I just purchased a Exiss 307 Alum GN 3H with LQ, 7'W x 30'L.  Now I need a tow vehicle. I do not expect to tow that often, some short weekend getaways maybe a few time a year if I'm lucky and only 1 long trip per year 500+ miles each way. I am considering an F250 4x4 super cab, 8' bed. But the question is engine choice (5.4L gas or diesel).  Has anyone towed this vehicle with a F250 5.4L?

This vehicle will be a daily commute the rest of the time.

Any other suggestions?

I have been looking for a diesel because of towing capacity (not happy with the price of diesel fuel) but I have not been looking for a dually.

Why do you recomend a dually?

There are two major specifications to consider when selecting a tow vehicle.

Gross combined Vehicle Weight Rating or GCVWR is the combined weight of the loaded truck and loaded trailer.  Don't exceed this.

Axle weight ratings.  Both the front and the rear... A LQ trailer puts a lot of weight on the truck... full tanks of water, propane, furniture, etc. 

The more options you have on the truck, the less weight it will be rated to tow.  It's simple math. A Crew Cab, Long Bed 4x4 weighs more than regular cab, short bed 4x2 truck. Both trucks equipped witht he same engine and trany will have the same GVCW. Subract the weight of the truck from the GVCW and thats how much your trailer can weigh.

I don't know about the GM or Dodge trucks, But the ford trucks did not change their tow rating. ( F250/350 Crew cab, 4x4 auto =15,700lbs.) 

I tow a 4h with a 8' shortwall LQ with my F350 CC 4x4.  My trailer has a 26' floor. When I've gone across the scales fully loaded. My truck front axle is under, my trailer axles are way under their rating. But my truck rear axle is right at or just barely over it's rating and my total GVCW is right at it's max rating. Luckily I don't usually load 4 horses, My wife and all the kids plus camping gear every trip. So I'm usually under it's rating. But I will buy a dually the next time I buy a truck unless I downsize the trailer before then. And as more of my daughter leave for college, there is less need to have such a large trailer.

Bottom line. A F250 will be able to tow the trailer. Your GCVW will probably be OK. But your trailer may push the F250 rear axle over it's limit. The F350 gives you a little higher rear axle rating. And the dually bumps it substaintially. An F350 or a dually cost so little more than the F250.

RANT ON

OP...don't take this wrong, because your post is just the last of many on this forum with this question...but I am fascinated by people who buy large trailers and then try to go cheap on the towing vehicle...

And you have used the same statement that many of the others have said...OH, I plan on this being my daily use vehicle, so I want GREAT FUEL ECONOMY...

HORSES with LQ TRAILERS are EXPENSIVE!!!

And in the current economy...DOUBLY SO!!!

But if you cut corners on your tow vehicle...you will find out JUST HOW EXPENSIVE those savings could be...

RANT OFF

Simply:  Well said ... Plus one

Edited to save bandwidth..

Muleskinner,

Do you have a truck with the V10?

If so, how is it and what kind of milage could I expect?

I found an F350 dually with a V10 for sale but I am not familiar with the engine.

4 mpg ????? Was that normal for your friends truck? Sounds like it was sick to me. How big is your trailer?

Genebob,

Thank you!

Great info, I plan on going to see a used 05, F350 V10, 4.30 DRW Sat.

I was trying to stay away from the dually for daily parking issues (tight lot at work) but it seems people say it makes a difference.

I am also suppose to see a F250 sc lbed diesel SRW.

Hope to find a good deal since the price of fuel.

Thanks again to you and others for the great info!

I have had both. My first truck was an 01 F350 V10 CC SRW. I had plenty of power but my trailer (315LQ) was definitely not as stable as it is with a dually. I moved from the 01 to an 04 F350 CC DRW diesel and have never looked back. For the first two years it was also my grocery getter. I would definitely recommend the dually over SRW.

Maybe this will help you a little. It is another link with the same question that you have. By the way...according to Exiss website your trailer will weigh about 6600 empty.

http://www.rv.net/FORUM/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20693735/gotomsg/20694149.cfm

It seems the opinions are V10/ 8.1 (large gas)  or diesel.

