Towing a FW with a SRW - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Richard · RV-Dreams Community Member

Towing a FW with a SRW

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hiya Richard,

We pull a 5er with a 2008 version of your truck. We have gone out twice with the rig and will be leaving to full-time in July.

Our Montana has the Mor-Ryde suspension and Mor-Ryde pin. The ride is not bad at all and the truck does fine with the weight. Of course, we have not loaded it for full-timing yet and have not ventured into "real" mountains like Colorado, etc. We just have to be more weight-conscious than others.

Had I known we were really going to do the full-timing thing, I would have gotten a dually. Like you, we are not planning to upgrade the truck. We should be fine; just gotta keep an eye on the weight.

The truck pulls the 5er like a dream! Much nicer ride and towing experience (I do the towing) compared to the bumper pull we had before the 5er.

Good luck, happy travels!

Betty

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have pulled the same 5th wheel (15,000lbs) with two SRW trucks and two DRW trucks.

The only real difference is the SRW feels squirrly in the rear. Basically I can feel it in the seat of my pants. With turns, rough roads, wheel tracks worn into the highway and slow speed manuvering I feel the rear end of the truck wig-wag. It's as if the tires need more air.

The DRW feels solid no wig-wag. The rear end feels like it stays flat, no roll, no wiggle.

Everything else is pretty much the same for either a SRW or DRW setup to tow a 5th wheel.

The wig-wag isn't a big thing, I got used to it once I realized why the drive felt different than towing with my DRW.

Flat tires are safer, but how often do you get blowouts...we had a rock blowout an inner dual and were able to continue across a bridge spanning a wide river while towing the 5th wheel. I would have had to stop on the bridge if I had an SRW truck. That's the only blowout on a truck in 20 years of towing.

With your F-350 you should do very well.

Richard · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks to you both

I knew from reading that DRW was riding better but I just could not put into perspective the riding comparaison. Bad versus Very good or good versus very good. I can live with good but I want to leave the bad behind with the work force when I retire. smile

lmcallis · RV-Dreams Family Member

Richard, We've been full timing pulling a heavier 5th wheel than you've got with our 2007 Ford 350 SRW for the past 2+ years. Haven't noticed any issues. Our truck is a short bed, extended cab, and I've got an automatic slider hitch. It's a standard king pin. I recon you'll do just fine. Sure is nice to fit in a normal parking spot (well, not when I park, but the DW does a better job at the mall and grocery store than I do). Good luck on your adventure

Lance

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our ride is a Dodge 3500 SRW 4x4, 6.7 with the Edge attitude. Pulls our Jayco 35RLTS great. We haven't pulled fully loaded yet and do get a little sway, I ordered the Firestone Airbags and will give another report after instalation. If anyone is interested this is where I purchased from www.AutoAnything.com. We do have considerble weight in the bed of our truck. Extra 75 gallon fuel tank, aluminum tool box, and our Champion 3500 rv generator, Reese 16 sliding hitch and then our rig. Almost afraid to scale it.

Dr Gonzo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Richard and Ron

Do not sweat it - do not buy in to the "dually" guys preaching the end of the world if you are SWR. As you may know a SWR can tow more than the DWR as the dually loses tow capacity due to its added weight. The hitch pin weight is what you have to concern yourself with. The only advantage I can see to the dually is the safety factor in a blow out. I tow my 2008 Jayco Designer 36 RLTS with my 2004.5 Dodge Ram 3500 short box SWR. I have a Mor-Ryde suspension and a Mor-Ryde pin. I have also added a PBXR Pacbrake. It pulls like a dream - no sway or "wig-wag" thing what ever that is!

Enjoy your travels!

Richard · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well this is reassuring or shall I say, confirming news as I was pretty sure we would be OK. But that nagging feeling keep pecking at my neck.

Thanks

My unit does come equip with Trail-Air's Equa flex with Shock at each wheel. I did ask my saleman about adding a More ride or air hitch but he recommended that I take it in step. Try first then upgrade as required. He did say that they ride smoothly as is. Will see...

-- Edited by Richard on Thursday 29th of April 2010 08:26:15 PM

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

We tow with a SRW with no problems. Of course, I salivate every time I see Sports Chassis tow rig. But, I suffer from lackamoney syndrome, so no Sport Chassis for me.
But, I disagree with the salesman that did not recommend the Mor-Ryde Pinbox. Best 800 dollars I ever spent. Removes the "chucking" while towing. Our rig has Mor-Ryde Equaflex suspension and shock absorbers on all wheels, and the pinbox change helped a bunch.

Richard · RV-Dreams Community Member

I kind of figure that it would be something really nice to have but because we will be static most of that first year with the exception of:

1. Move to the campground 400km/240 miles,
2. 4 hours of driving as part of my booked driving course, and
3. Move back to the dealer 400km/240 miles for limited repair (I hope hmm

) and winter storage.

I figure that I can give my banker time to recuperate biggrin

.

-- Edited by Richard on Friday 30th of April 2010 02:05:21 PM