Towing with 2021 For SRW F350

[star52656]

Hi. New to Redwood forum. We have a 2019 F250 Lariat and are going to upgrade to a 2021 SRW F350 Lariat long box so we can get a larger and nicer trailer. We are looking at a 2021 Redwood 3401RL with the only extra option being 3 slide toppers. The dry weight according to Redwood is 13,246# with a 18% pin weight. We honestly will never have it pass 2,000 pounds of cargo so 15,246#. This would give a 20% pin weight of 3049#.



The truck GWVR is 12,400# and the curb weight with 48 gallons of fuel and 750# for us, pocket book,small cooler, etc and hitch is 8970#. This leaves 3,430# of cargo so with weight of 3049# Pin Box we would have only 381# left to spare.

I see on the Ford site that a 6'9 bed has 200# more payload capacity since the weight of the bed is less. It sure would be easier to park! If I am looking at this the right way the cargo capacity is 3430# and with shorter bed 3630#.

Am I being to ambitious in our quest to get this Coach? Thanks, Mitch

[Jim & Mary]

You're about to get a number of differing opinions but here's mine:

We started pulling our 36RL with a F350 SRW for about 5 months and traded up to our F350 DRW on the way to the 2014 National Rally. The difference in payload capacity, stability and rear axle and tire ratings was what convinced me. i've towed with both and would never do it with a SRW again. As I said at first this is one of the most discussed topics on this forum...................get ready for many more replies.

[XCMARK]

I just took ownership of a 2020 GMC 3500DRW , my truck that I was using to pull our 2015 RL38 redwood was a 2016 GMC 3500 SRW crew short bed with 11,500 gvw. The trailer has a factory weight of 14,600lbs that's no cargo, no water ,no battery's ,no propane. On the scales loaded its 16,800lbs with 3600lbs pin weight wet and travel ready. At this weight I was over the truck rating on the rear axle and over on the gross combine weight rating by 1000lbs and 700lbs over on the rear tire rating. So fast forward Yes I did pull the trailer for 2 years and 6000+ miles with 19.5" tires and airbags on the rear . I cant say I recommend any one doing this with a single rear wheel truck of any brand or any ratings. The difference is night and day in stability , I would suggest you give it some serious though going to a DRW truck regardless of the motor or brand.

I know very few owner that tow trailer of this weight all say the same thing it can be done but there next truck is a DRW . yes the new 2020+ trucks have higher ratings but its still the same issue rear tires. They boost up the GVW on the front axle and set the rear axle at the sidewall rating of the rear tires so this may get you to around 7600lbs on the rear given the current tires on the market. So Yes you maybe very close to max or just over but it doesn't feel like good driving it the trailer pulls the back of the truck around so your constantly correcting to stay in your lane . My new truck has a payload of 5800lbs , the old truck was right around 3200 lbs if I recall. Its a simple choice now that I have pulled the trailer for 25 miles yesterday, DRW. Its my daily driver and I lived with a 1 ton SRW before and this wasn't that big of a change.

Wish you the best and I hope my opinion doesn't come across to abrasive.

[travelin' texans]

When matching a truck to a rv there are 2 numbers you're concerned with;
Check the yellow/white tag on he drivers door post of YOUR truck, not all trucks are rated the same, that states "occupants and cargo must not exceed XXXX lbs" that's the payload of THAT truck. Subtract from that number the weight of the hitch, the pin weight of the particular rv you've chosen & the weight of everyone/everything in/on that truck that didn't come from the factory, that final number is the loaded payload of THAT truck.
Now from the GVWR from the manufacturer tag on the drivers side front corner of any given 5th wheel use 22% (typically 20-25% for 5th wheels) of that number to arrive a typical pin weight.
Now with that pin weight number compare it to the loaded payload number you came up with on YOUR truck, if not at least a 10% cushion over that loaded payload you need more truck.
DO NOT use any dry weights or dry pin weight from any brochures, advertising & especially ANYTHING a salesman tells you.
Also make note of the axle weights listed on the drivers door, the GVWR & tire weight ratings. You'll notice that NO WHERE, other than advertising, will you see the "max tow weight" of your truck, this is basically a sales gimmick,, those numbers were arrived towing trailers that in NO WAY compare to towing RVs in the real world, you WILL exceed the payload of most trucks hauling a rv long before it would ever tow that much weight in rv form.

