F350 srw or F450

[Hedgehog]

I currently have a 2016 F350 crewcab shortbed with the 6.2 gas and 4.30 gears. I currently pull a 2016 montana 3160rl with a Reese elite sliding hitch ford puck system. Well I am looking at going back to diesel and I have been beating myself up over if I should get another F350 crewcab shortbed or an F450. I usually only tow my fifthwheel 2-3,000 miles a year, the rest of the time the truck sits unless I need to go to Home Depot or just feel like driving a truck. I do have a commuter car so I don’t need to drive the truck everyday. I really like the look of the F450 and I also like the 48 gallon fuel tank. I also like the look of the crewcab shortbed with a leveling kit and some aftermarket wheels and tires.I am waiting for the 2020 fords and probably won’t do anything until spring but I’m just trying to figure it out in advance. Thank you

[bshgto]

the 450 4:30 gears with a diesel, ouch! 6 expensive tires to replace that are rock hard, check your insurance I would have had to get a commercial policy that was 700 dollars more a year, resale might be a problem, generally don`t come with the nicer interior on the lot, but you get unjustified big boy bragging rights cause you get less payload capacity than the 350 dually, (very important when your spending that much money) wife might not want to drive it. I just know my 350 dually with 4:11 gears is a towing beast and dose not beat you silly when you don`t have 3200 lbs of pin with in the back.

[jcurtis934]

Turning radius on 450 is much tighter than the 350 in the past. Guess it is still that way. If I had found out that before I bought mine, I would have went that way.

[mazboy]

If you are going back to diesel and a new truck, I'd seriously look at the new 2020 GMC 3/4 ton...rated at 16.5K.

the old 3/4, one ton ratings are no longer what they use to be years ago.

Forget the F450 totally if you are only pulling a few thousand miles a year.

[PNW Fireguy]

You’ve gotta determine which features are most important to you. I really appreciate the turning radius of the 450. It’s also a sharp looking vehicle. If I were only towing a few months a year I am not sure that those two items justify for me the purchase. Your mileage may vary 😱

[DQDick]

One thing to consider if your going SRW is that you can't buy tires to handle the pin weight of the newer Montana's even if your door tells you the truck can take it. You can guess how I know.

[Slow Hand]

Registration on on a F450 may be huge. I pull a 13,000# with a F250 with 3.31 gears without any issues. Been coast to coast and over the mountains and truck didn't miss a beat.

If you need a dully than get one. You can get the 11,400# load package in a F350 SRW
Wow it wasn't cheap ether. $74,000
Lariat trim 3.55 gears no moon roof but with most of the bells and whistles. The diesel motor went up $1,000 sheesh Guess I will keep my 15
My truck is a 4x4 and it has a shorter turning radius than I thought it would.

[brenkco]

I have owned both.
As far as insurance, I added it to my RV policy, cheaper and better coverage.
Registration cost is dependent on the state.
Fuel economy with the bigger rear end cost about 10-15% depending on driving conditions.
9 1/2 shorter turning radius was a huge help maneuvering a 42’ 5th wheel
450 was not as high as the 350 so easier entry and exit
450 ride was much softer than the 350 (payload at the time was also slightly less than the 350 dually, but more than adequate). The 350 road great when hitched up...not so good empty. Huge advantage for the 450 for ride.

Ken

[mlh]

The tires on my F250 are rated for 3750 pounds each.
Lynwood

[jetskier]

The 295/65r20 tires on my F350 are rated at 4080# each. With a 3600# pin, still at 7480# on the rear per CAT scale. Within the rating of the stock 275 tires. I also replaced the stock overloads with a 5-leaf setup. No change to stock ride and only drops the rear 1.5"-2" and it improved the ride and stability drastically. Fits in my garage and don't have to worry about the width.


The 2020 F350 SRW should have a 12400 max GVWR as well.

[Daryles]

Watch out for the new models PUC system. Some beds have different hole spacing. Not compatible with current market hitches.

[Hedgehog]

I test drove an F450 today and brought it by my house. It is more maneuverable than my crewcab shortbed for getting into the tight area where my rv pad is. I also checked with my insurance company and it won’t be any different to insure or register. I am waiting for the 2020 but I am so torn. Of the 25,000 miles on my current truck, only 6,000 is towing.

[Pops8]

We’ve had ours nearly a year. And whenever my DW let’s me drive it (without the 5th wheel attached) I love it. That’s right it’s HER commuter truck. And she has no problem backing into her parking space at work. With the Lariat Ultimate package it has all the doo-dads she wanted. A short srw doesn’t ride any better. IMO

PS: we traded a ‘16 F350 short bed srw crewcab for this truck.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Daryles

Watch out for the new models PUC system. Some beds have different hole spacing. Not compatible with current market hitches.

Ok folks this is a BIG deal for us and I need an answer. We are looking at a second truck 3/4 ton long bed Ram diesel to tow our 24' enclosed trailer full of big toys.

We currently have a 2017 1 ton Ram long bed dually. We want the 3/4 ton to be an emergency backup to the 1 ton. This is not the first time I have heard about Ram having different measurements on the PUC system. Anyone have the details???

[Renegade1LI]

We had a 450 KR before our current 350DRW, love both, what I really liked was the turning radius & the 19.5 hp tires. Our next truck will be a 450 & it will have the new 10 speed, might even have 500hp & 1000lbs tq.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Pops8

We’ve had ours nearly a year. And whenever my DW let’s me drive it (without the 5th wheel attached) I love it. That’s right it’s HER commuter truck. And she has no problem backing into her parking space at work. With the Lariat Ultimate package it has all the doo-dads she wanted. A short srw doesn’t ride any better. IMO

PS: we traded a ‘16 F350 short bed srw crewcab for this truck.

My wife is the one that wants the 3/4 ton to replace her Ford Fusion car!!! She drives our 1 ton dually all the time and has absolutely no problems handling it at all, including parking it.

If your gonna buy a little sissy toy truck to do a real trucks job just go ahead and paint it pink while your at it! At least it will look cute at the beauty salon next to my wife's dually.....LOL

[2 Yoopers]

Really like my 450 much more than the 350 dually I traded in. The ride is a lot smoother and the turning radius is a big advantage. In my state, registration is the same as the 350, insurance is close as well. You will find that you will wear out the front tires first, with less wear on the outer duals and very little on the inners. Never had to buy all 6 tires at the same time. I just put new fronts on rather than spend the dollars on dismounting the tires, which is about 100.00 each time. Mileage is less, but the truck pulls great with a much better ride.

[DQDick]

Originally Posted by mlh

The tires on my F250 are rated for 3750 pounds each.
Lynwood

So were mine and it wasn't enough.

[Hedgehog]

Looks like the F450 might be the better choice for me. Just gonna wait and see how the 2020 10 speed transmission performs.

[MidMOTraveler]

Other things about the F450 vs 350 bigger brakes, rear end ,axle, turning radius and tires.
I hear guys say the tires are expensive. I say look in your rear view mirrors!