SRW F350 Height

[dalford]

I'm starting this thread because I did not want to hijack the thread I saw of a member having issues with his F350 5th wheel hitch being to high and is looking at ways to raise his trailer Heigth to get it level.

A responder to this thread (sorry senior moment on username) said the SRW F350 is higher and this steered him to a DRW F350. This is the first I've heard of this issue.

So my question is for SRW F350 users, what is your experience?

[CWSWine]

My F350 with the Crusader I had about 5 inch clearance between the 5er and the bed rails on the truck. I had the pin box all the way up and B&W hitch at the lowest position and still about a inch high in the front.
My current 5er is level and I have about 9 1/2 inch clearance between the 5er the the bed rails with the hitch at it's lowest position and the pin box center adjustment and the 5er is level.
Both 5ers and the axles on top of the springs the big difference is my new one has the Mor-Ryde 4000 suspension.

[Skyliner]

I wouldn't have minded if you hijacked my thread ;-)

I'm curious, does your F250 have 2 inch blocks on the truck's rear suspension or 4 inch blocks? I had read once that 2 versus 4 inch blocks was one of the differences between the F250 and F350. Thanks!

[26ddss]

Yes, I had the problem with my 2011 f350 4x4, srw. It sits too high from the factory for my 2015 26ddss Salem 5er. I have b&w companion, and even at its lowest position, the trailer still drove nose-high.
I added the lippert correctrac2 (and equaflex kit) to the trailer a few months ago and it raised my 5er enough to tow acceptably level. I have room to raise my pin box by two sets of mounting holes if I want to bring the nose down even more, so I may try raising it this season.
I researched this height issue, and it is confirmed by the ford towing guide that f350 SRW trucks require more clearance than DRW trucks. This, they sit higher in the rear. At least this is true on the 4wd models. I'm not sure about 2wd.

[ferguson65]

Originally Posted by dalford

A responder to this thread (sorry senior moment on username) said the SRW F350 is higher and this steered him to a DRW F350. This is the first I've heard of this issue.

That was me. I did extensive research before I ordered my truck. I built it both ways, DRW and SRW with the machined aluminum 20" wheels. The SRW F350's are really high in the back. On my gooseneck trailer I had at the time, height would not have been an issue, but I knew that I wanted to get a 5th at some point too. The SRW 350 (as do most F250's now)uses a 4" block in the back, along with a roughly 34" tire. IIRC they are around 60" to the top of the tailgate. The dually uses a 31" tire and 2" block and is around 56" to the top of the tailgate. My old trailer was also asking for DOT trouble around here and the 3k payload of an SRW truck was really close to pushing the truck overweight. I also use the bed of the truck to haul stuff and being 4" lower makes getting in and out that much easier.

The final thing that sold me was the dually ultimately cost me $1k less than the SRW. More truck, less money, tires are pretty much a wash between 6 17's and 4 20's.

The fiver we decided on does not require a dually. But had we decided on one that did, and there are plenty of toyhaulers that get real heavy up front, I knew I had no worries about having enough truck.

There are times the ground clearance of the SRW would be really nice as I use the truck for firewood that sometimes involves getting in the dirt. Very seriously considering going to 19.5 wheels to get a 33" tire and a little extra clearance. Wallet does not love the idea though.

[BandJCarm]

Many 3/4 tons have 20" wheels.

Dually's are almost always 17"........... not sure if that makes much difference, but maybe.

[Jim34RL]

All of the big three pick-up truck beds are too tall now, in most case. The vehicle design teams are looking at too many truck magazines and seeing the pick-ups being raised and running ridicules tires sizes. They have forgotten that a lot of us buy these trucks for work or towing something, not for the nose bleed ride heights that the kids want.
I could see 18" wheels and tires, but why low profile 20" wheels and tires? The 18" tires have the load capacity for higher tire loads needed for increase payloads since the 17" tires are limited on tire capacity.
Just my $0.02

[dalford]

Originally Posted by TonyD

I wouldn't have minded if you hijacked my thread ;-)

I'm curious, does your F250 have 2 inch blocks on the truck's rear suspension or 4 inch blocks? I had read once that 2 versus 4 inch blocks was one of the differences between the F250 and F350. Thanks!

Yes, they are 2" on my F250. I had to raise my hitch to get rail clearance especially after I mounted my tonneau cover which has rails that sit on top of my bed rails. My RV is still pretty level and measured at 13'4", phew...

[ferguson65]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Many 3/4 tons have 20" wheels.

Dually's are almost always 17"........... not sure if that makes much difference, but maybe.

I was just trying to state that the cost of replacement tires isn't really any different between the 4 20"s that cost more each, or the 6 17's on a dually that cost less each, stock for stock.

The older duallies are 16's and the newer ones are 17's. Won't find much else, unless you buy some 20" bro wheels.

[ferguson65]

Originally Posted by Jim34RL

All of the big three pick-up truck beds are too tall now, in most case. The vehicle design teams are looking at too many truck magazines and seeing the pick-ups being raised and running ridicules tires sizes. They have forgotten that a lot of us buy these trucks for work or towing something, not for the nose bleed ride heights that the kids want.

Completely agree.

Originally Posted by Jim34RL

I could see 18" wheels and tires, but why low profile 20" wheels and tires?

Honestly, I didn't like the design of any of the 18's. Nothing more. On a 34" tall tire there is still plenty of sidewall left.