If you are putting a flatbed on a Ram 3500, the dually-versus-single-rear-wheel decision changes the bed you order, the price you pay, and what the truck can do for the next ten years. We install both every week. Here is the practical difference, without the forum arguments.
In stock now in Wharton, TX — real prices, installed in one business day.
Shop CM from $3,950 | Shop Bedrock from $4,450 | Shop NXG from $3,700
Browse all in-stock truck beds and bodies or call (979) 532-1486 for a same-day quote.
Ram 3500 SRW vs DRW: the numbers that matter
| Spec | Ram 3500 SRW | Ram 3500 DRW |
|---|---|---|
| Max payload (approx.) | 4,300–4,700 lb | 6,500–7,500 lb |
| Max gooseneck / 5th wheel tow | Up to ~23,000 lb | Up to ~36,000 lb |
| Bed width needed | 84″ bed | 86″–97″ bed |
| Common CA lengths | 56″–60″ (crew 6’4″ and 8′ boxes) | 60″ and 84″ |
| Tires per set | 4 tires | 6 tires |
| Daily-driver friendliness | Parks anywhere, narrower | Wide; tight parking is a chore |
Buy the SRW if…
- The truck doubles as your personal vehicle and sees town driving.
- Your trailer is a bumper-pull or a light gooseneck under about 18,000 lb.
- You want the cheapest tire and maintenance bill and the narrowest bed.
- You need to fit a standard driveway, drive-thru, or covered parking garage.
Buy the DRW if…
- You pull a heavy gooseneck, hotshot, or equipment trailer for a living.
- You are mounting a bale bed, a crane, or hauling a slide-in welder and a full toolbox.
- You load the truck to its limit routinely — the dually’s rear axle and 6 tires take the punishment.
- Stability under a tall, heavy load matters more than parking convenience.
Flatbeds that fit each configuration
Bed width is the fitment gate. An 84-inch bed on a dually leaves the rear tires exposed and looks wrong; a 97-inch bed on a single-wheel truck is unnecessary width you’ll scrape on gates.
- SRW: CM RD 84″, Bedrock Diamond in 84″ width, and NXG steel flatbeds — all with factory gooseneck and receiver.
- DRW: CM RD/TM in 86″–97″, Bedrock Diamond and Granite dually widths, and skirted beds with deeper side boxes.
Cab-to-axle by Ram 3500 configuration
- Crew cab, 6’4″ box: roughly 56″ CA — pairs with an 8′ flatbed.
- Crew cab, 8′ box: roughly 60″ CA — pairs with an 8′ or 8’6″ flatbed.
- Cab & chassis (Ram 3500 CC): 60″ and 84″ CA — 84″ CA takes a 9’4″ or 11′ bed.
- Always confirm CA on the truck itself. Removing a factory box does not change the frame, but aftermarket work sometimes has.
What it costs installed
Steel flatbeds at our Wharton, TX shop start around $3,700 for in-stock NXG units and $3,950 for CM, with Bedrock from $4,450. Dually-width beds typically run a few hundred dollars more than the equivalent SRW bed. In-stock beds are installed in one business day with hitch and lighting wired.
More reading: flatbed truck bodies, truck beds for sale, and service bodies if you want compartments instead of an open deck.
Talk to Someone Who Installs These Every Week
Not sure whether your Ram is a 3500 SRW or DRW spec that fits an 84″ bed? Send us the VIN. We stock, spec, and install these bodies at our shop in Wharton, TX, and we serve buyers across Texas and Louisiana. Call us to discuss which is right for your truck — we’ll go over cab-to-axle, wheel configuration, hitch rating, and total installed cost before you commit.
📞 Call (979) 532-1486 — Star Truck Equipment, 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488. Most in-stock bodies are installed in one business day.