TV upgrade from F150 to F350

[David in Lex]

We towed our AS 30 over 10,000 miles with a F-150 EB max tow. It did fine. But we decided to trade it for a 2021 F-250 7.3L gas. The motivation was mainly to increase payload; we went from 1830 to 3100 lbs. The bigger truck does better towing too. More power when needed and significantly more stability in crosswind situations, I assume due to more weight and longer wheelbase. I’m sure there are people who insist that nothing less than a 350 duallie diesel is safe for a big trailer, but I’d like to know the scientific basis for that. I am very confident that a 250 gasser is plenty big enough for even a 30-footer. By the way, we have always used a ProPride hitch. I would never tow without it.

[safaridave]

Originally Posted by JonDNC

Cause you’re into Dually land. Now if they did a SRW version. [emoji6]

I have seen a number of Ford F450/550’s as well as RAM 4500’s that have single rear wheel conversions. Some with gigantic 41” military-type tires and some with slightly more practical 38” rubber. Look up DBL Design in Hurst, TX or
Buckstop Truckwear in Prineville, OR.

[JonDNC]

I was kidding…

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

The "big truck" guys recommended a F-450 over an F-350. Shorter turning radius, etc.
Why not? After all, this is the department of excess department.

Hi

The F350 to F450 step is the "over the edge of the cliff" sort of thing. Lots of changes, very different ride. If you go back far enough, that same "cliff" happened between the 150 / 1500 trucks and the 250 / 2500 trucks. Lots of folks still remember how big the difference used to be.

Bob

[Countryboy59]

Go with the F350 and Hensley, and get the diesel. Worth every penny.

[SVTRIDE]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

The rear springs on the 350 are much stiffer and stronger than your F150. ........One way to mitigate that problem is to purchase an air safe hitch.

With our wonderful MI road conditions, I agree, energy transfer between TV to AS and vice versa could use further dampening.

Gonna give this a try..

[B.trudeau]

Originally Posted by tbashin

I went to a F350 in 2018 and I have no regrets. Pulls so much better with so much less stress. No more slow poking, white knuckle driving since. I have the built in sway control but added a WD with Sway Control for additional insurance. I do not need to tighten the WD bars much at all. Just enough to settle it all in. No issues at all with the AS as far as popped rivets, etc. like some on here may want to insinuate. The joy of pulling is a 100% improvement over an F150 or even a F250.

Thanks for this info, I think I'm going with a 350, and not look back!

[Slimpockets]

I looked up the hp/torque specs for those engines (EB and 7.3). I think it’s 430/475# Godzilla. The 3.5 EB is 400/500# in a lower weight truck. For me I don’t see enough benefit to the larger truck. I have the HDPP on a F150. It works well for what I am doing and the price of the trucks are ridiculous.

[B.trudeau]

A F350 is a total waist of money and totally overkill to pull an AS and seriously I don't know who is stupid and ignorant enough to get this kind of TV to pull their AS?, but I know I'm joining the club lol, I'm shopping a F350 Powerstroke 6,7 (might even go with HO) Platinum trim (Not decided yet on the 8ft bed, might go fo it for the better range with larger fuel tank), this truck has a 4000Lbs payload capacity and 22000 towing capacity and will put an end to my bloody saga of replacing freekin trucks every 2 years (loosing money hand over fist) because I'm missing out on Payload! This philosophy of overkill is futile, most of us don't buy base on logic, we buy base on feeling and emotion! This guy who drives that $400K 700 HP 911 Twin Turbo when the speed limit is restricted to 65 Mph is totally overkill? Some buy out of logic and I respect that, some buy's out of their emotion, I'm one of them!, when parked in a Camping next to my neighbor that sits in a 3 millions dollars Prevost Coach I think to myself wooo this is overkill! Definetely for me it is, but not for this guy!

