f250 or f350?

[Daniel97]

After for lurking around for a while, I may have decided to pull the trigger. I am looking to buy a 2016 Dutchmen Denali 307RLS. I can tow with the F250 without being over weight (on the higher side, but not over). I am just trying to get some personal opinions about which truck I should get. The trucks are a 2015 F-250 Platinum 4WD and the 2015 F-350 Lariat 4WD. The other question I have is would the 4wd be worth it because you can not tow a fifth wheel with a lifted truck? The truck would mainly be for towing the fifth wheel and a 22 foot bay boat.

[gdavidg]

1 Ton, F350, 3500 by any of the big 3. 4X4 also, don't take a knife to a gunfight. You will want a bigger rig someday.

If i had a chance to do it over would go dually, 1 ton, 4x4.

[CarlT100]

GoPackGo wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

CarlT100 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
If it's a single rear wheel F350, I would go for that.

Unless you do a lot of off roading (for which an F250 or F350 is a horrible option anyway), not much benefit in going 4x4. Realistically, a 4x2 with limited slip and a 5th wheel on the back will have a ton of traction.

I have ti disagree. I have had one 4X2 F250 and three 4X4 F350's. I will not go back to a 4X2. I don't use the 4 wheel drive often; but when I need it, it's there. I use it most often on slippery, wet boat ramps. Obviously, I don't have the weight of a fiver in the bed on boat ramps. I also use it on wet grassy slopes with the fiver. On the very rare occasions when I am in snow, I am happy to have a 4x4.

If all you are worried about is the boat ramp, a limited slip should be plenty.

Limited slip doesn't seem to help all that much on slippery, steep boat ramps. The problem is no weight on the rear wheels. They just cannot hook up very well. The weight of a motor directly over front wheels with power going to them makes all the difference. Just throw it in 4x4 low and motor right up that ramp. No muss. No fuss.

Spot on. With limited slip and no 4X4, the truck just slides sideways on a wet ramp. I have pulled trucks out of the ramp that had limited slip only.

[GoPackGo]

valhalla360 wrote:

CarlT100 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
If it's a single rear wheel F350, I would go for that.

Unless you do a lot of off roading (for which an F250 or F350 is a horrible option anyway), not much benefit in going 4x4. Realistically, a 4x2 with limited slip and a 5th wheel on the back will have a ton of traction.

I have ti disagree. I have had one 4X2 F250 and three 4X4 F350's. I will not go back to a 4X2. I don't use the 4 wheel drive often; but when I need it, it's there. I use it most often on slippery, wet boat ramps. Obviously, I don't have the weight of a fiver in the bed on boat ramps. I also use it on wet grassy slopes with the fiver. On the very rare occasions when I am in snow, I am happy to have a 4x4.

If all you are worried about is the boat ramp, a limited slip should be plenty.

Limited slip doesn't seem to help all that much on slippery, steep boat ramps. The problem is no weight on the rear wheels. They just cannot hook up very well. The weight of a motor directly over front wheels with power going to them makes all the difference. Just throw it in 4x4 low and motor right up that ramp. No muss. No fuss.

[Travlingman]

Was in a campground that had just added a new gravel site. A fiver pulled in being pulled by a 2 wheel drive dually. Truck sunk in the gravel and the 4 rear wheels dug in deeper. Had to get a 4 wheel drive dually to pull him out.

We were at the outer banks going down the main road near Hatteras and a car came into our lane. We had to go off the road with the right side and our dually sunk in the sand. Had to use 4 wheel or we would have had to been pulled out.

Wouldn't have a truck without 4 wheel drive.

[SkiSmuggs]

4WD needed? I was leaving a rustic state campground built in a marsh with very narrow roads. I barely got into my site and barely got out without taking out the site marker as it was really tight. I was so relieved to successfully clear my campsite that I forgot to swing wide for the first curve and dropped my passenger side fiver wheels into the marsh. We came to a stop with rear wheels spinning and DW freaking out because her baby was listing at 15 degrees. Just the hitch and a stump that the rear RV bumper was resting on kept it from going over. I put it in 4WD and pulled right out. With just 2WD, we would have needed a wrecker.
I'll also had a few times where wet grass or loose gravel was enough to cause wheel spin. Get 4WD.

[valhalla360]

Timay wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
If it's a single rear wheel F350, I would go for that.

Unless you do a lot of off roading (for which an F250 or F350 is a horrible option anyway), not much benefit in going 4x4.Realistically, a 4x2 with limited slip and a 5th wheel on the back will have a ton of traction.

