Freedom Express 321

[AlanSandy]

New owners with one year left till full timing. Looking to try the camper out and work out any bugs. Need to look for bigger truck. Not sure if 3/4 or one ton is the way to go. Any suggestions?

[Petro]

We are glad you joined us. Congratulations on your entry to this exciting lifestyle. There is a wealth of RV information to you here just by asking. Browse the forums that interest you and don't be afraid to ask questions as our members like to help when they can. Post often and share your new RV adventures with us. Enjoy the forums.

Don

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Congrats on the new rig! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[TonyDi]

Glad to have you here in the forum with us. You'll love it here.

Happy Trails!!!

[Stever53]

Hi


this place is great

Safe travels

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by AlanSandy

Need to look for bigger truck. Not sure if 3/4 or one ton is the way to go. Any suggestions?

You've already had about all the welcomes you can stand, so I'll get right down to responding to your question.

For a tow vehicle, I'm a Ford fan, so I'll discuss the available leftover 2017 and the current model 2018 Ford SuperDuty pickups.

The F-250 will probably do the job, but without much wiggle room for payload capacity. So as a minimum I would buy a "one ton" F-350 with single rear wheels (SRW). You don't really need a "one ton dually" for that trailer. The F-350 SRW will cost you only a bit more than the comparably-equipped F-250, and gives you almost 1,500 pounds more payload capacity for hitch weight and your family and stuff.

The Coachmen 321FEDSLE is a "bumper pull" travel trailer (TT) with GVWR of 10,500 pounds.
Freedom Express Liberty Edition Travel Trailers by Coachmen RV
That means maximum wet and loaded hitch weight of about 1,465 pounds (1,365 tongue weight plus another 100 pounds weight of a good weight-distributing hitch).

The F-350 SRW can handle that trailer, including crossing the Rockies, with no problems of overloading any of Ford's weight ratings (GVWR, GAWR, GCWR).

The F-350 SRW has two engine choices a 6.2L gasser and the wonderful 6.7L PowerStroke diesel (PSD). The PSD will cost you several thousand bucks more than the gasser, but you'll be glad you made the investment. And you'll get back the difference and more when you trade it in several years down the road.

The F-350 SRW is available with three different cabs and two different beds. With a 6.5-foot "shorty" bed for city dudes that don't have enough garage for the longer bed, and the old-fashioned 8' bed for folks that have enough garage or barn. For a TT, take your choice. If you might later trade for a fifth-wheel RV trailer, you'll probably be happier with the long bed. 4x4 or 4x2 drivetrain. Interiors from hose-it-out XL trim work truck with plastic seats and floor covering up through the fancied up luxury King Ranch and Platinum.

The most popular F-350 SRW would probably be an XLT or Lariat 4x4 CrewCab with 6.5' bed, so you should have no problem finding those in stock.

Numerous options available, so you can doll one up to over $60,000 MSRP if you choose a Platinum with most options.

Most practical would be to stop by a Ford dealer and pick up a brochure, then study that brochure to decide what you're willing to pay for. But if you're an internet guru you can also "build and price" on Ford com.
https://shop.ford.com/build/superdut...hooseyourpath/

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

Numerous options available, so you can doll one up to over $60,000 MSRP if you choose a Platinum with most options.

Ignore that typo. Make it $75,000 MSRP. And Autonews.com last week mentioned over $80,000.

Here's a 2017 F-350 SRW 4x4 PSD King Ranch I built on Ford.com:

The following does not show any standard or zero-cost equipment or items that are part of the King Ranch package.

Configuration: 2017 Ford F-350 King Ranch® Crew Cab, 8' bed = Wheelbase: 176", 6.7L Power Stroke® Diesel V8 Engine, TorqShift® 6-Speed SelectShift® Automatic w/6.7L, 3.55 Electronic Locking Axle Ratio, 4X4, SRW

Camper Package $160 (req’d to get 3.55 axle)
3.55 Electronic Locking Axle Ratio $390
5th Wheel/Gooseneck Hitch Prep Package $370
Hitch Kit - 5th Wheel, 18K $1,095
Bed Mat $150
Bedliner - Tough Bed® Spray-in $495
Splash Guards/Mud Flaps - Front $130 (rear = std)
Tailgate Step $375 (needed by old man)
6-inch Angular Chrome Extended Running Boards $230 (needed by old lady)
$67,820 Base MSRP
$3,245 Total of Options
$1,295 Destination Charges
$72,360 Total MSRP

[AlanSandy]

Had both the ford and Chevy diesel one tons. Never had a srw model but something to look into. Thanks

[Dropthejacks]

Originally Posted by AlanSandy

New owners with one year left till full timing. Looking to try the camper out and work out any bugs. Need to look for bigger truck. Not sure if 3/4 or one ton is the way to go. Any suggestions?

You won't have any issues with a 3/4 diesel moving the Freedom up the road easily. We purchased our RAM 2500 last year and it has preformed great, and our Outback is nearly the same size and weight. Looking back though, I sometimes think paying the small difference and stepping up to the 3500 SRW might have been the smarter play. If we decide to step up to a 5th wheel in the next several years (we are also looking at full-timing in the next 3-5) the 3500 would have been paid for, the trucks are the same size, and the towing and payload would have given us more options on the 5th wheel purchase. The 2500 will certainly get the job done in most situations, but the 3500 allows more options. JMO. Good luck, safe travels.

[Dropthejacks]

Oh, and while I respect SmokeyWren's experience and his love of Ford products, a well equipped RAM 3500 can be had for well under $60K, closer really to $50K. Personally, I would save the extra $20,000 from the Ford or Chevy, leave it in the 401K, and drive the RAM. The RV won't know the difference, lol. Again, JMO.

[AlanSandy]

thanks for the input. I have been looking at both Fords and Dodges. Biggest problem is finding a long bed. Want to get a 8' bed in case we trade up to a fifth wheel. Do not want to have to get a truck again as well. Looking for a single rear wheel but would buy a DRW is I found a good one cheap. Do want to keep my options open if we move up in trailer. We will be full timing in less than 12 months. Just need this cold weather to end so we can get the trailer out and start using it.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by AlanSandy

Want to get a 8' bed in case we trade up to a fifth wheel. Do not want to have to get a truck again as well. Looking for a single rear wheel but would buy a DRW is I found a good one cheap. Do want to keep my options open if we move up in trailer. We will be full timing in less than 12 months.

For the TT you mentioned, the SRW would be fine. But for full-timing in a 5er, you want the DRW. Full-timer RV trailers are heavier than summer-time trailers, with washer/dryer, more insulation, and lots of other heavy options. Remember, full-timers haul everything they own with them when they change RV parks. That requires more payload capacity in your tow vehicle than for a long summer-time RV trip. So if you don't want to be trading tow vehicles again when you get a full-timer 5er, and assuming you're bright enough that you don't want to be overloaded when changing RV parks, then go ahead and get the DRW now.

And if you want the tow vehicle to last at least 10 years, then get the diesel drivetrain, and maintain it "by the book". My last diesel tow vehicle lasted over 10 years and over 100,000 towing miles (200,000 miles total) before I sold it for one-third what I paid for it.