New truck

[Paul1379]

We just purchased a 2014 Solitude, need a new truck, I'm a dodge man so will buy a new 3500, the question is Long bed vs short bed, whats the plus and minuses if any. Go....

[Steve and Cill]

Welcome to the forum Paul and congratulations on your new Solitude! From what I have read, the short bed Dodge has a smaller, in length, bed than Chevys and Fords. If so, then you would probably have to have a slider hitch in a short bed Dodge.

Steve

[Paul1379]

I'm kinda wondering what the advantages are over short vs long, if any? I would prefer getting a short bed but does stability going down the road come into play?

[thompsons 369rl]

I'm kinda wondering what the advantages are over short vs long, if any? I would prefer getting a short bed but does stability going down the road come into play?

I tow with a short bed. Been over 6000 miles so far with our Solitude. The only thing I did to the truck was add a set of Timbrens to the rear axel. No issues with stability at all.

[mburtsvt]

Long Bed. Think about buying American as well, (Ford or Chevy).

[NHSeasonal]

Ill add a question to Paul's question IF I am towing a 369FL, Must the truck be a duallie? Or is SRW sufficient? I usually drive a F150 which obviously is not gonna cut it. But was thinking F250 or F350? Just started looking, but it seems to get into a dual in a Ford i need to step to a 550 which is probably alot more truck than I want or need.

[thompsons 369rl]

Ill add a question to Paul's question IF I am towing a 369FL, Must the truck be a duallie? Or is SRW sufficient? I usually drive a F150 which obviously is not gonna cut it. But was thinking F250 or F350? Just started looking, but it seems to get into a dual in a Ford i need to step to a 550 which is probably alot more truck than I want or need.

If you're talking about a 369RL, an F350 SWR is fine. That's what I tow mine with. If it's a 379FL, an F350 dually is a must because of the pin weight.

[NHSeasonal]

Thanks! Ya it's a 379FL I am looking at....

[mburtsvt]

Ill add a question to Paul's question IF I am towing a 369FL, Must the truck be a duallie? Or is SRW sufficient? I usually drive a F150 which obviously is not gonna cut it. But was thinking F250 or F350? Just started looking, but it seems to get into a dual in a Ford i need to step to a 550 which is probably alot more truck than I want or need.

You posted a 369FL - I believe you mean a 369RL or a 379FL. Both are 16000 lbs. GVWR, so yes a dually would be a better recommendation. The Ford F350 can be ordered as a dually. Same as the Dodge 3500. You don’t need to step up to a F550 or even a F450.

[Allang17]

We have towed 5th wheels for years now, dual wheels are the only way to go. IF you had a blow out with single wheel just think about your family and how that trailer could throw that truck around like a rag doll. Not worth the risk.. We see several deserter each year with trailers and trucks that are to small... I think it is a joke some people like to brag that they are pulling a 16,000lb trailer with a 350 or 2500 rated for Max 15,000lbs. It's not that you can haul it, it's that you can stop it or handle it when something goes wrong. It is a topic for another forum but watch any Ford with a 6.0 Diesel, they are all junk (and I'm a ford guy) and if you pull a trailer of any size it will not last... We now have a 2014 3500 Dodge, 30,000lb rating.. Fully loaded for $51,000... best truck made for the money... pulling a 42' Redwood (my son) and I use a single axel Freightliner to pull the new GD Momentum 380 we just purchased... Be safe