3400RL Towing questions

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by Montana Sky

Jim, I have an SOB that I traded my 3400RL in for and the GVWR of my new rig is 16,500lbs. I am single and with my coach loaded for full time living, my kingpin weighs in approx at 3400+/- lbs which is in the range with what some owners of current 3400RL's are experiencing. I'll admit I have been towing my 3400RL, horse trailers, and stock trailers with SRW trucks dating before I joined the MOC in 2004. I have been a supporter of the SRW does fine - no need for a dually up until November of 2012. That being said, in December I traded my 2011 Ram 3500HD SRW in for a 2012 3500HD DRW due to the weight of my current coach. My SRW with the coach hooked, full of fuel, and myself, was flat out on the overloads on the rear end. I noticed that the steering wheel felt "light" due to how low the rear end sagged while hooked. Did the truck do the job, yes. Did I feel that I was an extreme hazard on the road, no. However, when I looked at the numbers and realized that my current coach is not going to be my last coach, as well as, looking at just how far my coach was pushing the SRW truck, I pulled the trigger and upgraded the truck to be well within the ratings of the truck. If you are not a full timer and going to be on the road all the time, I would say the SRW 1 ton will do the job. If you are going to be on the road often and suspect you are going to be near the GVWR of the coach, I'd suggest going with the dually. I don't foresee that fifth wheels are going to get any lighter as time goes forward - especially with 1 ton dually trucks now claiming 30,000 lbs of towing capacity. At the end of the day the decision is yours, do your research and pick the truck that you are most comfortable with. I admit the dually is not as easy to park in tight lots, but even with my SRW I always parked as far out as possible and walked in. I hate door dents and scratches on my trucks due to the ignorance or lack of concern for my property by someone else. The biggest down fall I have noted is not being able to run my dually to an automatic car wash. Each truck requires compromise - it is up to each owner to select which compromises they are willing or not willing to accept.

Absolutely agree with everything said. On our fourth 350 superduty, and towed fine with the first three SRWs. Now on our first DRW, and wish I had changed to a DRW years ago. There is a difference!

[jlb27537]

Hello Group,

I want to Thank Everyone for all the input.

I'll be buying a DRW.

Jim

[DarMar]

quote:Originally posted by jlb27537

Hello Group,

I want to Thank Everyone for all the input.

I'll be buying a DRW.

Jim

You have made an informed decision and I agree as well. ALL 3500 trucks are a pain to use for everyday chores but after having two duallys since our SRW we will never go back to a SRW as long as we are pulling this type of trailer around. Keep us posted!!!

[RickW]

I think you will be happier in the long run with the DRW.

For the record this past spring my 3400RL came in @ 3200#(avg) at each wheel and 2900# on the pin. That includes Washer/Dryer, 2nd A/C, MorRyde I/S, Level-Up and everything in the trailer to be just as comfortable as we are at home in our sticks & bricks. The only thing missing is generator and that is mounted on the truck.

[gkidsdlite]

After reading thru all the posts here the one thing that sticks out is that no one mentioned anything about braking capacity! I have been trying to decide between the f450 and f350 DRW and according to the info I have gathered the f450 has a 2 inch larger diameter rotor than the f350! I know you were talking mostly about weight capacity but this may be another consideration for you if you plan on doing any mountain driving! I do not know about any differences in GM or Dodge braking capacities but they are prob the same or close between heavier duty trucks! Just a thought.

[jwedell]

If you're under the Gross combination rating the brakes should be fine. The trailer brakes take care of stopping the trailer. The only time you have to worry is if the trailer brakes fail. If you're going really fast I don't think the F450 can stop you in time. Just my humble opinion.

[mazboy]

i had a 3400 and my chevy 2006 2500hd worked. but, in the future i'd prefer a 3500.

my wife hates drw and i'd never buy one, to much hassel fore driving around in the city.

[mhs4771]

I guess I just don't get it. All the talk about Duallies being a hassle to drive around. Remember those fenders or hips don't stick out any farther than your towing mirrors when they are pushed into the normal non-towing position. I have yet to find a drive thru I can't fit through, some only have a couple of inches on each side, but so far since Jan 2005 (first dually) I haven't hit anything with the fenders or any thing else. 2005 was also an extended cab long box. So I think you guys should be ashamed of your selves, if a woman can drive a dually everyday and you're worried about it.

