Possible purchase 2015 37SDF or 37IKF

[copilot]

Two bathrooms really not issue, you just send HIM down the road or out behind the bushes :-)

[CAOK642HEAVY]

Hey Wayne,

We're 37SDF and Ford 350/DRW owners -- King Ranch better deal than Platinum. The 15's have a better Turbo, upgrades to some other small items. We had the 2013 SRW 350 and after our first trip, bought the '14 DRW. Made a huge difference!

Long Wheel Base is the way to go in my opinion, room for a box/fuel tank and the B&W Puck Hitch that's OEM priced around $1400-1700 can be had for far cheaper, just gotta make that search. Our second B&W and perfect for the pucks in the bed, also gives you that plug inside the bed (fifthwheel/gooseneck kit).

[scc95037]

After all the posts here and searching for detail info - we're leaning now towards the 34IKE

We've pretty well established no Ford SRW can legally handle any Excel. While they do haul a weight equal to the smaller Excels it is only with gooseneck (GN) hitch - and I saw a service bulletin saying a GN adapter is not supported by Peterson.

I'm not excited about the wide butt (apologies to those that have them) and figure that a 34IKE will be more maneuverable, less expensive, and hopefully will require less of a tow vehicle.

The Chevy 3500HD SRW
dual cab appears to handle the gross weight of the 34IKE - however I'm a little concerned Chevy doesn't differentiate between 5W hitch and GN hitch. I checked the on line owner's manual, but they don't have any tow information for diesel - it is apparently in the diesel supplement which I could not find on line. I also haven't checked the impact on the tow vehicle payload when hauling the 34IKE which I'll want to know up front.

All to say the input is very useful and I'll continue to lurk - though probably more on the 34IKE topic as it was already started by another newbie.

Thanks... Wayne

[scc95037]

Originally Posted by CAOK642HEAVY

Hey Wayne,

We're 37SDF and Ford 350/DRW owners -- King Ranch better deal than Platinum. The 15's have a better Turbo, upgrades to some other small items. We had the 2013 SRW 350 and after our first trip, bought the '14 DRW. Made a huge difference!

Long Wheel Base is the way to go in my opinion, room for a box/fuel tank and the B&W Puck Hitch that's OEM priced around $1400-1700 can be had for far cheaper, just gotta make that search. Our second B&W and perfect for the pucks in the bed, also gives you that plug inside the bed (fifthwheel/gooseneck kit).

The choice of hitch is a whole new topic for me and I'm not aware of all the ramifications. Not sure the benefit of a gooseneck kit as Excel doesn't support it to my knowledge. I gather you feel the B&W is superior to the truck manufacturer hitch and am interested in the pros and cons.

Thanks... Wayne

[scc95037]

Originally Posted by copilot

Two bathrooms really not issue, you just send HIM down the road or out behind the bushes :-)

Since I'm the 'him' it looks like I better get used to the cold - being originally from Canada I'm well aware of the dangers of yellow snow ....

[BRS50]

Wayne,
My 2012 3500HD SRW CC SB just weighed in at 8300# but I've got about 300# extra over stock with a full 60ga TransferFlow tank and another 75-100# for a slide hitch. With passengers I'm 8500#, 11500# GVW 3000# payload left. I should just make it with a 31IKE and the 34's seem to have a slightly lower % on the pin than the shorter units. Like Russell you'll be close but ok on payload and fine on tow weight with a 17100# FW GVW limit and 24500# GCVW limit on the '15 Chevy 3500HD SRW CC SB 4WD Duramax.

[rockintom]

Originally Posted by BRS50

Wayne,
My 2012 3500HD SRW CC SB just weighed in at 8300# but I've got about 300# extra over stock with a full 60ga TransferFlow tank and another 75-100# for a slide hitch. With passengers I'm 8500#, 11500# GVW 3000# payload left. I should just make it with a 31IKE and the 34's seem to have a slightly lower % on the pin than the shorter units. Like Russell you'll be close but ok on payload and fine on tow weight with a 17100# FW GVW limit and 24500# GCVW limit on the '15 Chevy 3500HD SRW CC SB 4WD Duramax.

An Excel with a 3000 lbs. tongue weight loaded and ready to go? Really? Oh my. Mine is 3890 lbs. I better go hang something on the rear end of mine! rockin'

[BRS50]

Rockin' starting at 12900# I hoping to keep the GVW at 15000# max, if the pin wt is close to 20% I should be ok. If not I'll be shopping for that dually you'd like to see me pulling with.

