I have been reading a little about the turning radius on the F350 being much worse than the F450. Is it the wheel size that does this ? I have a F550 cab chassy and it turns on a dime but my older E250 takes three lanes to make a u turn.
Now I'm getting 19' F350 DRW and I'm a tad concerned about the reports of turning difficulties I'm hearing.

 

 

Unfortunately, you will have the narrow track Dana 60 in the 350, as Ford got rid of the Fatboy in 2016. There is a noticeable difference in steering radius.

 

Guess I'm the oddball here. This is my first dually. Sure, takes room to turn the truck but in over a year of driving so far I really don't remember one time where turning radius was an issue. I park wherever I want, not stupidly, but that is not an issue either. Next truck may very well be a 450, but I really like this one.

 

 

The turning radius of an F350 CCLB is just under 30' meaning you need sixty feet in order to do a full circle. The turning radius of an F150 maxes out around 26', the F450 at 25', and your average Camry is 19'.

 

I have had both f350 and now f450. Will never go back. 450 is way more noticeable less turning

 

I don't find the turning radius that bad on my '17 Lariat DRW. My daily driver and I take it just about anywhere when not towing our 5th wheel.

 

Give me 40 acres ..

 

to turn this rig around!! Thought I was the only one old enough to remember that song!

 

 

 

Years ago I drove tank trucks hauling gas to mostly stations in the New Orleans area. We went from long nose conventional's to cabover's that had a much shorter turning radius. With a heavy trailer making these tight turns put extra stress on the trailer axles..tires and wheels and springs. Easier to make small stations in town but wrecked havoc on equipment. We went back to long wheelbase trucks and the problems eased off. Making tight turns with a trailer hooked up and loaded is never a good idea.

 

I think this is a very smart point and I honestly have never thought about the differences between the turning radius of a F350 and F450 this way before.

I have seen many travel trailers and 5th wheels with broken brackets in their suspensions due to the high stress of tight turns. A F350 would certainly be less prone to this.

Maybe...just maybe the benefits of the turning radius comparison between a F350 and F450 are a bit overblown. In this one case maybe smaller is better (Ha ha) but maybe it is only incrementally better. We are only talking about a (approx) 8% tighter curb to curb on a F450. It's not as if it is 30% better...that would be a total game changer.

Yes there will be times when a 450 can make a turn and a 350 won't. Yet with a little planning and estimating the 350 won't be that big of an inconvenience...and if the truck can help keep your trailer healthier and less stressed then maybe that is a hidden benefit.

I do see the benefits of heavy truck campers riding inside the bed of a 450 rather than a 350. Wider track...bigger brakes, etc.

 

That picture is priceless!!!!! LOL!!! I needed a laugh this morning thanks!!!!