Send your email address and I'll give you my brothers phone number. My email address is: mlynch@ionet.net
I don't think he makes a lot of money at it with the cost of fuel, depreciation of pickup, motels, etc. I think he makes about $.90 per mile gross. There are better things to haul that pay better such as cars, etc. But it gives him and wife something to do. They try to sleep in the crew cab some times to save on expenses. Don't think I'd care for that but they make out fine.
mainecowgirl and others too numerous to mention .... congrats .... it is great reliving thru you guys and gals the same feelings I had when I picked mine up new. Enjoy and Happy Motoring!
Just finishing my first two weeks with my 2K 250 SD SC. Very pleased so far, mileage right at 16.0 over 850 miles. I will have the dealer investigate a vibration that occurs at 75 MPH and up, probably a wheel balance problem. I have the Firestone 265's--anyone else had any problems with these? Other than that, nothing but good news. It's good to know that all the research (which includes all the helpful and enthusiastic folks on this site) paid off, this is definitely the right truck for me! Will tow a vintage racecar in two weeks, which is one of the main reasons for the upgrade to the SD,looking forward to it
YO - CrazyElvis, where are you? Haven't heard from you in a while. You're not stuck in your bunker doorway are you?
Got MY Blankie from Ford this week (nice touch, a thank you for buying the truck). Along with the duffle bag (did you ever get yours?) and a little blue Ford Beanie Baby from the dealership (had to buy a second one to give one each to my two boys), we've made out like bandits !!
Haven't hit the 3000 mile mark yet (2850 mi.). And I have stopped clearing the computer at each fill up to get a better idea of fuel mileage over several tanks of gas. Right now it reads 10.1 mpg . Not bad for short (25 mile) round trips to work and back in STOP and GO "Freeway" traffic. I'm really looking forward to an extended weekend where I can hook up the trailer, go camping and then see what kind of mileage it will get!!
To all the NEWBE owners ("haves") CONGRATULATIONS !!! Aren't you glad you waited and didn't jump ship ( some of us waited 6 months or more) !! They are a SWEET ride and worth the wait. To all the WANNABE owners ("havenots"). Be patient - reading some of these posts it sounds like Ford has geared up production based on demand and is spitin' them out in three to four months - order to delivery. I guarantee that all the frustrations of waiting will melt away as soon as you sit behind the wheel of YOUR Super Duty and drive off the dealerships lot !!!
I was advised here to go about 500 miles to break the motor in before I tow. I have a two horse trailer with a dressing room and a good-sized horse that I'll be pulling around. I am sure the weight is up around 4000+/- pounds or so. I am not sure what they would suggest for pulling a small utility trailer, but it sounds like your boat is big enough to warrant a break-in time for your truck. Hope this helps. Maybe someone else will pitch in their thoughts. Happy hauling!
Ford has a "2000 RV & Trailer Towing Guide" book that you can pick up at your dealership.
It states on page 10 under the heading "Things to know before you tow" and sub-heading "after you buy" ---- "remember, DO NOT TOW a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 500 miles".
A "good" break in period is highly recommended before you put the added stress of towing a trailer on your new Super Duty. Personally, I wouldn't tow a trailer while the break in oil was still in the truck. I changed oil at 1000, 2000 miles and will change it again at 3000/and every 3000 miles thereafter. My .02 . Paul
Does anyone know of a source that I can get a Aux. Gas Tank, 20 to 30 Gal. for my 2000 s.d, V10, S.C. short bed. Been finding a lot of service stations are not sized to handle a truck and trailer.
maincowgirl... congrats on new arrival. been absent for awhile writing some really nasty code & no time to check in here.
bess... yeah, we don't get as many looks with our "whitey" either now that a few more SD's are showing up. however; there are definitely a significant number of "droolers" still around.
we're about to embark on our 4k trip for the summer. our total rolling is right at the GCWR (of 20k) and I want to tell you that the psd/manual/4.1 diff/drw REALLY yanks this rig around! thank the stars we ordered 4X4 too. with that kind of weight just about ANY sand at all will "stick" you. Note that I do not regret for a second the choice of the manual tranny for our primary usage... which is yanking that load all over the country. Note also; that the diesel brake (which is NOT recommended by Ford) is NOT necessary! I believe that the limitation here is the brakes... and if you don't exceed the GCWR you will not have problems stopping the rig ANYWHERE in this country. I actually drive the truck pulling full load just ablut as I drive it with NO LOAD!... the brakes are that strong (note that we have excellent brakes on the coach too, though... which in fact, can effectively stop both it AND the truck with NO application of the truck brakes at all.)
Finally, note that a friend of mine has a similar config but with D***e. he took the ride with us when we had the entire rig weighed and he was NOT a very happy camper once he observed this beast in action. take care, all. will check back in b4 leaving on the 25th. -Lee
fiver, I would like to know how to put an AUX tank on my SD also. (Mine is diesel super cab and 8' bed.) I've had a few offers to put one where the spare tire goes but that's not acceptable to me. In LA traffic I can generally get between 500 and 600 miles comfortably on a tank full. (38.5 gallons) Rich
http://www.transferflow.com/ - makes them for super duty in variety of types (i.e. replacement from stock 29 to 40 gal, aux/refueling tanks that go on bed like toolbox, 50 - 100 gals, and others) see Ford Fuel Tank link.. found this out from another board from someone who has one installed on his SD
psmith: nice truck. hard to tell what color you got, because of the lighting. where did you take those pic. we are supposed to do this year's trip around the sound.
auxilliary tank: if i have a design beef, it's that all of these trucks should have a 38.5 gallon tank. i have a short bed and i would love to have the extra fuel capacity. anyone out there actually done that? how'd you do it, and how'd it work?
mileage: have 2k miles on my cc,srw,sb,psd and am getting almost 18 (17.8) mpg around town. mind you, "town" is a figure of speech. it's mostly 2-lane 55mph highways with an intermittent stop-sign here and there...