[bigskyjimmy]

COME ON Michelle and ANN I gotta agree with mazboy MY wife would NEVER and I mean NEVER drive my new dually it just intimitates her too much, yeah I know the fenders only stick out as far as the mirrors but just the shear Size of the thing scares her ..she would at least drive my SRW every once in a while without a problem she is just used to sports cars and midsize cars or SUV's like alot MEN and Women, it is not that Women can't it is just most women never want to or just that is what the "HUBBY" does, Also I am a retired truck driver so they are no big deal to me But DRW are more of a pain in the butt to drive around town

[Recumbent]

Mazboy hope you guys are doing well down in Mazatlan. We go through drive-throughs all the time, looking right at my rear view mirror while pulling forward close enough to hand out cash, get change, and grab food in a bag. Then when pulling away we have a wide angle mirro to see fenders and tires. We go slow and if someone don't like it they can just learn a little patients. We do park in the back of the parking lots and gives us a chance for exercise while walking and observing other shoppers etc. The real problem comes for a dually owner when we are at busy Restaurants and parking in the dark, busy National Parks parking lots, and many other under-sized parking stalls like Miami Internation and Hoover Dam parking garage just to name a few, where we have stuck out all over and can many times just barely make the turns. We pulled with a 2010 F250 that met all the specs for limits for our present rig, but new we would eventually upgrade to a larger 5er so we got a dually, and we are soon to change to a larger Montana without worries about weights.

[Fire5er]

Had a SRW F350 PSD for 3 of the 6 years we have had our 2007 3400RL, and then got the 2011 F350 DRW PSD...what a difference. Much more stable ride and tow, much more power (but that’s the difference between the old 6.0 and the new 6.7 PSD), just much more FUN! Get the DRW and don’t look back.

[Recumbent]

A bit wordy tonight, but I do recommend the dually over the SRW after having towed with both. Also, Fire5er that Red F350 is a good looking truck, we got very similar in white based on the trade numbers at the time, but I think red trucks are the best.

[Fire5er]

Thanks Recumbent, order that red truck from the plant. Love it so far.

[snfexpress]

Kat drives our dually crew cab 4x4 all the time. We leave our mirrors in the extended position. Rule of thumb is that if mirrors don't fit, tubs won't.

[TLightning]

jlb27537...There is a great deal of information in this thread, and much of it is incorrect. You are going to have to figure this problem out your self. Work the numbers, it's not hard.

[Mynabird]

quote:Originally posted by snfexpress

Kat drives our dually crew cab 4x4 all the time. We leave our mirrors in the extended position. Rule of thumb is that if mirrors don't fit, tubs won't.

Agree! I drive the dually all the time! Guess I just like the challenge AND the looks from people when an "old woman" climbs out!

It is looooong.. But, IMHO, the benefits outweigh the cons. I drove our 05 SRW "3/4 Ton" (old school words!) Dodge with or without the trailer. Also drove City busses, 3/4 Ton '76 GMC window van (family car) for 18 years. Learned to drive '85 short-bed, 4 speed Datsun age 37. That being said, if she wants to go somewhere and that is the only means of transportation, then it can be done. IMHO . Have a fantastic day!

[Chip]

Our pin weight loaded runs 2900 to 3100.
Our empty pin weight runs about 2400.

Get disk brakes and braking problem is solved.

Chip

[RJI47]

I tow mine with an F-350 SWD and it's more than adequate to do the job.

[jlb27537]

quote:Originally posted by TLightning

jlb27537...There is a great deal of information in this thread, and much of it is incorrect. You are going to have to figure this problem out your self. Work the numbers, it's not hard.

Tom, You are correct, I have done the numbers. DRW for me. It is your decision as to how much extra capacity you need, or want to have. OR do you want to be at 100% capacity when you tow. Going east down from Eisenhower Tunnel or east down Monarch Pass in Co. You will appreciate the extra capacity.

If you get on the back roads like I do, you will understand.

Been there, done that.





Jim

[RickW]

My wife drives the Volvo with trailer, no problem. Granted it is not our run around vehicle. The ability to have the Jeep is one of the major factors for going the direction we did. As for brakes we have no problems if the trailer brakes fail but I still had disks put on with the I/S. There is not a whole lot of panic in panic stops any more.