I am thinking of trading my 05 F150 suoer crew in on a F 350. It seems the DW has decided we need a fifth wheel rig now. I like the 4WD , but I figured with a F350, and maybe even a dually, that 4WD is not really needed. The most I have to worry about is a little snow, not while towing. Very seldom do we get more than 8 to 10 inches of snow, every now and then we do get a foot. But my main concern is towing a5ver. Is a dually more stable?(I would think so.)What would you say is the average MPG from a F350, gas or diesel? I know it will not be great, but I always thought diesels got better MPGs. I will not be driving the truck that much since I have 50 miles to work, that is why I traded my Jeep in on a Xb. The 5vers we have been looking at average about 12,000 lbs. Thanks for any info.
Duallies are more stable, might get up to one mpg less. They are TERRIBLE on slippery surfaces. Our experience with one, a 4x2, is the reason we now have a 4x4. We were completely unable to move on packed snow with the weight of our 5er hitch on the back. A rough estimate towing would be 8 mpg with gas, 12 mpg with a diesel.
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2006 Summit 22RB travel trailer
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
Bob & Grace professional retirees
Good Sam life members
RRUGG wrote: Duallies are more stable, might get up to one mpg less. They are TERRIBLE on slippery surfaces. Our experience with one, a 4x2, is the reason we now have a 4x4. We were completely unable to move on packed snow with the weight of our 5er hitch on the back. A rough estimate towing would be 8 mpg with gas, 12 mpg with a diesel.
I agree.
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27.5 bhs, 2005 f-250 power stroke diesel,
A 12K fifth wheel will have a pin weight of about 3K, more or less. Add full fuel, a couple of passengers, some stuff in the bed along with the weight of the hitch, and you're looking at 3.75K, maybe 4k total payload. That's why you want a dually - no single rear wheel truck made comes close to carrying that. If you don't have 4wd, don't plan to drive it in snow. Winter after the plows have been by, sure. 6" in your driveway, or on a back road - probably not.
All trucks get lousy gas mileage, the bigger the lousier. I would, at this point, get a diesel only because the load needed one. With what you're planning you're on the edge but probably closer to needing a diesel than not.
Brian
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab, Hemi, 5 speed manual, 3.73 gears, Tow Beast hitch with 24" extension.
28 ft race car hauler, Lola T440 Formula Ford, NTM MK4 Sports Racer
2004 Travel Hawk 8' Truck Camper - Roll at 16K combined weight
we have the F350 crew diesel, but SRW. we get 10 mpg towing the trailer in our signature. A heavier trailer, we would need the 450 or a newer 350. Ours rides wonderful, just like a car. without towing we get 16-17 mpg. Not great in this gas market, but its all we have..we would not have anything smaller. I feel safer in a larger truck. Dona
Dona and Elvin
2004 6.0l F350 turbo-diesel/4x4/crew cab/shortbed-wedgewood blue)
2007 Open Road 359RL3S
2004 Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV
Retired early and ready to see North America!
The DRW is so much more stable when towing that I would never consider a SRW. That said, you will lose traction on wet or snowy roads because you're spreading the weight over a greater surface area, so 4WD is nice to have. In the winter, I put 500lbs of sand bags over the rear axle which helps quite a bit.
4WD will cost more, use more fuel, reduce your payload and add more stuff to go wrong. Plus they tend to ride harder.
BUT when you need 4WD you need 4WD.
However, when you are running without the fiver there is nothing wrong with removing the inner wheels of the duallies and running with just the outers in place. You will have the traction of a 2WD SRW at that point.
As long as you have a limited slip/locking differential it is not too bad. But even so you won't be plowing through any 10" of snow.
I run a 2WD 3/4 ton in MI. Not my daily driver so I just don't drive it when there's a lot of snow around. If I managed to get stuck, then I would call AAA. Hasn't happened yet
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors.
VintageRacer wrote: A 12K fifth wheel will have a pin weight of about 3K, more or less. Add full fuel, a couple of passengers, some stuff in the bed along with the weight of the hitch, and you're looking at 3.75K, maybe 4k total payload. Brian
Brian,
I think your numbers are a bit extreme. The two fivers I have owned had 16% and 20% pin weights. You are using 25% which, while possible, is highly unlikely.
I would expect the pin to be 2400# or less and total load to be under 3200-3400# with two people.
While I don't figure a 3/4 ton would stay within ratings I think an SRW F350 may be OK. OP would need all his weights, ratings etc. to figure it out.
If 12K is the EMPTY weight of the trailer, then that is a whole new ball-game!
The 4WD weights more so you have to take that from what your 5er pin weight can be. Less you can carry. I a 2WD dully and like it and i knwo it has poor traction. Even on wet grass. And I do not EVER plan on driving it in snow.
VintageRacer wrote: A 12K fifth wheel will have a pin weight of about 3K, more or less. Add full fuel, a couple of passengers, some stuff in the bed along with the weight of the hitch, and you're looking at 3.75K, maybe 4k total payload. Brian
Brian,
I think your numbers are a bit extreme. The two fivers I have owned had 16% and 20% pin weights. You are using 25% which, while possible, is highly unlikely.
I would expect the pin to be 2400# or less and total load to be under 3200-3400# with two people.
While I don't figure a 3/4 ton would stay within ratings I think an SRW F350 may be OK. OP would need all his weights, ratings etc. to figure it out.
If 12K is the EMPTY weight of the trailer, then that is a whole new ball-game!
That would be empty except water, and LP. Haven't added all of the wifes and kids belongings, and my few items to the mix yet. But it is still in the early stages yet. I really wanted a F350 dually diesel4x4. But the wife has other opinions. But if I can prove my points I may yet win this battle. As long as the fuel mileage would hang around 10 MPG I would be happy. Maybe 8 in hilly terrain. Thaks for all of the input. Once we get the truck figured out, then it is off to the 5ver itself. She wants a QB, which we looked at A Sierra 335QBQ,it weighed in at (shipping weight) 11,491,GVWR 13,879. It was nice, but it was also new. But still under 50 grand. So if we can find something a year or 2 old, we may be onto something. Thanks again for all the info. This is going to be a long drawn out decission for me.
Offline
