on the personal/commercial fence...

[worcamper]

hoping to get some feedback from those of you that have 450/4500+ trucks, worried about headaches with insurance/plating/in-town parking etc...

[SmokeyWren]

I don't know anything about Dodge or Government Motors, but a Ford F-450 pickup is almost identical in size and maneuverability as the F-350 DRW pickup. The F-450 has a slight advantage when parking because it has a shorter turning radius. But otherwise, if you can park an F-350 DRW, then you can park an F-450 in the same parking space - perhaps with less effort because of the different front suspension that gives a shorter turning radius to the F-450.

If insurance is more than a few dollars higher on your F-450 than on an identical F-350 DRW, then you are dealing with the wrong insurance company. Shop around.

As to TT&L, every state is different. Check with your local vehicle registration office to see if there is a significant difference between an F-450 and an F-350 DRW. If there is, you voted for the wrong political party to run your local jurisdiction.

[worcamper]

I currently have a SRW 350; 'fraid that vehicle models of any configuration having a GVWR of over 10,000 can have higher restrictions for parking on city streets, along with additional plate renewal and business registration requirements. My door sticker shows 9990 and has a max tow weight of 13,000 - same year 450's have 2 tons of additional 5th wheel tow capacity

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by worcamper

I currently have a SRW 350; 'fraid that vehicle models of any configuration having a GVWR of over 10,000 can have higher restrictions for parking on city streets, along with additional plate renewal and business registration requirements. My door sticker shows 9990 and has a max tow weight of 13,000 - same year 450's have 2 tons of additional 5th wheel tow capacity

Restrictions on parking? what kind of a hippy place is that?

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by worcamper

I currently have a SRW 350; ... My door sticker shows 9990 and has a max tow weight of 13,000 - same year 450's have 2 tons of additional 5th wheel tow capacity

That was back when. For 2005-up models, GVWR of the F-350 SRW diesel has been 11,500, but they have an option of 10,000 GVWR. The 10,000 GVWR pkg is simply a tax dodge, as the only thing that is changed is the sticker on the door that says what the GVWR is.

For 2013 models,
F-350 SRW diesel has GVWR of 11,500 (10,000 GVWR pkg is optional)
F-350 DRW diesel and F-450 DRW diesel both have GVWR of 14,000 pounds.

I don't know of any state that taxes personal vehicles based on GCWR (from which the tow rating or towing capacity is derived). But just in case, for 2013 models,

F-350 SRW diesel has GCWR of 23,500
F-350 DRW diesel has GCWR of 30,500
F-450 DRW diesel has GCWR of 33,000

If you dodge taxes by buying an F-350 SRW instead of a dually, you're probably going to be overloaded with the 16k trailer. If you choose CrewCab diesel 4x4 longbed, your wet and loaded tow vehicle is probably going to weigh about 8,500 to 9,000 when wet and loaded with people, tools, 5er hitch, bedliner, etc. A 16k wet and loaded 5er with 20% hitch weight will have hitch weight of 3200 pounds. If your F-350 SRW weighs 9,000 before you tie onto the trailer, you'll be overloaded by 700 pounds over the GVWR of the tow vehicle.

The newer Ford pickups are a lot heavier than your truck, so don't be surprised when your new truck hits the scales at 9,000 pounds wet and loaded for the road before you tie onto the trailer.

[wingnut60]

Vehicle insurance is state-dependent. Only thing to do is ASK before you buy a 450/4500. I had problems with insurance only because my company did not have a listing for the 450s, and this is Texas Farm Bureau? Go figure... Had to have them ask up the line before they would insure it same as a 350. But I also had some problems with the previous 350, as an independent insurer did not want to handle it.
Joe