Maybe going to trade for me truck

[Camping family]

Okay I’m kicking around the ideal of trading my 2019 f250 king ranch for a new f350 king ranch. Seems would have to order it since no one has any on their lot. Would end up being a 2022 and would not be in till around December. Few questions for the experts.
1. Srw or drw 2 going with the 7.3 gasser

[dutchmensport]

I know there are those who say a SRW truck is perfectly fine for towing a fifth wheel, but IF you really want stability, go for the dually. If you want a towing truck as your main, primary reason for this truck, then you'll never be disappointed or have uncertainties every again.

[travelin texans]

IMHO for towing any rv over 10-12k lbs the the best option is a diesel dually! If you ever plan a rv upgrade, most do so sooner than later, you're good to go with the DRW diesel.

[notanlines]

My advice would be to go with the dually and make it a diesel. It might not be best overall for you, but that is a decision you'll have to make. I believe you would be making a mistake ordering gas, but there are fans out there. You'll hear all kinds of BS arguments both ways: Diesel is much more maintenance....not true. Diesel gets much, much better mileage....not true. I could go on and on. Diesel simply pulls the load when the chips are down.

[MarkEHansen]

My current truck is my first Diesel. I had done a lot of research and was pretty sure that's what I wanted. I was not disappointed.

Today's diesels are nothing like the diesels of yore. They are quiet, they don't stink, they don't smoke, etc. And they pull like there is no tomorrow.

Also, the exhaust brake is really incredible.

My advise is if you want this truck for towing, get a diesel DRW!

[gearhead]

Yep that exhaust brake is worth the money anytime you get in hills.

[Gegrad]

If you are set with your current Cougar then the gasser is fine. If you have your eyes set on a large toy hauler in the near future, then you would want the diesel dually. Just honestly depends on what you are doing camper wise.

[vampress_me]

Experience says get a DRW and save yourself a trade (and more money outlay) in in a few years.

We traded in a 2009 F-350 SRW for a 2016 F-350 SRW because at the time we had a 2014 Cougar 28 RDB and the SRW worked great and I loved it. (Only reason we traded the 2009 for a 2016 was because MN decided B-20 diesel was THE thing to do - 2009 was rated for B5 and was starting to have problems. Plan had been to keep the 2009 for at least 10 years...)

Fast forward to 2018 and we started to look for a new fifth wheel, because kids were getting close to graduating and we didn’t necessarily want the bunks anymore if they were not going to be camping with us as much. As we started looking at new campers and what we were wanting in them, we discovered we would be overloaded with the SRW. Well, crap.

Then we went looking at how much it would cost to trade in a 2 year old truck with 30,000 miles on it. Ended up, in 2019, trading the it in on an exact copy of the SRW, but with 2 more tires - a DRW. The original plan had been to keep the 2016 for at least 10 years (again!). Now, we have a DRW F-350 and a new fifth wheel that would have put us quite a bit over our capacities on the SRW. AND, I should get to keep this truck for at least 10 years, there is nothing else I want/ need in a truck - finally!

[rhagfo]

Well is the current F250 gas? You are likely within weights or very close.
What is the payload on the F250?
What are you thinking future plans, if you feel you will be getting a larger 5er think seriously about a F350 DRW diesel. Tow ratings for the 7.3 top out about 16k to 17k with 4.30 gears. Our 2016 Ram 3500 DRW CTD has a tow rating of 25,000# with 3.73’s.

[Alpine]

I can only tell my own story, obviously! Fulltime for six years straight... all around, up and down the United States with our SRW Ram (2012) 100,000 plus miles towing our Alpine 3450RL. Sun, rain, snow, wind, hail and never having an unsafe feeling of being unstable. Would a DRW felt better??? I had the opportunity in December of 2019 to purchase a DRW... I went with another SRW. No regrets!

[Camping family]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Well is the current F250 gas? You are likely within weights or very close.
What is the payload on the F250?
What are you thinking future plans, if you feel you will be getting a larger 5er think seriously about a F350 DRW diesel. Tow ratings for the 7.3 top out about 16k to 17k with 4.30 gears. Our 2016 Ram 3500 DRW CTD has a tow rating of 25,000# with 3.73’s.

Current f250 is gas. In fact it’s the first gas f250 I have owned I have had several f 250’s but we’re all diesel. No plans for a larger 5 th wheel and not going back to a diesel. Only reason for thinking of f350 was there is no or very little price difference between 250 and 350.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Camping family

Okay I’m kicking around the ideal of trading my 2019 f250 king ranch for a new f350 king ranch. Seems would have to order it since no one has any on their lot. Would end up being a 2022 and would not be in till around December. Few questions for the experts.
1. Srw or drw 2 going with the 7.3 gasser

Originally Posted by Camping family

Current f250 is gas. In fact it’s the first gas f250 I have owned I have had several f 250’s but we’re all diesel. No plans for a larger 5 th wheel and not going back to a diesel. Only reason for thinking of f350 was there is no or very little price difference between 250 and 350.

Then a F350 SRW 7.3 would work, might even do well with 3.73’s.

