The end of DRW?

[CaptPicardo]

I respect this group and realize this may be a controversial thread, but have to say - are we seeing the end of DRW?

Here's why I ask - the 2020 manufactures have upped their game and I'm seeing so many SRW Ford, Ram and GM vehicles with enhanced springs and load enhancements that I'm not sure whether DRWs are really needed any further for a 5er at 18k or less weight.

I'm going to say that's a thing of the past and I look forward to your candid feedback.

Best,
Jeff

[geotex1]

There are two aspects you are never going to replace the advantage of a dually over a single rear wheel - stability and the advantage in the event of a blowout on that loaded rear. To me personally, these considerations are tangible when I consider the load, the length, our travel range, our travel style, how we value the investment, and so on. Another way to say it, perhaps, is that I see capability as more than capacity. I want our tow vehicle to do the job, and do the job well.

No doubt this will be an interesting thread to come.

[CaptPicardo]

There are two aspects you are never going to replace the advantage of a dually over a single rear wheel - stability and the advantage in the event of a blowout on that loaded rear. To me personally, these considerations are tangible when I consider the load, the length, our travel range, our travel style, how we value the investment, and so on. Another way to say it, perhaps, is that I see capability as more than capacity. I want our tow vehicle to do the job, and do the job well.

No doubt this will be an interesting thread to come.

Thank you all for responding on this topic. I'd like to challenge that concept a bit Mr. Geo. Driving through high winds near Cheyenne Wyoming, I see 18 wheelers turned over. 2 more wheels on a truck are not likely to save me if an 18 wheeler can't make it (note: I've not yet tried to pull the Solitude through that area yet). When I drive I-10 through Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas (where there are literally billboards and wind-socks for high winds), an SRW does just fine. I've driven it with the Solitude. I agree with ya'll with DRWs in principle, I am just struggling to justify it based on personal experience.

[bertschb]

...I am just struggling to justify it based on personal experience.

It sounds like you're all set with what you have then!

[CaptPicardo]

It sounds like you're all set with what you have then!

How about we exchange TVs just to make sure ? Coz I'm still in doubt ... you just can't get new trucks these days.

[bertschb]

How about we exchange TVs just to make sure ?

Hah! I don't have a DRW right now but I do have a 2022 F-450 on order. Probably won't arrive for another 6 months though with all the shortages. I definitely felt more secure towing my heavier Solitude 373FB with my 2019 DRW.

I love my current SRW truck but I know I'm pushing it's limits. If nothing else, a DRW makes me "feel" like it's more capable and safer and that's actually worth quite a lot to me.

[geotex1]

Thank you all for responding on this topic. I'd like to challenge that concept a bit Mr. Geo. Driving through high winds near Cheyenne Wyoming, I see 18 wheelers turned over. 2 more wheels on a truck are not likely to save me if an 18 wheeler can't make it (note: I've not yet tried to pull the Solitude through that area yet). When I drive I-10 through Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas (where there are literally billboards and wind-socks for high winds), an SRW does just fine. I've driven it with the Solitude. I agree with ya'll with DRWs in principle, I am just struggling to justify it based on personal experience.

You're confusing the wind point... Every day of the week, a dually is more stable in the wind than an SRW. It's simple physics there. What you have gone on to is when cross-winds cause uplift. If you're rolling a high center of gravity combination that is lightly loaded in severe cross-wind the uplift can flip a semi easily. 5ers have the advantage that they have only 1/2 to 1/3 the height off the road compared to a semi trailer. Harder to get sufficient flow under a 5er for uplift when you also consider geometric design of roadways, including guide rails that act to disrupt the flow path. I'm not saying it is impossible, but it is less probable. FYI - my mines and production facilities are spread across WY, and in my years traveling to them and also the SW US, I have witnessed both the aftermath and the full terror of watching TTs and 5ers and semis thrown around like toys in the all too frequent 70+mph crosswinds when the warnings weren't heeded.

I cannot offer you much more through the internet, but what I can say with a high degree of confidence is that if you park your SRW shorty and pull your 5er 3K with a DRW long you will be convinced. Maybe not converted because of other financial, use, etc. considerations, but you will definitely appreciate the difference.

[FT4NOW]

You can increase the limits of the truck all day long, but at that point you will still be limited by the tire itself. Obviously a single tire wont be able to compare to a dual tire setup when looking at weight ratings. I dont think its end of the DRW, there is still the F450 in the less than 14k class of trucks, and the bigger DRWs that would require different licensing unless you register them as 14k trucks. I think DRWs are great for towing, definitely makes for a very stable tow, especially in the wind. I know I'll get another DRW at some point, most likely when we dont live in Idaho anymore, the snow here is the only reason I sold mine.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[CaptPicardo]

You can increase the limits of the truck all day long, but at that point you will still be limited by the tire itself. Obviously a single tire wont be able to compare to a dual tire setup when looking at weight ratings. I dont think its end of the DRW, there is still the F450 in the less than 14k class of trucks, and the bigger DRWs that would require different licensing unless you register them as 14k trucks. I think DRWs are great for towing, definitely makes for a very stable tow, especially in the wind. I know I'll get another DRW at some point, most likely when we dont live in Idaho anymore, the snow here is the only reason I sold mine.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Interested in the end of your post, why would snow cause you to not favor a DRW? Thank you for clarifying! (I came from Colorado and have driven in treacherous snow, always in SRW, thus my question)

[FT4NOW]

Interested in the end of your post, why would snow cause you to not favor a DRW? Thank you for clarifying!

All that extra surface area that is great for stability and spreading out the weight has the opposite effect with snow. Also, snow likes to get caught between the rear wheels. Last winter I had my hitch in the truck (200lbs), loaded tool box (175lbs) and 600lbs of sandbags. Didnt make any difference, the back end was all over the road and the tired only had about 1500miles on them.

One more thing, when we lived in VA, the little snow there wasnt bad with a DRW. But in Idaho where the road stays white most of the winter, it didnt feel very safe driving the DRW.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk