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PHS79's avatar
PHS79
Explorer
Feb 08, 2016

Switching trucks for a trip?

We have a week long trip to the Black Hills and Deadwood SD booked for this summer, it will be a about 1500 miles from WI and back. Our TT is a 2013 Passport 3220BH (with Reese Dual Cam hitch) that I tow with my 2004 F150 SC, 6.5ft box, FX4, 5.4L, 3.73 gears. One day talking to my parents my dad offered to let us use his 2002 F350 SC, DRW, 8ft box, 4x4, 7.3L PSD, 4.10 gears. Both trucks are low mileage, 66,000 miles (mine) and 85,000 miles (dads), and in excellent condition

I have no problem using my truck for the trip, but I also think I would be foolish not to use dads F350 since there is no comparison of towing performance between the two trucks.

Am I thinking of this wrong since we now planning on taking dads truck?

The only down sides that I can think of is that I have a feeling after the trip I will end up wanting a diesel as my full time tow rig and I will have to mess with my hitch to to get the correct setup.
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  • PHS79's avatar
    PHS79
    Explorer
    Feb 08, 2016
    DutchmenSport wrote:
    Sounds like you've pretty much fixed in your mind you're getting one some day anyway.

    My parents winter in AZ and they have mentioned a couple different times that this may be their last winter taking their 5th wheel, and have looked at maybe buying a place. I told my dad that if they do sell the 5er that I want his truck, I don't want to let his low mileage and immaculate condition 7.3L get away.

    Pretty much all that I use my F150 for is towing the camper, so I can't justify buying a new truck for only putting 3000 miles a year on. So dads truck would fit my needs nicely, an extremely clean and reliable heavy duty truck (that I know the entire history on) that I would be into for $15000 or less.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Feb 08, 2016
    Not a heavy trailer, but I think you will be surprised between the two.
  • kw_00's avatar
    kw_00
    Explorer
    Feb 08, 2016
    Well; once you borrow that truck, you will most likely enjoy the stability of an HD truck and the power of the diesel. You may just may decide to upgrade sooner then you think.....I pull with the gas job and love it, despite pulling with a diesel. Both are great, the benefits of an HD truck regardless of gas or diesel will surprise you.
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Feb 08, 2016
    On the way home, when you drop the DW off to grocery shop, you can go visit the local truck dealerships.........

    Bill
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Feb 08, 2016
    You'll have to adjust the hitch on your Dad's truck to fit your trailer. So when you come back home, you'll have practice for that new truck!

    Go for it! Use Dad's, then get a new one! Or, just get a new one now and save a step! Sounds like you've pretty much fixed in your mind you're getting one some day anyway. Might as well be today!

    (By the way, that is really nice of your dad to do this. All jokes aside, you should take him up on his offer. He'll feel better and it will give him a sense that he's helping you out on something. Parents, of all ages, need to feel their kids ... of all ages ... still need them.)
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Feb 08, 2016
    Make sure you return your dad's truck, after your trip, clean and with a ful tank of fuel. :)

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