Truck help please

[gharrison]

Hello and Happy Father’s Day to all you dads
We are looking at new trucks, Ford F-350 srw and f-450. We tow a 5er, North Point 315 rlts..:: thinks it’s like 12,600 lbs empty. We have a large bike rack on the back, very small smoker, Black Stone grill and a larger size generator ( we haven’t bought the generator yet).

We want diesel, 4x4 crew cab. We love the f450 but everyone keeps saying it’s awesome but not great in city and national park driving when not towing. I worry the 3:55 rear gear will not handle this rv in the mountains...

Help

Thank you

[Jagiven]

Both are good trucks. The F450 is a much better truck for towing. It has a different front axle than a 350, so it actually has a better turning radius. Any dually in a city, can be a bit more challenging due to their width. Just park a little further out. They all fit in the same driving lane. The 450 might be better in a parking lot, due to it's better turning radius.

As for national parks, all their bigger work trucks are dually, so there is no issues getting around within the parks. Some people are scared by their size.

[Colorado]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Both are good trucks. The F450 is a much better truck for towing. It has a different front axle than a 350, so it actually has a better turning radius. Any dually in a city, can be a bit more challenging due to their width. Just park a little further out. They all fit in the same driving lane. The 450 might be better in a parking lot, due to it's better turning radius.

As for national parks, all their bigger work trucks are dually, so there is no issues getting around within the parks. Some people are scared by their size.

THIS ^^^^^^^


INFORMATION CORRECTION
This is for F250 NOT DRW-F350-F450

Here’s the 5th wheel towing capabilities WITH Optional #4 Optional 9,900-lb. GVWR Package (68D) AND 3.55 gears. You could ask if they offer 3.73 or 4.10’s gears but the new trucks with a 10 speed transmission are a different animal from 20 years ago, even 10 years ago!

Regarding the Dually, the size offers unparalleled stability while towing and when DD the size intimidates those idiots that would normally cut you off or refuse to allow you to change lanes.

[gharrison]

Isn’t there a 11,400 lb package on the f-350 ? What does that include? The pin weight, hitch, and what else??

[RedHorse1]

Our 350 is a ‘13 2WD diesel and our 5th scaled 12700# a couple of years back. I think the newer Superdutys have an aluminum body (or some body parts) so are lighter so expect a newer one would have more payload but 4x4 is heavier than a 2WD so you give back at least some of that gain. In my case if my 5th was much heavier, say 14k or so, I feel I’d be in dually country but I have verified that I’m under all my load ratings (thank you Mr. CAT Scale). I’ve read some great things about the 10spd tranny and wish I had one. The 6.7 is a BEAST and it loves to pull.

[Colorado]

Originally Posted by gharrison

Isn’t there a 11,400 lb package on the f-350 ? What does that include? The pin weight, hitch, and what else??

FIRST, I apologize I just realized that above information is for a F250 not F350 or F450!!

Here’s the CORRECT INFORMATION FOR F350 AND F450! You DO have several GEARING OPTIONS to include 4:10 and 4:30’s!

[Radar57]

If you are going to be pulling a 15K/16K lbs 5er through mountains I would definitely recommend a DRW truck. A 4.10 would be better. You didn't say what year truck you are looking at. If it is a 2020 with the 10 speed the 3.55 should be able to handle it. We have a 2019 F350 with the 3.55 and it pulls our 5er with no problem. Not been in the hills with it.

[gharrison]

Only numbers we’re get close on is the cargo weight. I hate to load a truck to its limit, had rather stay under 80%.

How heavy is your rv? Model?

Hope to get a 2020.

We followed a family this week with a North Point pulled by a f-350 srw short bed. Each time a big truck passed them on the interstate it moved him around some.

Do you have this trouble?

Thank you

[Flyrotor]

The longer wheelbase will help (not eliminate) with the other trucks pushing it around, it also decreases the chance of the trailer striking the cab when turning sharp.

Granted, the long bed is not as friendly in a parking lot, but it is doable if you are patient. I personally prefer a long bed for stability and hauling lumber from Home Depot, and I get more exercise walking in the parking lots.

[LegalEagle]

I recently traded my GMC3500 SRW for a 3500 DRW. So I can't respond to your Ford questions, but the DRW is a must, in my opinion. I use it for a daily driver when not towing, and like others have said, I just have to park a little further out when going to the store. But in Texas, that's not a problem. That inconvenience is nothing compared to the better stability when towing. The 3500 SRW still got pushed around on the highway, and in the Texas wind. The DRW does not. I won't ever go back to a SRW. I pull a 2015 Jayco Eagle 323LKTS, and it is 12,950 GVRW.