[rockintom]

Originally Posted by BRS50

Rockin' starting at 12900# I hoping to keep the GVW at 15000# max, if the pin wt is close to 20% I should be ok. If not I'll be shopping for that dually you'd like to see me pulling with.

Like I told Doc......don't take an extra toothbrush! rockin'

[drfife]

My 34IKE weighs in just shy of 16K loaded for a trip with water in the tank.

The balance of the 34IKE decreases the pin weight compared to the 31IKE.

I am within specs for my truck.

But, I can't bring an extra toothbrush.....

[BRS50]

Russell they list the 34IKE at 14190# UVW or almost 1300# more than the 12900# for the 31IKE. I'm figuring that difference will make up for a little higher % on the pin. PI also told me the high pin wt listed for the 31IKE is more than recent versions they've weighed. Either way we're still gonna have to call our trucks SRW 1TB since that extra toothbrush is out for both of us according to Rockin'. If I ever meet up with him I be sure to make it somewhere that I can parallel park while he's looking for a spot to stash his beast.

[scc95037]

Originally Posted by BRS50

Wayne,
My 2012 3500HD SRW CC SB just weighed in at 8300# but I've got about 300# extra over stock with a full 60ga TransferFlow tank and another 75-100# for a slide hitch. With passengers I'm 8500#, 11500# GVW 3000# payload left. I should just make it with a 31IKE and the 34's seem to have a slightly lower % on the pin than the shorter units. Like Russell you'll be close but ok on payload and fine on tow weight with a 17100# FW GVW limit and 24500# GCVW limit on the '15 Chevy 3500HD SRW CC SB 4WD Duramax.

Great input Brad. I'm interested that you have the SB with slider I was concerned over the durability / reliability (I'm always leery of anything too complex as that's what often breaks first). However, you seem to be pleased with the slider and SB and that's great. I was looking at the 3500HD dual cab SRW LB because of its 17500 trailer GVW rating which equals the 34IKE. I'll do more checking now. PI's website does suggest a lower pin weight %. Brand of slider you recommend? I've seen them advertised in Trailer Life. Thanks ... Wayne

[BRS50]

Wayne,
I've had the 16k PullRite Super Glide since 2004. The slide portion is a very simple set up with a pattern cut in heavy gauge steel and a cam follower bearing moving the hitch along big slide rails. I had the bearing go at the very beginning, defective I guess. It didn't disable the hitch and was an easy warranty repair. Its been very reliable since then, there is just not much that can break.

The rails used to need a spritz of white lithium grease before any departure but that's been replaced with Slip Plate SLIP Plate® Aerosol a high tech spray on coating that needs renewal once a season, easy DIY. The construction is very heavy duty, that's a big part of why they're so heavy.

The hitching mechanism is a little more complex with a spring loaded collar that completely wraps around the pin. Ten years of hitching and I'll tell you if you keep it liberally lubed it's a charm to use and super safe. You can visually confirm you are absolutely solidly hitched when you see the collar around the pin from behind and the release arm hits the safety detent. This hitch just can't come open once that collar surrounds the pin. I've eliminated the jacks slightly retracted pull test, it's just not necessary with this locking mechanism.

It's the only hitch I've had so I can't compare but I know some of those pinch type hitches that squeeze the pin are just not as safe as the PullRite set up. That's as big as the slide feature for me. After 8 years the spring loaded collar was getting a little sticky. It hung up a couple times and I had to unhitch and re-hitch. When I got my new truck in 2012 our dealer recommended replacing the spring loaded stuff and they easily put in new parts at a reasonable cost and the hitching mechanism was brand new again. Its got a nice removable pin mounting set up for a clean bed when you pull it. I do take mine out in the winter and store it. This spring I got a cheap Harbor Freight engine crane and easily put it in the truck myself.

Our new 31IKE will be 15k# or less so I'm sticking with my 16k. My older version is actually the same as the higher capacity 18k design with the rails captured by the steel frame at each end. The newer 16k has the rails bolted down on top with the bigger hitches using the more robust design feature. I'll have the dealer give it a good look and it should give me many more years of service. For the SB truck it's been a great accessory, I've made some tight turns and gotten out of some tight spots many times with ease. If you're going SB I think it's the way to go.

[rockintom]

Originally Posted by drfife

My 34IKE weighs in just shy of 16K loaded for a trip with water in the tank.

The balance of the 34IKE decreases the pin weight compared to the 31IKE.

I am within specs for my truck.

But, I can't bring an extra toothbrush.....

I'm sure glad you shared this with me Doc, now I can get some sleep at night!!!! I may have to have you scan in your Cat Scale sheet to me!!! And not after you unload the EL trailer!!! Git R Dun!