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.

 

[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.

 

[NHSeasonal]

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

 

[overpolished]

Hi Paul,

Congrats on the new Solitude!! I just purchased a new 2014 Ram to tow my ________________ <-- Nothing here as I have not made a decision yet.... sigh. The new Ram's are fantastic.... you will enjoy the truck. I chose to go long bed so I would not have to deal with any clearance issues. I am not certain there would be any with any of the GD 5th wheels... but why take the chance. The current day trucks have all kinds of crazy stuff that make moving a big LB DRW around pretty darn easy. We have a fantastic factory backup camera and a in bed cargo camera. The 5th wheel prep gets rid of the... "always in the way" rails. Congrats... and good luck finding a perfect new truck!

 

[Paul1379]

Not a Government Motors person that's a whole other discussion on its own, Fords have issues with their transmission, hard to find Ram 3500 on car lots that I like. Laramie start around 60K more than what I want to spend and the entry level start around 42K but are pretty plain, Used with around 60K miles are around 35K so at that point you might as well buy a new new one. frustrating...

 

[thompsons 369rl]

Not a Government Motors person that's a whole other discussion on its own, Fords have issues with their transmission, hard to find Ram 3500 on car lots that I like. Laramie start around 60K more than what I want to spend and the entry level start around 42K but are pretty plain, Used with around 60K miles are around 35K so at that point you might as well buy a new new one. frustrating...

Interesting. That's the first I've heard of any trans issues with Ford. What year(s), truck and trans are you talking about?

 

[Steve and Cill]

Andy, I thought maybe you were going to jump on that

Steve

 

[thompsons 369rl]

Andy, I thought maybe you were going to jump on that

Steve

Dang right! I just saw the recall on certain 2015 Super Dutys for a "calibration" issue. Other than that, I think we're good.

 

[mburtsvt]

Not a Government Motors person that's a whole other discussion on its own, Fords have issues with their transmission, hard to find Ram 3500 on car lots that I like. Laramie start around 60K more than what I want to spend and the entry level start around 42K but are pretty plain, Used with around 60K miles are around 35K so at that point you might as well buy a new new one. frustrating...

I think you are on the right track. I over bought my first diesel truck. A 2006 F350 King Ranch. It was on the lot with 60 month no interest, (about an $8k savings back then). I ran it 160K miles before I sold it in 2012. Got a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 in late 2011.

Just sold it in July and going back to a Ford F450. I did have an extended warranty on the Ram. It had a few problems - none major. All in all a good truck - just too much truck. It was a hard ride and very noisy. Towing was excellent.

I’m getting a F450 stripper, (low optioned). I don’t need a truck to drive around town in - just to tow the fifth wheel.

At the end of the day there was not enough difference between the Ford and Ram. I would rather buy from an American company this time around.

 

[overpolished]

Not a Government Motors person that's a whole other discussion on its own, Fords have issues with their transmission, hard to find Ram 3500 on car lots that I like. Laramie start around 60K more than what I want to spend and the entry level start around 42K but are pretty plain, Used with around 60K miles are around 35K so at that point you might as well buy a new new one. frustrating...

The problem with GM right now is max tow is 23,100..... they should spend less time on fancy LED rings around the headlights and more time on capability IMO

From direct experience you will be able to get a 2014 Ram 3500 DRW 4.10 gears, 850lb ft (Highest Output) Cummins with Aisin, Laramie, Crew Cab, 4x4, 8.4AN (Navigation), 220 AMP Alternator, Transfer Case skid plate, In Bed/Cargo Camera, Sliding rear window, 5th wheel prep, etc, etc... for under $55k.

Remember that in 2013 Ram dramatically upped their towing capability.

 

[NHSeasonal]

Not a Government Motors person that's a whole other discussion on its own, Fords have issues with their transmission, hard to find Ram 3500 on car lots that I like. Laramie start around 60K more than what I want to spend and the entry level start around 42K but are pretty plain, Used with around 60K miles are around 35K so at that point you might as well buy a new new one. frustrating...

I'm with you there. I prefer dealing with non bail out companies when I can!

 

[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

 

[mburtsvt]

Hears where we disagree.
First the Ford engine is a 6.7 not a 6.0. They were discontinued back in 2008. The 6.0 did have it’s problems, so did the pre 2012 DODGE RAM 2500 Diesel, (it made Consumer Reports top 10 worst built cars for 2012).

I had a 2013 Ram, (and here is where we need to be clear - it’s not a Dodge Ram, just a Ram truck - Dodge is the car brand) - Not a bad truck, but just to much truck. It made you feel like you were in an old time truck. Just too rough for my taste. If I was a retired truck driver I would love it.

I’m back in a 2015 F450.

We do agree with the need for a dually. I see people pulling 13-16K fifth wheels with a single wheel back end. It’s just too dangerous.

I’m confused with the 30,000lb rating on the Ram truck. You could only use that rating if you have a commercial license. The combined weight for a trailer and truck has to be less than 26,000lb. Anything over needs a CDL. I guess thats why in all of the Ram commercials when they flash the rating on the screen the truck is not on a highway.

Make sense to me.

 

[WhittleBurner]

My son is the head mechanic in a garage and he loves chrysler products. Because of all the money he makes off them from breaking down all the time.