Do it right and get the drw and you will be comfortable and confident in your travels. Especially with a 15k to 17k wagon.

 

At those weights i wouldn't rule out the factory air suspension available. will make towing that much nicer. lots of guys tow 5th wheels with short beds, and i'm pretty sure most are just careful with their turning. I do believe on a Mega Cab that a slider would be beneficial, but not sure if its completely necessary with a regular 6' bed. guess that can depend on the trailer too. I think you'll definitely want to go DRW with those weights too if you want to stay legal.

 

A longbed cc is an unpleasant vehicle to drive into cities as a daily driver - big shopping center and similar parkng lots are no issue. I drove a 3/4 ton at its load limit for many years -got away with it fine. Sure do like now having a 3500 for the same load - marginal is just that - it works, but.... well, loosing your focus and attention put you on the wrong side of the margin - better to have ample reserve capacity - especially if you might get off pavement and into out-of-the-way places.

You might want to find some fifth-wheel - trailer - lifestyle forums to explore your issues.

 

A longbed cc is an unpleasant vehicle to drive into cities as a daily driver.

I drove a 3/4 ton at its load limit for many years -got away with it fine. Sure do like now having a 3500 for the same load - marginal is just that - it works, but.... well, loosing your focus and attention put you on the wrong side of the margin - better to have ample reserve capacity - especially if you might get off pavement and into out-of-the-way places.

First point is a load of crap, second one is spot on.

I drive my truck in the most traffic congested city in Canada on a daily basis. Often pulling a trailer. Zero issues. It may not be a Prius, but it is far from "unpleasant"!

 

Keep in mind you can only get the Aisin with a 3500 DRW if I am remembering right. Also can only get 3.73 or 4.10 gear with 3500, but you can also get a 3.42 but that wouldn't be ideal for any heavy weight full time towing. I have the 2015 3500 DRW 4x4 LB Aisin 3.73 towing 42' 5th wheel at 18k# to 20k#. TowIng is comfortable and a breeze. I think if towing in the mountains more then I'd go 4.10 gearing. I wished I had 4.10 now, but I just lock out 6th gear while towing my RV and all is good. I have the 5th wheel prep also.

 

Great info, you are definitely confirming my thoughts. I am gonna be honest, the jump from Gas SRW to Diesel DRW is really intimidating. I know in my gut its the right thing to do, and I have been trying to visualize driving one in situations I bring my current truck into everyday, and i really haven't seen much that I would think would be a hurdle. I really appreciated the feed back. Another question, is the cut of really 2014, or is a 2013 in the same class? What was the difference between 13 and 14?

 

Think the Aisin is available with any 3500, and the gear choices come with DRW, at least that's what I see from building them on the Ram website.

 

Correct......see my sig.....

Sam

 

One good thing about a Ram coupled 6.7 Cummins while hauling heavy is the mpg over a gasser. Gasser may get 6 or 7mpg while the diesel is getting 10 to 12. You'll love the engine brake also while towing that makes for much easier stopping or slowing down. The Ram integrated brake controller on my truck works great also and it keeps track of how many miles towed on each you use. Helps a lot knowing when to do your trailer maintenence intervals. You can select lite electric, heavy electric, lite hydraulic/electric and heavy hydraulic/electric in the EVIC for each trailer brake set up you have. If you go 3500 DRW 6.7 you will know your in the ultimate towing machine towing in luxury like the big dogs! LOL

 

Confirming, Aisin tranny IS available on any 3500, does not matter whether SRW or DRW. Not sure how many years back that is true. I have heard that originally the Aisin was only in DRW, but at least 2014-2017 this holds true.

 

I would certainly recommend the DRW as well. The pin weight on a heavy fifth wheel is going to push a SRW to the max on tires.

I've been daily driving a dually for two years and there hasn't been a place that's been off limits as far as finding a parking spot goes. Granted I'm not in a large metroplex but I do travel to downtown Denver quite a bit.

I also have to push the CC/LB rather than the mega/short. With a short bed, if you ever decide to add an auxiliary fuel tank or tool box, your options become quite limited.

 

I would certainly recommend the DRW as well. The pin weight on a heavy fifth wheel is going to push a SRW to the max on tires.

I've been daily driving a dually for two years and there hasn't been a place that's been off limits as far as finding a parking spot goes. Granted I'm not in a large metroplex but I do travel to downtown Denver quite a bit.

I also have to push the CC/LB rather than the mega/short. With a short bed, if you ever decide to add an auxiliary fuel tank or tool box, your options become quite limited.

Good point on the fuel tank. I forgot about that.

 

My truck is in my sig, I was driving 60 mi. round trip daily when I was working and getting about 15.5 to 16 mpg. I have no trouble parking anywhere except parking garages, there is no way that you will get a truck this size in an overhead parking garage. If I am not too badly mistaken the CC longbed and the MC shortbed are the same wheelbase.

