Help selecting proper tow truck
I am getting a 5th wheel. Avalanche 380fl Specs of the 5th wheel have a gross combine weight rating of 15,600 when loaded. Hitch weight is like 2800 pounds. I am looking on Craigslist for older...
Forum Discussion
In 2005, Ford really changed the GVWR for the F-250/350 series trucks. They changed from the F-250 being 8,800 in 1990 - 2004 all the way up to 10,000 pounds in 2005, while the F-350 SRW went from 9,900 to around 11,500 pounds.
So a SRW F-350 that is 2005 and later should tow the trailer in question, but not much heavier, due to the hitch weight. The dually would be fine, except for the problems that Ford had with it's International engines. International fixed it by installing coolant filters on all their trucks with the 6.0 and 6.4L V8's. Ford never did recall all it's trucks to install coolant filters, but anyone can buy a kit from Napa and install their filter in the heater hose lines. I even put one in my new 1997 Ford based 460" Bounder motorhome. It picked out a lot of sand from the engine coolant, when it plugged up in September of 97. It was barely 9 months old at the time.
Napa part # FIL 4019 is the kit to install it, FIL 4070 is the coolant filter that you will need - if the prior owner did not install one already. What happens is the coolant plugs the oil cooler with junk, then the exhaust gas cooler overheats and coolant can leak into the engine, basically doing around $15,000 in damage. ..
Better to install the coolant filters every 500 miles for the first three filters, then once a year after that. . .
Once the coolant filter is installed, then the oil cooler is not likely to plug, and EGR gas cooler is probably not going to fail. .. Do a search for the 6.4L Diesel problems, or look for the 2011 and later 6.7L Ford diesel. Once Ford started producing them, they did not have nearly as many failures. However no matter the engine, I would still install the coolant filter just to have long life of the coolant hoses, water pump, and radiator. It will take out the minerals that block the radiator, and would reduce the heat exchanger loss while driving.
Dodge also makes a nice diesel pickup. So is the Duramax diesel. You probably would require a dually if you want to stay within the GVWR of the trucks. Only the 2005 - current supercab or regular cab F_350 SRW can handle 3,000+ pounds of cargo before exceeding it's 11,500 GVWR.
You can find Ford towing guides here.. http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Yes the trucks have improved a lot over the years. I would recommend a 2011 or later F-350 SRW for your load, while the dually will also work, it will have a much stiffer suspension. The 2007 diesel is low price for a reason, the engine might be close to getting that $15,000 repair to it. . . .
Good luck,
Fred.
So a SRW F-350 that is 2005 and later should tow the trailer in question, but not much heavier, due to the hitch weight. The dually would be fine, except for the problems that Ford had with it's International engines. International fixed it by installing coolant filters on all their trucks with the 6.0 and 6.4L V8's. Ford never did recall all it's trucks to install coolant filters, but anyone can buy a kit from Napa and install their filter in the heater hose lines. I even put one in my new 1997 Ford based 460" Bounder motorhome. It picked out a lot of sand from the engine coolant, when it plugged up in September of 97. It was barely 9 months old at the time.
Napa part # FIL 4019 is the kit to install it, FIL 4070 is the coolant filter that you will need - if the prior owner did not install one already. What happens is the coolant plugs the oil cooler with junk, then the exhaust gas cooler overheats and coolant can leak into the engine, basically doing around $15,000 in damage. ..
Better to install the coolant filters every 500 miles for the first three filters, then once a year after that. . .
Once the coolant filter is installed, then the oil cooler is not likely to plug, and EGR gas cooler is probably not going to fail. .. Do a search for the 6.4L Diesel problems, or look for the 2011 and later 6.7L Ford diesel. Once Ford started producing them, they did not have nearly as many failures. However no matter the engine, I would still install the coolant filter just to have long life of the coolant hoses, water pump, and radiator. It will take out the minerals that block the radiator, and would reduce the heat exchanger loss while driving.
Dodge also makes a nice diesel pickup. So is the Duramax diesel. You probably would require a dually if you want to stay within the GVWR of the trucks. Only the 2005 - current supercab or regular cab F_350 SRW can handle 3,000+ pounds of cargo before exceeding it's 11,500 GVWR.
You can find Ford towing guides here.. http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Yes the trucks have improved a lot over the years. I would recommend a 2011 or later F-350 SRW for your load, while the dually will also work, it will have a much stiffer suspension. The 2007 diesel is low price for a reason, the engine might be close to getting that $15,000 repair to it. . . .
Good luck,
Fred.
