger, and I did. Had the same air bag set up talked about above, and I had Rickson wheels and 19.5 inch commerical grade tires. And the truck pulled the 16,500 lb 5er OK most of the time. But I never got totally comfortable with it. There were highway curves and traffic situations where I felt on the edge. I have been a staunch believer of the SRW and I know that the difference between the F250 and the F350 SRW is very slight. But, when I hooked up the new F350 DRW to that 5er and put her on the highway angels started singing, trumpets started blaring and I had a truck drivers orgasam. I swear it was night and day better. I'm still not crazy about driving the Dually to go touring after we set up the 5th wheel but I'm getting used to it. We just finished a 5000 mile 5 week trip and I am sold on the truck, I would not go back. I swear, if you want to tow a heavy trailer, 15K or over you owe it to yourself to drive the F350 DRW 4.30 RA and see what a relaxed comfortable tow feels like. Just MHO

 

thanks.. I talked to some other auto haulers today with a dually.. they haul a triple slant trailer with 3 cars and said the same.. SRW was OK, DRW was a joy.

Sam

 

I have a f350 SRW and the other day i help a friend out. he need to haul some metel to the scrap yard. so i hook my 25 ft gooseneck trailor, after getting there we had to weighed it when leaving the scale said i weigh 14,900 truck and trailor. after that i started thinking i haul my tractor that weighs 10500, and my exevator that weighs almost 13,000. with them on it u dont even know they are back there. The truck tow it great even though im over loaded.

 

well, I went and bought the F350, DRW, 4x2, CC..

how can I tell if the fuel filters have been replaced recently?

dealer just changed the oil & filter.. not sure on the fuel filters