I put my camper on last week and managed to get my hands on a digital camera. One of the regulars (Vince) in the Cabover Camp Chat topic #1637 posted them for me. The pictures should show why I opted for the duallys. So far, I've got over 30,000 miles on the truck, about 10,000 of those miles with the camper in the bed.
As you can tell from the pictures, the snow has pretty much melted up here in Anchorage, although the mountains are not green yet. It's only a matter of time with 16+ hours of daylight and climbing. I took the camper to Seward this weekend. Awesome weather.
Loved the pictures of your truck and camper. Thanks for sharing them with us. The camper looks HUGE. Forgot how beautiful Anchorage is ... only time I was there was in 1970 enroute to Vietnam .... loved all the mountains as I was flying in and out. Happy Motoring!
2K SD F-250 5.4, SC, 142", 5-speed,4.10,Average mph before filter 14.35, after filter 14.54. Not enough difference to be significant. Performance may be slightly better. Both mileage figures were for over 3,100 each. Total miles now 14,973. This is the best truck I have ever driven. No problems at all.
Great looking truck. Great looking camper. It must be huge. It almost dwarfs the truck. How is it in the snow with all that weight? I'm in Florida. Mine sinks like a anchor in soft sand. If it weren't for 4x4, it wouldn't go anywhere off road. Even with limited slip in the rear, it just hops and digs a hole in sand.
Actually northpole, that's Lake Hood in the background. I work for State DOT at Anchorage International. Our offices are currently in the north terminal (International), because of the major Terminal Redevelopment Project. Pretty amazing stuff going on at the airport. It doesn't hurt to have your State senator as chairman of the Appropriations committee. You did hear that the airport has been officially renamed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport? Big renaming celebration on July 8th with an air show of some kind.
My first experience with the camper was picking it up in Canada in January 1999 and driving it up the Alcan to Anchorage in -20 degree weather with a pretty good snow storm around Steamboat Mountain. The rig handled awesome in the snow. Because of the conditions, much of the trip was made in 4x4 with OD locked out. I did a lot of shifting with the automatic. The engine braking was awesome. The camper never pushed me down hills.
My experience with the duallys in the snow is they do great in 4wd on maintained roads, even if we get a dump of a foot or more. However, I've had my truck stuck (without the camper on) trying to follow a friend across a lake in loose snow without a road. He had a 96 F-250 4x4 shortbed single rear wheel and had no problem. Needless to say, I didn't get the 4x4 or the duallys for too much off-roading.
With the camper on, there aren't too many roads I would hesitate to drive down. At the same time, there aren't too many places I would consider leaving the road. I can get into a lot of places with the camper on that you can't get into pulling a trailer. I also have the flexibility to camp just about anywhere you can park a truck, so I have more camping options than someone pulling a trailer. But the camper is certainly not made for traveling off the beaten path. I've not seen many people with hard side campers leave the road, at least not intentionally. If you've got some serious off-roading and need a camper, a pop-up is likely the only real alternative.
As far as the rear doors banging the camper jacks, I think they might touch if I open them all the way, but I've never had a problem. I drop the back seat and toss coolers in there all the time, so it's not an issue.
On April 15th, I ordered my F250 SuperDuty CC, swb, 5.4L auto., Lariat
The priority status was a 10. Price Level 032. Price around $500 over dealer invoice.
About two weeks after the order, the dealer told me that the order is "Scheduled" but did not have a "tentative delivery date to dealer" yet and they would expect that date in a week or two. The dealer claims they have a large allotment and have no problems getting these trucks. At first I was told 10-12 weeks (to be on the safe side) and then they said it may be less (around 6-7 weeks) based on previous recent orders.
I have read many, many posts and one in particular, in the Ford Diesel side, had several steps:
Unscheduled & Clean: All I know is I don't want to be in this status. (Maybe I was there for the first few days or so and didn't know it).
Submitted to plant and or scheduled: When a VIN is assigned & scheduled build week along with the estimated week of delivery (EWD, aka ETA) to the dealer.
Locked in: When production is locked and NO changes can be made (normally 10 days to 2 weeks before scheduled date)
Bucked: All parts on line ready for frame to roll.
Built:
Released from plant/release to convoy ...
I'll stop there because I know I'm not near most of the above.
Question is.... if my dealer says it is "Scheduled but no Estimated week of Delivery date" yet, where am I really? Has anybody ever had that type of stats yet? I've asked the dealer if there is a VIN and he's checking.
After 3.5 weeks, I'm getting very anxious! Perhaps I shouldn't worry so much yet.
Also, anybody know what price level 032 is?
About the V10's. In April I was considering changing my order for the V10 several days after the order but decided against it. I don't have anything to tow yet anyway and the dealer told me those engines were "regulated" ???
Yesterday, just FYI, I was told that there was a fire where the V10's are built or stored, (not sure), back in December 99 and that's why it's hard to get V10's. Maybe they are all going to Expeditions.
goleta: as long as you are scheduled, and assuming the plant doesn't burn down, you're doing great. you might even be getting one of the sd's made in mexico. your scheduled date is really a week time-frame. figure you'll get your truck 3-4 weeks after the scheduled build date. it could be earlier. from my own experience and all the posts i've read, the single most important thing is that you are scheduled. relax.
vintage: wow, you really are digging your rig. great to hear. i'm taking mine turkey hunting tomorrow. incidentally, you should start your own internet pictorial magazine "trucks & bucks". see ya.
