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Old 05-10-2021, 07:13 PM   #1
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2021 27' Globetrotter
Omaha , Nebraska
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Is an F350 overkill?

Hello, new friends -

First of all, thanks in advance for answering yet another newbie question about TVs. Those of you who answer posts about hitches and vehicles and packages, day after day, are truly doing the Lord’s work in keeping people like myself from dying in a fiery crash, causing a jackknife accident on a narrow road, or wasting money buying and then trading in the wrong vehicle.

We’re starting with the trailer: Globetrotter 27’FBT. We plan to bookdock eventually so know we will at some point be adding extra water, extra propane tanks, etc, to the truck’s bed. Bikes somewhere in the setup (bed or back of trailer TBD). Husband is handy so we’ll carry some tools. Just us and an aging dog, maybe an 180lb college student on breaks if he can’t find a better option, lol. We travel light otherwise - the point of this adventure is to ditch all the weight of a suburban life. We plan to travel alot on the West Coast, so lots of mountain driving. Now to choose a truck!

Husband and I are not experienced haulers so we’re willing to pay for safety and stability while we learn (we have a plan for that, and we’ve read the threads on weighing the rig at a CAT scale, etc). We have researched and nearly blinded ourselves on Ford’s website trying to trick out and price F250s vs F350s so we are prepared when we go to the dealership. We have a rudimental-and-growing knowledge of GVWR, hitch weight, payload, and towing capacity. Unless we are missing something very important (always possible) there is very little price difference between an F250 diesel and an F350 diesel with the towing packages and all the necessary upgrades for towing safely.

If you’ve read this far, see above re: the Lord’s work. Here are my questions:

1. Are we missing something? If we can safely save $10K, great! I’ll buy beverages at the first caravan/meetup we attend. If you recommend we spend another $10K, thanks...and you’re buying the beverage.
2. Is an F350 for a 27’FBT like taking a baseball bat to a fly?
3. Do I need to be thinking about the hitch in this conversation or can any good hitch be added to the correct vehicle? If someone can direct me to a good explanation of how the whole system works together, I will study it carefully.

That’s it for now. Again, thank you!

Margo
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Old 05-10-2021, 07:22 PM   #2
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VERY happy with our F350 towing our 27FB Eddie Bauer. Also use a pro-Pride hitch, never look back!
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Old 05-10-2021, 07:26 PM   #3
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I too debated a 250 (2500) vs. a 350 (3500) diesel for our Classic 30', a trailer similar to yours in tongue weight and GVWR. We chose the 3500 (GMC) and I am thankful I did. After about 5,000 miles of towing, there have been numerous instances where I was glad there was extra power in reserve, that has included steep grades, passing slower vehicles, and camping on the beach. There is no substitute for safety and that IMO comes from confidence in your towing platform.
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Old 05-10-2021, 07:27 PM   #4
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For a 27' Airstream, I would want at least an F-250. An F-350 is not overkill. My personal opinion is that an F-150 is good up to 23', but not bigger.
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Old 05-10-2021, 07:28 PM   #5
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A 27’, plus extras for boondocking…. The F350 would not be overkill. Enjoy!
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Old 05-10-2021, 07:49 PM   #6
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We have a 27 International Serenity that we tow with a F350. It’s great you don’t even think about payload. It also means things like adding a cap/bedslide/ drawers are all doable without worry. We have all 3.
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Old 05-10-2021, 07:51 PM   #7
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So traveling back to Tyler Texas from Illinois this past Mother’s Day weekend I was so thankful I had a 3500 (350) and Hensley (Pro Pride) driving thru a 5 minute pop up tornado around Brinkley Arkansas on I-40 westbound. Between the extra heavy duty/weight of my truck and Hensley keeping the Airstream dead in line behind me…..all can say what they want…..but I wouldn’t support that a 350 is overkill…..never know when a storm like that can pop up and you have to deal with it…..could’ve saved our lives having a 350….something to think about
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Old 05-10-2021, 08:25 PM   #8
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Is an F350 overkill?

Not overkill. Only different between a 350/250 is an extra leaf spring in the back and potentially tires.

That trailer has a heavy tongue weight. If you are new to towing a 250 or 350 setup will provide for a comfortable and enjoyably journey. My wife prefers towing with our 3/4 ton. We both feel that there is less stress on longer drives with the truck vs our previous 1/2 ton setup.

If you want the highest level of stability you should also consider a ProPride or Hensley hitch. Not required but it does add an additional level of control and confidence. Many of us who have moved to that hitch won’t ever go back to a regular friction-based sway control hitch.

Just my $0.02.

Enjoy!
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Old 05-10-2021, 08:34 PM   #9
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F250 or F350 is absolutely fine for your needs. Get the 350 though if you never want to worry about payload, calculating or watching what you pack, and additional piece of mind.

