dc870dir wrote: Well, I've read enough on this forum to believe I need to trade my brand new 2012 F250 King Ranch for an F350. I'm overweight by quite a bit on the GVWR of 10,000. I tow a 33 foot fifth wheel with a pin wt. of 2100#. Truck weighs 8300# empty with wife and a few items in it. The Ford dealer is offering to exchange the 250 KR for a 2012 F350 Lariat. Will cost me around $5000. Would anyone else do this or am I overreacting? I tow just a few times a year and no more than 300 miles on any one trip? The truck squats just a little when hooked to the fifth wheel but handles fine. Could use some straighforward advice please.
If it's a matter of wanting a dually, go for the deal...
Otherwise, you've answered your own question (see bolded text)
As also pointed out, you are well within your rear axle ratings, which many (not all by any means) RVers believe is the important rating (that and tire ratings)
BManning baking in Phoenix
2008 Ford Super Duty F250 XLT, 4x4, crew cab, 6.75' bed
5.4L V8 300hp/365ft-lb, 5sp Torqshift, 4.30 AAM gears
9400lb GVW 11200lb tow
2007 Volvo XC90 AWD V8
4.4L 311hp/325ft-lb, 6sp Aisin, loaded
6100lb GVW 5000lb tow
dc870dir wrote: Could use some straighforward advice please.
Even though it seems some "advice" has been offered, some for, some against trading up, we can always count on members like Powerdude to take an insulting approach to people who's views are contrary to his.
So since I can't help my big fat mouth and have more hot air to offer, why not give up on the Ford and it's endless fuel pump problems and lack of warranty support from their dealers and go buy a Tundra.
* This post was
edited 05/02/12 02:02pm by Gman22 *
2000 Coleman Bayside
2006 Ford Expedition Ltd. 5.4 L/3.73
I've alrady weighed the truck and trailer. Combined they weigh 19,000#. Well under the 23,000 # limit. The only issue I have is the GVW of the truck. I'm at 10,830# with the rear axle at 5800#, front at 5000#. Axle rating is 6100 rear, 5900 front. The 350 is not a dually and is rated at 11,500#. That will give me some cushion. I don't want to spend the money, but in order to be under GVWR, I'll have to. Or just live with the overweight condition. As I said earlier, no issues towing, either starting or stopping.
In response to Vintageracer: Yes, the 250 really weighs that much with the diesel and 4x4. Doesn't leave enough room for a decent pin weight. Obviously, I would go with the 350 if I could do it over again. You'll pick up 1500# of capacity.
To slarsen: Why do the F350s have a gvwr of 11500 # if they are similar to the 250? I agree they look exactly alike, but there must be heavier springs and other items that allow them to tag it at the higher capacity.
Hmmm, is this dealer that knows you are 850# over GVWR the same one that you go to for service and warranty work?
He COULD void your warranty on drivetrain, suspension and brakes.
You are awful close to the GAWR, which, IMHO, is THE most important rating of all (along with the tires).
If you would be more comfortable with more of a cushion, and to eliminate ANY possibility of warranty denial, you need to decide it it's worth $5K to you.
Then of course there is the remote possibility of personal liability if you were in an accident and the investigators found you were over your Manufacturer's truck specs. Unlikely, but not impossible.
Keith J.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver.
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC/SB/DA 2WD, LBZ air cleaner, 52 gal Titan tank, Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax cover, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors, TST TPMS.
Quote: I'm at 10,830# with the rear axle at 5800#, front at 5000#. Axle rating is 6100 rear, 5900 front.
So your unladen rear axle weight is 3700??? That's about 500 lbs more than I thought in my 1st post. Yes your much closer to the RAWR than I guessed. I would think getting some larger wheels and tires like the 350 has would work also but again at a cost. $5k isn't really that big of a hit on a 60k truck, since we're talking about YOUR cash.
Yes, I'm 300 pounds shy of maxing out the rear axles. I have 20" tires and wheels now, same as the 350. If I want to load up the truck with a couple of more passengers and their stuff, I probably will be over. However, that would rarely happen. The dealer I'm working with is in fact the one who services the truck. And they know I am overweight. They even told me not to worry about it. Having a problem with that. But like I said, I may be just overreacting since I'm new to the towing world. For every opinion that says it's ok, another says it's not. That's why I'm on this forum, trying to find the definative answer. Having some difficulty with that right now.
dc870dir wrote: Yes, I'm 300 pounds shy of maxing out the rear axles. I have 20" tires and wheels now, same as the 350. If I want to load up the truck with a couple of more passengers and their stuff, I probably will be over. However, that would rarely happen. The dealer I'm working with is in fact the one who services the truck. And they know I am overweight. They even told me not to worry about it. Having a problem with that. But like I said, I may be just overreacting since I'm new to the towing world. For every opinion that says it's ok, another says it's not. That's why I'm on this forum, trying to find the definative answer. Having some difficulty with that right now.
Not sure there is a definitive answer; some view GVWR as a golden rule, others view it as a suggestion.
Kinda like the speed limit. We "should" never speed, we often do; sometimes there are circumstances, most times there aren't.
I'm not "weight police" by any means, but after reading your posted weights, I'd strongly consider a DRW truck.
While the F350 SRW will gain you a significant amount of GVWR, how much RAWR will it add? I don't know the #s but I can't imagine it'd be much.
After reading your posts, I just think you'd be most comfortable with a dually but I could have it wrong.
* This post was
edited 05/02/12 04:20pm by bmanning *
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