2017 F450 vs F350

Venom4u wrote:
I currently tow 43ft Jayco 377RLBH with a 2007 F350 dually.

Couple things.

1) The pin weight on the Jayco is just about 3000 lbs.

2) I have 6 people in the truck plus a 100lb dog.

3) I think the tow wieght is around 14k lbs.

I currently feel my vehicle does an OK job. But it could use airbags. I'm a inch or so away from the touching the overload Springs when all loaded up, full fuel etc.

I'm thinking 350 or 450. The 3500 mega cab was also in the mix but the mega cab isn't really bigger interior wise than the Ford and it had a short bed.

1" from overload springs doesn't seem like a big deal. If you're still on the primary spring back that shouldn't be an issue.


My Previous TV was an '04 Chevy 2500HD crew cab. The cab in my new TV --'14 Ram 2500 Crew Cab, 8' bed-- feels like a cavern compared to the Chevy. I used to think I had all kinds of room on the Chevy but the Ram has tons more leg room. I image the ability to recline seats in MegaCab would be great, but I'm happy with just the crew cab.

Also, the turning radius of my RAM is pretty huge. I can definitely see the benefit of the wider track front on the F450 and tighter radius would be really nice.

Don't forget, on the RAM 3500's 5-link air suspension with auto-level is a factory option. My truck is on coil springs with are very smooth but also very stout. I'd love to see how the air system rides.

The biggest surprise to me was driving an '08 F350 single cab, dually, 8' bed compared to my RAM. The F250 is a school truck I drive on occasion to pull a 28' trailer for our high school band. The first time I drove that thing I thought I would need a kidney transplant :E :E Holy smokes an old buckboard wagon on a logging trail would ride smoother than that beast. I think every internal organ got shifted and turned upside down. When I tow my 5er in the RAM it feels completely smooth, so I'm not sure if the difference is coil vs leaf spring, wheelbase, 1-ton vs 3/4-ton chassis, DRW vs SRW, or new era vs old era. Regardless, the ride harshness is totally night and day between the two trucks.

KJ