[G8trwood]

The Godzilla makes its power very low in RPM range vs the ecoboost

[SVTRIDE]

Originally Posted by B.trudeau

know I'm joining the club lol, I'm shopping a F350 Powerstroke 6,7 (might even go with HO) Platinum trim (Not decided yet on the 8ft bed, might go fo it for the better range with larger fuel tank)

Get the long bed you'll appreciate the extra bed length for stuff and tank size too...also note with what you've got configured...you'll get the 3" hitch receiver..so if you're planning on new draw bar hardware, size the shanks accordingly. Also check the box for trailer TPMS system...nice to see trailer tire pressures in your cluster.

[Slimpockets]

The 7.3 does hit 400# of torque 500 rpm earlier than the 3.5EB. They both fall off at 4500rpm. I would be happy to own a 7.3 but I know I don’t need it for what I’m doing. The extra cost of the truck would have slowed my roll on getting camper.

I understand what people like about more torque. I have been a no replacement for displacement guy for most of my life. I’m now looking at what works at what price.

Everything about bigger (torque) costs more. The truck, tags, insurance, maintenance all cost more. I paid more to get an Airstream. I didn’t want to pay more to move it. The difference in price wasn’t worth the difference in performance for me.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by B.trudeau

A F350 is a total waist of money and totally overkill to pull an AS and seriously I don't know who is stupid and ignorant enough to get this kind of TV to pull their AS?, but I know I'm joining the club lol, I'm shopping a F350 Powerstroke 6,7 (might even go with HO) Platinum trim (Not decided yet on the 8ft bed, might go fo it for the better range with larger fuel tank), this truck has a 4000Lbs payload capacity and 22000 towing capacity and will put an end to my bloody saga of replacing freekin trucks every 2 years (loosing money hand over fist) because I'm missing out on Payload! This philosophy of overkill is futile, most of us don't buy base on logic, we buy base on feeling and emotion! This guy who drives that $400K 700 HP 911 Twin Turbo when the speed limit is restricted to 65 Mph is totally overkill? Some buy out of logic and I respect that, some buy's out of their emotion, I'm one of them!, when parked in a Camping next to my neighbor that sits in a 3 millions dollars Prevost Coach I think to myself wooo this is overkill! Definetely for me it is, but not for this guy!

I understand the choice for the 350 vs the 250 in overall specs for sure. It's the 8' bed I would question? Your already 12" longer wheelbase with standard bed on the F250/F350 bed over the F150; it is something to deal with when parking is my experience. Always a challenge. The extra fuel tank not a big deal to me, unless your heading places without fuel access?...I can get ~315-340 miles per tank typically with my 34GA tank. We stop around 3-4 hours anyway to stretch and fuel up. But, thats just my view... Looking forward to your experience purchasing and then the report after towing a bit. Best of luck to you!

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by B.trudeau

A F350 is a total waist of money and totally overkill to pull an AS and seriously I don't know who is stupid and ignorant enough to get this kind of TV to pull their AS?, but I know I'm joining the club lol, I'm shopping a F350 Powerstroke 6,7 (might even go with HO) Platinum trim (Not decided yet on the 8ft bed, might go fo it for the better range with larger fuel tank), this truck has a 4000Lbs payload capacity and 22000 towing capacity and will put an end to my bloody saga of replacing freekin trucks every 2 years (loosing money hand over fist) because I'm missing out on Payload! This philosophy of overkill is futile, most of us don't buy base on logic, we buy base on feeling and emotion! This guy who drives that $400K 700 HP 911 Twin Turbo when the speed limit is restricted to 65 Mph is totally overkill? Some buy out of logic and I respect that, some buy's out of their emotion, I'm one of them!, when parked in a Camping next to my neighbor that sits in a 3 millions dollars Prevost Coach I think to myself wooo this is overkill! Definetely for me it is, but not for this guy!

Hi

Ok, I run over to the scales and measure the axle loads on my truck and trailer. I'm over. It's the biggest F250 they make.

No, this isn't a hypothetical. It's exactly what I ran into.

So no, an F350 is not overkill in this situation. It's what you need to stay under the limits.