[jimr63]

Originally Posted by gharrison

Only numbers we’re get close on is the cargo weight. I hate to load a truck to its limit, had rather stay under 80%.

How heavy is your rv? Model?

Hope to get a 2020.

We followed a family this week with a North Point pulled by a f-350 srw short bed. Each time a big truck passed them on the interstate it moved him around some.

Do you have this trouble?

Thank you

We have a 315RLTS and towed it with a 2018 Ram 2500 at first. I regeared the 2500 to 4.10's before trading it in on a 2018 3500 DRW with 4.10's. The difference is night and day. A 3/4 ton truck can handle the 315RLTS but if you want an enjoyable trip down the road a dually is the way to go. Just my $.02.

p.s. NOTHING (wind or trucks) moves me around going down the road. :-)

[poohbear]

I use a DRW Crew LB Chevy 3500 on our 321RLTS which dry is 10500. It's my daily driver since 2012 . If your going to be full time or semi full time go the 450/4500 .
However, not knowing where you will be registering/insureing you need to check. Some states view the 450/4500 pickups as " commercial " so that could get pricey each year. Also with the 350 DRW like my state Texas , you cross over to needing a Class A NON-CDL license if the combined GVWR exceeds 26000 lbs but it's no big deal to obtain.

[F350guy]

Our past 2 trucks have been duals. One a 3500 GMC and the last a 2017 F350. Both good trucks and did the job with our heavier previous fifth wheel. About a year ago we started looking at downsizing/upgrading a little and started with the truck. I just did not want another dually and the best compromise I could come up with was a 2020 Ford F350, single rear wheel, long bed, diesel with a 12,400 GVWR. My payload sticker is 4562 pounds.

The new Pinnacle 32RLTS is a perfect match for it. It is the best riding and handling combo we have ever had. When we brought it home a few weeks ago we had about 70 miles of 30 mph winds with gusts to 50 at our side. I could feel it but still never felt the least bit threatened. Stability was not an issue. I haven't weighed it yet but I have a feeling our Pinnacle has about 2900 or so hitch weight. It's listed at 24 something but we did add a Splendide washer dryer to the nose along with our stuff in the storage bays. I'm guessing my total weight of the Pinnacle will be north of 14,500.

With the F350 singles with a diesel the only 2 gear options are a 3.55 and 3.31. I got the 3.31 for a little better mileage empty but have been very pleased with how it tows. I never feel any lack of power in any gear. Above 60 mph it will go into 10th gear and stay there unless there is a pretty good incline. It will drop to 8th but it is hardly noticeable. We just did a trip to Branson which has some pretty steep hills to climb. I felt it held its speed better than my 17 which had a 3.55. I averaged 11.0 on the trip to Branson and 10.3 coming home. We had a pretty good head wind on the trip home. We drove it 120 miles solo yesterday and it showed 21.2 mpg, which is pretty common for my solo trips. The 6 speed 17 F350 dually would rarely be above 16 solo.

Lots of good choices.

[rkelly]

Go with the DRW and you won't regret it. I've had my F-350 DRW for 3 1/2 years now and love it. I did just ordered a F-450 so I could get the wide track front axle and bigger brakes. I also use mine as a daily driver.

[gharrison]

My wife trust me to make the right call. I’ve driven a 19’ f450 and was blown away at how it turned!!!! Crazy. You guys will think it funny but “my” last new truck ( I have bought 1/2 tons for my kids) is a 2002 F-250 7.3 L 6 speed manual with 3.73 rear gear 4 x4 short bed. We’re at 280,000 miles and we have been using it for the rv. We were in Georgia going up to Fort Mountain state park and had a couple hills that you could not get a run at and the old girl did fine but I had to grab 2nd gear. We’ve never been to the Rocky Mountains and legally we are over loaded anyways. I had a 1990 f-250 auto 2 x4 with 4.10 gear and with 45,000 miles the transmission seals failed while hauling a small flatbed trailer with a small load of hay. I promised myself then that I would never have a automatic transmission in a work truck again.

Sorry so long.... so the only choice I have now is automatic. In my mine the next weakest part of the drivetrain after the rear gear is the transmission, I don’t know a lot... lol
The 3.31 seems so high that I (in my mind) that the transmission would suffer. I praying for someone that deals with these trucks, lots of them, can without a doubt tell us the 3:55 gear will handle our 5er and not put too much on the transmission.

