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Old 06-17-2019, 03:06 PM   #1
hguilford
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Do I really need a dually?

I have compiled a detailed list of pros and cons for buying a new TV with DRW, and for one with SRW. Looking at the 2019 Silverado 3500HD models with 6.6L Duramax diesel, both are plenty capable of pulling my Keystone Avalanche A320RS. Prices are very similar so that's not a big factor. I could always flip a coin but that's not how I work. I will analyze this to death, read hundreds of blogs and posts, use lots of paper making computations and calculations, and run various algorithms, to come up with the best option (mostly said in jest). I appreciate and value the responses and advice from the members of this forum but would rather hear from those who have faced this dilemma. I want to know if there is any valid way to come to a conclusion, other than personal preference. Thanks, and happy camping!
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Old 06-17-2019, 03:13 PM   #2
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I don't own a dually and will defer to those that respond but -

Remember that the numbers (weights) can and will definitively tell you if you do in fact need a dually. It's more than a personal preference. A Silverado 3500 SRW with the Duramax can assuredly tow it but can it "carry" it safely? The only way to know is to know the numbers from the truck you intend to buy inside the driver door. The Avalanche has a gvw of 15k so there's the starting point and remember to give yourself a nice cushion between the actual load placed in/on the TV and its payload/gawr. Good luck in your pursuit.
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Old 06-17-2019, 06:37 PM   #3
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Having towed a 1996 Jayco 323RKS with both a SRW and a DRW, I will NEVER tow another fiver with anything but a dually. My personal story:

2009, in Missouri on I40 eastbound. Just past 65 and doing 67 MPH ( just under flow of traffic). Blew the DS rear inner tire, and just slowed and pulled over. If I had a SRW, I don’t really think the outcome would have been the same knowing now what I didn’t know back then.

When I bought the Jayco, the tag in the kitchen cabinet said it weighed 8975 and 1800 kingpin. When I starting looking for my current fiver, I ended up at a Jayco dealer who told me that trailer was more like 11,500 EMPTY and well into 2200 kingpin.

Take it for what it’s worth, I like the idea of 4 feet on the road and if one “shoe” falls off the other 3 will hold the weight.
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Old 06-17-2019, 08:56 PM   #4
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Well that 5er has a 15,000# GVWR, it will far more relaxing with the DRW, than a SRW.
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Old 06-17-2019, 09:01 PM   #5
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Do you plan to fulltime or extended travel? If so you will be at the max, possibly over the GVW of that rv before you know it. Yes , the SRW will/can move it down the road, but from my dually experience it will do much more stable feeling.
Back to fulltiming, chances are if doing so it won't take long before you're looking a bigger 5th wheels, if you get the dually you're good to go.
DW told me that if we were going to fulltime after retirement that I better get all the truck I need for whatever 5th wheel she wanted & don't regret having a dually as a daily driver for the past 14 years, 10 of which fulltiming.
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Old 06-17-2019, 09:13 PM   #6
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Will add that the check the payload on some 2019 Chevys DRW, as they only have a a 13,025# GVWR. Ford and Ram both have 14,000 GVWR, our 2016 Ram Laramie has a 5,411# Payload, you should find some in a like range.
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Old 06-17-2019, 09:23 PM   #7
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Pulling 14,550 is no problem with my f350 srw. No fan of a dually or long bed. However the new 5er wifey had to have exceeds the payload and weight limit of a srw . I ordered a f350 dually last month.
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Old 06-18-2019, 05:39 AM   #8
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I have an Avalanche 321RS with a DRW F350. I could have gotten the SRW and would have been very close to the limits, with DRW I don't have that issue.

Having towed different fivers with a Dodge 2500, F250 and the F350 DRW, I find the DRW much less stressful going down the road.
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Old 06-18-2019, 06:18 AM   #9
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My Alpine has a GVWR of 15,500. I pull with a F350 DRW and love the stability. If I had it to do again I’d order a F450 with just the stuff I needed so I could take advantage of the better turning radius.
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Old 06-18-2019, 06:40 AM   #10
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My Alpine has a GVWR of 15,500. I pull with a F350 DRW and love the stability. If I had it to do again I’d order a F450 with just the stuff I needed so I could take advantage of the better turning radius.