Hang in there! As I have previously posted, I ordered a 250 SD SC with the 5.4, and my order-to-delivery time was just under 4 weeks. Ordering with the automatic may increase the time a bit, and of course your dealer allotment has a bearing on it, but I would guess your wait should not be much longer. As many, many other posts have stated, it will be worth the wait once you're in it and drivin' down the road. If you're scheduled, your time is coming!
Im on the East Coast- New England. I ordered from a small local dealer who agreed to $575 over on 1/8/00 & had a scheduled build date of 4/4/00 -about 3 months from order to build-.
It was released to convey on 4/10/00 with a delivery date of 4/24/00. I got a call from my sales rep when it arrived on the lot on Saturday 5/5/00. I picked it up this past Monday 5/8/00. In short, I waited four months from order to delivery. But believe me its like it is.....worth the wait. F250, CC, 4x4, Bright Red, 5.4, auto, etc.
You're doing fine. I've been following this forum since October '99 and the CCs take longer and the V10s seem to sometimes add to it, too. The quickest configurations are the ones that are made most often. They seem to be the standard or extend cabs with diesels or 5.4s, then way down the line, come the CCs with V10s.
Mine was ordered Oct. 19, '99 and arrived February 23, 2000. The V10 may be considered a "gas guzzler" or not, but it won't help Ford's corporate fuel average. It also is put into vans, motor homes, Excursions, and other heavy applications that don't really need or want diesels.
Hang in there. Once you get scheduled, things usually move right along.
My truck is black. I have a few more pics to scan when I get a chance, they will have a lot better definition.
The photos posted were taken on the Richardson Highway in Thompson Pass which about 30 miles from Valdez, AK. When you make the trip are you planning to check out Valdez and do some fishing in Prince William Sound? When do you plan to come up?
The weather has been beautiful the last couple of weeks. Temps in the 50's during the day and clear skies.
ezgoin - I too live in eastern MA. May I ask the name and location of the dealership where you purchased your rig ? I will be ordering the end of this year and shopping for the best price. Now all you need to do is change your profile from a "have-not" to a "have"
Just talked to my salesman and he told me the truck is schedule to be built 3rd week of May. Also got my VIN#. He said delivery will probably be between 7th & 10th of June. I asked him if I get a rebate for buying end of model year, he didn't answer me. Ordered 10-28-99 00 SD,CC,V10,3.73LS,Lariat,TT,CP,TTMir,privacy glass,CD,black. Thats 6 months hope its worth it, buy the sounds of everybodys posts it is..
However, my real question is I've been told my order is "Scheduled" but the dealer did not have a estimated week of delivery nor a build date from FoMoCo.
So, is it possible to have a "Scheduled" status and no build date yet? If so, what does that mean? Does it mean I'm 1-2-3-4, etc. weeks from a build date? And, at what point is the VIN available?
Looking for a shop that sells aftermarket Billet Grills for my f250 in the local boston area,Can anyone out there recommend a local dealer. Thanks for your help...
Due to the extreme bug population in the great cheesehead state does anybody have a recommendation for screening the radiator. Last weekend going to Northern Wisc. I got blasted with bugs. At times it was like a Heavy Rain Storm. Any help would be appreciated. I just got my truck back from the dealer yesterday. They replaced the cab mounts (hopefully this will take care of the noise over the bumps), replaced my cup holders because it wouldn't shut without slamming, replaced my leather seat cover because of flacking along the seams. Sure is nice being back in the TRUCK, was given a taurus 4 door for a loaner, I would never buy one of those ground skidders. Hope you all have a Great Weekend...going Turkey Huntin this weekend too.
I'll relay my experience and hope this provides some insight to your questions/concerns. My experience seems to be consistent with other posts I've read over the months that I've been waiting. I ordered my beast on 1/4/00 (F250 SD Lariat SC, 4X2, TT mirrors, CD, trailer tow pckg, hitch receiver, captain's seats, V10, Auto, 3.73ls, green/gold). My order remained unscheduled until 4/20/00 at which time the status changed to scheduled for build week of 5/8/00 (that means my beast has just been born or will be born in another day - yahoooooo). I was provided a build week at the same time my rig was scheduled for build. I think they go hand in hand. Also, the dealer provided me with my VIN # as soon as it was scheduled for build. It's also my understanding that a VIN # is assigned at the time the rig gets scheduled for build. If yours has been scheduled, you should be able to obtain a VIN. Continuing, an ETA was not provided when my rig was first scheduled. It was not until 5/4/00 that an ETA was provided. Basically, it took two weeks from the time my rig was scheduled until an ETA was established, which happened to be a week before the build week. Not sure if this is representative of the status quo, but is my experience. By the way, my ETA is week of 5/22/00 or two weeks after build. My truck is being built at the KY plant and is being delivered to my local dealer in NE Florida (Jacksonville). Hope this helps answer your questions.
All I can say is your truck is SWEEEEEET!!! Your tire and wheel combination together with the lift is an awesome look. I also noticed you installed a billet grille. Mind telling me what brand & model you installed and whether you did the job yourself or had it installed by an aftermarket shop? Any advice on this upgrade? Thanks.
bowhuntwi, I've always used a piece of fiber glass screen from the hardware store and nylon string for the radiator bug screen. Usually I fold the screen over the nylon string a few times and secure with garbage bag twister ties some discarded phone wire. At fuel stops I just reach through the grill and shake the screen. Most bugs fall out. The heat from the radiator or A/C heat exchanger cooks the bugs and dries them out. The bugs fall out easily.
