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5th Wheel Towing - SRW vs. DRW

bazinga99

bazinga99

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I'm not new to this site but new to 5th wheel world. My sig is outdated as I no longer have that specific truck. Looking to buy a new 5th wheel camper and truck to pull with. I know I need/want a 3500 cummins HO but looking for opinions on SRW vs. DRW.

Specs for the 5th wheel are ... 42 foot, pin weight 2,528 lbs., GVWR 15K.

After researching I'm looking for CCLB 3500 (2020 or newer) Big Horn. Doing the VIN lookup on Ram's site that gives me about 4300 lbs. of payload plus/minus. With my family of 5 I calculate our payload usage with the pin weight we'd be in the clear by 800 - 1000lbs.

My main focus is the SRW vs. DRW. I read a lot about stability with a dually etc. Personally I don't want to daily drive a dually but that isn't a showstopper.

Our family travels quite a bit for travel sports and we'd probably only take the 5th wheel out half a dozen times a year. That tells me SRW is fine for my needs. I live in Kentucky and at some point we do want to do a couple week trip out west.

What are your thoughts on SRW vs. DRW for the above setup? Thank you.
 
bazinga99 said:
I'm not new to this site but new to 5th wheel world. My sig is outdated as I no longer have that specific truck. Looking to buy a new 5th wheel camper and truck to pull with. I know I need/want a 3500 cummins HO but looking for opinions on SRW vs. DRW.

Specs for the 5th wheel are ... 42 foot, pin weight 2,528 lbs., GVWR 15K.

After researching I'm looking for CCLB 3500 (2020 or newer) Big Horn. Doing the VIN lookup on Ram's site that gives me about 4300 lbs. of payload plus/minus. With my family of 5 I calculate our payload usage with the pin weight we'd be in the clear by 800 - 1000lbs.

My main focus is the SRW vs. DRW. I read a lot about stability with a dually etc. Personally I don't want to daily drive a dually but that isn't a showstopper.

Our family travels quite a bit for travel sports and we'd probably only take the 5th wheel out half a dozen times a year. That tells me SRW is fine for my needs. I live in Kentucky and at some point we do want to do a couple week trip out west.

What are your thoughts on SRW vs. DRW for the above setup? Thank you.
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Sounds like a fun next step for you all. The 2528 you quote for pin weight, is that the factory stated unloaded amount or an actual pin weight when loaded to camp?

My gut says your pin weight will be closer to 3k than 2500 and with family/gear you can eat into that excess payload quickly. Youre probably OK in a SRW since you arent towing all the time but if you start to go more frequently then dually would be the move.
 
Plenty of people do it, but you are going to be very, very close. That's a lot of people that will want a lot of stuff. I tow a GD Solitude 310-GK, and have towed very similar weight and length trailers for many years. But there are just two of us and we are very conservative on cargo. We never carry water in tanks and have shifted a couple of hundred lbs of stuff to a carry box on the back of the trailer.

I agree with others that your pin is going to be at least 20%. The only way to tell is to weigh it... And then it's usually too late. I would try to scale back your fifth wheel or go dually.

Now... Having said that, I don't know what model you are looking at, but some Grand Designs have the fresh water tank behind the axles. This can offset quite a bit of pin weight.... But you are finagling here. The bottom line is safety. Never exceed the tire or axle ratings. You're real close right out if the gate.



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Thanks for the feedback so far. The 2528 pin weight is what is listed from manufacturer. So yeah will go with the 20-22% rule on pin weight.

My wife said can't scale back the 5th wheel she wants so dually will probably be the way to go.
 
bazinga99 said:
Thanks for the feedback so far. The 2528 pin weight is what is listed from manufacturer. So yeah will go with the 20-22% rule on pin weight.

My wife said can't scale back the 5th wheel she wants so dually will probably be the way to go.
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Ya your pin weight wont be anywhere near 2500lbs in real life. If you care to have margins then go dually.
 
I just got done with a 7800 mile coast to coast and back again trip with my '22 HO CCLB SRW towing a 12K lb, 2800 PW 36' 5th wheel with absolutely no problems. I know I'm a little lighter than your estimate, but if it falls within the specs (with a little to spare) you will be fine with a SRW, especially if you (and you should) have rear airbags. That said, a DRW will be better and increase the margin of safety, but IMHO it is unnecessary.

And with that said, we bought a new-to-us slide-in overhead camper that just ekes under the total payload cap and makes me wish I bought the dually. The SRW handles it well even though it rocks a little in steep curves. I'm not certain the dually would dampen it that much without upgrading the suspension, but the wider footprint would feel better.

Looking forward to seeing your choice!
 
Any way you slice it, the DRW is the better choice. It will be a more comfortable tow and you will have payload to spare. The SRW *might* work, the DRW *will* work.
 
I have had and have both DRW and SRW trucks you do not need a DRW for what you are doing. That being said if you plan to tow more often or plan to go bigger in the future spend the little bit more for a DRW now
 
DRW only for safety purposes. Ever had a blow out at 70 miles an hour towing that load and cargo. Scary.
 
Towing more or less often is a moot point . Over on the axle is over . I pull a 35ft and weigh 14 k on an SRW . That pin weight they quote is nothing in the trailer . No batteries, propane etc. As brutal said fake news .
 
I have towed with both a SRW and a DRW (42' Fifth wheel). The suspension gain you get is worth it alone but you also get much better stability in crosswinds. You don't know you wanted it until you are in the middle of some serious crosswinds. Spend a little extra now and be glad you did later. For what it is worth I am now in a DRW 5500.... (Truck #3) No need to go that big.
 
Damonbruce said:
I have towed with both a SRW and a DRW (42' Fifth wheel). The suspension gain you get is worth it alone but you also get much better stability in crosswinds. You don't know you wanted it until you are in the middle of some serious crosswinds. Spend a little extra now and be glad you did later. For what it is worth I am now in a DRW 5500.... (Truck #3) No need to go that big.
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You aren't kidding! Going camping one time, my buddy commented about how my truck didn't seem to flinch at all, while he was fighting the winds in his srw.
 
Damonbruce said:
I have towed with both a SRW and a DRW (42' Fifth wheel). The suspension gain you get is worth it alone
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If you get the auto-level suspension it’s the same DRW vs SRW, and what Ram options on the max tow.
 
Cseybert said:
Where are you getting that information from?
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You didn’t quote anyone, was that directed at me?

Are you taking max tow? Or the same?

Go look at them, identical. There is only one 3500 auto-level suspension.

That’s not true of the standard suspension SRW vs DRW, both share the same main spring pack but the DRW gets overloads.

As far as max tow, that’s how Ram build them on the DRW. Can’t get the “max tow” package without auto-level.
 
For the OP... The available payload drops pretty quickly from the payload stated on the door tag once you add your passengers and stuff. My 22 3500 LB SRW says I have 4126 lbs payload. However it weighs 9500 lbs with full fuel, full def, bed liner, bed cover, family of 4, and all our stuff. Showing my math... 12300 - 9500 = 2800 lbs available payload. If I added a 5th wheel hitch you can take off another 150 - 200 lb (depending on the exact hitch).
 
According to my Vin, my 22 with air suspension DRW 5400 pound payload. 34,500 towing.
 
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