If I'd be ordering a new 2012 I would get it with the 17" aluminum wheels. Bigger isn't always better IMO.

 

Not to hijack your thread, but when you go to look at the air bags I would be happy to help you find the right kit and possibly a controller if you are interested. Even if you plan to go with Firestone it would at least give you something to compare prices and quality to.

Sorry to hear about your wreck, from the look of your avatar it was pretty serious. I hope nobody was injured, I would hate to be on the receiving end of that wreck in anything smaller than a dump truck.

 

When you go to buy... tell the dealer you're not taking anything with 20" wheels... I'll bet they'd be more than happy to get a set and gouge somebody reselling them.

 

Ok. So everybody thinks 20"'are a problem. And about the airbags - I know NOTHING!! I just wanna do the right thing! Help me make a good decision please. The f 250 was totaled on a guard rail and a bridge. Single vehicle. Darn deer.

 

18" or 17" wheels would give you the best RPM's and torque.

Airbags...you want something that you can control each bag independently. A dual controller.

You also want at least a gal on board tank so that your compressor does not have run alot. The tank you also want an aux off of it so you can run a hose off it to fill up tires if you have one that is low or have bike tires and stuff.

So a dual control, a heavy duty compressor, 1 gal tank and air bags.

 

Thanks for that. My 5th wheel has an on board air compressor too since its a toy hauler. I have a locomotive horn on the truck so it already has a compressor. I wonder if that will serve a dual purpose? It has a tank as well.

 

You are going to end up on your lid.
12500@20%=2500 [12500@25%=3125] 16800@20%=3360 [16800@25%=4200]
Get a duelly.
Investigate static loads and dynamic loads and buy some reserve capacity.
Actually, as long as it has lite up mirrors and chrome bits its probably good to go.

 

Now you're scaring me. Is the 20% thing load in the bed?? Never had a fifth wheel. The duelly is tough for city driving. That's the only thing holding me back

 

Pin weight (the load carried by the truck) should typically be around 20% of the total trailer weight. If the pin weight is what you said earlier, you should be fine with SRW. If it's up near 3000 or higher, I would say you need a DRW without a doubt. Only way to know the real pin weight is to put it on a truck scale.

 

I may have missed it, but I didn't see if you planned to purchase a 4x4 or not. The kit we offer for the 4x4 is 57396, and 2wd is kit 57395.

We currently don't offer any controllers that are designed to work with compressors and tanks already installed. However, the kit alone comes with plumbing to allow you to manually fill the bags from outside the truck. Depending on how much money you wanted to spend you could just run a line from the tank on board to fill the bags up with a standard shrader valve attachment.

As Senix mentioned, I would also recommend a dual controller. This would give you the ability to independently adjust each side. At a minimum I would suggest kit 25852. If you already have a tank and compressor I can put you in contact with the right place to just buy pieces of the kit you need. You would have to run a valve in place of the kit compressor, which is what I believe Senix is running.

 

Wrong..totally wrong.

 

As for the turning issue. I towed a 5th wheel camper with my short bed 06 using the B&W Companion setup with no issues at all in tight spots.

 

I am going to end up with ford factory set ups. Senix you are pulling what I just bought so I'm going with you on this one. Over the road experience says a lot. But you DO have airbags right? And you would still add em to a 350 SRW?

 

I have the bags and I would get them even with the F350. I would opt for the firestones with dual command.

 

I'm curious what makes it troublesome for you. I drive an F-450 as my daily driver and I have zero issue. No more issue than I'd have with a 4-door longbed anything else. Actually, in my case probably a bit less because the 450 turns on a dime because of the front axle.