Joining The Cool Crowd

[Bob Morley]

It was the max tire pressure on our 06 F350 SRW that got us after we got on the scales with the Redwood 36RL and saw 4,380 lbs pin weight with water

I didn't care about payload, but tire load had me worried. We went to a 2008 F350 DRW (considered F450) and then a 2014 F350 DRW. They did extremely well and all the numbers were good, but even then there wasn't a lot of room left on payload. Ultimately I learned to hate the dually when not towing, but they sure were a good match for the Redwood.

Atom-ditto also. The tire loading on our SWD 350 was scary. If not for short 5-mile trips on weekends I would have upgraded to the 3500 DWD sooner. The 3500 High Country DWD has been a joy for me. Our High Country is about two years old and has under 14,000 miles. Lots of fun mileage left.

 

[brenkco]

Also when not towing with the 4500/450 trucks the ride would be VERY uncomfortable, mine rides relatively comfortable empty, but wouldn't want any more truck.

Danny,

Sorry to disagree but my last truck was a F350, 2012 SRW. I replaced it with a 2014 F450. First thing DW said when we test drove it was that it was a much softer ride. It sits almost 2" lower.

The F350 was a much better ride loaded with the trailer in tow....not so much on it's own. Now parking, well that's a different story.

Ken

 

[piper guy]

Like Ken said, it seems counter-intuitive but in the Fords, the 450 rides better unloaded than the 350. If you look at a 450, most of the load carrying springs are on the overload pack, not the regular one. One of my biggest regrets is not knowing this when I bought my 350 Dually ~ would have gone the extra $$ and got a 450.

 

[spindrift]

And I'll second what Vaughn said. The smaller turning radius of the 450 would have been worth the few extra dollars.

 

[piper guy]

Yup - forgot that part Tom. Can't remember the last time I pulled into a parking space with one turn. Lol. You get real good at backing in.

 

[Travelin' Texans]

My GMC has a very good turning radius. My Dad has a little Nissan Frontier truck & I truly think I could do circles inside the radius of that little thing, it will take 3 tries to put it in a parking spot, not to mention I get better mileage.

 

[Iceman1777]

Yup - forgot that part Tom. Can't remember the last time I pulled into a parking space with one turn. Lol.

I do it all the time...provided the next three spaces are empty

 

[Char & Steve]

It still amazes me the difference in turning. Our 2015 3500 does not turn anywhere near as tight as my 2012 4500.


Steve

 

[johnboytoo]

Yup - forgot that part Tom. Can't remember the last time I pulled into a parking space with one turn. Lol. You get real good at backing in.

Our company has a policy you should back into every spot...
the logic being that you will have to back up at least once unless it's a pull through, and since you do, you might as well back in since you already KNOW what's around you when you go in, but have to guess if backing out

 

[Travelin' Texans]

Our company has a policy you should back into every spot...
the logic being that you will have to back up at least once unless it's a pull through, and since you do, you might as well back in since you already KNOW what's around you when you go in, but have to guess if backing out

My company required that also, got in the habit then & still do it now, it is actually a good habit to have with these fat a## trucks.

 

[Shane Wood]

Most companies these days require it
I also back into a stall unless I preferably have one you can pull through. Saves on the boneheads that back at the same time or are driving and not paying attention and drive into you

 

[atom ant]

In some states, the F450 is problematic with license plates and tax. The F350 became available with the wide track option that gave you the 4.30 gears and wide front axle with the same turning radius. Not sure if it's still available.

 

[Char & Steve]

In some states, the F450 is problematic with license plates and tax. The F350 became available with the wide track option that gave you the 4.30 gears and wide front axle with the same turning radius. Not sure if it's still available.

In CT. (not for much longer) my GMC 4500 trucks have to have commercial plates and a minimum of $1,000,000 liability policy on each or you don't drive them. Taxes are normal but CT. sucks for taxes anyway.

Steve

 

[tangoparson]

Ok. You guys talked me into it. I’ll get the drw even if if isn’t color matched like the old truck.

 

[Tom's38GK]

Nice looking truck Tango I haven't been on here in quite some time. Seems as though my now exwife had planned on dumping me as soon as she could get into my retirement and cost me 15 years of my 401K and all the debt. So as a result I have been trying to work as much as I can to recover and retire that coming to fruitation this November. As you can see by my avitar I went with a HDT 1999 Volvo VNL610 the main reason was so I could take my full dresser bike with when I travel. Most say it is over kill but to be honest with you I get a constant 9 to 9.5 five MPG with a 1500 mile range before I have to find fuel. Not to mention once I set the cruise there is no hill it cannot concure added plus the view from above is fantastic....LOL Not sure if you know this but in Texas if your total combined weight of your rig is over 26000 pounds you need a class A exempt license. If you do need this license based on where you live (Prosper?). I would arrange to take the driving portion of the test in Bowie, TX they are one of only 48 locations that give the class A exempt driving test. The written part of the test can be taken at any DL office, I took mine in Gainesville. Again great looking ride you have set yourself up with to tow your beast tamer.....

 

[Travelin' Texans]

Nice looking truck Tango I haven't been on here in quite some time. Seems as though my now exwife had planned on dumping me as soon as she could get into my retirement and cost me 15 years of my 401K and all the debt. So as a result I have been trying to work as much as I can to recover and retire that coming to fruitation this November. As you can see by my avitar I went with a HDT 1999 Volvo VNL610 the main reason was so I could take my full dresser bike with when I travel. Most say it is over kill but to be honest with you I get a constant 9 to 9.5 five MPG with a 1500 mile range before I have to find fuel. Not to mention once I set the cruise there is no hill it cannot concure added plus the view from above is fantastic....LOL Not sure if you know this but in Texas if your total combined weight of your rig is over 26000 pounds you need a class A exempt license. If you do need this license based on where you live (Prosper?). I would arrange to take the driving portion of the test in Bowie, TX they are one of only 48 locations that give the class A exempt driving test. The written part of the test can be taken at any DL office, I took mine in Gainesville. Again great looking ride you have set yourself up with to tow your beast tamer.....

This DL thing has been ongoing for several years in Texas & as of yet from several different folks that should know it's still a very gray area.
You towing with the Volvo may be different, but when I renewed my DL a couple years back with my RW & GMC dually I was told at DMV I didn't need the class A exempt as long as I was towing MY personal RV. Also was shown the list of exemptions, with about 9 of 10 all agriculture related, the last one stated "for personal use". Since have talked to a couple LEOs & a different DMV office, all with same answer. This ALL may have changed in recent years, so would ask at your DMV to be sure.
I lived in Haslet, just south of you, at the time & I checked/renewed with the DMV in Decatur.

 

[Tom's38GK]

I think that most DMV people don't deal with our situation enough to really know so I decided to play it safe. The other motivation for me is my son is a farmer rancher in NE and when I spend time with him I like to help which involves driving trucks for him straight and semi's. I do know that when I talked to the DMV office 4 years ago they told me that anything over 26,001 pounds like a large DP motorhome or combined RV over 26,001 we needed to have the proper license. I just know that we are pushing the limit with our larger rigs and truck we need to have to pull safely.