[jasin1]

I guess I look at things differently... in the late 60’s if you were going to buy a Mustang or Camaro and someone said “ do you plan to take it to the drag strip?”
And you said “ nope” ...they would say.. “I would just get the 6 cylinder then”
Financially the 6 cylinders are worth about 1/4 of the performance versions today

In 2009 we bought a Dodge Challenger for my wife . The salesman was talking up a 6cylinder car .. I said “nope”. We bought a 5 speed Hemi R/T with the track pack ..the car was super fun to drive and we got a lot when we traded it.

I look at big heavy duty trucks the same way as performance cars... you CANT go wrong getting the most powerful motor available ...even 10 or 15 years down the road it will still bring a premium price.. I like diesels for trucks and big gas motors for performance cars ..but that’s just my opinion..and the exhaust brake will save you a fortune in brake pads
I also have both.. I have a gas Hemi4x4 beater truck for Home Depot and that my wife uses for going to the greenhouse..dropped a valve after I overloaded it with a deck for my son( known Hemi issue). Waiting to install new motor when I get around to it
And as a side note, I believe with the push for electric vehicles you will see that gas engines will be the first to be phased out...in Europe a lot of vehicles we have in gas versions have been sold as diesel over there.. gas is very expensive across the ocean and looks like we are starting to see it here.
Diesel will probably not be affected as much because of commercial trucking needs..just my observation

[notanlines]

Jasin, to put a little boost to your last post, in our RV park we had a couple who just returned from a month stint on business in Frankfurt and said what we know as regular is about $5.50 per gallon American and diesel about $5.90 or so. She also said they were pretty much in the business part of the city most of the time, not in the country or suburbs.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by notanlines

Jasin, to put a little boost to your last post, in our RV park we had a couple who just returned from a month stint on business in Frankfurt and said what we know as regular is about $5.50 per gallon American and diesel about $5.90 or so. She also said they were pretty much in the business part of the city most of the time, not in the country or suburbs.

In 2005 I had a buisness partner.. we both bought identical trucks Ram 2500 shortbed 4x4’s..I got the diesel and he chose the Hemi ..fuel was a shared business expense. He filled up twice a week and I filled up once and it really bothered me after awhile

[rhagfo]

The OP’s 5er has a GVWR of 10,400# he doesn’t need a diesel. The Ford 7.3 gas is rated to tow up to 16k to 17k#.
I am sure his desire to go to gas has to do with a history with the wrong Ford diesels 6.0, & 6.4. I change from Ford to Dodge in 2010 when we went to diesel for towing our first 5er. That was after being a Ford person for 40 years, as I wanted a reliable diesel. We bought used, a 2001 Ram 2500 CTD and 5 speed manual with 234,000 miles. We sold it eight year later with 315,000 miles.

[wiredgeorge]

Buying decisions are a reflection of the values of the purchaser. It is also a reflection of their good judgement and preferences and once they buy, they tend to defend their choice because otherwise they would appear... well less than brilliant. Gas vs diesel has been done to death on this forum and you ALWAYS end up with the subjective view points of those expressing them. Both have positives and negatives and only you know or have an idea what would work best or where you will be down the road in terms of perhaps a new camper. After you have heard all these folks testifying, in the end, you will be the one footing the bill for the truck.

[gearhead]

If like you said that you are happy with your current trailer, and have no intentions of moving up, I would go gas with a SRW that has adequate payload. You will save money on the initial purchase. This will also serve as a deterrent to upgrading to a large heavy 5th and having to buy another more expensive truck.
That said there is nothing like the power and stability of a diesel dually.

[sourdough]

I told myself I was not going to get into the "you have to have a diesel to tow an RV", "you don't know what you're doing if you have a gas truck" commentary again, but;

The OP asked one question; SRW or DRW. He stipulated he was going to get the 7.3. He has had previous diesels and KNOWS he wants the gas truck. His RV has a 10,400 gvw for crying out loud and he IS NOT going to go larger. Yet it seems the opportunity can't be wasted to extol the seemingly endless, wonderful virtues of a diesel engine vs gas - they each have their strengths and a gas engine CAN be used for towing despite some claims to the contrary. It might be a tad different if you were talking to someone that didn't have knowledge or experience but in this case you are simply questioning their judgement, experience and choice then belittling that choice because it doesn't fit the "diesel" preference.

OP I would go SRW and the 7.3 should be a "beast" towing that Cougar. JMO

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by sourdough

I told myself I was not going to get into the "you have to have a diesel to tow an RV", "you don't know what you're doing if you have a gas truck" commentary again, but;

The OP asked one question; SRW or DRW. He stipulated he was going to get the 7.3. He has had previous diesels and KNOWS he wants the gas truck. His RV has a 10,400 gvw for crying out loud and he IS NOT going to go larger. Yet it seems the opportunity can't be wasted to extol the seemingly endless, wonderful virtues of a diesel engine vs gas - they each have their strengths and a gas engine CAN be used for towing despite some claims to the contrary. It might be a tad different if you were talking to someone that didn't have knowledge or experience but in this case you are simply questioning their judgement, experience and choice then belittling that choice because it doesn't fit the "diesel" preference.

OP I would go SRW and the 7.3 should be a "beast" towing that Cougar. JMO

Point well taken.. I’m gonna stay out of these threads for now on sometimes discussions can head off in to other directions and it doesn’t seem productive to take that path lately.
Anyhoo.... gonna be heading out 1st week of June for a week and looking forward to it. Back to the camping channel !