Upgrading to an F-350 Drw?

evanhix · 03-10-2017, 04:28 AM

I'm looking at upgrading from a 250 to a 350 Drw power stroke and have some questions. The one I'm looking at has 4.30 axels. Does anyone know what kind of fuel mileage I can expect with this low ratio? Second, this would be a daily driver in SoCal...would I be Crazy to do this? Third, What is the ride quality like? Any other info would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

Javi · 03-10-2017, 05:19 AM

I have 3:73 gears and my overall average mileage is 13.6 mpg, highway is 18+ and city is 14ish... Towing 12.5K is 9 - 11 depending on terrain and wind.. The 4:30 ratio will not be a lot different...

I'm the wrong person to ask about ride quality... I drove a CJ 5 jeep for 10 years and 150K miles...

pawpaw · 03-10-2017, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanhix

I'm looking at upgrading from a 250 to a 350 Drw power stroke and have some questions. The one I'm looking at has 4.30 axels. Does anyone know what kind of fuel mileage I can expect with this low ratio? Second, this would be a daily driver in SoCal...would I be Crazy to do this? Third, What is the ride quality like? Any other info would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

I just did the same thing...looked at a leftover '16 Lariat that I made a good deal on. I found the front had the heavier coil springs with the snow plow pkg and caused a rough ride(no snow in South Louisiana anyway) wife and I looked at the two '17 F-350 DRW trucks they had in stock..one in Black which is too hot and hard to keep clean and one in White Gold which we ended up buying after working out a good deal. I've put over 200 miles in two days and even on our crappy roads I don't find the ride is too rough for me. Truck has the 4.10 gearing and I've got the mpg up to 16.3 on our crappy little 2 lane hwys. Truck listed for $66,580 and was less then some loaded out '17 F-150's they had in stock. I'm out in the country so no problem for me using it for a daily driver. Getting the bed sprayed and the 5th wheel mounted next week and maybe take the trailer out in a week or two. We've been using my son in laws F-250 for two years and lucky we didn't break anything because we were over on the payload and truck squatted even with air bags. The '17's have a 48 gallon fuel tank which I like also! Good luck with your decision and do your homework before buying.

Tbos · 03-10-2017, 12:51 PM

I have a 16 DRW 6.7 Power Stroke with 3:73s, have not towed with it yet. Averaged 16+ on a highway trip yesterday. If I had kept it at 65 and under it would have been better. Enjoy your truck when you get it and post a picture.

2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

CaptnJohn · 03-10-2017, 04:10 PM

I recall a little more OOMMPH when going from a dually 6.7 to SRW 6.7 but thought the mileage difference due to the SRW being newer. My '16 F350 Lariat Ultimate SRW 6.7 is 8 months old and 21,000 miles. Solo through the mountains of WV & NC 17.4 and mostly flat eastern NC 19.3 on the highway at 75 mph. Towing at 65 - 68 mph 11.4 from NC to FL and return, 11.0 from eastern NC to western TN. 5er weight 13,000# loaded to go inc 1/2 tank water (30 gal).

x96mnn · 03-10-2017, 10:17 PM

Can't answer on fuel mileage or ride quality, own a Dodge. As for a dually and being a daily driver, personally I love it! Need to park smarter at times but I have never been anywhere yet, cities included I did not find spot.

TravlinOn · 03-11-2017, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanhix

I'm looking at upgrading from a 250 to a 350 Drw power stroke and have some questions. The one I'm looking at has 4.30 axels. Does anyone know what kind of fuel mileage I can expect with this low ratio? Second, this would be a daily driver in SoCal...would I be Crazy to do this? Third, What is the ride quality like? Any other info would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

i have driven more than 10,000 miles in my 2015 F-350 4x4 Drw mostly with a 13,000lb 5er through NC mountains down to FL flats along with city driving at stops and along the way.

I LOVE MY F-350! With the 5er, it rides like an old Cadillac. Without the 5er, my worst enemy is speed bumps! My mileage overall is about the same as said in comments above although it is worth noting that wind conditions should also be considered in mileage computations while towing. I have found 20-30 mph head or tail winds can decrease/increase my mph significantly over long stretches.

I have a long bed because I don't like rails, but that does make parking the truck just about anywhere a challenge - best to park at a distance and use 3 spaces.

Regarding the Drw,

, after what - 75yrs? They still have not come up with a better way to get to the inner tire in order to put air into it. Yes, it can be done, but not easily at least for me.

Enjoy!

**chuckster57** · 03-11-2017, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Regarding the Drw, , after what - 75yrs? They still have not come up with a better way to get to the inner tire in order to put air into it. Yes, it can be done, but not easily at least for me.

I installed a set of valve extenders first chance when I bought my dually, makes airing up inners easy.

Todd727 · 03-11-2017, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravlinOn

best to park at a distance and use 3 spaces.

Enjoy!

Seriously? 100K on my current F450 and I've never taken more than one space and I don't park in the boonies.

bitten · 03-11-2017, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

I installed a set of valve extenders first chance when I bought my dually, makes airing up inners easy.

Would you share what type you bought?

**sourdough** · 03-11-2017, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd727

Seriously? 100K on my current F450 and I've never taken more than one space and I don't park in the boonies.

