How much difference does 1300# make?

[GlennUS]

I'm moving from class C to fifth wheel. Buying a F350 SRW 8'box diesel. Have test driven the DRW and do not want to drive it as my daily. But Montana 3402RL is my preferred FW. Its 12901 dry w 2635 pin wt and 39'2". I'm suspect that would require a DRW. The Mountaineer 362RLQ is similar floor plan but 1300# lighter and 1'5" shorter. How much difference does that 1300# make? I know DRW would be preferable but is a F350 SRW a safe option to pull 11605 (dry wt)?

[Bugle Boy]

Do what I did. Make a table and compare all the numbers and the answer to your questions should bubble to the surface.

KEYSTONE COUGAR LOG

Tires Trailer King ST Radial ST 225/75R15 LR D, Max load dual 2200 single 2540 press 65 psi
Truck specs. GAWR front 4800 rear 6100, GVWR 10,000. Tire press front 65, rear 80
Max loaded trailer weight – 12,500. GCWR 19000 (total truck and trailer)

Truck weight empty - Front: 3940, Rear: 3120, Total: 7060

Weights trailer hitched and loaded
Front 3580, rear 4440, truck total 8020, trailer only on scale 6660.

[Ken / Claudia]

First off, I have never towed with a DRW, so this is just my advice and opinon. I test drove xcab, crew cab SRW and crew cab DRW. If I felt that I needed the DRW I would have purchased one. I don't and did not like the way it drove mainly turning. Getting in/out of parking spots etc. I got a 4400lb in bed camper and 3800lb boat. At that point a DRW would have made sense and I was no longer using the big truck daily. That said I found that with air bags I got the truck back to level with only 20-30psi in them. I checked into some HD wheels/tries 19.5 inch made for SRW trucks that cost about 5,000 rated at G(I think). Many with 11 to 13 ft. truck camper use them here. I stayed with E tires rated at 3740 max.The DRW maybe more stable with the large 5th wheels. Ford SWR and DRW have same axles, brakes,wheels and tires. DRW has 1 more spring, at least the thru 2005, the last time I checked.