New F350 and 5er

CaptnJohn · 06-29-2016, 06:10 PM

Anyone towing a Cougar 5er (or similar) with a new F350 4x4 with the 6.7? I was towing with an F250 4x4 but the 2016 F350 seems maybe 4" taller. Tires/wheels went from 18" to 20" but it looks like more than 2" difference. Ford spec sheet says the MAX height to top of the tailgates are F250 57" and F350 60". The Cougar does sit high even with 3 steps to entry.
Comments? Will get to it this weekend having the Reese Pro15K hitch with slider installed.

1jeep · 07-06-2016, 07:32 AM

18 and 20 wheel options have the same od with tires, the difference is the f350 has a block on the rear spring pack.

If you look at the ford site they list the bed heights, funny part is my new f350 dually is the same height as my previous f250, yet it feels lower.

Garyl53 · 07-06-2016, 09:12 AM

You may want to drop that fiver on the hitch before you make any decisions about final height adjustments. Your new F350 may sag a lot more than you older F250. I would just leave the hitch at the height it gets delivered, hitch up the fiver and then make some measurements.

1jeep · 07-06-2016, 09:38 AM

maybe because mine is drw with camper and heavy duty tow, but it doesn't drop nearly as much as my previous 250 which really needed the air bags.

Fit4Infinity · 07-06-2016, 10:06 AM

My Cougar327res lowers the bed of my F350 about 2 inches when I raise the landing gear. Clearance between bed rails and the 5 is a comfortable 5 inches.

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Kickin It · 07-06-2016, 03:38 PM

The suspension package can be different, FX4, 4x4, max tow package, ect. There are 2 different size blocks in the rear of the super dutys, if it has a taller block you can change it and lower the rear a little bit.

CaptnJohn · 07-07-2016, 09:41 PM

Thanks for the replies. Will bring her home from storage for a few days to give her a bath and add a couple mods. When hitched to the 2016 F250 4x4 she sat perfect. Although over payload the truck did not drop more than 1 1/2". The 2016 F350 also has the camper package but additionally has the 11,500 GVWR and FX4 packages which may be why the truck sits so much higher. I'll know within a week ~~~~

xcntrk · 07-08-2016, 03:51 AM

Do you have a SRW or Dually? The F350 4x4 in SRW form is the tallest platform out of the bunch. As mentioned previously it uses a taller lift block in the rear which puts the top of the rear bed rail at 58". Many of the newer 5'ers have greater front cap ground clearance to compensate for the height of these new trucks. My Fuzion for example sits level while still retaining the 6" bed rail clearance, however my buddies Cyclone has a front cap allowing only 60" for level ride. His (lifted) GMC is right at 58" too, but to add the rail clearance, the Cyclone has to tow at 66" which is very nose high. Easiest way to gauge this would be to level your trailer on the front landing gear only, and measure the required cap height to tow level. Hopefully that figure exceeds your bed rails. The rest of the adjustment can be made in the hitch and kingpin box.

Also, I use air-bags in the rear of my F350 to help manage the sag from the 3500# tongue weight. As for power from the PSD, there's tons of it!

CaptnJohn · 07-08-2016, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcntrk

Do you have a SRW or Dually? The F350 4x4 in SRW form is the tallest platform out of the bunch. As mentioned previously it uses a taller lift block in the rear which puts the top of the rear bed rail at 58". Many of the newer 5'ers have greater front cap ground clearance to compensate for the height of these new trucks. My Fuzion for example sits level while still retaining the 6" bed rail clearance, however my buddies Cyclone has a front cap allowing only 60" for level ride. His (lifted) GMC is right at 58" too, but to add the rail clearance, the Cyclone has to tow at 66" which is very nose high. Easiest way to gauge this would be to level your trailer on the front landing gear only, and measure the required cap height to tow level. Hopefully that figure exceeds your bed rails. The rest of the adjustment can be made in the hitch and kingpin box.

Also, I use air-bags in the rear of my F350 to help manage the sag from the 3500# tongue weight. As for power from the PSD, there's tons of it!

I'll be at it next week. It is the highest then ~~ SRW. With the 250# hitch installed the rails are at 59 1/2". I'm guessing that is about 6" higher than the F250. No need for air bags as pin + hitch is only slightly over 2100# and will not drop the bed much if any. Hate the thought of very much nose high as it puts more weight on the rear axel of the camper instead of sharing that weight. I know the hitch is as low as it will go when setup for the F250. Not sure how much pin box adjustment is available but would need to have someone take care of any adjustment needed, if any. That would be above the physical capability of this old man.

CWSWine · 07-09-2016, 04:45 AM

I went from a 2013 Chevy 2500HD Diesel to a 2015 F350 Diesel and the hitch height was with in a 1/2 of each other. I'm surprised that going from a F250 to F350 makes that much of a difference. My F350 and my 2016 Montana 3711FL has about 9" clearance above the bed rails and is closest to level I can get it.

CaptnJohn · 07-09-2016, 01:12 PM

Well I could not wait until next week so up to storage I went this afternoon.