Did you take it back to Schmidt in Port Washington or did you try someone new??
As far as bugs, I like the Lund screens that snap into the grill like the cold fronts. You can leave them black or paint them. I thought they would restrict air flow to the radiator, but they don't seem to affect operating temp. When I clean them, it's hard not to scratch them up over time, so I'll probably just leave mine the factory blackish, because you don't see the scratches. If you paint them, you may need to soak them now and then to remove bugs.
Thanks for the really good info. I'm calling my dealer today to see if he's got a VIN. If not, I don't believe the truck is "Scheduled" yet.
What is your opinion of your dealer as far as their allocation? Really good, or just so-so. My dealer claims they get a good allocation. Their last recent order was only six weeks. And I see many SuperDuty trucks in their lot. Again, my order Priority was a 10. My impression of the dealer is still good. They have always been courteous. Perhaps no too eager to help a few hundred over invoice buyer though.
t's just the wait (supposedly "Scheduled" but waiting for the build week and ETA) that is getting to me.
I purchased the grille and did the install myself. It is manufactured by STULL Ind. I completed the install in about 3 hours. To do the install you have to remove all of the louver or gray material of the factory grille. This requires grinding (Dremel tool or equivalent),drilling,etc. and the possibilty of scratching the chrome with one slip is high. The new grill attaches to the fiberglass frame of the core support and the modified factory grille, which is now a chrome ring, is re-installed over the new billet grille insert. If you have the time and a friend to help, it's not too bad.
Thanks for the comment on the truck and good luck with the grille.
I'm happier now! I just spoke to the dealer and I have a "Tentative Build Week" of May 22nd AND a VIN. That build week is about 5 weeks from when the order was sent in & acknowledged by FoMoCo.
So with a build week of 5/22 (and if that stays) I should expect delivery 2-3 weeks from that week from what I've read on this site. (So, week of 6/12 is my estimated week of pure joy!!) And that would be around 8 weeks from order, 4/17, to delivery. Not bad from other post's I've read.
My VIN starts with a 3, so I think that means it comes from Mexico. That's OK by me. I live in Southern California. I wonder how many are coming from Mexico vs. KY ??
00 F250 SuperDuty CC Lariat, SWB, 2wd, 5.4L auto., 3.73 reg. axle, Trailer Tow (now std.) + TTT Mirrors, Rear Privacy + Sliding Rear Window (also now std.), Prem. CD, all wrapped up in Harvest Gold (Simple, not 4wd, nor V10, but gonna be gorgeous to me)
You might catch this post someplace else... I've noticed that most of the folks who have ordered their F250 SD's have gotten then relatively quickly, 10 - 12 weeks. My story is this: I ordered an F250 CC,LB,4x4,XLT,5.4L, with no additional options except Auto Trans, Keyless Entry, AM/FM/CD, and Shift on the Fly 4WD. I ordered this on December 8th, 1999. I'm still waiting. My dealer in Scottsdale,AZ., has been little help, except to tell me that I have moved up from #40 to #35 just to be scheduled!! This is week 21. Is this the norm? Should I give up and go spend my money on a Chevy or Dodge? My brother-in-law ordered his Chevy Silverado a month after I ordered my Ford, his was delivered 6 weeks later. I've never owned a Ford before and it's only because of the SuperDuty that I would even consider it. I'm worried that this is what it will be like for the life of my Ford ownership.
Years ago when I traveled in Florida about 1/3 of the time, I learned about love bugs. They're black critters that find each other (boy/girl I guess) and then fly around attached to each other.
During the season, they're like a black snowstorm. Greasy, etc. A real pain to clean off. The locals came up with a fiberglass screen that can be tied across the whole front of a vehicle (except the windshield of course) to catch the lovebugs. Most of them can then be hosed off the screen. The bugs have some kind of internal juice that eats paint if you don't get them off. Nasty.
Every truckstop, Autozone, etc. sold them for just a few bucks. If someone in Fl. would get you one, it'd maybe solve your problem and let you take it off when you don't need it. Good luck.
psmith: we will be trailering a boat to valdez, apparently they are opening up the railroad tunnel. we will hunt from the boat in the sound, and undoubtedly we will do some fishing. most trips are the opposite. we fly fish til'we drop, and we hunt whatever we happen to come across while fishing. the buddy who will be pulling the boat has (what else) a 99 sd,sc,psd,350. this year's trip will probably start around labor day weekend.
bowhunt: how'd the turkey hunt go, and where did you go to do it?
spud: get a new dealer, lots of them have allotment. read the prior posts on the many recommended by other "haves". my only suggestion for a dealer in your part of the country is to call mossey ford in san diego. they have nearly every conceivable config. on the lot, or can order you one very quickly - and you'd get it. they might be slightly pricey ($1k over invoice), but you probably don't care at this point. good luck.
Congrats on getting the information from your dealer. If all goes per your estimated schedule, you'll be doing quite well as far as time from order to delivery.
Regarding my dealer's allocation, I would say its so-so. I've never seen more than 4 super duties on their lot at any given time and all seem to be PSD equipped. However, I knew this would delay the scheduling of my rig at the start of the process and I knew I could probably do better with another dealer 150 miles away. But, I've bought several of my vehicles from this dealer over the years and they've always treated me well and seem to be fair and honest when dealing with me. They've always sold me vehicles at 1% over invoice no questions asked and no surprises. Therefore, I prefer to give this dealer my business if possible as I feel he has earned my loyalty (there's something you don't hear much about any more).
