Questions before I buy
#1
06-17-2018, 11:26 AM
Questions before I buy
Warning - my current and previous setup are going to bring out the tow capacity police.
I’m struggling with a decision. Bought my 18 F250 Platinum in Jan that replaced my 17 F250 King Ranch. King Ranch was my first diesel and man I love these trucks. We bought the King Ranch because we bought a High Country 305RL. RV guy said I could “tow anything” on his lot with that F250. Took a few trips last year and that 10k trailer pulled like a dream. Pin weight was 2395lbs. I realize now I was driving beyond the capacity of the truck (on paper). Like I said it handled and drove great. Last week we traded in the Montana and bought the Fuzion 369 so we can take the motorcycle with us. I picked the 369 because it was the lightest in the fuzion lineup. Unloaded trailer weight went up 3k and pin weight about 650lbs. Rookie mistake #1 - I added the firestone 2600 air bags on my truck the day after I bought the Fuzion. I haven’t towed it home yet but when I do i’m Hitting the scales on the way up and then on the way home towing. I am 100% positive the empty weights alone will be an eye opener.
Question #1 - Will upgrading to an F350 SRW and moving over my airbags be a drastic change over my F250 with bags?
Questions #2 - I looked at an F350 DRW yesterday and that thing is massive. I daily drive these trucks 95% over 5% pulling. I don’t know if I can bring myself to go drw. For those who have went DRW was it positive or neutral experience?
I’m struggling with a decision. Bought my 18 F250 Platinum in Jan that replaced my 17 F250 King Ranch. King Ranch was my first diesel and man I love these trucks. We bought the King Ranch because we bought a High Country 305RL. RV guy said I could “tow anything” on his lot with that F250. Took a few trips last year and that 10k trailer pulled like a dream. Pin weight was 2395lbs. I realize now I was driving beyond the capacity of the truck (on paper). Like I said it handled and drove great. Last week we traded in the Montana and bought the Fuzion 369 so we can take the motorcycle with us. I picked the 369 because it was the lightest in the fuzion lineup. Unloaded trailer weight went up 3k and pin weight about 650lbs. Rookie mistake #1 - I added the firestone 2600 air bags on my truck the day after I bought the Fuzion. I haven’t towed it home yet but when I do i’m Hitting the scales on the way up and then on the way home towing. I am 100% positive the empty weights alone will be an eye opener.
Question #1 - Will upgrading to an F350 SRW and moving over my airbags be a drastic change over my F250 with bags?
Questions #2 - I looked at an F350 DRW yesterday and that thing is massive. I daily drive these trucks 95% over 5% pulling. I don’t know if I can bring myself to go drw. For those who have went DRW was it positive or neutral experience?
#2
06-17-2018, 11:58 AM
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My 350 srw sb kr psd cargo capacity is roughly 3300 lb. With that 5er plus a driver and passenger, you'd likely be over the limit. If you put some toys in the back though, pin right might go down enough to get you legit. Depends on what you will have in the truck and real pin weight.
I'm guessing you will still want the bags to level things.
I know this wasn't your exact question, but I wanted to share my cargo capacity in a vehicle similar to what you are considering.
I'm guessing you will still want the bags to level things.
I know this wasn't your exact question, but I wanted to share my cargo capacity in a vehicle similar to what you are considering.
Last edited by 17_F350_KR; 06-17-2018 at 11:59 AM. Reason: Additions
#3
06-17-2018, 12:05 PM
DRW is not the big deal as a daily driver as some are gonna tell you. We only have our F450 DRW to drive since we full time in a fifth wheel. To hear some people they will make it sound like it's damn near impossible to drive around town because of their width, etc. I also have 8' bed so my truck is a beast but the only consideration for me is i usually try to park away from the front of retail stores since everyone is already trying to park there. I'll walk the 20-30 yards from out in the lot so I can park away from everyone else and not inconvenience others if I overhang a smaller parking space. So far the DRW has not been an issue as a DD but I absolutely love the stability of the dual rear wheels while towing.
