I am contemplating selling my Crew Cab long bed dually and am looking at getting a crew cab short(er) bed single rear wheel. I would stay with a Ford 6.0L diesel 4x4 and prefer the 1 ton but am finding many 3/4. I have the dually because of a truck camper which we are selling. The SWR would become my daily driver when the snow flies again.I would like to hear from those that have experience with both a dually and a srw hauling their 5th wheel. Maybe even experiences with the long box vs the short box. My 5ver is a Keystone Lariat 29 foot with a GVWR of 10900 pounds.Thanks, Ben

We started with a 2007 F350 6.0 SRW pulling our 14000 fifth wheel. The truck pulled fine but handling was not. You could feel the truck being pushed around corners and in windy conditions. We traded out when the truck was costing us to much in repairs and now drive a 2008 GMC Duramax DRW and wow what a difference especially in handling. No more wiggle from.winds, corners much better and ride is overall better. One issue with a DRW is the traction sucks compared to a SRW.

I think you have to look at the wheel base as opposed to just the length of the box?

Pull the outer wheels off your current rig and go for a test drive. You'll find out exactly how much difference there is. I think the newer srw trucks are a little more stable. I've never towed with an 06 Ford but I would be surprised to hear that an 06 Ford srw 1 ton can't handle a 10,000 lb fiver.

Any newish 3/4 ton or 1 ton should be fine with that size fifth wheel. Buying used I wouldn't worry about the 250/350 distinction at all because it's either meaningless depending on options or it can be made meaningless with about $200 in aftermarket parts. Buy what you can get the best deal on that suits what you're looking for and go from there.

More dually w/5er 2011Dually vs single 2014 in fivers

Your experience with a Dually vs SRW hauling 5ver

Halmfamily
Explorer
May 21, 2019
We started with a 2007 F350 6.0 SRW pulling our 14000 fifth wheel. The truck pulled fine but handling was not. You could feel the truck being pushed around corners and in windy conditions. We traded out when the truck was costing us to much in repairs and now drive a 2008 GMC Duramax DRW and wow what a difference especially in handling. No more wiggle from.winds, corners much better and ride is overall better. One issue with a DRW is the traction sucks compared to a SRW.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
May 21, 2019
I think you have to look at the wheel base as opposed to just the length of the box?
4x4ord
Explorer III
May 21, 2019
Pull the outer wheels off your current rig and go for a test drive. You'll find out exactly how much difference there is. I think the newer srw trucks are a little more stable. I've never towed with an 06 Ford but I would be surprised to hear that an 06 Ford srw 1 ton can't handle a 10,000 lb fiver.
IdaD
Explorer
May 21, 2019
Any newish 3/4 ton or 1 ton should be fine with that size fifth wheel. Buying used I wouldn't worry about the 250/350 distinction at all because it's either meaningless depending on options or it can be made meaningless with about $200 in aftermarket parts. Buy what you can get the best deal on that suits what you're looking for and go from there.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 21, 2019
More dually w/5er 2011
Dually vs single 2014 in fivers
MFL
Nomad II
May 21, 2019
IdaD wrote:
Any newish 3/4 ton or 1 ton should be fine with that size fifth wheel. Buying used I wouldn't worry about the 250/350 distinction at all because it's either meaningless depending on options or it can be made meaningless with about $200 in aftermarket parts. Buy what you can get the best deal on that suits what you're looking for and go from there.

Agree with above. While a 1 ton would be best option, any later model 250 will easily handle that FW, and more. Don't pass up a nice clean used 250.

Jerry
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
May 21, 2019
Check my sig. I have no push or sway at all. Good tires properly aired takes care of that. I have put lots of miles on both srw and drw's both crew cabs. I prefer the srw.
cummins2014
Explorer
May 21, 2019
MN Ben wrote:
I am contemplating selling my Crew Cab long bed dually and am looking at getting a crew cab short(er) bed single rear wheel. I would stay with a Ford 6.0L diesel 4x4 and prefer the 1 ton but am finding many 3/4. I have the dually because of a truck camper which we are selling. The SWR would become my daily driver when the snow flies again.
I would like to hear from those that have experience with both a dually and a srw hauling their 5th wheel. Maybe even experiences with the long box vs the short box. My 5ver is a Keystone Lariat 29 foot with a GVWR of 10900 pounds.
Thanks, Ben

If your plans are never going over the weight of your present fifth wheel, then a 250 will work ,but a 350 even better. I towed many years with a Ford 350 7.3 . Finally got tired of the lack of power, towing a 15,500 GVWR fifth wheel . Handling was never the issue . Went with a newer Cummins , but still SRW , and a 3500.

IMO you would be further ahead getting into a bit newer Ford 350, with the 6.7 diesel . That would be 2011 or newer. Many will chime in on the 6.0 Ford diesel, but the 6.0 was not Ford's greatest engine.
laknox
Nomad
May 21, 2019
MN Ben wrote:
I am contemplating selling my Crew Cab long bed dually and am looking at getting a crew cab short(er) bed single rear wheel. I would stay with a Ford 6.0L diesel 4x4 and prefer the 1 ton but am finding many 3/4. I have the dually because of a truck camper which we are selling. The SWR would become my daily driver when the snow flies again.
I would like to hear from those that have experience with both a dually and a srw hauling their 5th wheel. Maybe even experiences with the long box vs the short box. My 5ver is a Keystone Lariat 29 foot with a GVWR of 10900 pounds.
Thanks, Ben

I'm towing a 10.5k GVW FW with my '02 2500HD without issues. I'd love to have a 3500 SRW, but I don't really need it to tow this rig. OTOH, I have a 30' triple-axle GN trailer that would really benefit from having a 1t. :B In extremis though, I could hit up my brother for his F350 dually. Might have to shower a couple times after driving a Ford, though. :B

Lyle
NEnative
Explorer
May 21, 2019
We tow a Forest River Crusader fifth wheel. When we purchased it we had a 2012 Ford 250 short bed cc gasser and I was not happy with the way it towed. Bought a 2016 350 cc 6.7 duelly and I can't believe that difference it how it tows. I love this truck and it is my daily driver.