Ford F-350 PS DRW Towing

[baggy_pants]

I don't have a front lounge FW yet but planing on the worst case scenario, 40' - 42', GVWR #16,000 and loaded tongue weight of @ 4000 lbs. We'll be full timing so I'll probably overload it. If Im reading the towing charts right an F-350 PS DRW with 3:73 gears won't do it until 2011. Not planning on doing a lot of traveling just snow birds but that could change once we get into it, want to be prepared. Am I interpreting this right? Thanks

[kennethwooster]

I've had 6.0s 6.4s and now the second 6.7. The 2011s on are by far the best units. Currently have a 2014 F350, DRW. I got all the towing information out that comes with the towing rv magazine. I studied until I knew exactly what I needed. Then I went to my dealer and told him all the options I needed. I wanted the towing package as well as the camper package. You may need a F450, but need to know what you will tow to tell. Or buy truck and make sure you don't go over the specs of the truck.

[PA12DRVR]

FWIW on the mileage thing:

I had a succession of F350's with the "Tow Boss" option that was offered in the 200? -2006 timeframe (my last 350 was 2006). This resulted in (IIRC) 4.30 rear axle, 13,000GVWR and 26,000 GCVWR. My 5ver at the time was 16,000 GVW.

What I found was that with the setup I had, I averaged circa 11 mpg (like 10.8 or something) and that towing I averaged 9.9 -10.4. My BIL who towed a similar 5ver with a 350 with either the 4.1 or the 3.73's averaged circa 15 mpg non-towing but closer to 8 mpg towing.

If your primary use is towing, go with the gears that will make towing work...the economy gains are more imaginary than real with the bigger gears.

[baggy_pants]

baggy pants wrote:
I don't have a front lounge FW yet but planing on the worst case scenario, 40' - 42', GVWR #16,000 and loaded tongue weight of @ 4000 lbs. We'll be full timing so I'll probably overload it. If Im reading the towing charts right an F-350 PS DRW with 3:73 gears won't do it until 2011. Not planning on doing a lot of traveling just snow birds but that could change once we get into it, want to be prepared. Am I interpreting this right? Thanks

Thanks for the help and your input. Just trying to buy my third truck first.

[spoon059]

jus2shy wrote:
With that kind of thinking, we'd ought to throw away all efforts in heavy freight to increase fuel economy, like the Walmart Super-trucks that break 10 mpg towing at full weight. Averaging 10.7 when I last read

Some want to RV, but they want as much fuel economy as possible for a given tow setup, or their tow vehicle isn't a purely dedicated towing machine. I'm personally glad to see lots of aero being put into the newest 5'er and tow vehicles (hence the huge air dams on the front and optimizing of shapes around the doors and windshield angles). It may only give 1 mpg here or 0.5 mpg there, but it all adds up. If freight operators can worry about fuel economy why not the average RV'er eh?

You are comparing an over the road truck that likely averages 150K miles a year. Saving 1 mpg over 150K miles is worthwhile. its likely saving 2000 + gallons of diesel per year at $4 a gallon. That is $8000 a year savings.

The OP mentioned that he isn't planning to drive often, just full time snow birding. Worrying about saving 30 gallons of gas per year and not having enough truck isn't smart. You might save $100 on fuel but you are either over weight and your truck is struggling and wasting gas, or you had to settle for a smaller trailer and aren't happy.

Or you get the bigger rear axle ratio, spend $100 more a year on fuel and have plenty of truck to enjoy your trip.

You CAN worry about fuel economy, but you probably won't enjoy the experience nearly as much...

[ksss]

I would try and stay with a 2011 (or newer) PS and stay away from the 6.4 PS.

[jus2shy]

spoon059 wrote:

baggy pants wrote:
3:73's for a little economy.

Not meaning to be a smartass, but if you are worried about fuel economy than perhaps RV'ing isn't for you. I cannot imagine the difference in fuel economy between the 3.73 and a shorter rear end ratio will really have a noticeable difference in economy. Its going to suck diesel either way.

With that kind of thinking, we'd ought to throw away all efforts in heavy freight to increase fuel economy, like the Walmart Super-trucks that break 10 mpg towing at full weight. Averaging 10.7 when I last read

Some want to RV, but they want as much fuel economy as possible for a given tow setup, or their tow vehicle isn't a purely dedicated towing machine. I'm personally glad to see lots of aero being put into the newest 5'er and tow vehicles (hence the huge air dams on the front and optimizing of shapes around the doors and windshield angles). It may only give 1 mpg here or 0.5 mpg there, but it all adds up. If freight operators can worry about fuel economy why not the average RV'er eh?

[NC_Hauler]

baggy pants wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

baggy pants wrote:
I don't have a front lounge FW yet but planing on the worst case scenario, 40' - 42', GVWR #16,000 and loaded tongue weight of @ 4000 lbs. We'll be full timing so I'll probably overload it. If Im reading the towing charts right an F-350 PS DRW with 3:73 gears won't do it until 2011. Not planning on doing a lot of traveling just snow birds but that could change once we get into it, want to be prepared. Am I interpreting this right? Thanks

I could be wrong but can't see the unit you're speaking of, being that long with only a GVW of 16,000# and a pin weight of that much, ie 4,000#....My 5er doesn't have a front lounge, but loaded, weighs in at 16,300# and has a pin weight of 3460#....

Worse case might be 40-42' with a GVW of 18,000# or so and then at that point having a pin weight of close to 4,000#....but am speculating due to not knowing what 5er you may be looking at.

We've been looking at the Jayco 38FLSA / Bighorn 3855FL. If you figure 25% of the 16,000 GVWR your at 4000lb pin. It makes everything borderline. I'm probably just splitting hairs.