Yes the turning is noticeably better. The payload on a 450 is less which makes no sense to me.
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Old 06-18-2019, 06:48 AM   #11
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I am in the dually class also. I pull #16400 with #4100 pin weigh. I personally would not pull with a swr.
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Old 06-18-2019, 07:13 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hguilford View Post
I have compiled a detailed list of pros and cons for buying a new TV with DRW, and for one with SRW. Looking at the 2019 Silverado 3500HD models with 6.6L Duramax diesel, both are plenty capable of pulling my Keystone Avalanche A320RS. Prices are very similar so that's not a big factor. I could always flip a coin but that's not how I work. I will analyze this to death, read hundreds of blogs and posts, use lots of paper making computations and calculations, and run various algorithms, to come up with the best option (mostly said in jest). I appreciate and value the responses and advice from the members of this forum but would rather hear from those who have faced this dilemma. I want to know if there is any valid way to come to a conclusion, other than personal preference. Thanks, and happy camping!
Both will work! The question is what percent of the time are you going to tow the 5th wheel? If that is a low number, then a SRW makes sense. And you will not have this issue.
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Old 06-18-2019, 07:27 AM   #13
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As far as DRW hip width is concerned, didn't they used to (still?) make narrow duallys with the wheels tucked in using shorter rear axles? Is the wider rear end an intentional design for stability thing or are they just tacking a set of wheels to the outside of a SRW and adding fender flairs to get the extra payload?
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Old 06-18-2019, 07:44 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by rjrelander View Post
As far as DRW hip width is concerned, didn't they used to (still?) make narrow duallys with the wheels tucked in using shorter rear axles? Is the wider rear end an intentional design for stability thing or are they just tacking a set of wheels to the outside of a SRW and adding fender flairs to get the extra payload?
Chassis Cabs have straight frame rails and shorter axles. The SRW and DRW trucks use the same frame and therefore the wheels of the DRW have to stick out farther to clear the wider rear frame. Chris
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Old 06-18-2019, 07:58 AM   #15
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Chassis Cabs have straight frame rails and shorter axles. The SRW and DRW trucks use the same frame and therefore the wheels of the DRW have to stick out farther to clear the wider rear frame. Chris
Ahh, that makes sense. They must make "standard-looking" modified pickup boxes with extra wheel well width to drop on the chassis cab frames. I know I've seen a couple but never put much thought into what they really were.
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Old 06-18-2019, 11:04 AM   #16
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Yes the turning is noticeably better. The payload on a 450 is less which makes no sense to me.

I’m told it has to do with the heavier frame and other misc suspension items. That’s why I’d like one very similar to my 350 XLT. I’d hope to have a payload of about 5000 vice my 5600. Had a friend that had one and this is where his came in.
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Old 06-18-2019, 12:41 PM   #17
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I bought a GMC 3500HD Duramax Denali 2 weeks ago. When shopping around I also (briefly) looked at the SRW (otherwise comparably spec'd). The SRW had 3500# payload, the DRW had 4500# payload. The DRW was also an 8ft bed (which helps with stability).

You will want to have that extra 1000# of payload for sure with pretty much anything more than a modest mid-profile fifth wheel. Also, always nice to have the truck you will need in the future as well, not just what you need now. The DRW is the only way you wont have those regrets. When driving down the road, the extra width is completely in your head, your mirrors will still stick out further and I am guessing you have never broke one of those off while driving down the road. The additional width also helps when stabilizing a lot vertical force going right on top of the rear axle. I would recommend that regardless, make sure you get a truck that has the OEM puck system installed - I honestly do not know why it is not just standard on the HD/SD trucks.

We had started out all of this (new truck and trailer 2 weeks ago) looking at a mid-profile fifth wheel but ended up getting a nice full profile one. If I had gotten the SRW, we couldn't have done that and would have been stuck with the smaller trailer and I would have been living in regret.
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Old 06-18-2019, 01:30 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by cookinwitdiesel View Post
I bought a GMC 3500HD Duramax Denali 2 weeks ago. When shopping around I also (briefly) looked at the SRW (otherwise comparably spec'd). The SRW had 3500# payload, the DRW had 4500# payload. The DRW was also an 8ft bed (which helps with stability).

You will want to have that extra 1000# of payload for sure with pretty much anything more than a modest mid-profile fifth wheel. Also, always nice to have the truck you will need in the future as well, not just what you need now. The DRW is the only way you wont have those regrets. When driving down the road, the extra width is completely in your head, your mirrors will still stick out further and I am guessing you have never broke one of those off while driving down the road. The additional width also helps when stabilizing a lot vertical force going right on top of the rear axle. I would recommend that regardless, make sure you get a truck that has the OEM puck system installed - I honestly do not know why it is not just standard on the HD/SD trucks.

We had started out all of this (new truck and trailer 2 weeks ago) looking at a mid-profile fifth wheel but ended up getting a nice full profile one. If I had gotten the SRW, we couldn't have done that and would have been stuck with the smaller trailer and I would have been living in regret.
2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Diesel DRW (Crew Cab/8 Ft bed/OEM Puck System/Curt A25 Hitch)
Something to think about Cookinwitdiesel's 2019 GMC Denali 3500 DRW only has a 13,025 GVWR. Both Ford and Ram have 14,000# GVWR, our 2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW has a payload of 5,411, this is with the heaver Aisin auto, and factory Puck system. So out the door our Ram has 1,000# more payload.
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Old 06-18-2019, 01:59 PM   #19
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Both will work! The question is what percent of the time are you going to tow the 5th wheel? If that is a low number, then a SRW makes sense. And you will not have this issue.
Well if the dude got his rear tire next to the curb, it would be inside the line.

That is a nice looking 3rd gen Ram DRW. It is all in getting use to the size, it is only as big as your mind makes it. We had this discussion when you moved up from your 2nd Gen reg cab LB, to the Crew Cab SB. Now you can see I also upgraded from our 2nd gen Quad Cab LB to a 4th gen Crew Cab LB, DRW. DW wife drives without issue.

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Old 06-18-2019, 01:59 PM   #20
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Yep, the GMs are the lowest rated in the pack for a month or two longer (the new 2020s are on par). Still enough for most scenarios though without issue.
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