 

The 3rd Gen Mega's were the same wheel base as the Quad Cab Long beds.
However the 4th gen Crew Cabs are about 9" longer in WB compared to the MegaCab's.

 

I daily drive my DRW. There is nothing better than having a dually while towing. This is my second dually and i will probably never own a srw again. I can slip this thing where some could not get a greased rope. I would go long bed. It would leave room for an in bed tank if you need one once rving full time. I hope to have one soon so i can pick and choose where to fuel up. I had an issue with a past truck. 30,000# of steel 40' long and small stations. Just barely made it to a truck stop for fuel. Also, the Aisin as awesome. This transmission is just well sorted out so do not settle for a different automatic. My truck came with the 3.42 rear. At this point i really like it. I get great mileage unloaded and can lock out fifth and sixth and tow out of the overdrives at 60 mph or so. I have heard towing in the overdrives is ok but habit is hard to break sometimes.


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I've never had a mega cab; but the crew cab is big enough that the second row can have an adult sit comfortably, kids car seat, or fat useless dog, without having to sit uncomfortably in the front row. As stated above The long bed is nice so when you have the fifth wheel hitch installed, you can still put a tool box, bicycles, kids toys, tree stand, etc in the bed. Don't get hung up on the fifth wheel prep, the factory gooseneck setup will allow you to put a B&W companion hitch in, which is what I did. I definitely like the DRW for safety and stability since you never know what road hazards you'll come across, not to mention it opens up much more for your RV selection. The DRW is also nice when you blow a tire, you still have 3 across the back holding you up instead of coming to an uncomfortable halt...

 

My opinion? ------ Long bed, Crew cab, DRW with 4.10 and Aisin.

 

Great reading guys, great info, good luck Riper

 

Just one persons suggestion who owns a 3500 and pulls a 5th wheel. Get the 3500 DRW with the aisin. I have driven both and the aisin shifts better and doesn't get as hot as the other. Get the 3.73 rear end. It will save lugging on the emission motor and the trans shifting at every incline. The fuel economy is crap on these new trucks with a 3500 DRW. 8-9 towing and about 12-15 city highway. They pull like freight train and do it in comfort with a Laramie option package. Get the Sirius XM travel link subscription when are ready to travel. Fuel, weather, weather radar are great things to have when traveling and cell service goes out. ( great places to camp don't always have cell service). Get the gooseneck prep, then find a B&W companion puck and hitch. They make a slider if you think you need the mega cab. As to trailers I can't recommend anything forest river makes. They have gotten to big, their customer service sucks and quality control is horrible. My newest and last one from them has been in the shop 4 times since I bought and now they won't cover broken crap since past 1 year warranty, even though they were issues since the beginning.

 

As a previous owner of a 3.73 truck, I have to disagree with you.

While towing my 15,000 trailer, I found the truck kicked down too easily on small hills. If I shifted manually to fifth, the RPM's came up too high for cruising.

While empty, the truck got around 15 mpg combined city and highway.

With my 4.10 truck, the RPM's are a little higher decreasing the amount of times the trans kicks down to fifth. Going through hilly country is no longer a shift fest for the transmission.

Empty, I see about 15 mpg on the same commute that I took with the other truck. Towing, I picked up almost 2 mpg's over the 3.73's.

 

My wife and I recently went to the 3500 DRW, CC LB. Had concerns as the wife was going to be the daily driver of the truck. She loves it and would never go back to a car. You just have to plan a little ahead as to where you will park, etc.

As far as towing, we have towed 5th wheels for awhile with a 2500 HD Duramax. Going to the 3500 and the Dually is amazing in the difference in handleling and feeling of confidence. The current 5th is about 12.5k loaded.

Do the Dually, you will not regret it!

 

My wife and I recently went to the 3500 DRW, CC LB. Had concerns as the wife was going to be the daily driver of the truck. She loves it and would never go back to a car. You just have to plan a little ahead as to where you will park, etc.



As far as towing, we have towed 5th wheels for awhile with a 2500 HD Duramax. Going to the 3500 and the Dually is amazing in the difference in handleling and feeling of confidence. The current 5th is about 12.5k loaded.



Do the Dually, you will not regret it!

My wife prefers her Suburban to my truck simply due to its length and width. But, my 17 year old daughter ,who is learning how to build homes, prefers to drive the dually. It is the vehicle she learned to drive in and really likes how smooth and stable it is during normal driving. She has not towed much with it yet though but she had towed.


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Hulk is on the short bus, but its not his fault Sam

 

I just wish that you would have let me know that I didn't need my helmet....:grin2:

 

I think I know what you're saying Sam,
Hulky said he met most of his friends on the short bus