Posted 2017-02-03 8:12 AM (#169245) Subject: truck question- 250 vs 350 or 2500 vs 3500
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Naugatuck, CT
I am in the market to upgrade our truck. I currently have a small all aluminum 2 H LQ trailer, so my F250 diesel pulls it effortlessly. We need to upgrade truck to newer version, and we intend to upgrade the LQ to much larger one in 3 years when we retire.
So here is my question, I can find plenty late model used, low mileage diesels in the 3/4 ton vs the 1 ton.
Can the 3/4 ton pull a larger LQ?
Can the 3/4 have parts installed to it's suspension to be as secure
as the 1 ton?
Can I safely tow a LQ with the "standard" length bed vs long bed?
Posted 2017-02-03 12:32 PM (#169251 - in reply to #169245) Subject: RE: truck question- 250 vs 350 or 2500 vs 3500
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
When you say upgrade the LQ to a larger one...what does this mean? Three years is a great window and having said that I'd say go big or go home to both truck and trailer. The F350 will give you the option to haul a more sizable trailer should you find one that would safely exceed the limits of the F250. I prefer the long bed for hauling heavy trailers as I think the ride is smoother, you still have storage room in the bed and you can turn the trailer slightly more than 90 degrees if needed during travel or hookup.
I will offer a word of caution when jumping to the one ton and larger trucks, if your truck + trailer weights cross the magic 26,000 lb line you will be in the CDL weight division. Now having said that, the LQ part of your trailer should exempt you from this requirement under the RV waiver but I'm not sure I'd want to dicker with law enforcement on the side of the road about it and dig myself a deeper hole. Know your laws, ask questions, follow your insurance agents advice and then after all that go with your gut. I learned another quirky thing about having a flatbed on my truck (F350 ordered from the factory as a chassis cab) of course only after calling my insurance agent...my policy did not automatically cover the new truck because it was deemed a commercial vehicle and had to go all the way through underwriting. I mean I'm driving down the road in my new truck and I get a call from my agent that says, "Where are you?" followed by, “get that thing home as carefully as you can because YOU ARE NOT INSURED." Those four miles I must have looked like a paranoid crazy person, I just knew that someone was going to hit me and I wouldn't be covered. I never expected for my new truck not to be covered under my policies for the other four. Please take some time to make a few calls and see what the rules are in CT and surrounding states, the more you know the better choice you can make. Good luck!
Posted 2017-02-03 2:48 PM (#169254 - in reply to #169245) Subject: RE: truck question- 250 vs 350 or 2500 vs 3500
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Wi
PCHOOFINIT - I agree go big. Talked the wife into a new LQ trailer, she said sure as long as the truck can pull it. Of course I replied no problem. Shortly after (2mths) the trailer purchase we traded in our 3/4ton gas for a 3/4ton diesel. 4 years later upgraded to 1ton. Good luck.
Posted 2017-02-03 3:55 PM (#169256 - in reply to #169245) Subject: RE: truck question- 250 vs 350 or 2500 vs 3500
Regular
Posts: 88 Location: Washington
If you have time to do some research, look into brake sizes for the various size and brands that you are interested in. You can add airbags or other weight "managing" devices to keep the truck from sitting low in the rear. I have always towed with a 3/4 ton and at various times have wished it were a 1 ton dually. When I take my truck to town and park just about wherever I want, I'm glad it's a SRW. If you don't object to driving a dually, it's gonna always be more stable and you it will take a pretty good size trailer to exceed its abilities. Many have reported lately that the higher spring rates of the 1 ton an duallies have caused trailer to bed interference. Lots of pieces to the puzzle. A good approach often suggested in the RV world is to pick your trailer and then match your truck to the trailer.
Posted 2017-02-03 4:52 PM (#169257 - in reply to #169245) Subject: RE: truck question- 250 vs 350 or 2500 vs 3500
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
pchoofinit - 2017-02-03 11:12 AM I am in the market to upgrade our truck. I currently have a small all aluminum 2 H LQ trailer, so my F250 diesel pulls it effortlessly. We need to upgrade truck to newer version, and we intend to upgrade the LQ to much larger one in 3 years when we retire. So here is my question, I can find plenty late model used, low mileage diesels in the 3/4 ton vs the 1 ton. Can the 3/4 ton pull a larger LQ? Can the 3/4 have parts installed to it's suspension to be as secure as the 1 ton? Can I safely tow a LQ with the "standard" length bed vs long bed? Thank you all
Well, depending on what you mean by larger...you could move beyond the 3500 series in a heartbeat...think Freightliner M2 size
Posted 2017-02-04 3:08 PM (#169270 - in reply to #169256) Subject: RE: truck question- 250 vs 350 or 2500 vs 3500
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Dbarnes72 - 2017-02-03 3:55 PM If you have time to do some research, look into brake sizes for the various size and brands that you are interested in. You can add airbags or other weight "managing" devices to keep the truck from sitting low in the rear. I have always towed with a 3/4 ton and at various times have wished it were a 1 ton dually. When I take my truck to town and park just about wherever I want, I'm glad it's a SRW. If you don't object to driving a dually, it's gonna always be more stable and you it will take a pretty good size trailer to exceed its abilities. Many have reported lately that the higher spring rates of the 1 ton an duallies have caused trailer to bed interference. Lots of pieces to the puzzle. A good approach often suggested in the RV world is to pick your trailer and then match your truck to the trailer.
The problems with bed rail clearance is not due to the higher spring rating of one ton trucks, neither the springs or one ton has anything to do with it...it's the stinking height of the bed rails. The 3/4 ton trucks have the same bed height, instead it is a design problem. I'm 5'6" and I can't walk up to the bed of a 2017 F250 4x4 and look into the bed and I'm average height for a woman. Who do they think are buying these trucks? They can be so tall they don't fit under a gooseneck trailer. Yet another reason I will always have a flatbed from here on out. I just used the bed as a work platform this morning while fixing fence. (The belly boxes are a real bonus.)
truck question- 250 vs 350 or 2500 vs 3500
