Quick Question...

[nathansharkey]

Wow am I ever excited. I just ordered a new 2011 Diesel Ford F350 4x4 SRW Short Box Crew Cab. My first Ford. Converted from Dodge.

A quick question...having a hard time with understanding the spec sheets and I don't trust the Salesman.

I am looking to pull a 5th wheel with a hitch/pin weight of 2,995lbs and a Dry weight of 13,595lbs. Will this truck pull this safely? This is a Toy Hauler. Triple Axle. Plan to load up 5 dirt bikes inside with 100 gallons of water and 50 gallons of fuel and a generator, probably bringing the Trailer weight up to 17,000lbs.

I was going to install Air bags or another suspension upgrade to help ensure that this rig keeps the shiny side up. Any alternative to Air Bags, anything better?

Originally, I was going to buy the F450, but my wife said no way. She didn't want to have to drive a long box or a dually. So I ended up with the SRW Short Box F350. Salesman says no problem, but I wanted to double check.

[Zytek_Fan]

Air bags are the best right now.

There's the Firestone R4Tech Air-over-Leaf system, but it's only available on duallys right now

Firestone R4Tech Air-over-Leaf Suspension-RH1

edit: 4wheelparts shows putting it on a SRW so apparently it works. But Firestone's website says dually only right now

[harley1rocker]

do those 2011's come with 10 ply tires??? i would think they do.thats what i run on mine.i dont race,sled pull or anything like that,stricly money pulls.we are pullin those fema trailers right now.

[jimchris]

Originally Posted by nathansharkey

Wow am I ever excited. I just ordered a new 2011 Diesel Ford F350 4x4 SRW Short Box Crew Cab. My first Ford. Converted from Dodge.

A quick question...having a hard time with understanding the spec sheets and I don't trust the Salesman.

I am looking to pull a 5th wheel with a hitch/pin weight of 2,995lbs and a Dry weight of 13,595lbs. Will this truck pull this safely? This is a Toy Hauler. Triple Axle. Plan to load up 5 dirt bikes inside with 100 gallons of water and 50 gallons of fuel and a generator, probably bringing the Trailer weight up to 17,000lbs.

I was going to install Air bags or another suspension upgrade to help ensure that this rig keeps the shiny side up. Any alternative to Air Bags, anything better?

Originally, I was going to buy the F450, but my wife said no way. She didn't want to have to drive a long box or a dually. So I ended up with the SRW Short Box F350. Salesman says no problem, but I wanted to double check.

You don't need air bags or anything else pulling only 17000lbs. I pull 25000 with no problem and I even have 3:31 gears.

[MDarrough]

The problem is not the trailer weight, but the pin weight. My 5er is 40 ft long, just short of 14K lbs, with a pin weight of 2300. My '08 was the same config as the one you ordered, and I did install air bags. It would handle it ok, but I felt it was at the top end of the capability of the truck. There were a lot of white-knuckle times like mountain roads, through narrow-lane construction areas, etc. It bottomed out the springs all the time. You have a little more pin weigh, so you would DEFINITELY need the bags.

My '11 dually is night and day different!! I feel like I'm in complete control. Plus, the 5th wheel prep package is great. IMHO, you might regret not getting a dually. But I certainly understand obeying the boss!!

Mark

[stuby]

The '11 350SRW is only rated to 15,800# for fiver. The dually is rated to 20,300# for fiver. Based on your post you are going to use up all of your 2000#+ carrying capacity with the bikes, water, and gas.