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DianneOK's avatar
DianneOK
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013

'12 F350 and our Lance

We just returned from a 2000 mile trip to So Cal with the new truck and "old" camper. What a difference from the '09 F350. We have hauled with duallies most of our lives and this srw is just as stable as a dually. We had every kind of situation imaginable....high winds, terrible roads, leaping antelope, panic stops...I HATE that drive!!!!

Anyway...we are incredibly happy with the truck and camper, and I have to give my hubby credit...he was right to trade in the super cab for the crew cab!!!!
  • OK...first....the wheel base is the 172 vs 158, so that made a huge difference with the cog. We have noticed that the camper itself sits differently in the bed...with all the same same stanoffs,etc. Even the same board at the front of the bed to keep the camper off the tail lights. There is at least a half inch more clearance.

    The hardware is the original. We moved everything from the former truck. Same size wheels, rims, etc. Ccc...not sure, but brakes, etc seem heavier.

    Engine....oh my...I drove the worst sections of the trip, passing on 95, our haul up the mountain. I found out reaaaaalllllly fast that you don't "floor" it! Even with the full load, it leaped forward:E....the new engine is not even comparable...a different beast. We did find out that it used more additive with the load, and had to stop at the dealers in Nampa to fill the reservoir for the trip home. It didn't quite make the 5000 miles. 4300 to be exact....mileage is much better than the sc. we averaged over 12 for the trip, which we felt was great considering the winds....seemed to always be a headwind....

    As far as srw over drw...these 2 trucks were a compromise....had to fit in the garage in winter, so a dually was out. We have had 4 duallies in our past, two f350, one f450 and an fl60. Never thought we would have a srw until we moved here. We hauled every sort of trailer, the last was a 20,000# Teton hauled by the fl60.

    The crew cab is wonderful. Just like the olden days:) This trip home the rear seat compartment was loaded with boxes of china, crystal, books...stuff our son had stored for us during our 9 years of fulltiming. So we actually returned heavier than we started out. We weighed at the start of the trip (fully loaded with food, water, fuel)....13340#. Did not weigh on the return trip.

    So....overall, the new truck was a really good decision....I am sold :) As an aside...Terry commented more than once, if we hit the road again it will be with this truck....so a smaller 5er would be in order. And after spending considerable time in this tc, that would be no problem at all......:)
  • jimh425 wrote:
    Congrats, but there is no way it is stable because it's not a drw. ;)
    :B

    Dianne,

    You do realize that all the DRW advocate's heads are going to be exploding, right?? :):W

    Good decision on the larger cab. Last summer we traded in the x-cab chevy for a crewcab. MUCH better. Our 1 year old German Shepard's bed fits back there nicely- she approves also.

    Best of luck with the new truck- looks like you are off to a great start already.

    John
  • does it have any hardware the other truck didn't like a sway bar in the back and 20" rims?
  • Congrats, but there is no way it is stable because it's not a drw. ;)
  • I have an 09 SRW 350 with the crew cab. Overall it does very well but I do wish it had the extra power of the new motor. That being said I do not think its worth it financially as a tune after the warranty has expired easily makes up for the difference along with the need for the additive.
  • For your F-350 4X4 SRW. What wheel base did you buy the 172".
    I am thinking of getting a F-350 4x4 FX SRW, Super Cab with a wheelbase of 158", and 18" wheels.
    May have to consider the CC?
    Thank you for the reply.
    Scott
  • Thanks, The difference is amazing, not only fuel consumption, but stability. The camper never rocked like on the supercab and we were fully loaded. Don't know if the longer wheel base is the answer, but it sure worked!