2017 F450 vs F350

[Venom4u]

I currently tow 43ft Jayco 377RLBH. I tow with a 2007 F350 dually.

Couple things.

1) The pin weight on the Jayco is just about 3000 lbs.

2) I have 6 people in the truck plus a 100lb dog.

3) I think the tow wieght is around 14k lbs.

I currently feel my vehicle does an OK job. But it could use airbags. I'm a inch or so away from the touching the overload Springs when all loaded up, full fuel etc.

It's a heavy load and I believe a 2017 with the newer engines would do a better job with it.

So I'm thinking 350 or 450. The 3500 mega cab was also in the mix but the mega cab isn't really bigger interior wise than the Ford and it had a short bed.


That said the 450 is listed as not able to carry as much load in the truck itself. I'm a bit confused because on paper the 350 looks like it works better with a bigger payload since I am way under Mac towing capacity of both trucks.

Many have said that the f450 is underrated.

I have read the 450 has a tighter turn radius which is nice.

So I am a bit torn. 450 sounds like a great rig... But being less capable of load bugs me... Should I really worry?

Opinions please...

[1jeep]

I agree with bedlam....go drive either brand with that wide track front end, it is worth the extra money, my drw turns tighter than my previous F250

As for the back seats, I haven't heard any complaints about my tiny ford seat, not that I would care. I could see if you had adults going back there all the time being concerned.

[tinner12002]

Me Again wrote:
For less than the cost of a new Ford you could have one like this.



Then again turn radius is an issue. Chris

Looks like a mega cab with an 8ft bed!! Custom built??

[Venom4u]

Not to change my own topic....but doing this research also led me to figure out that in Texas I am actually not legal driving my rig with a Class C license. I actually need to get a Class A non-commercial license since my trailer is over 10k and the total GVWR of the entire truck and trailer is over 26k.

[Venom4u]

FireRob wrote:
You know, I'm wondering something, you said six people?
1. You
2. Wife
3-6 was four kids?

Where is the sixth person going to sit? I don't know about Ford but with Ram you have to get one of the very low trim levels to get a "bench" (60/40) seat up front. The other trim level have two bucket seats for the driver and one passenger. Maybe a custom order? Just wondering what your plan was?

As it was said Laramie on Dodge and Lariat on Ford the front bench is an option and on the Ford XLT its standard.

[Bedlam]

Me Again wrote:
For less than the cost of a new Ford you could have one like this.



Then again turn radius is an issue. Chris

Not interested unless you put a wide track front end on it. Have you ever driven a stretch with poor wheel cut? You would get really good at making multi point turns. Really, this is why Ram has not put it into production unless they graft on the chassis cab front end. Maybe it is time for a 4500 pickup? I don't know if the market is big enough for two.

[FireRob]

Me Again wrote:
For less than the cost of a new Ford you could have one like this.



Then again turn radius is an issue. Chris

That is a thing of beauty right there!!!

I'd be willing to give up many of the specific options I had to have when I drove over 500 miles to pick up my truck because that was the closest place to get the truck with the specific options I wanted. But I'd trade half them away for what ever options that tuck has on it if I had to.

[Me_Again]

For less than the cost of a new Ford you could have one like this.



Then again turn radius is an issue. Chris

[blofgren]

FireRob wrote:
You know, I'm wondering something, you said six people?
1. You
2. Wife
3-6 was four kids?

Where is the sixth person going to sit? I don't know about Ford but with Ram you have to get one of the very low trim levels to get a "bench" (60/40) seat up front. The other trim level have two bucket seats for the driver and one passenger. Maybe a custom order? Just wondering what your plan was?

You can get a 40/20/40 split bench seat in a Laramie; my truck has one.

[FireRob]

You know, I'm wondering something, you said six people?
1. You
2. Wife
3-6 was four kids?

Where is the sixth person going to sit? I don't know about Ford but with Ram you have to get one of the very low trim levels to get a "bench" (60/40) seat up front. The other trim level have two bucket seats for the driver and one passenger. Maybe a custom order? Just wondering what your plan was?

[blofgren]

For that size family I would definitely be leaning towards the Ram Megacab dually. We love ours. As mentioned earlier the rear seats are super comfortable and recline. There is a huge amount of room behind the rear seats as well, enough for small suitcases. And the legroom is huge; my seven year old son can walk from one side of the cab to the other with ease. The Megacab DRW has the same GVWR, axle ratings, and trailer tow ratings as the crew cab DRW as of the 2013 model year.

I find I don't miss the 8' box as much as I thought I would. And the Megacab dually looks sharp and is quite rare; I have had far more compliments on this truck than any other I have ever owned. Lastly, the Cummins with the reliable CP3 high pressure fuel pump is the icing on the cake!

[Home_Skillet]

Here's Ford's towing guide. Scroll down to page 24.

Towing guide

[FishOnOne]

If had to go with a dually (which I would avoid at all costs) I would go with the king of the hill... F450.

As for cabin size the new '17 models are larger with even more leg room than the original Super Duty crew cab.

[Cummins12V98]

southernsky wrote:
The F450 is considered heavy duty construction truck. It's only warrantied for 36000 mls. unlike the F350 @ 100000 powertrain. The Mega cab has a much bigger cab but bigger cab means lower tow ratings

Lower ratings NOT true. Older units YES.

[Bedlam]

My Ram has 4.44's which work well at the 55-65 mph I typically drive. Those that drive faster would also prefer the 4.10's in the Ram.

[lawnspecialties]

My dealer has some of each. I was just comparing the two by looking at similar pictures and the window stickers.

I've always liked the F450 and its 19.5 wheels they finally started going back to. But the new body style in the F350 package is looking really sweet. The 17's look even better with this body style than they did on the 2011-2016s and I used to own one. Plus, a white one my dealer has has the 4.10 rear as an option.

The 4.30 was always one thing I thought was complete overkill on the 2011 F450 I used to own.