The next option I have to figure out is SRW or DRW? (I may test drive one, bring it to work and see if I can park it.)

My trailer is a 2004 GVWR: 9995

The new trailer is GVWR: 10800

So if my trailer is about 6k lbs + 3 horses @ 1k ea (small horses 14.2 - 15.2) + gear and tack I am into the 9,000 lb range.

Which puts me at the limits of a small gas engine so large gas or diesel makes sense.

I haul a heavier trailer than your proposed #10800 with a SRW truck. There are no stability issues that would want me to switch to a dually. I don't have the indoor storage space for a DRW, don't want to buy the extra tires or spend the extra gas dragging them around. I am very satisfied with a SRW truck as a tow vehicle.

A good friend of mine has a similar truck  except he has the v10 gas. He's retired and picks up extra money shuttling and delivering RV trailers for local dealers using a fifth wheel. His truck is also used for daily travel, mine is only used for hauling. We both discussed at some lengths, the pros and cons of gas vs diesel before we ordered our trucks. He chose gas, I chose diesel. We both have a 4X4 CC with a full bed. We both are pleased with our decisions

We live in a mountainous area of western PA, which has a few grades of 7% and 11%, but not nearly the lengths of the inclines found by the western US inhabitants. With my diesel, I chose the 373 axle ratio, with his gas, my friend chose the 410. Both work well.

You have to decide which is more important to you, daily transportation or hauling. Either truck, A SRW or a dually will do both, but your comfort and expenditure levels will vary depending on your choice.

The area in which you live and its topography, your daily commute and parking concerns, and the extent of your towing, will all vary from the truck owners who have previously given you their choices of vehicles. You have to determine what is best for you.

Gard

Gard,

Sounds like go for the bigger engine (gas or diesel) and SRW's are ok.

Thank you!

Gard,

Are you towing horses in the trailers?

Wondering about DRW because of live weight?

RANT ON,

Sounds like you didn't read what I wrote before you ranted. "cheap on the towing vehicle..." and "I want GREAT FUEL ECONOMY" only appear in what you wrote.  I was questioning towablility.

I was looking for educational real world experience as other members have posted.

Both of our trailers have a three horse capacity, in which we commonly carry two horses. The third stall is used for storage. We have, on occasion, hauled a third horse, but that is not a common occurrence.

We have installed Timbren aux springs on our truck, which ensure a level ride. We have not had any towing difficulties due to a lack of power or stability. We can tow at any highway speed that we can afford, with the air and cruise on. We've been in many conditions of high cross winds with no adverse affects; passing or oncoming trucks have no influence.

One area that should be mentioned is when using a truck camper. We had several and ended up with a 10' model that was the reason we installed the Timbrens. Without them, the truck should have been a dually, for it was top heavy and adversely affected by cross winds. After the aux springs were installed, most of these conditions were eliminated.

With my rig, I am comfortable towing up to about #12k in weight. I did tow a larger trailer for a friend, and while it towed well, I could definitely feel the difference on the back of the truck. The rear tires were overloaded, and it would have been unsafe to go any distance. He has a dually, and it is apropos for his usage. 

Everyone has his own needs in the way of proper equipment. What may work for me, may be insufficient for another horse owner. You have to determine what your requirements are, and buy accordingly. Bigger is not always better.

Gard 

Gard,

Thank you for the great educational information!

Your tow vehicle is a F350, CC, 8'bed, 4x4, diesel, SRW with 3.73?

Dual rear wheels are for weight carrying.  4x4 is for traction in slippery road conditions. The two options are not interchangeable

In my part of the country you cannot own a tow vehicle without it being a 4x4, dually or SRW.

gard

I finally bought a horse truck! (Thank you all, for all your help and advice!)

Any recommendations for the hitch?

Turnover, Popup, FlipOver?

The Popup looks interesting.

Congrats on the new truck.

B & W Hitch. It is a turn-over. Best on the market.