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Old 07-04-2015, 05:49 PM   #1
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Ram 3500 SRW or DRW

My family is considering half-timing. If we go that route, we will be upgrading the truck and trailer. I have my eyes on a fifth wheel that is about 11k empty and 14.5k GVWR. I plan to buy a 2011+ Ram 3500, but I am still up in the air about whether I want SRW or DRW.

I know that a DRW will be a better tow experience all around. If towing was the only consideration, I would go that route. This will be the daily driver during the 6 months on the road as well. This means the following are concerns:

1) My wife has to deal with parking it at the grocery store
2) We will be using it on sight-seeing excursions
3) I'd like it to work as a hunting truck (i.e. off road on narrow trails)

I would be happy to hear real world experiences of recent-model Ram 3500 towing a similar weight. I know that the SRW is within specs for the weight, but I would like opinions about the tow experience.
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Old 07-04-2015, 06:05 PM   #2
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No Ram, but I tow a similar trailer with a SRW FORD F350. I prefer it over the dually I had before because of many of the reasons you stated.

My loaded tongue weight is 2800 lbs. That would be one thing you may need to know before making the final decision.
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Old 07-04-2015, 06:13 PM   #3
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Yes, I don't have an exact number, but I would expect the pin weight to be around 3000 lbs.
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Old 07-04-2015, 09:09 PM   #4
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We have the exact same unit as Norty1 and pull it with a 2012 Ram 3500 SRW. I have absolutely no problem towing it. We did not go with the DRW for several reasons. The DRW adds weight to the TV, we are on the road about 5 months of the year and this is our only vehicle, we live in snow country (200 inches plus average) and the DRW are terrible in the snow, the SRW Ram 3500 is difficult to find a place to park as is I can't imagine what a DRW would be like.
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Old 07-05-2015, 06:01 AM   #5
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I just basically looked at the same situation. Decided to go with the 2500 short bed. Got the slider hitch and had a slider on my last 2500. In 2 years of camping, never used the slide part once. If you are careful, don't have to use it so did not really need the long bed. By the way, you can get new for around $10,000 of MSRP. Dual increases your payload a little bit but gross overall towing weight does not increase. In fact, duals could decrease total towing capacity for your weight of your towed vehicle.
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Old 07-05-2015, 07:01 AM   #6
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I tow with a 2013 Ram Laramie Longhorn 3500 SRW with the Cummins. My fifth wheel weighs empty at 13,200 and loaded at 15,500. The SRW does great. I traded my 2011 Ram 3500 DRW because it wasn't user friendly as a daily driver...at least that's what mom told me...need I say more.

You will be fine with a SRW. Just make sure you have it optioned correctly for the weight of the unit your towing.
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Old 07-05-2015, 08:58 AM   #7
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A duallys rear generally isnt any wider than most 5ers or Travel trailers.....and really are about the same width as the towing mirrows.

I drive a crew cab f450 dually with a 13' utility box bed on it at work. 9 out of 10 times the parking issue is because of the length, not the width for me. I run my mirrows fully extended and I know that if my mirrows will clear, the bed sides will too. After driving it for several years, its really not an issue for me. Sure I wouldn't let my wife jump in it and go to the grocerie store , walmart, or through the bank, but I have no issue with it myself.

In the new future Im going to be upgrading my tired ole f250 up to a new Ram 3500, it will most definitely be a DRW crew cab. DRWs arent for everybody though....
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Old 07-05-2015, 05:45 PM   #8
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I screen shot this picture from a video I was watching earlier, it describes what I was talking about. If I would've done the shot a second earlier, it would've shown it better.....but the fenders on the DRW are the same width as the trailer(about 96") and the mirrows stick out just a bit more.



It's a Ford, but the Ram is basically the same stance.
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Old 07-05-2015, 06:09 PM   #9
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I had no problem towing, it was when going to the bank or drive thru.

For me, it was not a good daily driver, even though I put 65,000 miles on it before trading.
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Old 07-05-2015, 06:28 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norty1 View Post
I had no problem towing, it was when going to the bank or drive thru. For me, it was not a good daily driver, ...snip
Same here. Drove my brother's DRW Ford for part of a day. I bought a SRW.
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Old 07-05-2015, 06:34 PM   #11
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For sure, far as a daily driver goes the SRW will win hands down.

I still perfer a DRW myself though I also work construction and pull a lot heavier loads than our 5th wheel though.
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Old 07-05-2015, 06:41 PM   #12
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Well you asked about a ram,not a ford, if your not on a wranch than DRW is a waste of money so ours SRW is great,we have the crew cab,not a mega cab and the short wheel base,my wife drives it to work and store with out any problems ! it will pull a house down.. and great fuel mileage... not against fords i worked for and made my living working on all Fords ...
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Old 07-05-2015, 10:55 PM   #13
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I ordered a loaded up 2014 ram 3500 srw last year with plans on getting a toy hauler. My payload is 4074 per door sticker. I have a th now with 16500 gvwr and current camping weight of about 15500 with 3300 on the pin. I am 1300 miles into an east coast to Midwest and back trip and I already called the gm of the dealer and told him to figure out my trade in as i will be ordering a ram drw with aisin and 3.73's. The srw does good 99% of the time, but hitting rain and 40mph winds for 7 hours straight one day showed me I could use more truck.
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Old 07-05-2015, 10:56 PM   #14
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It is my dd also
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Old 07-06-2015, 06:25 AM   #15
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gtsum2, how much more truck is the DRW than the SRW?
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Old 07-06-2015, 06:45 AM   #16
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The 3.73 makes a huge difference in tow capacity. I really wish the SRW could be configured from the factory with 3.73.

Does anyone have experience changing out the gear ratio after market?
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Old 07-06-2015, 06:47 AM   #17
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You talking Ram? Fords 3.73 rear end is std on SRW's and 4.10 on DRW's.

edit: I don't mean to hijack the thread with talk about other than the op's original question. I think I'll just read and not add anymore confusing facts!
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Old 07-06-2015, 07:41 AM   #18
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What year ford has 3.73 SRW? The latest towing guide does not show that as an option. Really Ford is not even an option for me. According to Ford's towing guide the max payload is around 3k for SRW. Dodge is around 4.5k. I would not be comfortable with a payload below 4k. I have a family of 5 and a pin weight of around 3k to consider.
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Old 07-06-2015, 07:55 AM   #19
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Quote:
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What year ford has 3.73 SRW? .
My 06, see my signature has a payload of 3984 lbs and a rear ratio of 3.73.

The 2014 towing guide, pg 17 still shows the 3.73 on a crew cab.
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Old 07-06-2015, 04:19 PM   #20
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Id want at least a 3.73 gear ratio. I think Rams 3.42 ratio on the 2500s is a joke.

I actually prefer 4.10s myself.

Unless Im mistaken( could be) but I think Fords current standard gear ratio is 3.73 for both DRW and SRW for 2015. Unless I over looked it, 4.10s arent available. If you pick a new f350 DRW max tow package (basically old f450), you get 4.30 gears...which in my opinion is a bit low geared for interstate use, especially empty.

1 other thing, Ram has a bit better warranty on the 2015 diesels.

Sorry If I made that confusing.
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