Ram/Ford 45/5500 trucks for TC hauler
Curious to hear from people who have experience with these trucks and how they like them, and specifically how they compare to a previous 3/4 or 1 ton truck they might have owned hauling a TC. Do the...
Forum Discussion
I’ve carried my current camper my 2006 Host Dual Slide Rainier on two different trucks.
I originally bought a 2006 Ford F350 Supercab PSD 6.0 specifically to carry it, but also for my daily driver. I knew going in that I wouldn’t be able carry very much or carry a full water tank. That was the tradeoff to get the space. I drove it stock on a 1000 mile trip and it handled the camper just fine. Later, I updated to Rancho 9000s, airbags, and also updated to 19.5 G rated tires to give me more room for error with respect to overloading tires. When buying the truck, my goal was to be no more than 10% over at any point in time, which I was able to achieve. I was never over the rear axle rating in the 8 years I drove it.
When I no longer needed the SRW as my daily driver (technically forced since the F350 was also too big), I switched to my current truck a 2010 F450 Crew Cab Pickup type PSD 6.4 with stock 19.5 tires. The GVWR is just over 3000 lbs more but the truck is also heavier. As you might expect, it handles better, and with the improved brakes it stops much faster and turns tighter. I no longer also worry too much about how much I carry with me. On my heaviest trip, I was still under the GVWR. I've had it just over 3 years.
My wife enjoys driving the F450 much more. It is more comfortable with the crew cab, but the SRW was ok as well. It also got much better MPG as a much lighter vehicle.
I originally bought a 2006 Ford F350 Supercab PSD 6.0 specifically to carry it, but also for my daily driver. I knew going in that I wouldn’t be able carry very much or carry a full water tank. That was the tradeoff to get the space. I drove it stock on a 1000 mile trip and it handled the camper just fine. Later, I updated to Rancho 9000s, airbags, and also updated to 19.5 G rated tires to give me more room for error with respect to overloading tires. When buying the truck, my goal was to be no more than 10% over at any point in time, which I was able to achieve. I was never over the rear axle rating in the 8 years I drove it.
When I no longer needed the SRW as my daily driver (technically forced since the F350 was also too big), I switched to my current truck a 2010 F450 Crew Cab Pickup type PSD 6.4 with stock 19.5 tires. The GVWR is just over 3000 lbs more but the truck is also heavier. As you might expect, it handles better, and with the improved brakes it stops much faster and turns tighter. I no longer also worry too much about how much I carry with me. On my heaviest trip, I was still under the GVWR. I've had it just over 3 years.
My wife enjoys driving the F450 much more. It is more comfortable with the crew cab, but the SRW was ok as well. It also got much better MPG as a much lighter vehicle.
