New Ford F350 6.7L DRW

[Garvinsd]

I'm new on this forum and I've seen the amount of emotion involved with the discussion on SRW vs. DRW so I don't want to stir the pot but I wanted to thank the forum members for their insightful wisdom on towing capacities. If you have a SRW and it works for you - awesome. This post is about what I and my family feel comfortable with, nothing more.

I thought I verified that I was good-to-go when I picked up my new HC 362RD with my 2012 Ford F350 6.7L SRW - within the maximum loaded 5th wheel limit of 15700 lbs unless fully loaded (15800 GVWR). After reading numerous posts I did a little research and discovered that I was over my maximum payload limit w/ the camper empty. I took the advice of many and visited my local CAT scale and discovered the pin weight was 2760 (nearly empty) vice the 2690 listed. My maximum payload limit on my truck is 3220 lbs (Lariat crew cab plus too many options) which means I can only carry an additional 460 lbs which won't cut it with my wife, 2 kids, gear and Saint Bernard (230 lbs!) . I'd have to camp by myself cause the wife isn't leaving her dog (or kids).

I know the truck will tow the camper, not an issue, but I want to be as safe (and stable) as possible w/ my family in the truck and I definitely don't want any insurance issues if I ever have an accident.

Long story short, tonight I picked-up a new 2017 (leftover) Ford F350 6.7 Lariat DRW for a great price. They could not wait to get rid of it and they paid off my 2012 plus some. I will tow confidently knowing I am well within all limits. Did I really need it? I don't know but I know I'm fully good-to-go now.

Thanks again to all those who provided great advice.

[topjustice]

Good for you! I got my new 2017 F350 DRW in February and traded in my 2015 F350 SRW after agonizing over it for the better part of a year and even losing sleep thinking about it. I knew my SRW was powerful enough to handle it but stability was the issue. I also knew that I would have to scrimp and scrape when loading it every time we went out. I didn’t want that weight restriction to prevent me from taking what I wanted on trips, including water and a strong battery bank. What finally convinced me was the thought of driving 1,900 miles to pick up my new 3791RD next month and returning the same distance going over the Rockies and other hills and dales. If I wasn’t making that trip initially I probably would have stayed with the SRW to see how it goes. I do feel much better about the decision and will have plenty of weight capacity to spare. The 3791RD is the heaviest dry weight and pin weight in the Montana line, and is right at the limits in all respects for an SRW with little room to spare.

[1retired06]

Great decision, enjoy that new truck!

[Dam Worker]

Congratulations on your new truck and I am sure you will be very happy with it. I would surely think the stability is better and you will not have to worry about being overloaded with your new truck. I have a 2018 F-350 DRW on order myself and am looking forward to it arriving so I can tow our Montana with it. What gears did you get and what was the GVWR on your new truck?

Tom Marty

[BuilderBob]

Congrats on the new truck! it's not a Dodge but is DRW have fun

Bob & Carol
Washington St
2017 HC 352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW CC LB 4x4

Happy Trails

[mtlakejim]

You made the RIGHT decision! And it is a lesson to everyone that SAFETY is paramount to everything else!!!

Once again “It’s not can you get it rolling, it’s how do you stop it!!!”

I never want to lean over and tell my wife we don’t have enough truck to stop our trailer as we are coming down a mountain! If that means I have to park that duallies wide butt 100 yards from the grocery store door so be it. I didn’t buy it for trips to the beauty parlor!

Congratulations!

[topjustice]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

You made the RIGHT decision! And it is a lesson to everyone that SAFETY is paramount to everything else!!!

Once again “It’s not can you get it rolling, it’s how do you stop it!!!”

I never want to lean over and tell my wife we don’t have enough truck to stop our trailer as we are coming down a mountain! If that means I have to park that duallies wide butt 100 yards from the grocery store door so be it. I didn’t buy it for trips to the beauty parlor!

Congratulations!

Even when I had my long bed crew cab SRW I parked away from the crowd, so the DRW doesn’t change anything. The only thing I will miss is running it through the car wash in a pinch.

[STIHLNTIME]

Congratulations on a great truck. You’ll find the 6.7 is unbelievably capable engine, quiet,fuel efficient and has more than adequate torque to move any fifth wheel.

[Texan]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

You made the RIGHT decision! And it is a lesson to everyone that SAFETY is paramount to everything else!!!

Once again “It’s not can you get it rolling, it’s how do you stop it!!!”