I tow my 25 GTFB with a gmc 3500 and enjoy it.
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Old 05-10-2021, 09:25 PM   #10
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Uh oh, at the risk of being censured.... Contact some heavily followed "experts" in quotations as I have never seen evidence of their engineering training and you can tow that with a bicycle, or prius if you are going to let them start welding stuff on your frame.
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Old 05-10-2021, 10:36 PM   #11
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Driftless Area , Wisconsin
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I have the same trailer. I tow with a 2019 F-250 (6.2, crew cab short bed Lariat) and a ProPride. Family of 4 with bikes and a few other things in the truck bed under a topper. I have weight to spare but other than the bikes, we travel pretty light.

If you’re getting a diesel, get the 350. If you’re not getting a diesel, either is fine. The 350 may not cost any more but may come with some additional annual fees depending on your state. People say the 350 has a stiffer ride but I suspect that is less the case now. When I was purchasing I couldn’t directly compare the 250 with a gas 350, so I can’t say,
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Old 05-10-2021, 10:44 PM   #12
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The 2000 lbs on the door sticker adds up real quick on my f250. But I wanna take a motorcycle and a bunch of stuff in the long bed.
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Old 05-10-2021, 11:03 PM   #13
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License fees

I tow a 25’ FC with a new f-250(gas), I have plenty of payload, door sticker just over 2900lbs. As mentioned earlier, the 250 and 350 are nearly identical, 350 has an extra rear leaf spring for payload. That extra leaf is a helper, and only comes into play when the truck is very heavily loaded, so ride quality is essentially equal most of the time. Same tires, brakes, frame, etc, so no reason to feel you *need* the 350 unless you want or need the extra payload. I agree with earlier post, if you want diesel, that eats up about 800lbs of payload, and the 350 makes a lot more sense in that case. When I was researching, the 350 was about $1400(msrp) more than a 250, for me (gas) I just didn’t need the payload excess. Also, if you are contemplating a GVWR of 10k or less, for license fee reasons, the 350 isn’t helpful. I did that, I got the factory sticker option to have my truck sticker state my f250 GVWR is 10,000lbs, it simplifies my annual license plate process and saves me a little on fees. Neither truck is overkill, both very appropriate for your trailer. Personally, I would say you are better off to take the money saved by getting a 250 and apply that to a Hensley or pro pride hitch, to maximize your towing stability.
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Old 05-11-2021, 03:37 AM   #14
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My F250 has the 'camper package'. Payload is 3,111 pounds.

Some states have a higher tax/registration for the F350. Other than that, no worries.

I haul all the stuff you mentioned, and more
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Old 05-11-2021, 06:14 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gln826 View Post
I too debated a 250 (2500) vs. a 350 (3500) diesel for our Classic 30', a trailer similar to yours in tongue weight and GVWR. We chose the 3500 (GMC) and I am thankful I did. After about 5,000 miles of towing, there have been numerous instances where I was glad there was extra power in reserve, that has included steep grades, passing slower vehicles, and camping on the beach. There is no substitute for safety and that IMO comes from confidence in your towing platform.
The 2500 vs 3500, at least with GM (but prob others too) it's mostly an extra leaf spring and/or avail dually options.

The available and offered engines both gas and diesel behave similarly in both configurations, so additional power in 3500 would only be seen if selecting a different engine config.

It's not overkill either would be fine. I might myself lean toward a diesel 2500 unless you plan on needing the extra cargo capacity since Airstreams are notorious for liking a softer ride which the 2500 will be compared to the 3500.
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Old 05-11-2021, 06:28 AM   #16
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Either would be just fine. There are certain trailers an F350 would be overkill for though, case in point the 16RB I rented in Utah...

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Old 05-11-2021, 09:19 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gln826 View Post
I too debated a 250 (2500) vs. a 350 (3500) diesel for our Classic 30', a trailer similar to yours in tongue weight and GVWR. We chose the 3500 (GMC) and I am thankful I did. After about 5,000 miles of towing, there have been numerous instances where I was glad there was extra power in reserve, that has included steep grades, passing slower vehicles, and camping on the beach. There is no substitute for safety and that IMO comes from confidence in your towing platform.
The F250, F350 and even the F450 have the exact same engine and transmission, unlike Ram where you have to purchase the 3500 to get the high output Cummins and stronger transmission.
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Old 05-11-2021, 09:23 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by NeonFlamingo View Post
Either would be just fine. There are certain trailers an F350 would be overkill for though, case in point the 16RB I rented in Utah...

This made me laugh.....that 16' looks almost as if it would fit it the bed of that pickup!!!!
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Old 05-11-2021, 09:34 AM   #19
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My vote is for the Ford F-350 diesel. I have the 2020 lariat/ 4 door long box.
1) the ride is actually smoother than my wife’s Escalade (don’t tell her I sad that)
2) plenty of room for whatever you carry along.
3) no worries about cargo weight
4) the long wheelbase makes for a safer and more stable towing experience
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Old 05-11-2021, 09:56 AM   #20
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My one regret in trucks is buying the GMC 2500 Diesel instead of the GMC 3500 Diesel. I didn't know enough to realize just how close in price similarly equipped 3500s were to 2500s. I didn't even consider 3500s. I didn't know enough about trucks.That said, I certainly get by just fine with the 2500. But I don't just throw stuff in the bed that I want to bring along. Payload capacity is frequently in the back of my mind.
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