The pin weight, in "most" instances, will be closer to 20%..again, my 5er "loaded" to 16,300 is 3460#....No it sounds like you're doing everything right, just might be figuring a little higher with the pin weight than you have too.

I agree with 45Ricochets assessment about what yr. F350 would work towing the 5er you're looking at.

[baggy_pants]

NC Hauler wrote:

baggy pants wrote:
I don't have a front lounge FW yet but planing on the worst case scenario, 40' - 42', GVWR #16,000 and loaded tongue weight of @ 4000 lbs. We'll be full timing so I'll probably overload it. If Im reading the towing charts right an F-350 PS DRW with 3:73 gears won't do it until 2011. Not planning on doing a lot of traveling just snow birds but that could change once we get into it, want to be prepared. Am I interpreting this right? Thanks

I could be wrong but can't see the unit you're speaking of, being that long with only a GVW of 16,000# and a pin weight of that much, ie 4,000#....My 5er doesn't have a front lounge, but loaded, weighs in at 16,300# and has a pin weight of 3460#....

Worse case might be 40-42' with a GVW of 18,000# or so and then at that point having a pin weight of close to 4,000#....but am speculating due to not knowing what 5er you may be looking at.

We've been looking at the Jayco 38FLSA / Bighorn 3855FL. If you figure 25% of the 16,000 GVWR your at 4000lb pin. It makes everything borderline. I'm probably just splitting hairs.

[45Ricochet]

baggy pants wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

baggy pants wrote:
I don't have a front lounge FW yet but planing on the worst case scenario, 40' - 42', GVWR #16,000 and loaded tongue weight of @ 4000 lbs. We'll be full timing so I'll probably overload it. If Im reading the towing charts right an F-350 PS DRW with 3:73 gears won't do it until 2011. Not planning on doing a lot of traveling just snow birds but that could change once we get into it, want to be prepared. Am I interpreting this right? Thanks

I could be wrong but can't see the unit you're speaking of, being that long with only a GVW of 16,000# and a pin weight of that much, ie 4,000#....My 5er doesn't have a front lounge, but loaded, weighs in at 16,300# and has a pin weight of 3460#....

Worse case might be 40-42' with a GVW of 18,000# or so and then at that point having a pin weight of close to 4,000#....but am speculating due to not knowing what 5er you may be looking at.

We've been looking at the Jayco 38FLSA/Bighorn 3855FL. Something along that line

Bighorn 3855FL LINK

You should be fine with any 2008- to present Ford DRW with a PSD IMO

[baggy_pants]

NC Hauler wrote:

baggy pants wrote:
I don't have a front lounge FW yet but planing on the worst case scenario, 40' - 42', GVWR #16,000 and loaded tongue weight of @ 4000 lbs. We'll be full timing so I'll probably overload it. If Im reading the towing charts right an F-350 PS DRW with 3:73 gears won't do it until 2011. Not planning on doing a lot of traveling just snow birds but that could change once we get into it, want to be prepared. Am I interpreting this right? Thanks

I could be wrong but can't see the unit you're speaking of, being that long with only a GVW of 16,000# and a pin weight of that much, ie 4,000#....My 5er doesn't have a front lounge, but loaded, weighs in at 16,300# and has a pin weight of 3460#....

Worse case might be 40-42' with a GVW of 18,000# or so and then at that point having a pin weight of close to 4,000#....but am speculating due to not knowing what 5er you may be looking at.

We've been looking at the Jayco 38FLSA/Bighorn 3855FL. Something along that line

[spoon059]

baggy pants wrote:
3:73's for a little economy.

Not meaning to be a smartass, but if you are worried about fuel economy than perhaps RV'ing isn't for you. I cannot imagine the difference in fuel economy between the 3.73 and a shorter rear end ratio will really have a noticeable difference in economy. Its going to suck diesel either way.

[NC_Hauler]

baggy pants wrote:
I don't have a front lounge FW yet but planing on the worst case scenario, 40' - 42', GVWR #16,000 and loaded tongue weight of @ 4000 lbs. We'll be full timing so I'll probably overload it. If Im reading the towing charts right an F-350 PS DRW with 3:73 gears won't do it until 2011. Not planning on doing a lot of traveling just snow birds but that could change once we get into it, want to be prepared. Am I interpreting this right? Thanks

I could be wrong but can't see the unit you're speaking of, being that long with only a GVW of 16,000# and a pin weight of that much, ie 4,000#....My 5er doesn't have a front lounge, but loaded, weighs in at 16,300# and has a pin weight of 3460#....

Worse case might be 40-42' with a GVW of 18,000# or so and then at that point having a pin weight of close to 4,000#....but am speculating due to not knowing what 5er you may be looking at.

[Garry_Gayle]

I have a 2015 F350 on order soon be parting ways with my 2008 F450 w 4:88s got 92K on the clock.

[spud1957]

stickdog wrote:

baggy pants wrote:

Golden_HVAC wrote:
What year Ford are you looking at?

Here is a place to get the towing guides for each year.

http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

Why are you specific about the 3.73:1 rear axle, while not specific about the model year? If you will be buying used, you will get what they ordered, not what you want, unless it is the same as the installed several years ago.

Good luck!

Fred.

I was looking for preowned prior to 2011 but their towing capacities aren't as much as the 2011 and up. 3:73's for a little economy.

Forget about economy, there isn't any towing.
My 09 has 3.73 and as far a capacity are you talking GVW or GCVW? I'm under on all axles truck and trailer, under truck GVW by 500# but over Fords recommended GCVW.
If your really concerned look for a pre 2011 F450 with 4:10's and figure that's the cost to play.

F450s never came with 4:10s. Only 4:30s and up