I never want to lean over and tell my wife we don’t have enough truck to stop our trailer as we are coming down a mountain! If that means I have to park that duallies wide butt 100 yards from the grocery store door so be it. I didn’t buy it for trips to the beauty parlor!

Congratulations!

I've had both 3/4 ton truck and dually and have never seen any difference in stopping either truck. I'm a real big advocate of DRW but if you want to stop better then the only improvement you can make to your rig is to get disc brakes on the rv. Disc brakes are as advertised, in fact i think they are better than advertised. I can stop quicker with my 16,200 pound rv that without it on my ram drw. Others have stated the same. As for as drw, i doubt you could overload it but the rv is still quite possible to overload and many do.

[Garvinsd]

Originally Posted by Dam Worker

Congratulations on your new truck and I am sure you will be very happy with it. I would surely think the stability is better and you will not have to worry about being overloaded with your new truck. I have a 2018 F-350 DRW on order myself and am looking forward to it arriving so I can tow our Montana with it. What gears did you get and what was the GVWR on your new truck?

Tom Marty

It has a TorqShift 6-Speed Automatic Transmission with SelectShift on a 4.10 Limited Slip rear. GCWR is 40000 lbs and GVWR is 14000 lbs.

[jeffba]

There 2 times one should never hit the scales, the Day after Thanksgiving and with your 5er and a SRW.

Went the SRW route until I hit the scales. Lightly loaded I was 11400 of the 11500 rating.

[PNW Fireguy]

Congrats master chief!!

[Kyle and Lisa]

We bought the exact same year, make and model and are more than happy with it ! Lisa loves to drive it when we are not in tow. After doing my research I felt very confident and safe with our choice before we ever picked up our 40' rig, having never pulled one before and we are full time. Ours came with the 27k reese hitch factory installed also.

[DadsHemi]

Congrats on your New DRW, we have similar stories. I had 16 Ram 2500 4x4 and in 17 we bought a 3160RL, on paper it worked weight wise...reality was I ended up 1140 lbs over weight on the truck. Hence the 18 RAM DRW now. Lessons learned.

[Golfmedik]

Congrats on the new truck and am sure you will be pleased with it. There is one shortfall in the Fords though. You need to upgrade the CAC intercooler pipe as it is completely PLASTIC and will rupture under load in the heat. After many heat cycles, the plastic gets weak and blows the connection at the throttle body. Several of ours on the Ford Truck Forum have done this. Mine did it on I-85 on rush hour traffic.
There is a simple upgrade that takes about 25 minutes to do and was started by H&S Motorsports. It is a full rubber hose that will NOT burst. The 11-16 had the problem and so do the 17' & 18s. Mine ruptured at 23k miles.
There are many now that make a similar kit including AFE, Rudy's Diesel and a few others. I went with the original here. Best of luck with the new truck!
https://hs-motorsports.com/misc-prod...e-kit-oem.html

[Wicked1]

You always have to do what is best for you and being safe, ppl will have opinions but I will never tow over payload or over weight limit, just not worth the risk regardless if is a diesel and can handle it.

Best to be safe and secure and always have to have room for the �� Dogs

[Garvinsd]

Thanks for all the feedback. I love the new truck and I definitely know my family will be safe (and legal) while towing. It's amazing how quickly the load increases when we load the camper; especially with a dog that weights 230 lbs Like most have stated - it really comes down to what makes you comfortable.

[dfb]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

You made the RIGHT decision! And it is a lesson to everyone that SAFETY is paramount to everything else!!!

Once again “It’s not can you get it rolling, it’s how do you stop it!!!”

I never want to lean over and tell my wife we don’t have enough truck to stop our trailer as we are coming down a mountain! If that means I have to park that duallies wide butt 100 yards from the grocery store door so be it. I didn’t buy it for trips to the beauty parlor!

Congratulations!

Jim, a 9000 pound truck IS NOT SUPPOSE TO STOP A 20k pound plus trailer! The exhaust brake on the diesels help along
with upshiting. What should stop the trailer is the trailer brakes!...

[Texan]

Originally Posted by dfb

Jim, a 9000 pound truck IS NOT SUPPOSE TO STOP A 20k pound plus trailer! The exhaust brake on the diesels help along
with upshiting. What should stop the trailer is the trailer brakes!...

And with disc brakes it will.

[Retire 2022]

Question about what Golfmedik stated in his reply.

Do any of you know if this Intercooler Pipe VOIDS a new trucks warranty when installed?