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Old 02-03-2014, 02:20 PM   #1
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DRW versus SRW thoughts...

While I realize a DRW is much more stable in adverse conditions and have had no indications - other than a bit of rear droop - that the truck will not handle and tows it comfortably and well...

I'm very keen on making sure our SRW works for us and our 38gk...
(And is legal !) so checking weights, etc... has been a priority... they know me by first name @ the local cat scale !

I did get the highest gvwr I could on our 350, so know how it's configured AND registered...

Looking at the 350's sticker - rawr is 7000 and the tires are rated @ 3750 each @ 80 psi... so tires are not the limiting factor on MY rawr as long as I put them to 80 psi.

The dealer registered it new @ 11.5k (I think - best check that too !),
so thinking here in Texas I could pay a bit more and re-register it @ 3750 x 4 = 15,000 lbs if I ran 80 psi in all tires if I wanted to !

or at least the 5600+7000 = 12,600 since that's the total of the axle ratings and still be under the axle ratings...

I'm fine on all my weights but the truck's gvw -
my real weights are at 5080+6840=11,920 gvw or 420 over my trucks currently registered gvwr so guess I need to bump it up a bit to be strictly legal.

but then that may open a can of worms in that may put my new 'registered' gvwr total at say 12000+ 16000 = 28000 even though my real weight is much less than that and require more special licensing ?
will be calling the dmv today.

(oh, and by the way - did test a panic stop on an open interstate - all I experienced from it was picking a few things up off the rv's floor )
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Old 02-03-2014, 02:56 PM   #2
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JB, did you weigh the RW empty?? I see you axle weight is just slightly above the dry brochure weight. Also do you have the TV weight and what the actual pin weighs?

We're heavy with our RL and wouldn't want to put 4K plus on the back of a SRW TV, even tho there are plenty out there doing it with even lesser TVs. I recently upped our Reg weight, was going to go to 15K, but the clerk suggested 14,999 as it would keep us in a lower fee class. Figured 1 pound wasn't going to have any difference.
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Old 02-03-2014, 03:08 PM   #3
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Johnboytoo, 2 years ago I was in your same shoes ( I had a 2011 F350 4x4 srw). The problem I had was I wanted to be able to travel without restrictions of how much water I could carry and what I put in the basement. As long as someone is very careful, don't have accessories like the generator and travels without water you could get by with a srw.

I decided to make a deal for a dually and the difference is night and day in handling and ease of mind. I no longer worry about what I carry and the comfort is amazing even in bad windy conditions. There have been several people of this forum have switched from srw to dual and I haven't heard of anybody regretting the decision.
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Old 02-03-2014, 04:03 PM   #4
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Johnboy,

We are in a similar situation to you with a SRW, which resulted in us initially considering a Montana before we saw the Redwood. Last time I checked we were 50 lbs over the trucks GVWR of 11,500lbs, but OK for all the others. We try to keep the RW at 15,500lbs, of which 3000 to 3100lbs is pin weight.

However, we have to be very careful in packing and cannot carry any water at all. Are we legal - yes, but from a risk management perspective I am not overly comfortable.

I have never been comfortable operating at max weights and would also like to have the option of carrying at least some fresh water, or even leaving the black/grey tanks partially full if we have only stopped for 1 or 2 nights. Even if we stop for 1 night I go through the hassle of filling one of the grey tanks, then dumping the black tank, flushing the black tank and then dumping the grey to flush the line. With the dually I would not bother.

Next year we are gone for a year on a round the world trip and plan to get a dually on return. We are thinking Alaska in summer 2016 and prefer the piece of mind of a dually for that region.
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Old 02-03-2014, 07:32 PM   #5
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Johnboy, you are similar to what we were at on the rear axle, but ours pushed past the 7,000 RAWR and got into the tire limit after we added the gen and w/d (still no water). But I don't think that is what you are asking,

Are you asking if you should bump up your registered weight to be legal? That might be Texas question, but in CO we can't change the titled GVWR. It is what it is.
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Old 02-03-2014, 08:58 PM   #6
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I am a strong proponent of the stability of the DRW. I was well within weights before adding solar system, but now am pushing the limits of D3500 DRW. In fact I am now exploring options on how to add 2,500 to 3,000 lbs TV payload.

GVWR 11,500 Actual 11,980
GAWR F 5,000 Actual 4,600
GAWR R 9350 Actual 7,380
GCWR 25,700 Actual 24,680
Pin weight 3,622
Trailer Axles 12,700
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Old 02-03-2014, 09:48 PM   #7
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Agree, we do NOT have the generator or think that would push us over the top !