I’ve always been the person that if two nails will hold it let’s put three just in case. I need my mind at ease.

BTW.... the North Point tows like a dream

Thank you all and your experiences mean so much. Please continue to share.


I want my wife to be able to drive some while on the interstate. She would never other than that even though she drive this truck a lot but never with the rv.
We have a grandchild in South Carolina and we will at times carry the camper there we will visit more without it. They have street parking only in their subdivision and that would be the case while visiting town we explore when camping so that is hard with dual wheels. But it’s hard to park my srw short bed truck now so I know the long bed srw will take up two places. I’ll just have to deal with all these things and that is cool. But....

I jus

[BigoldAl]

Go for the 7.3 Godzilla I am looking at a F350 DRW 2wheel drive to replace my 1992 Crew F350 XLT , 7.3 IDI with a ATS Turbo, Gear Vendors, and Jardine exhaust. I have about 8 forward speeds but I get tired of shifting gears It has about 250K on it but runs great. I had a E350 Powerstroke super duty van that had 650K and about 10K hours of idling
The gas will be about $9000 cheaper, gas is much cheaper and no DEF. According to Ford it'll pull about 18K lbs , but if you have deep pockets and want to pull much heavier weights go for the 6.7.

[wdrew3554]

As a wise man once said. If you have more truck than you need it's still ok. Or...you can put 5lbs of beans in a 10lb barrel, but you can't put 10lbs of beans in a 5lb barrel. Get the DRW

[Slurugger]

Originally Posted by jimr63

We have a 315RLTS and towed it with a 2018 Ram 2500 at first. I regeared the 2500 to 4.10's before trading it in on a 2018 3500 DRW with 4.10's. The difference is night and day. A 3/4 ton truck can handle the 315RLTS but if you want an enjoyable trip down the road a dually is the way to go. Just my $.02.

p.s. NOTHING (wind or trucks) moves me around going down the road. :-)

For someone who also ponders this same scenario it's very helpful to hear from folks who've gone SRW to DRW or vice-versa.

I have a 2015 F250 SRW with bags towing a RLBH377 that scales around 15k. The 6.7L will get that trailer going in a hurry and will walk it down the mountains (been over MT Eagle, CO Rockies, etc). The 6-speed with exhaust brake walks the trailer down the grades without using brakes. Over 18k miles towing this setup.

Having said that, I think Jim has some good points here. On a flat calm day it is a joy to tow with the F250. When the wind starts to gust at all we know it and it becomes annoying to tow. There also is a lot more body roll. I believe any SRW will experience these issues when towing at 15k. The fact that Jim says its a joy to tow DRW says a lot.

I'm glad that my SRW has allowed me to get out there with my family. However, when I have the coin, I believe my next truck will be an F-450.

[F350guy]

As I said, my previous truck was a dually and it drove great. We pulled a 16,500 pound Excel with it. I am well past Medicare age and we did want something slightly smaller but still comfortable. I really wanted a short bed when I started looking last year but the GVWR just didn't give enough payload to make me comfortable.

Our Excel had a rear kitchen and no matter what truck we had it would jerk us around on uneven roads. We had it 8 years and tried 3 different trucks and a Trailer Saver air ride hitch with some improvement but the jerking, bucking, whatever never stopped. I always thought with the rear kitchen it just wasn't balanced right. Maybe everyone else has a smooth ride but for us our new combo gives us a ride we haven't had in quite a while.

As far as the 3.31 gearing goes, I studied it ad nauseum before I ordered my truck last October. Looking at the ratios for each of the 10 gears with the 3.55 and 3.31 there was not all that much difference. I did ask a few folks I consider knowledgeable and most said I probably would not be able tell much difference. I think the 10 speed is a game changer. If you buy one of the new 2020 GM models in a 2500 or 3500 srw diesel's the only option is 3.42. They also have a new 10 speed. I never worry about whether or the transmission or any other part is strong enough for what I want to do with it. I figure that is Ford's job to get the proper match up. If they get it wrong it will cost them at some point. I just look at the tow ratings and the yellow sticker on the driver's door post to make sure it will handle my load. No doubt a dually is better, I've had two, but I'm well covered with mine and it works pretty darn well.

Sorry for being a little wordy and I'm pretty sure I posted these pictures somewhere but at my age I forget. What a blessing.

[TxLoser]

Great looking setup.