I have to say, I had my mind all made up on my new 17 SD order but after spending about an hour on this forum, now I'm questioning my direction. Maybe some of your veterans of pulling/hauling can point me in a better direction.

I going to be using my SD to pull an INTERSTATE 12 TON GOOSENECK TRAILER TILT & STATIONARY DECK and haul heavy equipment (specs below):

Model:G24TDT
Load Capacity: 24,000 lbs. at 55 mph. (G.V.W.R. 30,600 lbs.)
Overall Length: 38 feet 1 inch
Deck Length: 28 feet (24 foot tilt deck + 4 foot stationary deck)
Deck Width: 8 foot 6 inches
Deck Height: 36 inched unloaded








I thought Diesel was a no-brainer, but many on this forum are saying gas is the way to go?

Also, F350DRW or F450DRW? As you know, the diesel motor is like 8 grand. Should I get a F450DRW in gas?

 

Can't get the 450 pickup with a gas engine. I vote diesel if you plan on using that trailer to it's full potential.

 

I see that UGA33, I should have reviewed this more before asking the question.

Ok, so Diesel F350DRW or F450DRW? I ran the builds on both and they're close in price (a few thousand higher on the F450). It seems the F350DRW will be plenty but I'm curious as to what others think.

Thanks.

 

The 350 DRW will definitely handle that weight, especially with the new towing numbers the 2017s will get.

The 450 will just do it easier.

 

And is the look of the F350 and the F450 exactly the same, except beefier suspension?

Are the frames the same?

 

The look is slightly different because of the wide track front end and 19.5" wheels on the 450. I think the 450s look better.

F-450


F-350


I just re-read your trailer's weight. Is the 30k you listed the combo rating or just trailer? I'm assuming since you said the trailer was a 12 ton it's combo. If so, the 350 could handle that.

 

F-450 will have a beefier front end (wide track) and tighter turn radius than the f-350 along with small splash guards on the front fenders. I like this with the addition of the 19.5 inch rims on the f-450 make it look tough.

 

The total weight (trailer and load) is 30,600. The load max is 24,000 and the trailer weighs 6,600.

Yeah, my dealer said the F350DRW will do it, but if I ever push it I'm thinking the F450 would be better and I agree Fidel, it looks cool, which 50% of a truck for for function and the other 50% is for the chicks

 

 

The 450 will also get 4.30 gears and the steepest you get with a DRW 350 is 4.10's. I'd go 450 for sure. Well, I am going 450 for sure too....LOL.

The 19.5 tires will give more stability towing as well but will give up winter traction. I'm going with a dedicated winter tire set...

 

Hi Karl,

I'm thinking 450 too. I just talked to my guy at the Ford store and he said the the problem he is having with the 450s are build times. He said he waited almost 8 months on a 2016 450 build.

So the strategy is going to submit a new 17 450 build and if he doesn't get a confirm build date in a couple of weeks, we'll drop down to the 350.

I guess the 450s are not very common builds?

 

I think it's more of an allocation issue your describing. Dealers get 450's as fast at 350's. If you have a small dealer who doesn't have an allocation to build on is where the wait comes in. My dealer get's 450's in 8 weeks just like all his other SD's.

 

Ah, ok, well, that makes sense Karl. I know my dealership does a lot of trucks, but I'm in Bellevue, WA and most of the trucks they sell are for horse people (so Platinum & King Ranch 250s and 350s).

What part of the country are you in?

 

Question for you Karl. On the 450, the front fenders stick out a bit more then the 250/350 to accommodate the wider front axle, correct? That's what I was told.

Also, can you pick your front axle? Or is it only one brand?

 

Any other body differences that you know about (other than the front fenders and badging of course)?