I am considering upgrading to a 2017 F-350 because I'm not terribly happy with the towing stability of my 2016 F-150 pulling my 29' TT. I am not interested in getting a DRW truck so I'd like to get some feedback on if a SRW could handle the 5th wheel I'm interested in.

http://www.keystonerv.com/montana-high-country/models/305rl/model-mobile
10.4k lbs with 2300 lbs hitch weight, both dry.

For the truck, I am thinking F-350 CCSB 4x4 King Ranch and possibly ultimate package. The payload ratings I've seen on the forums have been all over the place, both higher and lower than I've seen in the Ford towing guide.

I am hoping I don't have to pick a smaller RV but would rather do that than get a DRW truck.

 

SRW would be fine. DRW will always be more stable, but you shouldn't have problems with what you are doing.

 

My fiver weights are nearly identical to what you are looking at. Expect you're loaded weight to go up 1500-2000 lbs and your loaded pin weight around 400 lbs. I have a 2017 f350 4wd crew cab long bed lariat with 5th wheel prep. My yellow sticker reads 3130. A short bed will add a couple hundred pounds to that so expect low 3's for payload. You're on the edge off being "legal". Depends on the size of your family and how much stuff you carry in your truck. For me I travel light and its usually just my wife and I. I have pulled this trailer with an f250 cc short bed, an f350 cc dually, and my current truck. Obviously I was over weight with the f250. But it handled the trailer fine. I prefer a long bed because they ride nicer. I also use the extra room sometimes, The 48 gallon fuel tank is the gravy on top. Going straight down the highway I don't notice much difference but when the wind picks up or the road gets curvy the dually is far superior. But I'm nit picking because if I never owned one previously I'd be fine with what I have. I think a srw f350 is the sweet spot for this size trailer though you could justify going dually, any larger and personally I'd want dually. Unless you're just trying to fit in your garage I'd get a long bed, but that's just me and I'm probably in the minority.

 

pin wt is gonna be closer to 2800 figuring 20% of the trailers GVW.


Dry wt means nothing, it will never be that lite again. There pin wt is not accurate either based upon the wet weight figures.


@ 2800 lbs (that goes against the payload) and the hitch and everything else I'd plan on about 3500 lbs being the end amount of payload.


So the question is...can a F350 carry 3500 lbs and not be over the rear axle rating or the tires and the answer is yes!

 

Agree with all this. Pick the best f350 configuration for your needs go buy that fiver.

 

I am no expert on the matter but I would venture to say that the large majority of people who pull big 5thW on a regular do so with DRW. Pulling 11k out for the weekend would be easy peasy for a SRW. If you plan on pulling this around the entire country side for months at a time you'll wish you had the DRW. It will handle the job though.

 

Not statistically based, but my observation when pulling my 5er with my F350 DRW, I would guess only 25% of the tow vehicles I have seen pulling 5ers are duallys. I would have expected to see more but typically don't.

 

As long as you don't exceed the truck's payload you should be OK with a SRW F-350.

 

I towed a 40ft. 5th wheel for 9 years with my 2008 F350 long bed diesel. The only problem you may have with a heavier trailer is the truck tires. After a couple delaminations on my 18" tires I went to Rickson Truck Wheels Rickson Wheel Manufacturing and purchased 19.5" wheels and tires. Load range H. End of tire problems.


The SRW will do the job. If you get into the heavier 5th wheel then you may want to think about a dually. You can see on my signature -- I did make the change.


bigdon68

 

The 350 srw should handle that fiver just fine. Keep in mind not all fifth wheels are designed the same which means they all range between 15-20% on the hitch. That being said, 2500-2800 is about the most I'd want on the hitch with a srw 350. Consequently your truck will weigh in around 8900lbs with fuel and two adults/gear. 11500-8900 = 2600 .... if your 350 srw is like mine the axle ratings are 7230 on rear, and 5200 on front for a total of 12430. 12430-11500 = 930... so there is a buffer there ratings wise.

Here is my setup, 2015 Jayco 361reqs, with a 6x14 trailer for the Mule Pro FXT.

 

I think this is the best point to be made...It all depends on the use of both the trailer and the truck. if you just do a few local/regional camping trips or outings and say it's maybe 20% of your usage of the truck, then get the truck best suited for the other 80% and can still handle your 20% towing. If you're like me, we do 7-10K miles a year, sometimes cross country for months at a time with our 5th wheel in tow, so we wanted a tow beast. Each person has their own needs....

 

Really great feedback from everyone. I really appreciate everyone's help.

Since your 5er is a both a bit heavier and a bit longer than what I am looking at, do you have any issues with towing stability in crosswind, semi trucks passing, etc?

 

This discussion is the prime reason I decided on the 350 DRW. I was going to go with the 450 but the added insurance and registration tax requirements in Maine made my go with the 350. My 5th wheel will be a Grand Design 311 BHS, hitch weight 2180 lbs, Gross weight 13995 lbs. The 350 DRW will handle that very easily. But As time goes on I'm thinking we will upgrade the 5th wheel to a larger one long before I'll feel the need to upgrade the truck. PLUS I'm the type that likes the extra margin of safety in the tow vehicle. The Dually offers that extra margin of safety and reliability for future upgrades.

 

This is what I pull (2015 Jayco Pinnacle 36REQS with 2410# dry hitch weight spec and 14,000# leaving the factory) and I don't even feel that trailer back there with the 350 compared to my old 250 (which was a relaxed towing ride to begin with). My 250 was on air bags which made it ride better but the power wasn't there compared to the 6.7 and the new truck does not have any sway in the corners as well as a firm footprint on the road with a crosswind or passing traffic. I had a 35' bumper pull before this and there is no way I am ever going back, I hated pulling it in the wind or passing transports as the truck would be all over the lane. I will never forget my last trip with it on my way to get my 5er, there was 2 days of crazy high winds and when I hitched onto my Pinnacle it was as relaxed pulling it home as driving the truck without a trailer. I have no doubt a DRW would be night and day difference again like what I felt from my 250 to 350 but for me the 350 SRW tows my trailer very well and I do not ever get a regret where I should have bought more truck. I have absolutely no desire to get a DRW either as that brings a whole new level of headaches when driving it the rest of the time without the trailer in tow or when trying to get into the lots of our campgrounds which can already be a real treat with a short box SRW