Switching trucks for a trip?

[PHS79]

We have a week long trip to the Black Hills and Deadwood SD booked for this summer, it will be a about 1500 miles in total. We have a 2013 Passport 3220BH that I tow with my 2004 F150 SC, 6.5ft box, FX4, 5.4L, 3.73 gears. One day talking to my parents my dad offered us his 2002 F350 SC, 8ft box, 4x4, 7.3L PSD, 4.10 gears.

I have no problem using my truck for the trip, but I also think I would be foolish not to use dads F350 since there is no comparison of towing performance between the two trucks.

Am I thinking of this wrong since I am now planning on taking dads truck?

[Platokidd]

Dads truck

[searay245se]

X2 on dads truck..Lots of big hills out west.

[Ford Idaho]

Take him up on the offer, you will not regret it one bit.

[Homebrew]

Dads truck is the better truck for this trip.


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[doc73]

I wouldn't use his truck... Because you will want one of your own! LOL

Seriously though I'd borrow the pops truck. If anything it keeps the miles and wear off your ride.

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[Tfort]

Just the difference in fuel mileage makes it worth it to use his truck.


2000 F250 CC 4x4 7.3L diesel

15 Salem Hemisphere Lite356QB

[DaveandSue]

Yep what Doc73 said.I too see a new truck in your future.

You will never be happy again pulling with any thing less than a truck like Dads.

[drittal]

Whenever I borrow something I'm always worried I am going to damage it somehow

[PHS79]

Originally Posted by doc73

I wouldn't use his truck... Because you will want one of your own! LOL

Seriously though I'd borrow the pops truck. If anything it keeps the miles and wear off your ride.

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That is one thing I am afraid of, by using his truck I will end up wanting a diesel more than I do now. But my parents, who winter in Arizona, are talking about selling their 5th wheel and buying a place out there so that mean that dad really wouldn't have a use for his truck. We have actually talked a little bit about swapping trucks (mine has 65K miles and stored during the winter). There is now way I am going to let dads 7.3L get away since its only got less than 90K miles and is just as spot less as mine (no rust, came from Texas 10yrs ago and winters in AZ since).

[PenJoe]

Great way to try something first. Just make sure that either yours or dad's insurance covers you and whom ever else may drive it. You may have to make some ball height adjustments seeing it is a taller truck.

[Springerdad]

Originally Posted by PHS79

That is one thing I am afraid of, by using his truck I will end up wanting a diesel more than I do now. But my parents, who winter in Arizona, are talking about selling their 5th wheel and buying a place out there so that mean that dad really wouldn't have a use for his truck. We have actually talked a little bit about swapping trucks (mine has 65K miles and stored during the winter). There is now way I am going to let dads 7.3L get away since its only got less than 90K miles and is just as spot less as mine (no rust, came from Texas 10yrs ago and winters in AZ since).

I think Dad's already lost his truck......

Even if it's a loaner just for this trip, I'd take it!

[Harkerr]

It will spoil you badly...

[SpringerPop]

Given your choices, I'd opt for Dad's truck. Of course, I'm kinda' biased.

Just kinda' re-learn your parking lot and campground maneuvering skills, as Dad's turning radius is much greater than your truck.

The difference in torque, and the ratio of weights between truck and trailer, are night and day.

Pop

[MacII]

PHS79,
As of about September last year, I have been RV'ing for just 50 years. Before that, it was with my father. Over the years, I have found that having a shade too much truck has never been the problem. However, I have also discovered that having too little truck can definitely be a problem. Same with the trailers -- weak frames mean broken frames. Axles too small means bent axles. My present trailer has two 8,000 # axles and trailer tires with load range "H". Tilt bed means no ramps and no dragging or bottoming out leaving parking lots.
My main ride now is a Monaco Executive 45' with a Cummins ISX. If memory serves, it has around 1,680 Ft/# of torque and over 500 horses. I tow an 18 foot tilt bed steel trailer, hauling a 2013 Chevy Duramax/Allison 2500 HD. Total rig weights between 68,000 and 70,000, depending on how it is loaded with tools, clothing, ATV, etc. and measures a tad long for the east coast at 69' overall. But, I have no reason to ever go east of the Mississippi anyway. Too many people and too narrow a roads -- old narrow bridges except on the Interstate and seen enough of those.
Perhaps it may be thought too much engine in some quarters, but it loafs down the road at about 1,450 RPM at 65 to 67 mph -- not more than a fast idle. Too much engine, too much transmission (Allison 6 speed) and a manual "Jake" brake may strike some people, but it goes up and down the western mountains without working very hard. I don't hold up traffic, either. Also, gets better fuel than smaller engine that has to work a lot harder and big air brakes, along with the manual Jake keep the load in check going down steep hills.
Going on 12 years with the motor home and trailer with no particular problems and expenses other than maintenance. About 70,000 miles on the motor home and over 50,000 on the truck. When not using the motor home, we tow our 27' "Outback" toy hauler travel trailer. It gets in and out of state and federal campgrounds too small for the motor home and works well when boondocking.
I have grown tired of having a problem of one sort or another on every trip -- tires, axles, bent hitches and leveling bars, hung up back ends on high ground, broken springs, blown tires and more -- I have had them all and did not enjoy any of them. I have bent axles and broken axles and springs but, never when they were too heavy. I have blown load range "E" tires but never a load range "H". Maybe too much was really not too much.
Sure, bigger costs more to buy but, figure in the repair costs in terms of time and money, and the leisure of being relaxed on the trip and the initial coast doesn't seem so high. Also, a lot fewer arguments with"She Who Must Be Obeyed". I like to be able to go carefree and have power enough to do that. But, even more importantly, I like to stop when I feel the need. With the oversize air brakes and the manual Jake, I can go down the steepest grade at 70,000 # at any speed I want. Peace of mind makes for a more pleasant trip.
2003 Monaco Executive 45
2012 Outback travel trailer
18' steel tilt bed trailer with two 8,000# axles
2013 Chevy Duramaz 2500 HD
2011 Polaris X-2 ATV
2004 Honda 300 ATV

[TomnGerri]

Went to sturgis this past August in a 2014 F250 6.0 gasser from NC about 3200 mile round trip pulling a 20' trailer averaged about 6 mpg $1350 in fuel my buddy pulled 43 footer with Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins diesel about $850 in fuel.

[DickiedooFlagman]

Dad's truck. Don't forget to top off the fuel tank, and be good on his birthday!

[AquaMan]

Get Dad's truck and enjoy the ease of towing. And, if you think that is great, consider that the stock 7.3L is about 1/2 the horsepower and torque of today's diesel engines!

[PHS79]

Thanks for the input everyone, it sounds like we will probably be taking dads truck for the trip.

Originally Posted by AquaMan

Get Dad's truck and enjoy the ease of towing. And, if you think that is great, consider that the stock 7.3L is about 1/2 the horsepower and torque of today's diesel engines!

True! Even with the custom tunes from PHP that dad has in the truck, a stock 6.7L PSD is probably putting out 120hp and 250 ftlbs, in not more. But I will take the trusty old 7.3 over a modern diesel any day for reliability.

If mom and dad do decide to buy a place in AZ and sell the 5er, hopefully I will buy dads truck and keep it just for towing the camper.