Regarding volume of units shipped from Mex vice Ky, I don't know the numbers but I believe Mex is producing all super duties sold at dealerships in border states (Tx, NM, Az, Ca).
Again, congrats. In my opinion, any super duty regardless of how it is equipped is nice. Now use the spare time researching and ordering accessories for your new ride so you can deck it out when it arrives.
I would find out the priority of your order. If you have a Vehicle Order Confirmation/Dealer Order Receipt Acknowledgement sheet, it will be posted somewhere on the sheet. If the priority is not a 10, I would demand the dealer bump it to a 10. If he tries to argue that a Ford area rep has to bump it to a 10, then demand he get the area rep involve ASAP.
It's hard for me to tell you if you should go with another dealer. That's somewhat of a personal decision dependent upon your needs, frustration, etc. At this stage, you may have to wait for a 2001 model if you reorder. But then again, from what your dealer is telling you, you might end up getting a 2001 model anyway if you stay put.
However, as Sherwoodfor cites, it would be wise to check with other dealerships recommended in prior posts. You might find one per your order sitting on a lot. You might check out Lone Star Ford in Houston (if distance isn't an issue). You can research their inventory via the web pretty painlessly. I believe their address is www.lonestarford.com. Unfortunately, I don't have a POC at this dealership. However, there is a POC provided in an earlier post.
Let us know what you decide. There are many of us out here that feel your pain.
sherwoodfor: Sounds like a fun trip. The tunnel you speak of is from Portage, AK to Whittier, AK. To get to Valdez you have to ferry from Whittier or drive from Tok or Anchorage. Of course you probably already know these things I speak of. Drop me an e-mail at smithp@alyeska-pipeline.com and I'll give you some contact numbers of mine for your arrival to Valdez. I'm sure we can discuss and or show off the SD's!!!
spudwiggley: I admire your patience!! It seems your configuration should be available at another dealer. I gave up on an order after 8 weeks or so and searched 5 states till I found the truck I was looking for. If you don't mind a little distance I would think you could have your truck soon. Just my thoughts................
Brutus... wow, that's a nice rig & it's rather easy to discern that you may be slightly over on the vehicle gross. was that a very expensive camera (because those pic's are excellent)?
all... we're making ready for the BIG trip.. at least 4k miles with hauling right at the 20k GCWR. the truck is awesome in regard to pulling our fiver... pulling 8 degree grades in high gear with hardly a slow down at all. we can pull those grades at 6omph (we normally pull at 65). for those not familiar with our config it's SB CC DRW 4X4 4.1 diff manual tranny PSD ESOF. the only screw up we made in the config is we should NOT have ordered esof because we can't DISengage the front hubs & still get the 4x4 xfer case low range (esof comes with "auto" / free... not free/locked). why'd we want to do that? because you shouldn't engage this position on hard pavement with all wheels in "grabby" mode. we really need that low range gearing when backing the fiver.. but don't want "grabby" when on hard payment. esof gives us no choice but having the grabby front wheels with the low xfer case gearing. oh, well. NEXT time. will post just b4 leaving on the 25th. -Lee
Just picked up my SD this weekend. SC, V-10, AT, SB, My dealer was in Austin and the truck was built in KYSo, I'm not sure if only the border state are getting the Mexico built SD. I have already have had a problem. One of the seatbelt in the rear seat is stuck behind the seat and appears to be snagged on a coil or something. Guess I'll have to take it in next week sometime.
I borrowed the camera from a coworker. It's a year or two old Kodak that cost around $800 new. The resolution made it take a long time to e-mail them, so the person who posted them for me did something to make them load easier. The camera I plan to buy will be down in the $300-$400 price range.
As far as being over GVWR, I'm not over by much. I'd venture a guess that I am over by less than most people with hard side campers on single rear wheel trucks, especially the more deluxe ones like the Fleetwood Caribou, Lance Legend and the Bigfoots. All three manufacturers make light models, so there are options, but clearly a lot of people are running over weight. The GVWR for my truck is 11,200 pounds. Loaded for a trip, including 38 gallons of gas, 30 gallons of water, two full tanks of propane, camping gear, clothes and me and a passenger, and I'm sitting around 11,700ish.
Everyone has their opinion on being a little over GVWR, and I would never encourage anyone to run overweight, but in my opinion, that's well within the comfort zone for brakes and other vehicle components. Although I never had a rear end sag that made the back squat lower than the front, the addition of the airbags raised it back up to around the normal level, which is optimum for braking and handling. The duallys eliminate much of the side to side and I plan to add Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks, which will further improve handling. The truck runs great with the load, and I'm not over the GAWR of either axle.
Looking at a new Ford SD. I'll be towing a 34' fifth wheel camper, gross weight of 11,500#. The dry hitch weight is about 1650#, so I'm figuring a loaded hitch weight of ~2000#.
My question is do I go with the 350, or the 250 with the camper package? Whichever way I go, I'm looking at a crew cab, V-10, 4.30LS, SRW, tow package, + bells & whistles. Also, I want to stay with the short box if possible. Will that be a problem?
From everything I've read, these are hard to come by. Anybody know of a dealer with some available? I'm in eastern North Dakota. Any help would be appreciated.
Comments
mlynch@ionet.net
I don't think he makes a lot of money at it with the cost of fuel, depreciation of pickup, motels, etc. I think he makes about $.90 per mile gross. There are better things to haul that pay better such as cars, etc. But it gives him and wife something to do. They try to sleep in the crew cab some times to save on expenses. Don't think I'd care for that but they make out fine.
mainecowgirl and others too numerous to mention .... congrats .... it is great reliving thru you guys and gals the same feelings I had when I picked mine up new. Enjoy and Happy Motoring!
