I have always wanted a 1994 to 1997 F350 quad cab (four full doors) 4x4 diesel truck with the power mirrors. Not a dully if I can help it.

Recently I have decide to start really looking for one to haul my boat. I have a Trojan cruiser that isn't meant for trailering. It ways 12,500 lbs dry. Add the weight of the 300 gallon fuel tank and the equipment in the boat and I am going to guess that I am around 16,000 lbs.

I am looking at having a trailer custom built for the boat. Not sure if I should have them build a gooseneck or different style hitch. More importantly, I am not sure if the F350 with a 7.3 liter diesel non-dually 4x4 will pull this thing. I have been searching the net but keep getting confused by acronyms such as GCWR and GVW and so forth.

So the bottom line is I have two questions.

1. Will this truck I love pull a 16,000 lb boat?
2. If yes, what type of trailer should I be looking at? Gooseneck or regular style?

Any input would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Jim Sprague

 

Yes and gooseneck. Look at my mods and I've pulled 24K with no problems at all. Do more mods then I have and you can pull more. I did add the firestone air bags to carry extra weight, they work great.

 

I pull a 42 foot gooseneck a lot with about 13-14000 weight (open double car hauler) and a 32 foot bumper hitch enclosed trailer weighing 12000 lbs and do fine with the few mods I have listed. Get one with 4.10 gears and you won't need hardly any mods and it will pull fine. I have 3.55's and it works but not ideal

 

I pull goose necks and fifth wheels up to approx 25k with my 3/4 ton and the motor and truck does just fine. make sure you have good brakes on the trailer. also unplug them before you put the boat in the water. But i would go with a goose neck trailer if it was me. enjoy the boat
Bill

 

By the welcome to fte.

 

FYI I have 95 dually crew cab and pull a 12,000 lb 5th wheel with no problem. Its stock with no mods and a 4.10 rear end. It gets 8 to 9 mpg at 65 mph pulling the trailer and 12 to 14 empty. I'm told newer ones get better mileage. It has 170,000 miles on it and I'm told they will go 500,000.

 

That's exactly what my truck did stock when I first got it. I get about 10 pulling and the best I've done is 15.7 empty. I know, I know, there is a bunch out there who get 18-20mpg.

 

If you're looking for a 4x4, it won't be a dually. DRW 4x4 didn't come from the factory until 2003.

 

1997 f350 cab & chassis dually 4x4. I guess I did not own it for three years.