Bob

[sfranklin]

A 350 has it's place, but for my money, not for anything shorter than 30, unless it has a slide out (there was once a 28' Safari slide out) or a toy hauler SOB.

Looked at the OP back from 2021 and the OP had a 25 footer, which is wildly overkill and may wind up doing damage to that trailer due to the rigidity of the 350. I saw that air hitch and that might help, but for a 25, 26 or 27' (Airstream- not SOB or toy hauler) I would say for sure 350 is overkill.

I have a 250 now and it does a fine job with 8800lbs and 1100lb hitch weight, but if I hauled a lot of stuff in a pickup bed and/or I had a 30 or 34' slide, you better believe I'd be thinking 350 because Airstream is notorious for having low balled the factory hitch weight. My 30' was supposed to be about 900lbs. I weighed mine and it was 1100lbs. Now think of a slide out large Airstream rated at 1050 or 1250- (30 and 34' slide units) could easily exceed 1200 and 1400lbs respectively with no cargo in the bed yet.

[Mollysdad]

In the universe of TV's, there's two main camps.
First, some owners buy a new truck every year or two and use it exclusively for towing. They use the Mercedes to go to the grocery.
Or, secondly, the owner finds a TV he likes and uses it as a daily driver. So it might be ill suited to climb Berthoud Pass, but that's 0.01% of usage, but it's just dandy to go to the grocery and not need a stepladder to get in/out, plus it can make a U-turn in less than a six lane highway.
There's no perfect answer.

[B.trudeau]

Originally Posted by SVTRIDE

Get the long bed you'll appreciate the extra bed length for stuff and tank size too...also note with what you've got configured...you'll get the 3" hitch receiver..so if you're planning on new draw bar hardware, size the shanks accordingly. Also check the box for trailer TPMS system...nice to see trailer tire pressures in your cluster.

Yes I'm taking that decision this week! My first F150 had an 8 ft bed and it was ackward in some situation, I mean one get use to it, but to us as a daily driver is the dilemna! and 8ft bed when you go on vacation and pack the bed is definetely a joy!, I also prefer the look of the 8ft bed!

Thanks for your recommendation !

[B.trudeau]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

I understand the choice for the 350 vs the 250 in overall specs for sure. It's the 8' bed I would question? Your already 12" longer wheelbase with standard bed on the F250/F350 bed over the F150; it is something to deal with when parking is my experience. Always a challenge. The extra fuel tank not a big deal to me, unless your heading places without fuel access?...I can get ~315-340 miles per tank typically with my 34GA tank. We stop around 3-4 hours anyway to stretch and fuel up. But, thats just my view... Looking forward to your experience purchasing and then the report after towing a bit. Best of luck to you!

Yep that is the big question! I once had an 8ft bed and Man this is one piece of truck you need to carry around, since I will be using the truck mostly as a daily driver, this is the big question! I'll be set at the end of the week!

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by B.trudeau

Yep that is the big question! I once had an 8ft bed and Man this is one piece of truck you need to carry around, since I will be using the truck mostly as a daily driver, this is the big question! I'll be set at the end of the week!

My suggestion; test drive them both and take into a parking lot (grocery store type). Park it...then you will understand the challenge. When traveling, that is the primary vehicle to/from town/shopping, right? Just saying, if your getting a 350, plenty of payload avalible. In my 250, I haul 2 bbq's, (charcoal & propane weber), a firepit, Coleman stove, camp gear, a Honda generator, Weboost pole, Clamshell screen room, and occasionally 2 kayaks, though haven't used them in couple years. If your using it to haul lumber or plywood for work, thats a different story perhaps for the 8'bed. A standard F350 King Cab would be a great size for most folks needs; then of course...which engine...how long you expect to keep it...how many miles you gonna use it towing each year...All that stuff to consider.

[CRH]

I chose a CCLB F350. According to the the numbers on my Trucks Trailer Status display, 36% of my miles have been towing. The rest has been everyday driving. I don't regret buying a LB.