Got MY Blankie from Ford this week (nice touch, a thank you for buying the truck). Along with the duffle bag (did you ever get yours?) and a little blue Ford Beanie Baby from the dealership (had to buy a second one to give one each to my two boys), we've made out like bandits !!
Haven't hit the 3000 mile mark yet (2850 mi.). And I have stopped clearing the computer at each fill up to get a better idea of fuel mileage over several tanks of gas. Right now it reads 10.1 mpg . Not bad for short (25 mile) round trips to work and back in STOP and GO "Freeway" traffic. I'm really looking forward to an extended weekend where I can hook up the trailer, go camping and then see what kind of mileage it will get!!
To all the NEWBE owners ("haves") CONGRATULATIONS !!! Aren't you glad you waited and didn't jump ship ( some of us waited 6 months or more) !! They are a SWEET ride and worth the wait.
To all the WANNABE owners ("havenots"). Be patient - reading some of these posts it sounds like Ford has geared up production based on demand and is spitin' them out in three to four months - order to delivery. I guarantee that all the frustrations of waiting will melt away as soon as you sit behind the wheel of YOUR Super Duty and drive off the dealerships lot !!!
It states on page 10 under the heading "Things to know before you tow" and sub-heading "after you buy" ---- "remember, DO NOT TOW a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 500 miles".
A "good" break in period is highly recommended before you put the added stress of towing a trailer on your new Super Duty. Personally, I wouldn't tow a trailer while the break in oil was still in the truck. I changed oil at 1000, 2000 miles and will change it again at 3000/and every 3000 miles thereafter. My .02 . Paul
bess... yeah, we don't get as many looks with our "whitey" either now that a few more SD's are showing up. however; there are definitely a significant number of "droolers" still around.
we're about to embark on our 4k trip for the summer. our total rolling is right at the GCWR (of 20k) and I want to tell you that the psd/manual/4.1 diff/drw REALLY yanks this rig around! thank the stars we ordered 4X4 too. with that kind of weight just about ANY sand at all will "stick" you. Note that I do not regret for a second the choice of the manual tranny for our primary usage... which is yanking that load all over the country. Note also; that the diesel brake (which is NOT recommended by Ford) is NOT necessary! I believe that the limitation here is the brakes... and if you don't exceed the GCWR you will not have problems stopping the rig ANYWHERE in this country. I actually drive the truck pulling full load just ablut as I drive it with NO LOAD!... the brakes are that strong (note that we have excellent brakes on the coach too, though... which in fact, can effectively stop both it AND the truck with NO application of the truck brakes at all.)
Finally, note that a friend of mine has a similar config but with D***e. he took the ride with us when we had the entire rig weighed and he was NOT a very happy camper once he observed this beast in action. take care, all. will check back in b4 leaving on the 25th. -Lee
I would like to know how to put an AUX tank on my SD also. (Mine is diesel super cab and 8' bed.) I've had a few offers to put one where the spare tire goes but that's not acceptable to me. In LA traffic I can generally get between 500 and 600 miles comfortably on a tank full. (38.5 gallons)
Rich
super duty in variety of types (i.e. replacement
from stock 29 to 40 gal, aux/refueling tanks that
go on bed like toolbox, 50 - 100 gals, and others)
see Ford Fuel Tank link.. found this out from
another board from someone who has one installed
on his SD
auxilliary tank: if i have a design beef, it's that all of these trucks should have a 38.5 gallon tank. i have a short bed and i would love to have the extra fuel capacity. anyone out there actually done that? how'd you do it, and how'd it work?
mileage: have 2k miles on my cc,srw,sb,psd and am getting almost 18 (17.8) mpg around town. mind you, "town" is a figure of speech. it's mostly 2-lane 55mph highways with an intermittent stop-sign here and there...
As you can tell from the pictures, the snow has pretty much melted up here in Anchorage, although the mountains are not green yet. It's only a matter of time with 16+ hours of daylight and climbing. I took the camper to Seward this weekend. Awesome weather.
http://members.home.net/vofm/frontright2.jpg
http://members.home.net/vofm/frontright1.jpg
http://members.home.net/vofm/frontleft.jpg
http://members.home.net/vofm/rear.jpg
http://members.home.net/vofm/caboverbed.jpg
http://members.home.net/vofm/airbags.jpg
http://members.home.net/vofm/tiedowns.jpg
Good looking rig. I have a question for you. Do the rear doors bang on the camper jacks? From the picture they seem very close.
Rich
Happy Motoring!
My first experience with the camper was picking it up in Canada in January 1999 and driving it up the Alcan to Anchorage in -20 degree weather with a pretty good snow storm around Steamboat Mountain. The rig handled awesome in the snow. Because of the conditions, much of the trip was made in 4x4 with OD locked out. I did a lot of shifting with the automatic. The engine braking was awesome. The camper never pushed me down hills.
My experience with the duallys in the snow is they do great in 4wd on maintained roads, even if we get a dump of a foot or more. However, I've had my truck stuck (without the camper on) trying to follow a friend across a lake in loose snow without a road. He had a 96 F-250 4x4 shortbed single rear wheel and had no problem. Needless to say, I didn't get the 4x4 or the duallys for too much off-roading.