#4
06-17-2018, 12:39 PM
I think you'd be over on a 350 and that you'd really probably be happier with the stability of a DRW. It's not that big a deal to daily drive one, just more work on tire rotations and obviously more tires to buy. Only is really a problem in tight parking lots. You are not putting that thing in a parking garage, but otherwise.
#7
06-17-2018, 03:51 PM
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#8
06-17-2018, 04:08 PM
Tire rotation is not an issue - you only rotate the front tires from side to side each oil change. Rear tires only get rotated if there is an unusual wear pattern, in which case, something is wrong and needs to be addressed by more than a tire rotation.
The F350 DRW does not have the tight turning radius of the F450 - this can lead to a three point turn situation in some parking lots. Backup camera makes a huge difference.
The truck itself is no wider than a SRW truck - mirrors are the same distance apart, and if your mirrors fit, your wheels will fit, just pay attention when making turns, that long bed will put you into the curb if you don't allow for it. This is true of a long bed SRW as well.
I had a 2012 F250 that was only about an inch shorter than my F350 DRW due mainly to tire size. The F350 DRW uses 17 inch tires, which cost significantly less than the 20 or 22 inch tires the SRW guys are riding on, so cost isn't as great a factor as one might think.
The rear is fairly stiff, however, once the OEM shocks wear out, simply install a set of Rancho XL9000's and adjust them for a softer ride. Problem solved.
More and more people seem to be daily driving duallies of all brands these days, I pretty much drive my truck everywhere I go.
I would suggest going with a trim level higher than the Lariat though, as the seats are not as comfortable as they could be.
The F350 DRW does not have the tight turning radius of the F450 - this can lead to a three point turn situation in some parking lots. Backup camera makes a huge difference.
The truck itself is no wider than a SRW truck - mirrors are the same distance apart, and if your mirrors fit, your wheels will fit, just pay attention when making turns, that long bed will put you into the curb if you don't allow for it. This is true of a long bed SRW as well.
I had a 2012 F250 that was only about an inch shorter than my F350 DRW due mainly to tire size. The F350 DRW uses 17 inch tires, which cost significantly less than the 20 or 22 inch tires the SRW guys are riding on, so cost isn't as great a factor as one might think.
The rear is fairly stiff, however, once the OEM shocks wear out, simply install a set of Rancho XL9000's and adjust them for a softer ride. Problem solved.
More and more people seem to be daily driving duallies of all brands these days, I pretty much drive my truck everywhere I go.
I would suggest going with a trim level higher than the Lariat though, as the seats are not as comfortable as they could be.
#9
06-17-2018, 07:29 PM
#10
06-17-2018, 07:33 PM
For reference:
I have a '17 F250 CCSB FX4 6.7 that I tow a 24' enclosed car hauler with regularly. Recently I towed a friend's 38' gooseneck car hauler home for him after his '17 F350 SRW was hit by a delivery truck when he was leaving the hotel parking lot. He said his trailer was 13K loaded with a pin weight of just over 2500 lbs. The trip was just short of 400 miles. He rode with me and we shared the driving. He said he really couldn't tell the difference towing with my truck and his.
To answer question #1: Probably not. They are basically the same truck with different springs. If you add the airbags, you have basically eliminated the most significant difference.
To answer question #2: Depends on your personal preference and where you drive. I love my '17 F250 CCSB and daily it about half the time. But its big enough that I take the car when I need to go into the city and parking becomes an issue. My previous truck, an '07 F350 CCLB SRW was positively a PITA to daily. Its very long and a PITA to park anywhere. I purposely got a SRW because some years earlier I had a '96 F350 CCLB DRW 7.3 PSD and while it was a GREAT truck it was a bull in a China shop to drive in the city. I would do the SRW F350.
