Towing a 3750FL

[jasonne]

I am looking at getting a 2012/13 3750FL and know I will need a F350 to do the towing, but do I have to get a dually or can I go with single back tires? Also, what is the benefit in diesel vs gas. Thanks

[DQDick]

We tow a heavy Montana with a SRW. It works fine. Dually will give you a better ride in a cross wind, however. My personal opinion is that either way you want it to be a 4X4, but especially if it's SRW. Again my personal opinion is that if you buy a gas engine and tow anywhere where there are grades you will wish you had the diesel. I wouldn't trade my diesel even if I never went outside Kansas. You'll find the dually fans along soon and they will have good points, but I'll bet the vote is overwhelming for diesel.

[moutard2]

Until recently I towed our 3750 FL with a 2006 F250 SRW with the V10 engine. It did just fine up and down the lumps between Seattle and San Diego however .... it is close to the limits of the legal towing capacity for both the truck and combined vehicle weight. I've recently switched to a one ton diesel also SRW and yes, the performance is much better in the hills and I'm well within legal specs.

[seahunter]

We have a 3750FL and tow it with a one-ton dually diesel. The diesel engine is the way to go if you're going to be using it often. The torque is just amazing, and is needed for hills. Diesel engines are designed to work at low rpms as well so you're not revving it up like you would be a gasser. Dual rear wheel gets you a lot more payload, and that is important with the pin weight. Our pin weight is about 3,100 pounds, and the payload weight limit as per our camper certificate is 3,720 pounds. Also more stability with wider stance, and factory sway bar. I look at the tow vehicle as a tool to get the job done. The best tool for towing a heavy trailer is a diesel dually - it's not my go to the bank car.

[Champ_49]

Dually Diesel.......best combination in my opinion.

Dave

[kylec2]

We went with a F350 dually diesel long-bed for stability and to ensure we would not have to push the limits of capacity due to pin weight. You did not mention it, but a long-bed is also preferred as it will keep you from having to purchase a slider hitch and avoids drama that ensues when cab meet trailer in a tight turn.

[1retired06]

We pulled many years with SRWs (always 350s) and never had a problem. Now pull with a DRW, and we do like it better. Ford no longer offers the V10, as in years past. For us, diesel is the engine of choice, no other option acceptable. No comparison with torque capacity. Most pulling heavy fivers with gassers average 8-9 miles to the gallon or so they claim. With the new Ford 6.7 diesel, averaging 13-15 pulling. Agree 100%, longbed is the way to go.

[Captain Joe]

Dually Diesel with a long bed for us. Stability, torque, ride, and piece of mind.

[Fire5er]

For us it's a F350 DRW, and x2 what Captain Joe said.

[mhs4771]

Another vote for Diesel Dually. Just think, if you or DW/GF fall in love with a bigger unit in a couple of years (we did) you won't have to worry if the TV is up to the task. Could actually save you money in the long run. I'm a member of the SOB forum that we now own and there is someone looking, but they just bought a new 3/4 ton TV which really won't be up to the task of a 16.5K gross fiver they're thinking of.

[Tom S.]

Diesel, without a doubt. As for the dually vs single, consider this: dualies are said to give more stability and do have higher payload capacity. However, with two tons of pressure on the rear, no one has ever proven to me that stability was an issue, unless perhaps they were driving in hurricane Irene. I can't argue with the payload capacity, because unlike the stability argument, it's there in black and white. A SRW will be adequate for all your needs unless you buy a trailer with more pin weight than a SRW is rated for. We have towed our 3500RL from coast to coast - as in Maine to Alaska, and been through the Rockies more than a few times, and our SRW handled everything wonderfully. Now for the downsides of a dually: extra tires to replace and monitor plus extra width to be aware of and watch for.

Vehicle wise, the only difference between the two are the extra wheels. Everything else is the same, drive train, brakes, frames, axles, even the springs. The extra weight capacity comes from the tire load, not the spring load.

[ols1932]

You'll find that it's a personal choice thing. The one-ton is the way to go, that's most important. As far as better stability is concerned, well that's still to be proven out. I've talked to a lot of over the road drivers who emphatically believe in dual rear wheels. But then they're driving the big rigs. I've driven both and have not noticed any stability problems with either. I opt for the single rear wheels simply because it's less rubber to buy when it's necessary to buy.

Orv

[mhs4771]

I'll throw in a couple of more points: It's not 100% that the springs are the same between a SRW and DRW, some SRW 1 tons do not have the extra set of helper springs (BIL has a 1 ton SRW and no helpers) now it may depend on options a package. Yes the extra set of wheels do make you a little wider, but no wider than the rig you towing. Plus you do have two extra wheels should you have a tire go flat on the rear. Under normal driving conditions probably next to no difference between SRW and DRW, but if in an emergency condition, panic stop, etc I'll keep my Dually. It's a good thing we don't have a group of Toyota Tundra towers on this forum or they would be telling how they can haul just about any 5er with their Tundra. Just my unofficial feelings.

[snowhawk2]

Dually Diesel. We have towed our 3750FL with both an 06 Super Duty with the 6.0, and our current 2011 6.7 Dually long bed crew cab. The SRW did the job but it was the first time I ever felt so much influence by the trailer, on the truck. With the weight and length of the 3750, we wanted the stability of the dually and long bed. The dually is a much better choice for the 3750.

[Hooker]

Diesel dually...big job, big truck. An earlier poster commented that a 4 x 4 was essential. I'll have to disagree with that, I've had seven trucks, both SRW and DRW, lived in the snow country of the mountain west and never had or needed a 4 x 4. Also, with that model truck, you get higher initial cost, higher and more frequent maint cost, added weight (less tow/cargo capacity), lower mpg due to weight and drag and probably others I have not thought of.

[seahunter]

When we towed our travel trailer with a 2WD, there were several times we had no traction just trying to get into or out of a site simply because the ground was soft and/or wet. A couple times we got completely stuck and needed assistance to get out. With wet grass and just a little incline, you can have trouble. Because of that, and we do a lot of dry camping not on paved pads, we went with the 4X4 with the dedicated tow vehicle which is a diesel dually long bed.

[snowhawk2]

quote:Originally posted by seahunter

When we towed our travel trailer with a 2WD, there were several times we had no traction just trying to get into or out of a site simply because the ground was soft and/or wet. A couple times we got completely stuck and needed assistance to get out. With wet grass and just a little incline, you can have trouble. Because of that, and we do a lot of dry camping not on paved pads, we went with the 4X4 with the dedicated tow vehicle which is a diesel dually long bed.

Agreed. There have been several times where we needed the 4 X 4 to navigate a wet, muddy, or grassy situation. Pulling this amount of weight I wouldn't be without 4 X 4. Nothing more embarrassing then getting 15K lbs stuck, and have to be towed or pulled out!

[mhs4771]

Another thing about 4x4s, you can drop it into 4 Low and idle into just about any spot with out the engine reving and xmission slipping. Gives a real nice slow backing rate.

[1retired06]

X2 on the 4 wheel drive!

[moutard2]

quote:Originally posted by mhs4771

Another thing about 4x4s, you can drop it into 4 Low and idle into just about any spot with out the engine reving and xmission slipping. Gives a real nice slow backing rate.

Hey good tip. Thanks!