Dually daily driving questions

[TheLexx]

The F450 has more robust half shafts. Dana rates the M300 has having a 16k lbs load capacity. The brakes are 50% bigger on the 450. And its turning radius is 6' tighter.

Folks who carry really heavy Host Mammoth and Eagle Cap truck campers and went from a 350 to a 450, report their 450 handles the heavy truck camper much more easily.

The 14k lbs restriction is for all Class III trucks and is basically for tax purposes. Folks have registered their F450's for 15 and 16k lbs GVW, which is 1-2k lbs over the yellow payload sticker.

Furthermore one of own forum members was recently caught up in a CHP roadside inspection dragnet where all RVs had to pull over and be weighed. The member reported that the CHP officer weighed the rear axle and then compared that weight with the load rating of the rear tires. He did NOT look at the yellow payload sticker.

Those guys with the Host Mammoth and Eagle Cap truck campers are hauling around TCs that weigh in the neighborhood of 6500 lbs. That's well over the yellow sticker of any F450.

Believe what you want. You wont convince me or probably anyone else on this forum that has an F450 that the F350 is more capable because it has a higher number on a yellow sticker.

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[dragonfly]

Dragonfly I just ordered a 2021 F-450 King Ranch to pull my 385 GK. I have a 2019 F-350 SWD King Ranch and decided to stop playing the weight guessing game to stay legal. The 2019 has a capacity of 3360 lbs and my last trip to the scale had the truck at 12,320 and the trailer axel at 11,500 lb. my pin weight was 3500. Surprisingly my rear axel weight was 7280 compared to a rating of 7200. I thought I would be over that by a few hundred pounds. I use the Andersen Ultimate Hitch and the 2019 has the 6.75 foot bed. I never test drove the F-450 but have read a lot of positive comments. Dual wheels and the 8 foot bed will take some getting use to. I saw your post and the similarities were unreal.

GunDog,
I had a member of this forum recommend verifying the height of the 450 with the Solitude 385GK in order to ride level and not loose proper clearance between truck bed and overhang of trailer (overhang is 59.5” from ground) .
He was not in any way saying the 450 was too high, but to simply check.
I don’t know what hitch you are planning on using or if you are considering the Mo-Ryde suspension systems they talk about on this forum, but would appreciate hearing back from you as you develop your plans.
I got a height from ground to pin box of 49 1/2”(I was given this measurement from my dealer, he said this measurement is from ground to where the flange of the fifth wheel touches the flange of the pin box).
I’m probably going to upgrade my suspension on the trailer, but not sure. I am also wondering if the maximum height that I’m at right now 13’4” is going to be increased too much for typical covered storage facilities and/or other clearances ?

[GunDog]

I have a 2019 F-350 SRW King Ranch with 20” tires and 5000 lb Air Lift Airbags. I use the Andersen Ultimate Hitch and I have 7-8 inches of clearance between the camper and the bed rails. The Solitude rides level with 30 lbs in the airbags. My bed rail measurements are center of the tailgate 60” rear corner 60” middle 59 1/4” front corner by cab 58 3/4”. My Solitude came with the MORyde pin box. I have never measured the height and probably should. I use 14’ as the minimum bridge height that I will go under. The F-450 is reported to be an inch lower that the F-350 King Ranch with 20” tires. I recommend the Andersen Ultimate Hitch. It has 3 ball height setting and I use the middle setting.

[hoogy1111]

Lots of good info on here. I am too thinking about going from SRW to DRW i have GMC 2500 HD . Looking at this PRE-OWNED 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500HD .Crew Cab Long Box 4WD Denali . It is diesel with 87,931. Asking $49,000.00. What do you think about this . Good deal or not

[Txfivver]

Just got in a 2021 F350 Lariat dually GAS 7.3 today. Pretty loaded truck, even had the big sunroof. The payload sticker read 6350 pounds. I think that combo is going to be great for people with a fairly big trailer but don't want to fool with a diesel.

[FT4NOW]

Lots of good info on here. I am too thinking about going from SRW to DRW i have GMC 2500 HD . Looking at this PRE-OWNED 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500HD .Crew Cab Long Box 4WD Denali . It is diesel with 87,931. Asking $49,000.00. What do you think about this . Good deal or not

Just to give you a close perspective. I recently sold my 2016 F350 DRW Lariat, CC, 4WD, long bed, diesel (59k miles) to a local dealer and they have it listed for sale at $49,900.

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[cookinwitdiesel]

Lots of good info on here. I am too thinking about going from SRW to DRW i have GMC 2500 HD . Looking at this PRE-OWNED 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500HD .Crew Cab Long Box 4WD Denali . It is diesel with 87,931. Asking $49,000.00. What do you think about this . Good deal or not

The pre-2017 Duramax (LML generation) has some documented issues with reliability. May be part of why it appears to be a deal. I would seek out a 2017-2019 (L5P) if you can - big boost in output too.

[hoogy1111]

Thank you for info

[WhittleBurner]

People keep saying GM has issues but I have never read anything wrote up about it except for rumors. Everything I read talks about the Duramax being a great drive train. We have a 2015 Duramax with 60k miles and have not had 1 problem with it. It pulls great and does everything it is supposed to do. One thing I disliked with dodge was their mirrors. They stick out a mile and when going down a narrow lane I always felt like they were going to hit something.

[hoogy1111]

Thank you for your input. I have researched and cannot find anything bad really to report. one person said the had DEF problem but GMC paid for it.