Tow Vehicle Decision

[Loretta2.0]

Looking at tow vehicle for 375RES-R. Specifically been looking at:
F350 Super Duty, 4x4, Dually, Crew Cab, 8ft bed, 6.7l Duramax, 6 speed auto transmission &
Ram 3500, 4x4, Dually, Crew Cab, 8ft Bed, 6.7l Cummins, 6 speed auto transmission

Just not sure having never purchased a truck this big. I've been a Dodge guy for years but I'm willing to drive Ford or even Chevrolet if it's better than Dodge. We plan to full-time and do a lot of traveling so I want to be comfortable but I dont want comfort to outweigh quality and durability.

Thanks.

[ncitro]

If I was going to full time, and in dually territory I’d go F450 over F350 (never driven Dodge so no help there). The F450 is not much more than that F350, and is worth it for the reduced turning radius alone imo.

[MidwestCamper]

Test drive each one to help make a decision. Comfort, features and cost will point you where you need to be. You may also want to wait for the new GM HD to make your comparisons. I've driven them all and the ride quality is truly amazing.

[Second Chance]

The perfect truck: Cummins diesel engine paired with an Allison transmission on a Freightliner chassis with a Ford cab and interior. In other words, everything is a compromise. For a Solitude, I would be most comfortable with a DRW truck, whichever make you choose. The comment on the turning radius of the F450 vs. the F350 is valid, but I've had no issues with the turning radius of our F350 LB CC DRW.

Rob

[Airrace]

Rob hit it on the head. Each one of us has a valid point of why we have the best truck. Go drive some trucks on the dealers dime and gas and have fun. My signature tells my story.

[cookinwitdiesel]

Drive them all, none are a bad choice and all have their pros and cons. It is usually hardest to just convince people they need a dually but you got there on your own

As for the new GMs, they should be pretty dang nice but will be more expensive than the outgoing generation (which works fine but does have lower payload rating than the competition - still plenty for anything GD sells though). The new trucks have the same Duramax engine but a new 10 speed transmission (Allison-ish depending on who you ask) and the rest of the truck is pretty much ground up new design. Personally, that is a lot of new electronics that will need tuning - I would be weary of the first model year.

As a reference point, I have a loaded 2019 GMC 3500HD Denali Duramax and my payload is 4525# per the door sticker. Fords and Rams are often 900-1000 higher. The GMs tend to drive better unloaded though which may be a factor.

The F-450 has a sweet front-end giving it that nice turning radius however your tire selection is very limited due to the odd wheel size Ford went with - it will be a bumpier ride with the larger commercial grade tires when unloaded.

[FT4NOW]

I agree with the above. Test drive them and see what you like. While test driving, take a look at the yellow loading sticker and compare available payloads assuming you would purchase that exact truck since the payload is calculated off the truck options and is unique to each truck. I have an F350 and my only complaint is the turning radius, but it isnt awful. It is noticeable in small parking lots, but has never been such an issue where I would consider switching to an F450. You learn to drive whatever you you are driving, with and without the trailer attached.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[[email protected]]

Not only the turning radius of theF450 over the 350, but you also get bigger brakes bigger axles bigger rear ends bigger drive shafts and a different Spring package that makes it ride smoother when empty, over the F350.

[boyscout]

Looking at tow vehicle for 375RES-R. Specifically been looking at:
F350 Super Duty, 4x4, Dually, Crew Cab, 8ft bed, 6.7l Duramax, 6 speed auto transmission &
Ram 3500, 4x4, Dually, Crew Cab, 8ft Bed, 6.7l Cummins, 6 speed auto transmission

Just not sure having never purchased a truck this big. I've been a Dodge guy for years but I'm willing to drive Ford or even Chevrolet if it's better than Dodge. We plan to full-time and do a lot of traveling so I want to be comfortable but I dont want comfort to outweigh quality and durability.

Thanks.

I bought my F350 SRW diesel short box for a lighter trailer, then traded the trailer for a heavier one. I've been VERY pleased with the Ford but if I could start over I'd very likely buy the F450.

- The turning radius of the F350 is frustratingly wide - a number of experienced campground people have remarked on that while guiding us into a site.

- Our trailer is not at all heavily loaded - probably unusually lightly-loaded - yet the truck is touching its helper springs when hooked up. It bucks like a bronco over bad bridge transitions.

- It has lots of power but it works hard in hilly country with its high gear ratio and probably suffers on fuel consumption. On a trip into a stiff headwind in the Ozark Hills one day the truck was getting just over 6 mpg while typical is about 11 mpg with trailer, about 18 mpg without. (Of course the lower-gear-ratio F450 will use more fuel when it's not towing.)

- The brakes in the 350 seem adequate and are still going strong after over 50K miles (about 15K of that towing) but the bigger brakes in the 450 would likely be more comforting.

I bought the short-box 350 SRW with an auto-slider hitch so that I'd have a smaller, less fuel-thirsty truck to drive 70% of the time when NOT towing, and with the lighter Reflection we had I felt pretty good about that choice. Not so sure any more. I've been looking online at F450s. Shhh, don't tell my wife.

[cookinwitdiesel]

Would short-box vs long-box really impact the MPG in a meaningful way though? The added weight is negligible and the change to aerodynamics is also negligible. I could see how a DRW may be a little lower due to the greater cross-sectional area (albeit, with smooth-ish curves to help some) and greater rolling resistance.

I find it curious that Ford has offered the F-450 for so long as a consumer available vehicle and Ram and GM seem content to not put anything up against it in that class.