[star52656]

Well, I did it. Ordered a Race Red Lariat F350 dually today. Bought our 2020 Redwood 3901WB as well. 14,000 + dry weight. I believe that Big Red will handle it. Retirement in 3 months and 6 months of traveling next year! Thanks for all of your opinions and information.

[piper guy]

You’ll love the Dually. There’s a reason that the Redwood Rally also looks like Dually meet ! Lol

[XCMARK]

Originally Posted by star52656

Well, I did it. Ordered a Race Red Lariat F350 dually today. Bought our 2020 Redwood 3901WB as well. 14,000 + dry weight. I believe that Big Red will handle it. Retirement in 3 months and 6 months of traveling next year! Thanks for all of your opinions and information.

You have made the right move , I am certain you will enjoy your towing experience.

My new 2020 GMC DRW is much more truck then my 2016 SRW 3500 GMC , at this weight or trailer is not a question of what truck to own. SRW trucks are a good fit up to about 15000 GVW and 22000 GCW max in my opinion .

[Don S]

Originally Posted by star52656

Well, I did it. Ordered a Race Red Lariat F350 dually today. Bought our 2020 Redwood 3901WB as well. 14,000 + dry weight. I believe that Big Red will handle it. Retirement in 3 months and 6 months of traveling next year! Thanks for all of your opinions and information.

We tow with a 2017 F350 dually diesel with the 14,000 GVWR, having towed our Redwood with a SRW truck, I know we made the right choice and believe you did too. Happy towing!! 38,000 miles and counting.

[webberwj]

I just did a lot of research and bought the GMC 3500HD DRW! I did not want a dulley but even if the numbers come close on weight the added cost of DRW is very minimal and worth every dollar. I see too many fifth wheels going down the road on an SRW and most likely crushing the truck ... that is dangerous! The stability, capacity, and extra breaking ability can be critical. I also found that when building the same comparable truck between Ford, GM, and Dodge, the Ford is off the scale on cost with Ram in the middle and GMC at the lower end even for the fully loaded Denali. It is rated as 14,900 lbs and tows 32,000 lbs. Have had it for 6-months and VERY pleased ��

[travelin' texans]

Originally Posted by webberwj

I just did a lot of research and bought the GMC 3500HD DRW! I did not want a dulley but even if the numbers come close on weight the added cost of DRW is very minimal and worth every dollar. I see too many fifth wheels going down the road on an SRW and most likely crushing the truck ... that is dangerous! The stability, capacity, and extra breaking ability can be critical. I also found that when building the same comparable truck between Ford, GM, and Dodge, the Ford is off the scale on cost with Ram in the middle and GMC at the lower end even for the fully loaded Denali. It is rated as 14,900 lbs and tows 32,000 lbs. Have had it for 6-months and VERY pleased ��

Not to mention the Duramax/Allison combo is tough to beat!

[woodman1]

Everyone is weighing in on SRW versus DRW, yet no one has discussed height. The new RW’s, I believe, have a height of 13’ 6”. The box height of the SuperDuties were reaching 38” until 2020 when they were lowered by 2” again. Given the clearance necessary between the bottom nose of the RW to the sides rails of the box needs to be minimum of 6”, you may be exceeding the point where you might get clipped going under an overpass with minimum 13’ 6” on your truck. Ford wasn’t alone, as I believe GM and Dodge had also increased the heights of their 3/4 and 1 ton trucks over that period of time. Just curious if anyone else has thought about the new 13’ 6” heights of many of the newer 5th’s, not just RW.

