350, 450, or bigger?

[yankeetom]

Dw and I have decided on a trailer we want to buy, but have decided to buy a tv first. The 5er we have chosen is a grand design 379fl, gvwr is 16500# with dry weight 13,800# and pin weight 3k#. My question is will a f350 or chevy 3500 drw be big enough to tow this trailer safely. I think it should tow ok but am concerned about the stopping capabilities of this size truck. Should I be considering a 450 or larger truck? I have talked with a couple truck drivers about this size of a trailer and they have voiced concern about the 350 being big enough to handle it safely. Said they had run into more than one truck and trailer all jacked up in the ditch, feeling like the trailer is to big. Any thoughts or experiences shared would be appreciated in helping us to choose the right truck for us.

[rskeans]

I can't speak for the F350 or Chevy DRW. The F350 or 3500 DRW is definetely required. The F350 or 3500 is big enough. I have zero problems with my 19000 lb 5ver with the RAM. I would make sure that your 5ver has disk brakes. That makes a huge difference in stopping. Also your exhaust brake is important. I hear Ford has improved theirs, don't know about Chevy.

[Franka548]

A new 350 or 3500 DWR set up to tow will be fine for a 16,500# 5er. Over 10,000 miles with my 16,500# unit and 03 3500 DWR says that any of the new DWR trucks can handle that size 5er without a problem. You have to make sure that you have the onboard trailer brake set up correctly. Remember that the brakes on the truck are supposed to stop the truck and the trailer brakes stop the trailer, so braking should not be an issue, unless something is not set up correctly or there is a failure.
Now saying all this, you do have to drive accordingly, after all you are not driving a 3000# sports car, but a 25,000# truck and trailer that is over 50' long. By driving appropriately, it means keeping the speed below 70, 62 to 65 is better, leaving added space between vehicles and not making sudden changes in direction everything is good.
Frank

[Dtwallace]

The Ford F350 Super Duty DRW worked great for me. However you may find the need to ad air helper springs just to keep the head lights level when connected.
I pulled a Heartland Road Warrior toy hauler loaded very heavy.

As far as stopping goes, just like driving a big commercial truck with 80,000 LBS, you have to stay way ahead of your vehicle and plan for some extra room for safety.

You never want to get into a situation that requires panic braking when towing any trailer. Be sure you have the anti lock brake system working, and that will almost eliminate a jack knife accident, along with properly adjustment of your trailers brake system.

Down hill speed control using engine braking is a big item also for your safety and longevity of your brake system.

These are just a few of the things to consider as you truck shop, or matching your equipment.

Happy travels
DTW

[Cypressloser]

You should use 25% of the trailer's GVWR to be safe when calculating the pinweight and not what the sales literature says, so in your case 4000 lbs.
Pinweight plus driver, passenger, the weight of the 5th wheel hitch and cargo can push you in the 5000 lbs range which rules out a srw truck but should be well within the limits of a drw, so IMO a drw 350(0) would be sufficient, if you want to go bigger good for you.

[C130]

F350 or 3500 is nice, should do the job I think but can't go wrong with F450 or bigger. I'd look at both and see which you prefer, all are nice trucks.

[wingnut60]

yankeetom,
I think you are close on the 3000 pin weight, maybe as high as 32-3500, depending on how it is equipped.
Any of the 350/3500s drws should be fine.
Joe

[Cummins12V98]

This pic has just over 5K pin. Handles the load with ease.

[RamGunner]

Get the truck with the biggest tow and load ratings that you think you will need. Our Grand Design 385TH which is bigger than what you are looking at has no issues with our truck.