With the camper on, there aren't too many roads I would hesitate to drive down. At the same time, there aren't too many places I would consider leaving the road. I can get into a lot of places with the camper on that you can't get into pulling a trailer. I also have the flexibility to camp just about anywhere you can park a truck, so I have more camping options than someone pulling a trailer. But the camper is certainly not made for traveling off the beaten path. I've not seen many people with hard side campers leave the road, at least not intentionally. If you've got some serious off-roading and need a camper, a pop-up is likely the only real alternative.
As far as the rear doors banging the camper jacks, I think they might touch if I open them all the way, but I've never had a problem. I drop the back seat and toss coolers in there all the time, so it's not an issue.
The priority status was a 10. Price Level 032. Price around $500 over dealer invoice.
About two weeks after the order, the dealer told me that the order is "Scheduled" but did not have a "tentative delivery date to dealer" yet and they would expect that date in a week or two. The dealer claims they have a large allotment and have no problems getting these trucks. At first I was told 10-12 weeks (to be on the safe side) and then they said it may be less (around 6-7 weeks) based on previous recent orders.
I have read many, many posts and one in particular, in the Ford Diesel side, had several steps:
Unscheduled & Clean: All I know is I don't want to be in this status. (Maybe I was there for the first few days or so and didn't know it).
Submitted to plant and or scheduled: When a VIN is assigned & scheduled build week along with the estimated week of delivery (EWD, aka ETA) to the dealer.
Locked in: When production is locked and NO changes can be made (normally 10 days to 2 weeks before scheduled date)
Bucked: All parts on line ready for frame to roll.
Built:
Released from plant/release to convoy ...
I'll stop there because I know I'm not near most of the above.
Question is.... if my dealer says it is "Scheduled but no Estimated week of Delivery date" yet, where am I really? Has anybody ever had that type of stats yet? I've asked the dealer if there is a VIN and he's checking.
After 3.5 weeks, I'm getting very anxious! Perhaps I shouldn't worry so much yet.
Also, anybody know what price level 032 is?
About the V10's. In April I was considering changing my order for the V10 several days after the order but decided against it. I don't have anything to tow yet anyway and the dealer told me those engines were "regulated" ???
Yesterday, just FYI, I was told that there was a fire where the V10's are built or stored, (not sure), back in December 99 and that's why it's hard to get V10's. Maybe they are all going to Expeditions.
Thanks for any help. Please ease my anxiousness!
goleta (Randall, Santa Barbara, CA)
Had sldg. rear wind. installed today. Looks good.
Adubahbi:Good news RE: Line-x,I will check it out.
Maine: I know how you feel,I hope you enjoy It as much as I am! Good Luck!!! Keep us posted.
Sherwoodfor: Just wanted to say Hi!
vintage: wow, you really are digging your rig. great to hear. i'm taking mine turkey hunting tomorrow. incidentally, you should start your own internet pictorial magazine "trucks & bucks". see ya.
It was released to convey on 4/10/00 with a delivery date of 4/24/00. I got a call from my sales rep when it arrived on the lot on Saturday 5/5/00. I picked it up this past Monday 5/8/00.
In short, I waited four months from order to delivery. But believe me its like it is.....worth the wait. F250, CC, 4x4, Bright Red, 5.4, auto, etc.
Mine was ordered Oct. 19, '99 and arrived February 23, 2000. The V10 may be considered a "gas guzzler" or not, but it won't help Ford's corporate fuel average. It also is put into vans, motor homes, Excursions, and other heavy applications that don't really need or want diesels.
Hang in there. Once you get scheduled, things usually move right along.
The photos posted were taken on the Richardson Highway in Thompson Pass which about 30 miles from Valdez, AK. When you make the trip are you planning to check out Valdez and do some fishing in Prince William Sound? When do you plan to come up?
The weather has been beautiful the last couple of weeks. Temps in the 50's during the day and clear skies.
Now all you need to do is change your profile from a "have-not" to a "have"
Thanks in advance for the info.
Also got my VIN#. He said delivery will probably be between 7th & 10th of June. I asked him if I get a rebate for buying end of model year, he didn't answer me. Ordered 10-28-99 00 SD,CC,V10,3.73LS,Lariat,TT,CP,TTMir,privacy glass,CD,black. Thats 6 months hope its worth it, buy the sounds of everybodys posts it is..
However, my real question is I've been told my order is "Scheduled" but the dealer did not have a estimated week of delivery nor a build date from FoMoCo.
So, is it possible to have a "Scheduled" status and no build date yet? If so, what does that mean? Does it mean I'm 1-2-3-4, etc. weeks from a build date? And, at what point is the VIN available?
Hope this clarifies what I'm looking for.
Thanks everyone.....Goleta (Randall)
I've always used a piece of fiber glass screen from the hardware store and nylon string for the radiator bug screen. Usually I fold the screen over the nylon string a few times and secure with garbage bag twister ties some discarded phone wire. At fuel stops I just reach through the grill and shake the screen. Most bugs fall out. The heat from the radiator or A/C heat exchanger cooks the bugs and dries them out. The bugs fall out easily.
Rich
As far as bugs, I like the Lund screens that snap into the grill like the cold fronts. You can leave them black or paint them. I thought they would restrict air flow to the radiator, but they don't seem to affect operating temp. When I clean them, it's hard not to scratch them up over time, so I'll probably just leave mine the factory blackish, because you don't see the scratches. If you paint them, you may need to soak them now and then to remove bugs.