Until it doesn't! We pulled down into a farm lane and off in a field for a family reunion, pulling a 26' travel trailer. Going out on the dirt farm lane that went uphill, the dirt would let the tires spin as the traction was gone from the angle of attack. Tried it about two times then put it in 4WD and drove right out. Many more similar stories, mine and others.

4WD for me!

Tim

Same can be said of a 4x4. It's plenty untill it's not and then you are further from help. Also you missed the point. Your little TT probably put 600-800lbs in the rear axle to help with traction. A relatively small 5th wheel would have put double that giving you substantially more traction.

Since this was in the 5th wheel forum, it's generally a bad idea to go over to rough of ground as it will cause the overhand to hit the truck bed rails. A TT can get away with much rougher ground.

[valhalla360]

CarlT100 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
If it's a single rear wheel F350, I would go for that.

Unless you do a lot of off roading (for which an F250 or F350 is a horrible option anyway), not much benefit in going 4x4. Realistically, a 4x2 with limited slip and a 5th wheel on the back will have a ton of traction.

I have ti disagree. I have had one 4X2 F250 and three 4X4 F350's. I will not go back to a 4X2. I don't use the 4 wheel drive often; but when I need it, it's there. I use it most often on slippery, wet boat ramps. Obviously, I don't have the weight of a fiver in the bed on boat ramps. I also use it on wet grassy slopes with the fiver. On the very rare occasions when I am in snow, I am happy to have a 4x4.

If all you are worried about is the boat ramp, a limited slip should be plenty.

[minnow]

As far as waiting for the 2017's Superduty's - I don't know. The first year of a new model can be a dice throw. Might be problem free and then again might not. The 2015/16's have from what I've seen are fairly problem free.

[Deep_Trax]

Like many of the above, I purchased a new 2500 HD and really wished I would have gotten the 3500 HD. My 2500 HD does not have the rated capacities to haul many of the fifth wheels on the market today.

I will always buy 4WD whether I need it or not. To me, it is just like buying insurance in that it is a great thing to have if you find yourself in a situation where you need it.

I would not buy a new 2015/2016 Super Duty at this time with the all new 2017's coming out within the next year. The new 2017 Super Dutys are going to have a much stronger chassis and numerous safety & convenience features that are worth waiting for IMO.

I'd find a way to wait for the 2017, even if it meant buying a used truck to get you through the next 10-12 months. If you found a decent deal on a used truck, you could probably drive it for a year and sell it for what you paid for it.

[DaYooper]

Like others I would go with the 350 and a 4x4. It's a mistake I made and now regret not getting a 3500 in my Ram, but with that being said I would never recommend a Ford diesel around that build year. We have two 2007's and two 2009's on rescue vehicles at work (wasn't aware they went from 6.0 to 6.4's, since they both brake down with similar regularity). They brake down often and have constant issues with the motors which has forced us to purchase replacements at a considerable cost and much sooner than expected hitting our budget hard. It's a shame that Ford put out such a poor product and will not stand behind it. Things just haven't been the same since the very dependable 7.3

[fuzzdr]

Go with the 6.7 L diesel. I bought a 2014 F-250 gas unit for my 33' Cruiser. That was a big mistake in that I then traded it in on what I should have bought in the first place, an F-350 for weight issues and diesel for power issues particularly when climbing hills. I love my new truck.

[jeb5]

Daniel97 wrote:
Looks like I am going to go with the f350. I am also looking at a 2008 Lariat F350 4x4 that is $25,000. The 2015 is $53,000. Now time to make some decisions...

The 2008 is a fuel hog. They need to remove the cab to work on anything major in the engine area. Buy the 2015. No question on this decision. The 6.7 is an excellent engine.

[spud1957]

Allworth wrote:
Having had both (2004 RAM 2500 4x4 shortbed and now a 2006 Chevy 3500 4x4 longbed) with diesel plants, I would not bother with a 2500 given the relatively small difference in price.

You can always tow below the limits on a 3500, but not (comfortably) above the limits of the 2500.

Totally disagree. Your towing experience between a 2015 F250 4x4 and and a 2015 F350 4x4 will be the same since both trucks are basically identical.

Your example is not comparing same manufacturer/year trucks so your experience would be totally different.

[CarlT100]

Allworth wrote:
Having had both (2004 RAM 2500 4x4 shortbed and now a 2006 Chevy 3500 4x4 longbed) with diesel plants, I would not bother with a 2500 given the relatively small difference in price.

You can always tow below the limits on a 3500, but not (comfortably) above the limits of the 2500.

I agree 100%.