F450 vs 350/3500

Here is a thread that sort of pertains to your question.

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29842153.cfm

I had a 2003 and it rode like a shopping cart.

What year is you 2500 Ram?

Now is a good time to buy a 2018 DRW probably from any of the manufacturers with their new ones coming out.

A Ram 3500 DRW will handle that trailer fine but you have people like BIg Truck Big RV on YouTube buying a F450 for a 14500 lb fifth wheel. But since you are likely to be over 16000 lbs loaded,a DRW seems like a good idea.

gratwitnorth wrote:
Shopping for new tow vehicle. Bought a bigger 5th wheel ( 2013 Redwood 38BR ). The current Ram 2500 diesel srw will get it there but is pretty maxed out.

The ratings of the dually 350/3500's certainly meet the requirements on paper. Like what I'm reading about the turning radius, breaking and heavier curb weight of Ford's F450 without getting in to a cab and chassis truck.

Anyone have first hand experience/comparison with Ford's F450 compared to a F350 or Ram 3500?

Thanks much

I tow my 2016 Redwood 38RL with a 2015 Ford F-350 SRW.. at this point of our lives, we still work and are limited to vacation, so we are weekend warriors.

Our truck is MAXED with very little wiggle room.. rear axle at max 7100 gvw, and under on the tires max which is 7500# capacity. As soon as we start going more than weekends close to home, there will be w nice, shinny new DRW in my driveway.. The fiver tows like a dream, and stops on a dime... it has the MORryde IS and disc brakes, along with Goodyear 17.5's.. They all make a difference.

Good luck with your decision

From what I've read, the RAM 3500s are probably the "heaviest" of the standard pickups and are more than a match for all but the largest FWs that truly need an MDT to tow. That Cummins/Aisin/air ride combo seems to be d@mn hard to beat.

Lyle

gratwitnorth wrote:
Shopping for new tow vehicle. Bought a bigger 5th wheel ( 2013 Redwood 38BR ). The current Ram 2500 diesel srw will get it there but is pretty maxed out.

The ratings of the dually 350/3500's certainly meet the requirements on paper. Like what I'm reading about the turning radius, breaking and heavier curb weight of Ford's F450 without getting in to a cab and chassis truck.

Anyone have first hand experience/comparison with Ford's F450 compared to a F350 or Ram 3500?

Thanks much

Newer Ford F350 SRW diesel will pull that trailer very well. However, if you insist on a dually the F450 was designed for dual real wheel application while the dually is an add-on for the F350.

neal10a wrote:

gratwitnorth wrote:
Shopping for new tow vehicle. Bought a bigger 5th wheel ( 2013 Redwood 38BR ). The current Ram 2500 diesel srw will get it there but is pretty maxed out.

The ratings of the dually 350/3500's certainly meet the requirements on paper. Like what I'm reading about the turning radius, breaking and heavier curb weight of Ford's F450 without getting in to a cab and chassis truck.

Anyone have first hand experience/comparison with Ford's F450 compared to a F350 or Ram 3500?

Thanks much

Newer Ford F350 SRW diesel will pull that trailer very well. However, if you insist on a dually the F450 was designed for dual real wheel application while the dually is an add-on for the F350.

I agree that the F350 SRW would handle a Redwood 38br beautifully but it is nonsense to think there is something special about the design of the f450 which makes it better to pull the OP's trailer than the F350 dually. The F450 has the advantage of a tighter turning radius. On the other hand the F350 dually has more suitable final drive ratio choices than the F450 does for a trailer such as what he OP will be towing.

laknox wrote:
From what I've read, the RAM 3500s are probably the "heaviest" of the standard pickups and are more than a match for all but the largest FWs that truly need an MDT to tow. That Cummins/Aisin/air ride combo seems to be d@mn hard to beat.

Lyle

I can honestly say there is not a DRV that i can't tow within my axle and combined weight ratings. I am at my RAWR with my 23k two axle DRV BUT many of them that are heavier and some lighter are triple axle and greatly reduces the pin and that allows me to tow a much heavier DRV as long as it has 3 axles.

YES the factory Rear Air Ride is WELL worth the $$$.

My set up is a 2012 F-450 chassis cab flatbed. I tow a 14,000 LB Holiday Rambler fifth wheel. Lots of payload and axle left, after hookup. Tows great. Stops great with or without the trailer brakes. More truck than I need but I am really comfortable behind the wheel. No complaints here. My moto?? Bigger is always better!!!

Hauling the combo in my sig. I thought about the 450 but considered it overkill when only the turning radius could be a plus. Do recommend the 4:10 over the 3:55 unless your always on he flats. I haven't weighed but based on previous truck and 5er weight and known dry weight on the 5er and shipping weight I'm 27,500 on the road. 13,500 towing, grades up to 10 percent, 9.5 gpm, try to cruise at 62mph. Sit back and enjoy the ride.