For those of you towing a Pinnacle or North Point or anyone else towing a monster!

[priv8pilot]

So I have ordered and am waiting for my 2019 Jayco Pinnacle. While I wait my attention is turning to a tow rig. I will not be traveling for a while (full time in one spot) But I am trying to figure out the way to go when I find the right deal. I am and have been a Ford guy my whole life. So this is not a Ford Chevy, Dodge question. But Dodge and Chevy owners are invited to give your opinion. My 5th wheel is in the 16500 weight range. What I am looking at is actual towing by members and what they use.


So here are my thoughts:
When I finally retire the plan is to travel the USA. Drive a bit, find a place and stay for a month or two and explore. I want both a truck that is safe and stable BUT it also needs to be one that when I find a town to land in I need to be able to unhook and explore the town. I started thinking F350 SRW. But then The F350 DRW would be a better tow vehicle for this size trailer. I used a friends F450 for a couple of months and loved it but what a large monster! I did get use to driving that around. Now I work at a large car dealership chain and thru work found a 2016 F450 platinum at a GREAT price. Thinking of pulling the trigger on that.

So the question is this. Those of you that travel and unhook. What are you using and how is it around town? What did you chose? Any regrets on your tow vehicle choice and why or why not?

[Magnolia Tom]

I have an F350 dually that I drive every day. Other than parking it at some places, I have no issues driving it anywhere. Yes it’s big. Yes the turning radius is huge but you get used to it. Really not much different than a SRW long bed.

Edit...
I have a platinum F350 and it’s been the absolute best/nicest vehicle I’ve ever owned

[Witt74]

I up graded my tow vehicle to a 2015 F350 dually a few months ago. It's my daily driver. So far, the only place I can't take it is thru the drive thru at my bank.

[DonaandDon]

I have driven the F450 and it is huge. The wife will not touch anything with dually on it. I now have the F250 with Timbrens and added leaf's. No problem but I'm very close to 65 now and only travel on Tues-Thurs with calm skies. The F350 SRW will be my next choice. It has the "Over the leaf" overload spring feature. Same engine throughout the Super Duty line so power is no object.


Additionally, with Fords wrap around warranty I traveled 450 miles to get the right vehicle at the right price, no problems and it was ready at the time of pick up.

[RedHorse1]

Being a heavy 5th IMHO you’re pretty solid in dually country. You’re looking at 4000# on the pin and I know that would exceed my rear axle’s GAWR. My 350 is a ‘13 and I think the weight ratings have increased since mine rolled off the line but can’t say by how much.

[Fr8Train]

In the F450 DRW there is a factory front axle option that allows much better turning radius.

[jasum]

If you want a great towing experience, get the dually. You get use to it really fast. Like Tom mine is my daily driver. once you get one, you'll never look back!!
Parking really isn't anymore of an issue than any car or truck. There will always be some spots you can't get into.

[goducks]

Originally Posted by Fr8Train

In the F450 DRW there is a factory front axle option that allows much better turning radius.

x2

[priv8pilot]

Originally Posted by Fr8Train

In the F450 DRW there is a factory front axle option that allows much better turning radius.

How do you know if it came with that option? First I have heard of it.

[Loboclone]

Originally Posted by goducks

x2

3X on the F450 I have had one for 4 years, you can turn circles inside of the F350. Pull the trigger on the F450 and don't look back………….

[Loboclone]

Originally Posted by priv8pilot

How do you know if it came with that option? First I have heard of it.

Not an option, it is standard equipment on the F450. its a Dana front axle for the F450 pickup. I have it on my 2015 F450 and it has a turning radius better than the F350.

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by Loboclone

Not an option, it is standard equipment on the F450. its a Dana front axle for the F450 pickup. I have it on my 2015 F450 and it has a turning radius better than the F350.

Standard on the 450. It was an option on the F350. I think it was the max tow option.

[neil11975]

I have a 2016 ford f350 dually and I tow a seismic 416w that tops out at 19k fully loaded with toys and water. It does great. I definitely would not do this without a dually. The f450 does have the wider front axle and turns so much sharper than mine. My wife drives my truck all over town and doesn't have any problems. This is the 3rd dually we have owned and they have all been daily drivers.

[robkelly]

I have a 3500 SRW and am within all the limits of our rig. If I had to do it again I would go DRW for the stability and additional wiggle room it would give me with the weights.

[prm99v6]

I have a 2015 F450. As others have said, turning radius is far better than any other Super Duty because of the wide front axle. This is the reason I went with the 450 over the 350. I drive a Hyundai Sonata to work in the city but nights and weekends, I drive the 450. I just don't go through the drive thru. Sometimes I might have to park further away in a parking lot but I have not had a problem. My wife even likes to drive it to work on occasion instead of her wrangler.

[Iraq 69]

2017 GMC 3500 dually hauls our NP 377 just fine and you will get use to the fat a
Hips on the back. Don’t skimp on something as important as a good tow vehicle

[PMC]

Since you’re buying just get the DRW 350/450 and be done with it. You get used to driving a wide truck and to be honest the trailer is as wide or a bit wider so keeping the truck in the lane means the camper is fine too.

I actually find parking the drw easier with all the sensors and cameras than my old F150 that had none of that.

[SmokinJoe747]

Get the F-450... You will NOT regret it. We love ours!! We don't have any issues seeing or touring the places we visit. Sure I might have to park a few spaces further away, but the dual wheels and turning radius are well worth it.

[PlayersZ28]

With that trailer you're into a dually as said unless you can find a way to make the pin real light (total wt isn't the issue). I switched from a F350 DRW to 3500HD SRW cause I was tired of driving the dually. I'm right at my payload. I no longer scrape the fat fenders driving down trails though.

If you want the tighter turn radius you need the widetrack F350 or the 450.

[Ringneks]

Can I ask what your current truck is?