I don't mean to argue but, I don't see ANY large DRW trucks parked in one space in my country.....and we have tons of them. They usually find a spot further out or just take a couple of spaces. I was just in our larger town that we go to to get various supplies. PetSmart; nice dually sitting out front, in the front row.....two spaces - no way it could have fit in one. Went to Sam's, another dually.....sitting a ways out across at least two spaces. Maybe in TX we have small spaces but it is difficult to get my HD 2500 in most spaces much less have clearance for the dualies......just sayin .

**chuckster57** · 03-11-2017, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugbitten

Would you share what type you bought?

I got a nice braided set from camping world. I'll take a pic in the morning.

rrjernigan · 03-12-2017, 05:07 AM

I have the 2017 F350 DRW with those axels. I get about 15-16 MPG when not pulling and 8.5-10 when pulling. I have a 2017 Montana 3811MS. Ride quality is a truck; a one ton truck. It will not ride like a car. It is better than my 2016 F350 SRW but it is not smooth over rough roads. It is our only vehicle and serves us well. Sometimes hard to park but overall I wouldn't have it any other way.

And by the way, I live in Texas as well, 2017 Ford F350 DRW fits into a single space unless you are in a hurry or just don't care.

TravlinOn · 03-12-2017, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd727

Seriously? 100K on my current F450 and I've never taken more than one space and I don't park in the boonies.

Yes, seriously.

Of course, I CAN park my long bed, 4-door truck in one space if I wanted to do so, but I don't. The basic problem is that while some areas, possibly such as in MS, have great drivers in general, and also possibly many elderly drivers around the US are super safe in their driving skills, I don't live, drive, or park my truck in one of those areas.

I remember one of the local news stations, a few years back here in S. FL, reported that after investigating an automobile accident, police discovered that the car which caused the accident was driven by an alert elderly person who was almost totally blind but who was instructed on where to turn by his spouse who could see but was severely demented. Sad but true.

I routinely see drivers zipping around parking lots while have a phone pressed to an ear, or who are swerving around to avoid pedestrians, or who just do not look behind when pulling out of their spaces.

All this to say, that for me, I choose to keep the back or front end of my extra long truck safely parked inside parking space lines of 3 spaces, and I don't mind walking in from the far side of a parking lot.

Good luck to you.

LarrySharon · 03-12-2017, 07:24 AM

The other day I was at a Walmart and my truck stuck out about 2 feet, so I moved my truck forward into another space. Also I have been in spots that the sides of the truck pretty much touched the side striping. Sometime I think planners think that every one drives a small car. I also park in the outer parking spaces cause I don't want parking lot dings and scratches. So I can see where larger trucks would want 2 or maybe 3 spaces. I drive a '07 Tundra.

Todd727 · 03-12-2017, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

I don't mean to argue but, I don't see ANY large DRW trucks parked in one space in my country.....and we have tons of them. They usually find a spot further out or just take a couple of spaces. I was just in our larger town that we go to to get various supplies. PetSmart; nice dually sitting out front, in the front row.....two spaces - no way it could have fit in one. Went to Sam's, another dually.....sitting a ways out across at least two spaces. Maybe in TX we have small spaces but it is difficult to get my HD 2500 in most spaces much less have clearance for the dualies......just sayin .

Well, I don't want to argue either, but he said three. I understand some people are unable to park in a single space. Of course I see sub-compact drivers can't manage to park in a single space.

MattHelm21 · 03-12-2017, 02:35 PM

There are two types of spaces I park in with the F450 pickup. Either a space against a median of some sort where I can pick one further out and back in. In this I back in and take one space. That puts my fenders out of harms way and I fold the mirrors. That prevents people from walking into them. Since the bed overhangs the median, I don't stick out much farther than any other car.

Or, where cars are parked front to front, I pick two spots one in front of the other(not side to side) and pull all the way through. This does not leave space for someone to park behind me but it does put the dually fenders mostly out of harms way and I again fold the mirrors which does mean I take two spaces but don't require extra space on either side. The folding mirror part only got added in 2016 and I think is a big plus.

**chuckster57** · 03-12-2017, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

I got a nice braided set from camping world. I'll take a pic in the morning.

Here is what I use for the inner tires

evanhix · 03-12-2017, 07:01 PM

Thank you all for the info. I pulled the trigger and purchased a 2017 F350 DRW today. Now the fun begins. I traded In my 2015 F250. I really liked the truck but we purchased a Carbon 357 last fall and the 250 was underclassed to safely and legally tow this trailer. I had put airbags on the 250 so you hardly new the trailer was there but I think I was just counting the days until something bad happened. Much more piece of mind now.

The only thing I'm not fond of is the ugly steel rims. Have to upgrade down the road when new tires are needed.

Tbos · 03-13-2017, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanhix

Thank you all for the info. I pulled the trigger and purchased a 2017 F350 DRW today. Now the fun begins. I traded In my 2015 F250. I really liked the truck but we purchased a Carbon 357 last fall and the 250 was underclassed to safely and legally tow this trailer. I had put airbags on the 250 so you hardly new the trailer was there but I think I was just counting the days until something bad happened. Much more piece of mind now.

The only thing I'm not fond of is the ugly steel rims. Have to upgrade down the road when new tires are needed.

Congrats on the new truck. Post a picture of your set up when you get the chance.

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