As many others, I'm excited to learn about the new Super Duty in a few weeks. I am trying to decide whether to get a new '17 F350 SRW or try to get a deal on a '16 DRW (F350 max tow or F450) for the wide track.

Ideally, I could drive the new truck to work often, which is possible, but not ideal with a 4.30 geared dually...

After much (too much) research, it appears that the pin weight of many 40' - 42' bunkhouse fifth wheels is around 2200# - 2600# dry. With the basement storage, propane, battery, MBR, etc. up front, it seems that the real pin weight may be in the 3000# - 3400# range. It seems that a F350 is way over its limits with these trailers:

With a nice 6.7 PSD king ranch F350 and a full tank of fuel: 8200#
Add a family of 5: 8200# + 800# = 9000#
Add a fifth wheel hitch, some bikes, some firewood: 9000# + 400# = 9400#
Add the "lighter" of the pin weights: 9400# + 3000# = 12400# --> 900# OVER F350 GVWR!!! (but sadly, not over the Ram 3500 limit )

As far as how much truck I really need, I keep hearing "its all about the pin weight, the pin weight, the pin weight..." So here's my question: If the 2017 really is 900# lighter with the same GVWR, would it be a good fit for a 40' bunkhouse? I see them at campgrounds all of the time on F250s and older F350s, but that doesn't mean my family will be safe in that rig. Thoughts before I learn about the 2017 in Sept and the mad dash to grab up the 2015 and 2016 bargins are much appreciated.

 

Take the trailer's GVW and figure 20% for the king pin wt.


Forget the dry weight. A DRW would be the best option but you can get one with 3.73 gears, it will pull just fine.

 

I'm concerned about the turning circle with the 3.73. With the 4.30, I get the wide track front, the same as the F450. This makes the turning circle much tighter making it easier in campgrounds and parking lots.

Do you think the 6' tighter turning circle isn't worth having 4.30 gears?

I am hopeful that the new SRW will have an extra 1000# capacity or so. I'm sure looking forward to the big reveal.

 

I have no problems with mine. A lot of people like the tighter turning but I don't need it myself.

 

I tow a 45' 5ver with the standard steering and have no problem with it. Had the wide track before too...

 

Wife enjoys the turning radius. worth it for happy wife
Been in some parking fifth wheel situations that turn radius made the difference

 

The GVWR for my 2014 dually is 14000. According to your math, that leaves you 1600 to spare. With your pin weight and cargo weight I would not even consider a SRW. I know a lot of people tow that weight with a SRW, and I towed with one for a long time. But this is my second dually and I would never go back to a SRW for towing a 5th wheel with that pin weight. Plus, a new truck should last a least a decade or longer and who knows what kind of 5th wheel you will upgrade to in that time. Most of the larger toy haulers are too heavy for a SRW. And I agree with senix, a dually with 3.73:1 gears is all most pwople will ever need. Good luck.

 

Thanks for your input. With a 23500 GCVR rating, this also limits the fifth wheel to 14100. Many of them weigh more that, especially when loaded with a full water tank. From my calculations, not are only most toy haulers too heavy for a SRW, most fifth wheels are. The more I have looked into this, the more I marvel at how many F250s I see with big fifth wheels.

I want to be able to drive the truck to work fairly often, and was thinking the 6' tighter turning circle would make the 4.30 axle much better for negotiating parking lots (F350 or F450). I understand this helps back into camping spots as well.

I am concerned that my mileage would be terrible running 2000 RPM at 65 (vs 1500 for the 3.55 20" SRW). The fuelly website has most F450 owners reporting 10 - 11 MPG.

 

I've only put about 3k on mine so far. I had a 2004 6.0 before this one. I never had too much trouble with getting it into tight spaces with the 5th wheel. The 6.7 turns a lot tighter than the '04. I think its something you just get accustomed to with time. As far as mileage goes, I agree, the 3.73 is a better choice for everyday driving, which is what I do. If I don't run into the wind, I get about 18mpg at 65 on the highway. That can drop to about 16 if you have much of a headwind. I've only towed with it once so far and I got about 11mpg over a 500 mile trip. One reason I like the heavier payload is for future upgrades. I plan to put an RDS tank in my bed eventually. If I go with a 90 gallon, that will add 700 or 800 more pounds to the weight when full. Even with 14K GVWR, its not hard to start pushing the limits.

 

I think my GCVWR is 30,500 and the 5th wheel towing rating is 22,800. I doubt I will ever tow that heavy but I can see us getting a 16k toy hauler some day. Right now I estimate my trailer fully loaded at around 14,500 which means the pin weight is around 3,000. The truck is about 8,200 plus 5 people, 2 dogs, the hitch, fuel, and whatever else will fit in it. I haven't weighed this one yet but I think it is probably about 12,500 on the truck and 12,000 on the trailer axels for a total of 24,500 going down the road.

 

I towed the fifth wheel,with the 04 and the new one. In the wind it was a challenge with the 04. With the 15 with 30 mph cross wind I don't hardly notice it. So my own opinion is dually.

 

This further validates my concern. You have a typical 14,500# trailer and you'd be ~1,000 over the GCVR of a 2016 F350 SRW. My dream would be that the 2017 moves the SRW GVWR from the current 11,500 to 12,500 (to beat the RAM's 12,400) and loses 1000# due to the aluminum. That would give a real nice 2000# bump in carrying capacity and tow most fifth wheel RVs within all of its limits.

 

I see that you have the max tow.

What do you think of the wide track front axle?
What kind of mileage do you get empty?
How is the ride empty?

 

I towed out west with the SRW and there were times when I thought the crosswind would be the end of it.

 

Love the wide track. Wife loves how it handles as she drives it a lot when home.

We get 10.5 towing to Florida from michigan. Solo we get 16.5 grocery getting etc.
It doesn't tire us out riding like our 04 did empty or towing on long trips.
With max tow I sometimes forget the fifth wheel,is back there.