Community Forums

bwinger73 · 07-23-2018, 10:08 AM

Looking at purchasing a Solitude 5th wheel. Its GVWR is 16,800 with a pin of 2800. Its the 373FB. Needing to upgrade TV as well. Debating between a F350 vs F450. Both diesel and dually. I assume SRW would be fine but like the stability of the DRW. Plan on traveling all over. Which would you go with? Heard the turning radius is a lot better with the F450. Leaning towards the F450 because of that. Not really noticing much else. Anything else I need to consider/missing? Thanks

SmokeyWren · 07-23-2018, 11:01 AM

Advantage of the F-450 is that it comes with reduced turning circle compared to a similar-equipped F-350 DRW, and it has 19.5" real truck tires.

The disadvantage of the F-450 is that it is available only as a CrewCab with diesel engine. Although it's a Class 4 truck, it has the same GVWR as the Class 3 F-350 DRW. So you can pull a heavier trailer, but you cannot have more hitch weight than the F-350 DRW.

If you understand and accept those restrictions, then the F-450 is a really nice truck. The shorter turning circle compared to an F-350 CrewCab is a very good feature, and I prefer real commercial truck tires over the light-duty-truck tires on the F-350 DRW.

consolenut · 07-23-2018, 12:39 PM

Go with the 450. Bigger better truck tires. Bigger brakes (more stopping power) more truck all the way around.

Freqz · 07-23-2018, 02:09 PM

The bigger truck tires are what kept me from buying the 450 (that and everyone sells 350 DRWs at steep discounts unlike the 450s)

Those 19.5s are pretty and well more tire than you need but they come at a price when it comes time to do anything to them

2002dura · 07-23-2018, 05:10 PM

Some insurance companies classify the F-450 as commercial and the rates are higher. The 19.5" tires also limit replacements. There are very few options, and they are expensive. The ride is stiffer in the 450 due to the tires also.

We ended up going with the F-350 and 4.10 gearing. Because of the tire size of the 350 compared to 450, we are essentially geared the same as the F-450's 4.30 gearing.

With the weight you will be pulling, the 3.55 gearing of the F-350 would work fine for you.

tuffr2 · 07-23-2018, 08:04 PM

In 2012 the F-450 had a much better turning radius, 4:30 gears, and larger brakes by about 1".

The 2012 F-450 cost about 6g's more than the 2012 F-350 DRW.

The 4:30 gears were great when towing and not so great solo.

Even in 2012 the F-450 was a bigger truck. It sat about an 1" higher and had the wider track front. I parked my 2012 F450 next to a F-350 DRW truck. The F-450 was bigger.

I traded my F-450 on a 2017 F-250 gas powered truck. I miss that turning radius.

If you are looking at new trucks, wow, are they solid and powerful.

dskyward · 07-24-2018, 12:36 AM

Interesting article on this subject at:
https://www.dieselarmy.com/news/clas...ass-3-4-truck/

The new Ford SD are pretty to look at. But dang, the new F450 is pushing 95K. I drive a paid for(25k in 2016) 2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 Megacab 4x2 DRW, with its 160” wb, has a tighter turn radius than the F450, something like 8’ in diameter less from a recent forum that was shopping the 2018 F350, 450, Ram CC duallies to tow a 21k fiver. SWB will generally turn tighter, but I had no idea that much. Plus to read that the 450 has a lesser payload cap than the 350 seemed strange, but 450 has slightly more towing cap. And for both to be registered at class 3 14k GVWR, is another head scratcher.

Houdoxi71 · 07-24-2018, 12:50 AM

450, yes, if available.

Freqz · 07-24-2018, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dskyward

Interesting article on this subject at:
https://www.dieselarmy.com/news/clas...ass-3-4-truck/

The new Ford SD are pretty to look at. But dang, the new F450 is pushing 95K. I drive a paid for(25k in 2016) 2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 Megacab 4x2 DRW, with its 160” wb, has a tighter turn radius than the F450, something like 8’ in diameter less from a recent forum that was shopping the 2018 F350, 450, Ram CC duallies to tow a 21k fiver. SWB will generally turn tighter, but I had no idea that much. Plus to read that the 450 has a lesser payload cap than the 350 seemed strange, but 450 has slightly more towing cap. And for both to be registered at class 3 14k GVWR, is another head scratcher.

95k is the limited trim. It’s OK to spend 30 grand less and suffer through a Lariat without power deployable running boards [emoji57]

Give that mega cab another 18” of wheelbase and we’ll see how it does...plus they’re funny looking to my eye.

It’s not strange that Ford made a version of the F450 is class 3 spec: everyone wants it.

Dieselguy4 · 07-24-2018, 06:20 PM

The F350 has 1500 lbs more load capability. The F450 will only pull 1500 lbs more. $10k more for the F450. I bought the F350 drw 4.10 gears and could not be happier. Pulls my 16K 41 foot fifth wheel great.

bwinger73 · 07-25-2018, 07:23 AM

Thank you all for the responses. I think I am leaning towards the 350. Like the extra payload. Now to decide between the F350 or Ram 3500. Currently have a Ram 2500 and love it. Not a brand guy so either is fine with me. Like that the Ram has air leveling. Payload is about the same. Any other differences between the two that I should look at? Did I read correctly that the turning radius on the Ram is a lot better as well?

tuffr2 · 07-25-2018, 01:49 PM

You can not go wrong with either truck. If the key pad entry is not a big deal to you I like the Ram with air suspension.

SmokeyWren · 07-25-2018, 09:55 PM

We travel with two dogs. In the summertime, we lock them in the cab with the AC running on high. Too hot to leave them in the cab with the windows partially down. So Ioften use the keypad to lock and unlock the doors. But leaving the engine running with no one in the cab cannot be done on most vehicles. That requires the keypad on the door. My fancy Toyota Avalon will not allow locking the doors with the engine running and no one in the car. So I really appreciate the door-lock keypad on the Ford pickup. We used it for over 10 years on an F-250 towing a 5er, and for over 6 years now with our F-150 towing a TT. The dogs love traveling with us, an they don't seem to mind waiting in the air conditioned cab while we visit WalMart or convenience stores. or The Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

Freqz · 07-26-2018, 07:49 AM

The keypad is great...when I’m camping with the boys scouts I lock my keys and wallet in the truck so I don’t forget and roll them up in my tent (again!). At home, it’s easy to unlock in the driveway and open the garage or the gate without carrying my keys around (why modern technology can shrink everything but key fobs is incomprehensible to me). Of course a spare set of trailer keys lives in the truck so I’m never locked out there, either.

It’s one of those things I take for granted since I’ve only had it since 2004. I don’t know that it would be a deal breaker to not have it but maybe a tie breaker.