Ford F350

[jhardin]

I have a Ford F350 SRW. It is a Super Duty with the camper package and the overload springs. 6.4 Powerstroke Diesel. It has the built in gooseneck and we have installed a Companion fifth wheel 18,000# rated. We have ordered our RW 38GK and this puts us up right to the top of our towing capacity. The trailer loaded should be around 17-17,500# Should I change out the Companion fifth wheel? We won't pull it often mainly live in the camper and a few times per year short haul trips under 400 miles. Can't really afford a duelly just yet. Would Firestone air shock help?Thanks for any tips. Jim

[Adamsvr]

Originally Posted by jhardin

I have a Ford F350 SRW. It is a Super Duty with the camper package and the overload springs. 6.4 Powerstroke Diesel. It has the built in gooseneck and we have installed a Companion fifth wheel 18,000# rated. We have ordered our RW 38GK and this puts us up right to the top of our towing capacity. The trailer loaded should be around 17-17,500# Should I change out the Companion fifth wheel? We won't pull it often mainly live in the camper and a few times per year short haul trips under 400 miles. Can't really afford a duelly just yet. Would Firestone air shock help?Thanks for any tips. Jim

Don't recommend the Gooseneck... to much strain. Go with a Reese 20 or 25 K fifth wheel hitch. Do get the Firestone 5000 Airbags and if you can afford it, get the on-board compressor with the remote. You'll be glad you did. Vic

[jhardin]

It's not a gooseneck it fits in the gooseneck large square hole. It is a regular fifth wheel and rated at 18,000#. Thanks Jim

[Railcat]

Are you sure your companion is only rated at 18000 the new ones that came out back in October 2013 are now rated 5000 for the pin and 20000 for trailer weight. Might want to find out if you just bought it I would take it back. But even if you have the 18000 one you are still good I wouldn't worry about it.

[spindrift]

Most definitely get air bags.

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by jhardin

I have a Ford F350 SRW. It is a Super Duty with the camper package and the overload springs. 6.4 Powerstroke Diesel. It has the built in gooseneck and we have installed a Companion fifth wheel 18,000# rated. We have ordered our RW 38GK and this puts us up right to the top of our towing capacity. The trailer loaded should be around 17-17,500# Should I change out the Companion fifth wheel? We won't pull it often mainly live in the camper and a few times per year short haul trips under 400 miles. Can't really afford a duelly just yet. Would Firestone air shock help?Thanks for any tips. Jim

The 2013 Redwood brochure shows the GVWR for the 38GK at 16,600 lbs. Unless they changed that for 2014 it looks like you will be overloading your fifth wheel by 400 - 900 lbs. I have a 2011 F350 with the 6.7, long wheel base, CC, SRW and I did install the Firestone Airbags because I was having a problem keeping the rig level. Now I air up the bags to 40lbs and it stays completely level and rides great. It certainly won't hurt to put the airbags on, better have and not need then to need and not have. I have the 31SL and my pin weight is around 2600 lbs.

[Dave&Ginny]

I have a "Companion B&W" 18000 lb hitch as well. I think you'll be ok with the weight. I don't think you're going to exceed the 18k. The "Companion" is a great hitch with very little noise and jaw movement.

[johnboytoo]

We too are in the f350 srw & 38gk camp.

We opted for the max gvwr on the truck @ 11.5k which helped keep us in the ballpark and am now requesting Texas to up my registered weight to 12,999 like others have done.
Doesn't increase the load carrying of the truck, but that piece of paper should help the legality for the little it cost

Depending on your gk's options (we didn't opt for the gen, W/D, or D/W), your 38gk could be as 'light' as ours @ 13,772... and adding your 'stuff' and you may be under the 15,000 lb range.
Only way to find out is go to a scale like here.

we've actually toted our 38gk with the stock truck and for the most part did fine...
as shown in the sig pic, it dropped the rear just a bit and the only issue I had was it could bottom out on extremely bad dips. This was fine on straight interstates @ speed, but I worried about doing that same thing on a curve and didn't feel comfortable with that... (so far, just slowed down on curves)

We actually got the airlift airbags and "Wireless One" light duty compressor put on yesterday - (camping world has a $39 install and airlift has a $100 rebate thru 2/28)

Driving home last night my first impressions were that it rides rougher unloaded - even at 5 psi, but expect it to be fine since it's primarily a tow vehicle.

good luck and glad to discuss if you want...

[piper guy]

Also - the airbags and compressor will transfer to a Dually later if you get one. Same brackets

[johnboytoo]

Went up to 60 today, so first tow today with the airbags and the Wireless One compressor was much improved....
went to the storage area and towed it up to a local park to check the repairs out after getting it out of the shop...

Went thru the same dips that I usually slowed way down on and @ 40 psi I barely felt it !!! Really happy with that...

And Atom Ant, you were spot on with the compressor trying to 'keep up' with the landing gear as I hooked and unhooked, found it best to put it @ 5 psi to unhook and hook so it stays quiet...

Now for the not so good news....
apparently THE rv dealer that kept the rv for over a month again, did NOT winterize like they said they would and so the shower mixing valve and the ice maker lines both leaked gallons before I could shut it off and drain the pressure

It's back to the shop again - NOT a happy camper with four trips already planned ....

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by johnboytoo

Went up to 60 today, so first tow today with the airbags and the Wireless One compressor was much improved....
went to the storage area and towed it up to a local park to check the repairs out after getting it out of the shop...

Went thru the same dips that I usually slowed way down on and @ 40 psi I barely felt it !!! Really happy with that...

And Atom Ant, you were spot on with the compressor trying to 'keep up' with the landing gear as I hooked and unhooked, found it best to put it @ 5 psi to unhook and hook so it stays quiet...

Now for the not so good news....
apparently THE rv dealer that kept the rv for over a month again, did NOT winterize like they said they would and so the shower mixing valve and the ice maker lines both leaked gallons before I could shut it off and drain the pressure

It's back to the shop again - NOT a happy camper with four trips already planned ....

Wow, you have been having bad luck with that dealer. I was recommended a small Crossroads Dealer for warranty work and am going to give them a try. Working with Redwood/Crossroads Customer Service and Dealer right now to get parts prior to my arrival. Will let you know how things go. As far as winterizing, they probably forgot about the icemaker line. I always prefer to blow my lines out instead of using antifreeze and at the beginning of this winter I forgot about the icemaker. Not sure if the line froze. We did use it one weekend but I turned the valve off for the icemaker(under sink) When we got home I had to winterize again, this time I disconnected icemaker line behind refrigerator and blew all the water out, hopefully I'm ok.

I run my truck with 40psi in the airbags and it's fantastic, big difference then without bags.

[atom ant]

Johnboy - that is horrific

I would have to leave the room for a couple of days I would be so furious. What a hassle.

[johnboytoo]

Yes Sir - pretty 'discouraged' @ the moment...

The mgr of the store called me back on Saturday, but decided not to answer with my wife in the car - she may not know I know that type of language

Will send him and Crossroads an email to document my angst...


And to Jim - sincere apologies for hijacking your thread - my bad - but you are welcome to hijack mine anytime - it's just conversation !

[spindrift]

Has anyone had any luck with this site?
http://rvservicereviews.com/