I have a '17 F250 CCSB FX4 6.7 that I tow a 24' enclosed car hauler with regularly. Recently I towed a friend's 38' gooseneck car hauler home for him after his '17 F350 SRW was hit by a delivery truck when he was leaving the hotel parking lot. He said his trailer was 13K loaded with a pin weight of just over 2500 lbs. The trip was just short of 400 miles. He rode with me and we shared the driving. He said he really couldn't tell the difference towing with my truck and his.
To answer question #1: Probably not. They are basically the same truck with different springs. If you add the airbags, you have basically eliminated the most significant difference.
To answer question #2: Depends on your personal preference and where you drive. I love my '17 F250 CCSB and daily it about half the time. But its big enough that I take the car when I need to go into the city and parking becomes an issue. My previous truck, an '07 F350 CCLB SRW was positively a PITA to daily. Its very long and a PITA to park anywhere. I purposely got a SRW because some years earlier I had a '96 F350 CCLB DRW 7.3 PSD and while it was a GREAT truck it was a bull in a China shop to drive in the city. I would do the SRW F350.
#11
06-17-2018, 07:41 PM
#12
06-17-2018, 08:44 PM
#13
06-17-2018, 09:54 PM
I just went through the exact same scenario, I had a 2017 f250 bought a larger fifth wheel and was overweight. I went to the dealership to buy a F350 DRW and after the test drive the salesman said you need to drive this f450 before you make your decision. Well I did and didn’t even make it out of the parking lot before I said sold. The F450 turning radius is that much better, I can honestly say that my F450 is easier to maneuver and park than my F250 was. I have no problem daily driving my F450 in Houston TX traffic.
#14
06-17-2018, 10:15 PM
I have literally never owned a truck in my life and did not want a dually. My RV for me and my family needed to be big. House of 8. I bought a 2018 F350 Platinum DRW. I love this truck. Drive it around downtown Austin all the time. I towed my new RV home from Tampa, Florida. About 17hrs. Never towed anything beyond the size of my wake boat. Thank God I got an F350 DRW. I'm towing about 800lbs below my payload limit as per cat scales. I put air bags on before I left. I wouldn't do it any other way except maybe a 450. No way in hell would I risk my family or the families around me towing with less. Do it. Money is only money but life is invaluable.
#15
06-17-2018, 11:29 PM
I had a 2011 f250, then a 15 f350. I bought a 41ft 5er. It was at payload or likely a little over but power wise was great, and only had a sway issue becuase of improper adjustment on a sidewinder hitch. Traded in truck for a 17 f350, which I never thought to go drw. slight sway in 15mph+ winds remained. They were all short bed trucks. I was thinking of going drw before my trip but didnt. I still kick myself in the *** for not going drw when i bought my first 17 super duty. On a 1500 miles trip to Florida i White buckled with 15mph winds. Winds gone and it was a dream. I was pissed and the wife said “you need to be comfortable when you drive”. From Florida I ordered a dealer trade and took a hit but did good on new truck. The day i returned from florida i dropped family and got to dealer at 8:30pm. That was that. I towed twice and it is more stable. Haven’t been super windy but i am not worried. I do daily drive. I didnt go F450 becasue i didnt want 4:30 gears. I took my first thru the Tennessee mountains with 3.55 gears and was passing semi up the inclines. I didnt even want the 4:10 gears that almost all drw have, so the dealer trade came from 4 hours away. I go every where with it, except downtown chicago and that is due to height and not width. Drive through...no issue. I swapped tires to 20” and little wider becasue i hate the wheels on all drw being the same (ford needs to get with game on this) I bought a platnium again, and love it.
I know my srw could have handled with adjustments or a new hitch. I did it becuase i was pissed but dont regret it. We are going to South Dakota this year, and i love to drive to see things other than 2 hours from home. If i didnt do such long driving trips I would not have been inclined to upgrade, although i fell way more comfortable.
I know my srw could have handled with adjustments or a new hitch. I did it becuase i was pissed but dont regret it. We are going to South Dakota this year, and i love to drive to see things other than 2 hours from home. If i didnt do such long driving trips I would not have been inclined to upgrade, although i fell way more comfortable.