Looking for a truck - RV-Dreams Community Forum

DebbieM · RV-Dreams Family Member

Looking for a truck

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

reasons to push you to a dually....

1. safety....you have a more even weight distribution
2. Safety.....more control of the vehicle and less sway factor
3. safety.....if you blow a tire you will have control of the vehicle with the remaining tire
4. at the moment its tough for you to find a long bed single and there are duallys available.....

parking , bulk driving & tires are just part of the learning curve and go with the territory

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Check the resale value. There is a reason why there are so many dually trucks out there.

The two trailer weights you need to look at for the truck are the coach's gross weight (NOT the empty weight) and the pin weight AT GROSS. The latter number can change a bit as you move stuff around, but not a huge amount. The truck has to be able to carry itself, the people, the stuff you normally carry in the truck, and that pin weight, all without overloading either axle. Remember that the pin weight goes straight onto the rear axle. Be sure to check the actual numbers on the truck you are looking at. Just because it has a nameplate on the outside doesn't mean that the works underneath are the same.

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Deb, I know you didn't mention Ford above, but the 7.3 diesel is the best engine Ford ever made.

www.texasmotorcars.com/2003-Ford-Super-Duty-F-350-DRW-Lariat-4x4-Addison-Texas-75001/4974727

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Do you enjoy white knuckle driving? Some will tell you they have no issues with driving a SRW with a big 5er in tow. I'll bet dollars to donuts that way more will tell you otherwise. Lose a drive tire while going downhill on a curve.... don't think I'd want to push that envelope.

Want a reason? How about, we would rather hear your tales of fun and adventures, either here or at rally or meetup than hearing something sad just because you wanted to save some money and have some initial discomfort with bulk. Please listen to Mike.... DRW truck may take some learning to get comfy with it, but I'll also bet you'll be glad you got it in the long run.

-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 2nd of April 2014 02:40:00 PM

CJSX2fromCT · RV-Dreams Family Member

just did a google and found these www.cheapusedcarsbyowner.com/for-sale/3500-srw/4

As Mike said... Safety safety safety... go with a dually.

DebbieM · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ok, you guys pushed me over (although my husband has been leaning this way for a while). All good reasons. Nice truck El Rojo, but we are looking for something newer, 2011+, under $55K, mileage under 75K, preferably white with gray interior - I know, picky picky We are searching away, thanks all. I'll let ya know what we find.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Debbie - we found our 2012 F450 DRW on AutoTrader in March of 2013, great deal on a truck that had only been driven 7 months. It was enroute from where we lived to where Dale was driving to pick up the 5'ver and they gave us a good trade in on our old Toyota. All I can say is shop around.

The DRW took me longer to learn to drive than Dale and I'm still more cautious/nervous than he is, I've learned to leave a lot more space and park in the outer regions of the parking lot. I don't mind the parking, even learned to back it in as long as I am not holding up too much traffic and figure parking in the "outer region" gives me a little more exercise. I will say driving it here in TX where we currently are is easier than CA, lots of "big" trucks in TX, the parking lots seem to allow a little more room than some of the CA locations we've been.

Dale really feels the DRW gives us a lot more stability, especially driving with the constant winds we've been faced with in TX & OK. For us, it was definitely the right decision from a safety perspective.

Bob and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I went from a srw f350 to the drw f450 last September. I did purchase new though. The biggest difference I felt was that the f450 will turn circles inside the crew cab short box f350 we had for 11 years, even with the f450 having 12" more wheelbase. Also in a sidewinder I noticed a big difference. I don*'t know about the GM or Dodges on turning radius but it has made it easier to get around in parking lots for us. My learning curve is relatively flat as I drove class 8 trucks since I was 18, over 40 years.

You could also check these sites, www.cars.com and www.truck paper.com

Good luck.

VanMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Debbie and Steve

Dittos on Autotrader.com. Also Cars.com. I'm partial to Chevys so that's what I bought but there are a ton of all makes out there for under $55k. There's a real nice 2013 Chevy LT in St Louis with only 5800 miles you could get for $43k...just an example...the one I almost bought.

Vance