[mstan]

Woodman, I think about it evertime I hook up. Mine is a 2015 GK. I am 13'4". I am currently towing with a 2016 RAM 4x4. I have looked at the new Ford's. But having friends with them has caused me to back up and reconsider. #1. I am not short yet not tall. I am 5'10". And wow it is a high step to get up in the new Ford's. Not to mention the bed height. My wife is only 5'5". She has a real issue with the New Ford's. I hate that because I love them. But I guess I will be trading and remaining RAM loyal. RAM has been a good truck for me. I love the look of the Denalli GMC. My memory of my last GM just will not purge from my mind. So it is either the Ford or RAM for now.

[travelin' texans]

I've noticed while looking at trucks that they all have gotten taller for some reason.
The difference I've noticed in brands is it appears Ford sits the body on their chassis where GM & Ram sit the body over the chassis. Look at them from the side, the Ford you'll see chassis from front to rear while the others not, there's not any more ground clearance in one brand over there others, just the way they're built.
Not a Ford fan, so chose the Ram! Just my .02 cents

[Shane Wood]

For those with issues getting in these tall trucks get the amp auto running boards they drop down 6" to 10" with an extension when you open the door

[EarlA]

I pull my 2019 3901 WB with a 2019 F-350 DRW and it works very well. Now to upgrade to disc brakes on my Redwood and i will be all set

[Ford truck guy]

My 3991RD is yanked by my 2020 F-350 SRW - 6.7

I have BOTH the Disc Brakes and Morryde Independent Suspension.. I have NOT ONCE experienced any White Knuckle times, the Redwood tracks right behind me, no sway, no pushing around bends, nothing.

I did install a set of Firestone rideRite air bags to Level the Redwood.

The NEW Fords are LOWER... my 20 is about 2" lower then my 15 was.. It looks almost level when solo, as soon as I hook up it drops about 2" to 2-1/2 inches... The bags get it back to level

[XCMARK]

Originally Posted by woodman1

Everyone is weighing in on SRW versus DRW, yet no one has discussed height. The new RW’s, I believe, have a height of 13’ 6”. The box height of the SuperDuties were reaching 38” until 2020 when they were lowered by 2” again. Given the clearance necessary between the bottom nose of the RW to the sides rails of the box needs to be minimum of 6”, you may be exceeding the point where you might get clipped going under an overpass with minimum 13’ 6” on your truck. Ford wasn’t alone, as I believe GM and Dodge had also increased the heights of their 3/4 and 1 ton trucks over that period of time. Just curious if anyone else has thought about the new 13’ 6” heights of many of the newer 5th’s, not just RW.

I was nose high on the trailer by about 1 1/2" with my 2016 SRW GMC 3500 and now I am level with a 2020 GMC 3500 DRW truck both are 4x4 crew cabs the 16 was a short bed and the 2020 is a long bed.

[3401RL]

I just went through a similar situation with our 2020 3401RL and our 2019 RAM 3500 SRW diesel. Our RV had the 5500W Onan generator and stackable laundry, so our pin weight was definitely higher because of those 2 items being right up front in the RV. I suggest you take your RV/truck to a CAT scale to get a definitive pin weight. Weigh just the truck, then hitch up and weigh both (empty RV tanks). The difference is your real time pin weight.

I took it a step further and after I did that, I put 500 lbs in the belly of the RV and weighed it. The pin weight went up 420lbs. I then moved the 500lbs to the floor in front of the TV (behind the axles) and none of that weight showed up on the pin weight. All RV tanks were empty throughout the process. At 8 lbs per gallon, it'll only take 50 gallons total to reach 400 lbs.

I'd say if you're gonna get a new truck (or new to you) to haul the 3401RL, get a dually. It's the smallest Redwood, but it is still heavy. I put zero faith in the pin weight % calculation. The CAT scale won't lie ! Best of luck!

[randy.rayford]

I plan to order a 4001 LK in December and buy a truck. I like the F350, SRW and Anderson hitch.
This is my first day on this site and looking for comments on hitch.
Still verifying SRW vs DRW.

[3401RL]

I'd definitely lean toward the dually. The 4001 is beautiful, but she's also heavy!