And yes I hope to be able to bounce it a bit like some states allow - the wording I found here:
http://ftp.txdmv.gov/pub/txdot-info/...e_chart_1c.pdf

"The gross vehicle weight of a truck is determined by adding the empty weight of the vehicle and the heaviest load that will be carried by the vehicle (carrying capacity) during the registration year"

Sounds like I can
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Old 02-04-2014, 02:04 AM   #8
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But I'm not clear on why you need to bounce it up? I'm confused a lot
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Old 02-04-2014, 03:55 AM   #9
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I carried a 3500# fully loaded truck camper on a previous srw 2500 Chevy. I was 1200# over the gvwr. We did this without problems for 9 yrs. It was under axle and tire ratings. My 2013 36RE fully loaded and full of water, has 3300# on the pin. This is on a 3500 drw GMC. We are spending 3 months in Florida this winter and as much as I would like to be driving, especially parking, a srw truck I can't fathom going back.

The trailer grosses 15,500 and I know there are 3500srw trucks today that would meet all weight limits. Think about a rear flat, going down hill with all that weight pushing you. It just doesn't seem worth it.

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Old 02-04-2014, 04:08 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atom ant View Post
But I'm not clear on why you need to bounce it up? I'm confused a lot
While I could go on as is without any issues,
I am 420 lbs over the registered gvwr of my truck as it sits.

IF I'm stopped or have an accident, I don't want any reason for 'further interface' with a judge !

I'm due for new tags next month anyway, so might as well 'buy' more gvwr if Texas allows it and the truck will handle it safely.

that's all - not a real issue, just erring on the legal side of things

and Mark, a flat ANYWHERE will be an adventure, but more so on the front than the rear
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Old 02-04-2014, 12:03 PM   #11
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Only problem I see is that no matter what you register the truck for, the data plate on the door from the manufacturer doesn't change. I went thru this same exercise, even considered doing a Dually conversion. In the end, traded a very nice 8 month old SRW for a Dually .....
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Old 02-04-2014, 01:12 PM   #12
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Piper Guy: you are correct .....

Anyone out there need a 2013 F350 SRW King Ranch fully loaded 9000 miles, excellent condition. Would trade for like kind DRW.
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Old 02-04-2014, 02:00 PM   #13
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Correct Vaughn, but then Big Brother says it's ok if you have that piece of paper
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Old 02-04-2014, 03:18 PM   #14
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I see now what you are doing.

Registered weights are used to determine taxes or fees

Manufacturers weights are their implied safety limits.

I personally think you might be wasting time and money, as I don't think you would convince the judge that buying the higher weight class by paying extra taxes or fees made your vehicle safer. Prosecution would eat that up. Its all about the door sticker, if (big IF) it ever went that far.
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Old 02-04-2014, 03:43 PM   #15
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Not so much in case of an accident, but more if for some reason you got pulled into a spot weight check. Since we don't have DOT numbers on the door, they would be more interested if we were over our registration weight.
Now this varies by states, in NY they will only reg a pick-up for the max GVWR (Cab & Chassis for what ever you want), FL you can reg for what ever you want, was going to go to 15K, but would have pushed into the next higher class, so at 14.999K it was only a $7.00 increase for two years.
I did it because we're running right at our 13K GVWR and didn't want to have a problem if we were carrying a little extra water.
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Old 02-10-2014, 09:12 PM   #16
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Whatever it is worth, we had a double blow out on the passenger side of our 2012 36FL coach. We have a 2008 Dodge DRW 3500 mega cab with short bed and sliding hitch. That truck allowed us to pull over very safely, the trailer never swayed during the pullover/stopping process. I would highly recommend DRW when pulling a Redwood coach
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Old 02-11-2014, 05:02 AM   #17
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As a newbie, now with 5 months of full time towing under my belt I am so glad that this group set me on the path to buy the dually first. I love it and so does my Redwood. Easiest thing I have ever towed. Really!
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Old 02-11-2014, 06:47 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhs4771 View Post
Not so much in case of an accident, but more if for some reason you got pulled into a spot weight check. Since we don't have DOT numbers on the door, they would be more interested if we were over our registration weight.
Now this varies by states, in NY they will only reg a pick-up for the max GVWR (Cab & Chassis for what ever you want), FL you can reg for what ever you want, was going to go to 15K, but would have pushed into the next higher class, so at 14.999K it was only a $7.00 increase for two years.
I did it because we're running right at our 13K GVWR and didn't want to have a problem if we were carrying a little extra water.
Egg-xactly why I wanted to conservatively re-register -
$15.00 and instead of being over by 420 lbs I am now under 580 lbs.

Didn't increase anything but the registered weight and got me a new registration receipt (that I had lost in one of the wife's cleaning binges)
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