1st the bad news ~~ for the 1st time the battery was dead. It took forever for the truck to pump enough juice into the battery to get the front up high enough but it was only 97 degrees.... the 1 1/4 mile trip home and on the charger now. Has been on the charger for 45 minutes and not moved from 30% charged. Battery only since December...

Next the good news. I measured the hitch receiver ~ the F250 was 17" from ground to bottom of the receiver. The F350 measured 21" for only a 4" difference. My neighbor came by at the storage lot and agitated in the heat. When hitched she towed what looks to be level. When I take her back Monday there is a level place I can stop and lay the 4' level inside to see just how level but I'm happy at this point. She gets a bath tomorrow.

Now about the F350 ~~ yes I wanted the 11,500 GVWR. To get that brought 20" tires instead of 18" and the 3.55 rear instead of the 3.31. Those 2 items added some bed height with is not a problem but would have done away with them if I could have.

Thanks everyone. I learned a lot.

bsmith0404 · 07-09-2016, 01:49 PM

curious how much the suspension settled when you hooked up. On our last trip we saw an F450 towing a Hitchhiker II and was shocked to see the bed almost on the rear tires. The fender openings were about flush with the top of the tire and the truck looked very nose high. BTW, the 5er was sitting nose low. The 5er looked to be around a 37-40' so I'm guessing about 3k on the pin, unless he had some serious storage going on.

CaptnJohn · 07-09-2016, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

curious how much the suspension settled when you hooked up. On our last trip we saw an F450 towing a Hitchhiker II and was shocked to see the bed almost on the rear tires. The fender openings were about flush with the top of the tire and the truck looked very nose high. BTW, the 5er was sitting nose low. The 5er looked to be around a 37-40' so I'm guessing about 3k on the pin, unless he had some serious storage going on.

Just went out to check the battery charger ~~~ charged little in an hour. Measured while out there and the drop is 3 1/2".

mets721 · 07-09-2016, 04:11 PM

I went from a 2014 F250 to a 2015 F350 with a Cougar 327RES. I didn't have to make any adjustments on the hitch height.

bsmith0404 · 07-09-2016, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Just went out to check the battery charger ~~~ charged little in an hour. Measured while out there and the drop is 3 1/2".

Wow, that's quite a bit for a 2k lb pin weight. I'm sure the ford trucks are designed that way. That explains the F450 I saw.

CaptnJohn · 07-09-2016, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets721

I went from a 2014 F250 to a 2015 F350 with a Cougar 327RES. I didn't have to make any adjustments on the hitch height.

Once I get the battery figured out I have some more measuring to do. I may have to lift the pin box 2".

CaptnJohn · 07-09-2016, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Wow, that's quite a bit for a 2k lb pin weight. I'm sure the ford trucks are designed that way. That explains the F450 I saw.

Had a 2500 Ram that would drop even more with 2K but barely budged with twice the load. Not sure what this will do.

CWSWine · 07-09-2016, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

curious how much the suspension settled when you hooked up. On our last trip we saw an F450 towing a Hitchhiker II and was shocked to see the bed almost on the rear tires. The fender openings were about flush with the top of the tire and the truck looked very nose high. BTW, the 5er was sitting nose low. The 5er looked to be around a 37-40' so I'm guessing about 3k on the pin, unless he had some serious storage going on.

I have a 2015 F350 Diesel SRW and have a pin of 3180 and the truck set level prior to installing air bags. I'm about 3/8 from the front overload spring contacting the stop. I had to install air bags to since it rebounding off the overload springs when hit bump and run about 25lbs in the most of the time. I'm close on my GVWR the last scale weigh was 11380 but since it has a front living room and most the storage like the fridge, pantry, bathroom and bedroom are behind the axles the more stuff I put in it the lighter the pin gets. Plus the front basement is about abut 36 inches wide. The 5er weight is just over 14,600 lbs.

CaptnJohn · 07-09-2016, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWSWine

I have a 2015 F350 Diesel SRW and have a pin of 3180 and the truck set level prior to installing air bags. I'm about 3/8 from the front overload spring contacting the stop. I had to install air bags to since it rebounding off the overload springs when hit bump and run about 25lbs in the most of the time. I'm close on my GVWR the last scale weigh was 11380 but since it has a front living room and most the storage like the fridge, pantry, bathroom and bedroom are behind the axles the more stuff I put in it the lighter the pin gets. Plus the front basement is about abut 36 inches wide. The 5er weight is just over 14,600 lbs.

I'd be REAL close with your rig. Pin at 3180 and 3434 on the sticker. 11,380 and my GVWR is 11,500. 5er at 14,600 my number is 15,600 ~ the only # with a lot of cushion. I'd probably end up a couple hundred over on payload with me, my wife, and 2 dogs.

xcntrk · 07-10-2016, 03:40 PM

I'm on the overloaded side of that fence. A little over on GCWR and GVWR, but still under on both FGAWR and RGAWR. I have airbags in the rear so wheels are the next weakest link in the stack. Not much I can do there unless I want to switch to 19.5 truck tires/wheels.

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