Trucking Shopping

wayne nichols · 04-05-2013, 02:26 AM

My wife and I are looking to get a new truck. Right now we have a 2001 Ford F-250 4X4 6.8L V10. We pull our 2008 Cardinal LE. I put it on the scales and it is 12,362LBS loaded with everything we take with us. Right now we stay pull it in Louisiana but we are wanting to go farther and stay longer. We are looking at newer F-250 but we want to start going to the mountains and I dont want to overload a 3/4 ton so I was leaning to the F-350 or F-450 anyone have any good suggestions.

Joe_GA · 04-05-2013, 05:56 AM

Once you get a truck with training wheels, you'll never go back!

I love my dually. I never have to worry about overloading and nobody blows me off the road anymore. I haven't been in the mountains with it yet.

TURBS · 04-05-2013, 06:49 AM

If you've narrowed your choices to ONLY Ford then I'm out.

Think outside the box .......

Turbs

ironj · 04-05-2013, 07:13 AM

The towing and payload between like model 250 and 350 is not as much as most think...depending on specs figure about 600lbs more with 350...if you really want to kick up capacities go dually......the 450 also has bigger brakes too boot....the price between an equally equipped 250,and 350 is only a few hundred dollars....and a 450 about 1500$.......im tryin to convince wife I NEED 450 dually ....and it will be the LAST tow pig I ever buy...Lol.....cross my heart and all that... :-)

EdJunior · 04-05-2013, 07:33 AM

I think the above suggestions are pretty spot on. If you can afford the 450, I think you would be very happy with that. From what you say about your plans, that would be the better route to go. With the added stability of the dually, and the power of the new 6.7L and 6spd Torqeshift tranny, you should be set for just about anything.

Lynkage · 04-05-2013, 07:42 AM

Yeah get a dually (training wheels!!)

My 450 is just awesome but the dually 350 is almost the same so get the truck that fits what you want. I go to the mountains to camp and I have gone over I70 to Moab with mine already and it pulls really nice and yes the duallys are a built in sway control.

Good luck!

**ependydad** · 04-05-2013, 08:26 AM

Is he curious about your weight to decide for a dually or not. But, I think the 350 is an easy decision for the cost.

Love mine. :-)

5er_tom · 04-05-2013, 08:34 AM

You might want to consider how often the truck will be used solo. The 350/450's will both have a very stiff ride when unloaded. My 250 is rated to tow 17,000 and I use it solo a fair amount.

bakken · 04-05-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

You might want to consider how often the truck will be used solo. The 350/450's will both have a very stiff ride when unloaded. My 250 is rated to tow 17,000 and I use it solo a fair amount.

A friend of mine had a newer F350, and the ride was very comfortable.
It is not like the old trucks that rode like wagons.
I put air bags on my 1996 F250 just to keep my teeth from falling out!

FR28footer · 04-05-2013, 08:38 AM

Not a Ford guy myself.......but get at least a one ton. I have a SRW and there is not any sway at all. No problem in the mountains. Up or down.

Good luck!

Joe_GA · 04-05-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

You might want to consider how often the truck will be used solo. The 350/450's will both have a very stiff ride when unloaded. My 250 is rated to tow 17,000 and I use it solo a fair amount.

I can't speak for the 450's, but my 350 rides amazingly smooth. Almost as smooth as my '09 F-150 rode.

bakken · 04-05-2013, 09:05 AM

If I had a heavy fifth, I would consider going to a dually if only for the lighter tire loading. Carrying around an extra 3000 lbs on single tires would no doubt be a lot harder on them than if you had duals.

Lynkage · 04-05-2013, 09:18 AM

My 450 rides MUCH nicer than my 06 f350 srw.

whj77372 · 04-05-2013, 01:48 PM

The F350 will handle much more pin weight then the F250 and for a 5er that is fully loaded at 12,500 lbs, the dually 350, longbed, will make you happy even pulling in the mountians. Good Luck

wayne nichols · 04-05-2013, 06:20 PM

Thanks for all your comments. Which ever dually I get will be to pull the camper and get me to the airport to go to work. My wife said she will not drive a dually because of the width LOL thank the lord.

ironj · 04-05-2013, 06:59 PM

My wife won't even drive my 250(aka bus) as she calls it...

Joe_GA · 04-05-2013, 07:25 PM

My wife has driven my dually a couple of time to work, but I have to get it out of the garage and aim it down the driveway! When she gets to work, there is a large lot that they park in and she can turn it around easily. She will not take it to any crowded areas!

BOBFIDY · 04-05-2013, 08:09 PM

We love our dually. We got it with the idea that if and when we upgrade to a 5er we will be set to go no matter how big we decide to go.

**ependydad** · 04-05-2013, 09:50 PM

My wife happily drives HER dually all the time. We got it when I was commuting everyday and it was going to be her daily driver for errands. Heck- at the time, she was 6 months preggo. Now I work from home (and the camper once summer gets here!) so it's used a lot less.

wayne nichols · 04-06-2013, 12:11 AM

This is for the folks that have the F-450 what is the MPG running empty? I have heard from others that said its the same with a load as without. One guy said he at best he has gotten 15MPG empty.

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