Thinking of buying a F350

Dylan

Well-known member
Just bought a 2009 3670RL, and now thinking of buying a 2008 F350, diesel. Not sure of the specs on the breaks, etc, but it's the F350, Power Stroke Diesel. Any thoughts as to this being sufficient to pull the 3670RL, please advise....thanks much.
 

krhyde

Kentucky Chapter Leaders-retired
Is it a SRW or DRW? It makes a difference in towing capacity. A 2008 SRW F350 SD has a fifth wheel towing capacity of 16,900#. A DRW F350 SD has a fifth wheel towing capacity of 18,800#. Either one should be OK. Go to www.fordf150.net/2008 and see all the specs for the 2008 F-series trucks. Ken
 

Dylan

Well-known member
Thanks. It's a SRW, and based on numbers I've seen, it appears it's sufficient. Being new to the fifth wheel world, I'm looking for as much confirmation as I can get. Thanks...
 

jmgratz

Original Owners Club Member
Don't think about it .. JUST DO IT! It is a great choice with DRW or SRW works great. Have had both.
 

brianharrison

Well-known member
I have a similar weighted trailer and the F350 SRW. The truck pulls fine. I have added Firestone Ride Rite air bags as "helpers" to keep the backend of the truck from lowering too much with the pin weight (mine is closer to 3000 lbs (loaded) vs advertised 2295 lbs).
 

lwmcguir

Well-known member
Stopping is the only real issue with any of the big three heavy duty pickups. We used to tow 45 foot cattle trailers with 6 cylinder gas engines before diesel trucks were common. They had air brakes way back then but many were vacuum/hydraulic. Stopping is really the issue not how fast you can go.
 

letourno

Quebec Chapter Leader-retired
We have a 2011 Crew Cab SRW short bed 4x2 with a 3.31 axle. We get around 12.5 mpg (towing). Never a problem keeping speed while climbing and always very stable. Weights from our latest public scales appearance (actual/max specs):
Truck front axle: 4576/5250
Truck rear axle: 6468/6730
Truck total: 11044/11400
Pin weight: 3058
Trailer axles: 11418/14000
Total Trailer (axles+pin): 14476/16000
Combined weight: 22462/23500
The truck weight includes a full fuel tank, a Reese Elite 18k, one passenger and 2 cats. The trailer is loaded for the trip, empty water tanks, about 20 gals. fresh water, no washer-dryer.

Make sure you order with the camper package (reinforced rear springs), factory prepped for fifth wheel (you can get a Reese hitch cheaper on aftermarket) and the factory sprayed bed liner.
 

lwmcguir

Well-known member
We watch what we load and are in very similar weight ranges. Handles like a dream for sure. We did order the 11,500 pkg and the other options you noted. Good advice if you are in the market. You only have to add the hitch and get on the road.
 

mmomega

AnyTimer
We have a 2011 Crew Cab SRW short bed 4x2 with a 3.31 axle. We get around 12.5 mpg (towing). Never a problem keeping speed while climbing and always very stable. Weights from our latest public scales appearance (actual/max specs):
Truck front axle: 4576/5250
Truck rear axle: 6468/6730
Truck total: 11044/11400
Pin weight: 3058
Trailer axles: 11418/14000
Total Trailer (axles+pin): 14476/16000
Combined weight: 22462/23500
The truck weight includes a full fuel tank, a Reese Elite 18k, one passenger and 2 cats. The trailer is loaded for the trip, empty water tanks, about 20 gals. fresh water, no washer-dryer.

Make sure you order with the camper package (reinforced rear springs), factory prepped for fifth wheel (you can get a Reese hitch cheaper on aftermarket) and the factory sprayed bed liner.

Max specs on a SRW 350 rear axle is 7,280lbs. You're plenty good
 

currituck0209

Well-known member
Dylan,
we just purchased a f-350 (lariat) srw, 4x4, 6.7 diesel, a 3610re big horn , we have towed it approx 1500 miles so far, & it seems to be a perfect match, love them both.
 

Dylan

Well-known member
Any thoughts out there, or folks who might be pulling with a 250 or 2500? Somewhat confused over wgt capacities between both trucks. On some charts I've seen, the GMC 2500's can pull as much as the F 350?
 

mmomega

AnyTimer
Any thoughts out there, or folks who might be pulling with a 250 or 2500? Somewhat confused over wgt capacities between both trucks. On some charts I've seen, the GMC 2500's can pull as much as the F 350?

Yes on paper the fifth wheel towing of the 2500HD SRW is more than a F350 SRW.
That said, the numbers are 15,800 fifth wheel towing for the 2500HD and 15,700 for the F350.
This is in part to the 2500HD having a 3:73 gear and the 350 having a 3:55.
BUT... the 2500HD has a rear axle rating of 6200 lbs(same as an F250), which again this is weight already on the rear axle from the truck, fuel and any passenger weight + the pin weight of your trailer. A 15,700lb fifth wheel would have a pin weight of about 3,140 lbs. Which IMHO is too much for a 3/4ton pickup.


The F350 rear axle rating is 7200 lbs, so an extra 1000lbs. A 3500HD is rated at 7050lbs. <--This is for SRW models. Both DRW trucks are over 9,000lbs rear axle rating.
 
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