09 F350/450 vs 2000 F650

[keanoknick]

Correct me if I'm wrong,

It is my understanding (i have a class a cdl) that legally you are required to have a class B CDL to drive anything, commercial or private, if it has airbrakes, as you are required to have an airbrake endorsement, which is only available on commercial licensces.
I know several people with large pusher style motorhomes that have there class B and airbrake endorsements.
I know around here it is not highly enforced, but that a TxDOT officer could give you a ticket for it, if they want too, but usually won't.

 

[bushpilot]

friend of mine has a prevost coach...it (and he) are licensed in
montana...he has been stopped more than once by state police
who insist that he must have a CDL...he whips out some paper
showing 'em that he does NOT...hes NEVER been issued a ticket.

 

[F350DRW1]

My FIL has a nice motor-home, made by Numar. Built on a bus chassis, 325 cat, air brakes, pusher, no CDL required. I've driven it, and can't quite believe they hand the keys to John Q. Public, but they do. Just don't forget the big checkbook.

 

[Mike K]

Thanks for everyone's input. He sent me additional pictures:
Race Ads | For Sale: F650 Ford Pickup

After sleeping on it i have a few more questions:

-How much rougher would the ride be in the 650 vs a 450 with heavy duty springs?

-One of my questions was gonig to be if it can tow a 5th wheel but that has already been answered. I heard that 5th wheels are more stable then bumper pull and if you are pulling a heavy trailer a weight distributing hitch is recommended (required?) so my question is that if i am pulling a heavy trailer with a large truck like this will i have the same instability as a smaller truck?

-The heaviest i towed with my current F350 was only about 7,500 lbs (4,000 lb car on uhual trailer) so i am a little unfamiliar with towing 'heavy' trailers and after doing some reading i could easily be towing well over double that 7,500 if i get a toy hauler.

-Size of the truck, is the frame longer and wider then the light duty super duties? I have no problems navigating my dually around town but i realize that if my truck was much bigger (wider) it would start to become a chore to drive.

-Is there anybody on here that can run an Oasis report?
3FDNW6586YMA11093

 

[WD40]

Mike the frame can be longer on a F-450, but not wider. The doors, fenders from a 350 are the same as on the F-450 & F-550. If you feel you need a bigger truck than the F-350 Tow-Boss 4.30 Gears then look at the F-450 with a air ride. I pull a fifth wheel that's 16,500 with my F-350 with 4.10 and it does it just fine.

 

[Buffs F-350]

friend of mine has a prevost coach...it (and he) are licensed in
montana...he has been stopped more than once by state police
who insist that he must have a CDL...he whips out some paper
showing 'em that he does NOT...hes NEVER been issued a ticket.

Being a CDL driver this is one thing I know about. ANYTHING with a GVW 26,000 lbs OR with air brakes of any kind the driver MUST have a cdl b with air brake endorsment and cannot pull a trailer more then 10,000 lbs without a class A. Its not the state police you have to worry about its the DOT if thay are onsite expect trouble.

 

[bgirls]

"I plan on getting a Toyhauler RV so i will be towing with it"

Isn't the bed a little to high for towing a fifth wheel trailer? The new 450 with a pick up body can gross @24000. more than enough tow capcity for what you are doing.

 

[bgirls]

Being a CDL driver this is one thing I know about. ANYTHING with a GVW 26,000 lbs OR with air brakes of any kind the driver MUST have a cdl b with air brake endorsment and cannot pull a trailer more then 10,000 lbs without a class A. Its not the state police you have to worry about its the DOT if thay are onsite expect trouble.

this is not true atleast for private RV's, with all the people with rv's/bus conversions with air brakes that tow big trailers are not required to have a cdl. I have a CDL B, the max i can tow commercialy is 10000. but when i tow my 12000 lb fifth wheel i am legal as a private vehicle.

 

[Mike K]

"I plan on getting a Toyhauler RV so i will be towing with it"

Isn't the bed a little to high for towing a fifth wheel trailer? The new 450 with a pick up body can gross @24000. more than enough tow capcity for what you are doing.

Right, and they do make bumper pull Toy Haulers as well. I wouldnt be towing to its full capacity, just saying that i do plan on doing towing with what ever i decide to go with which, may or may not determine the practicality of the vehicle.

I guess my biggest problem is the engine choice that comes with the F350/450, i have never really been an international fan, and the new 6.0L really didnt help that. I hear nothing but great things about the 6.4L but it is still a little early and isnt ford already talking about making thier own engine for the near future? I have been looking into doing a cummins swap for my truck but that would put me at the price of a new one so i was just exploring my options. Normally the F650 is way out of the price range but this one is priced right, low miles, and i like the mods on it.

-Mike

 

[bushpilot]

just looked at his ad...48k for an 8yr old <truck> is kinda steep in
my book.