What is your opinion of your dealer as far as their allocation? Really good, or just so-so. My dealer claims they get a good allocation. Their last recent order was only six weeks. And I see many SuperDuty trucks in their lot. Again, my order Priority was a 10. My impression of the dealer is still good. They have always been courteous. Perhaps no too eager to help a few hundred over invoice buyer though.
t's just the wait (supposedly "Scheduled" but waiting for the build week and ETA) that is getting to me.
Thanks again. goleta (Randall)
Thanks for the comment on the truck and good luck with the grille.
So with a build week of 5/22 (and if that stays) I should expect delivery 2-3 weeks from that week from what I've read on this site. (So, week of 6/12 is my estimated week of pure joy!!) And that would be around 8 weeks from order, 4/17, to delivery. Not bad from other post's I've read.
My VIN starts with a 3, so I think that means it comes from Mexico. That's OK by me. I live in Southern California. I wonder how many are coming from Mexico vs. KY ??
00 F250 SuperDuty CC Lariat, SWB, 2wd, 5.4L auto., 3.73 reg. axle, Trailer Tow (now std.) + TTT Mirrors, Rear Privacy + Sliding Rear Window (also now std.), Prem. CD, all wrapped up in Harvest Gold
Thanks all !! goleta (Randall, Santa Barbara, CA)
I've noticed that most of the folks who have ordered their F250 SD's have gotten then relatively quickly, 10 - 12 weeks. My story is this:
I ordered an F250 CC,LB,4x4,XLT,5.4L, with no additional options except Auto Trans, Keyless Entry, AM/FM/CD, and Shift on the Fly 4WD. I ordered this on December 8th, 1999. I'm still waiting. My dealer in Scottsdale,AZ., has been little help, except to tell me that I have moved up from #40 to #35 just to be scheduled!! This is week 21. Is this the norm? Should I give up and go spend my money on a Chevy or Dodge? My brother-in-law ordered his Chevy Silverado a month after I ordered my Ford, his was delivered 6 weeks later. I've never owned a Ford before and it's only because of the SuperDuty that I would even consider it. I'm worried that this is what it will be like for the life of my Ford ownership.
During the season, they're like a black snowstorm. Greasy, etc. A real pain to clean off. The locals came up with a fiberglass screen that can be tied across the whole front of a vehicle (except the windshield of course) to catch the lovebugs. Most of them can then be hosed off the screen. The bugs have some kind of internal juice that eats paint if you don't get them off. Nasty.
Every truckstop, Autozone, etc. sold them for just a few bucks. If someone in Fl. would get you one, it'd maybe solve your problem and let you take it off when you don't need it. Good luck.
this year's trip will probably start around labor day weekend.
bowhunt: how'd the turkey hunt go, and where did you go to do it?
spud: get a new dealer, lots of them have allotment. read the prior posts on the many recommended by other "haves". my only suggestion for a dealer in your part of the country is to call mossey ford in san diego. they have nearly every conceivable config. on the lot, or can order you one very quickly - and you'd get it. they might be slightly pricey ($1k over invoice), but you probably don't care at this point. good luck.
Regarding my dealer's allocation, I would say its so-so. I've never seen more than 4 super duties on their lot at any given time and all seem to be PSD equipped. However, I knew this would delay the scheduling of my rig at the start of the process and I knew I could probably do better with another dealer 150 miles away. But, I've bought several of my vehicles from this dealer over the years and they've always treated me well and seem to be fair and honest when dealing with me. They've always sold me vehicles at 1% over invoice no questions asked and no surprises. Therefore, I prefer to give this dealer my business if possible as I feel he has earned my loyalty (there's something you don't hear much about any more).
Regarding volume of units shipped from Mex vice Ky, I don't know the numbers but I believe Mex is producing all super duties sold at dealerships in border states (Tx, NM, Az, Ca).
Again, congrats. In my opinion, any super duty regardless of how it is equipped is nice. Now use the spare time researching and ordering accessories for your new ride so you can deck it out when it arrives.
It's hard for me to tell you if you should go with another dealer. That's somewhat of a personal decision dependent upon your needs, frustration, etc. At this stage, you may have to wait for a 2001 model if you reorder. But then again, from what your dealer is telling you, you might end up getting a 2001 model anyway if you stay put.
However, as Sherwoodfor cites, it would be wise to check with other dealerships recommended in prior posts. You might find one per your order sitting on a lot. You might check out Lone Star Ford in Houston (if distance isn't an issue). You can research their inventory via the web pretty painlessly. I believe their address is www.lonestarford.com. Unfortunately, I don't have a POC at this dealership. However, there is a POC provided in an earlier post.
Let us know what you decide. There are many of us out here that feel your pain.
spudwiggley: I admire your patience!! It seems your configuration should be available at another dealer. I gave up on an order after 8 weeks or so and searched 5 states till I found the truck I was looking for. If you don't mind a little distance I would think you could have your truck soon. Just my thoughts................
all...
we're making ready for the BIG trip.. at least 4k miles with hauling right at the 20k GCWR. the truck is awesome in regard to pulling our fiver... pulling 8 degree grades in high gear with hardly a slow down at all. we can pull those grades at 6omph (we normally pull at 65). for those not familiar with our config it's SB CC DRW 4X4 4.1 diff manual tranny PSD ESOF. the only screw up we made in the config is we should NOT have ordered esof because we can't DISengage the front hubs & still get the 4x4 xfer case low range (esof comes with "auto" / free... not free/locked). why'd we want to do that? because you shouldn't engage this position on hard pavement with all wheels in "grabby" mode. we really need that low range gearing when backing the fiver.. but don't want "grabby" when on hard payment. esof gives us no choice but having the grabby front wheels with the low xfer case gearing. oh, well. NEXT time. will post just b4 leaving on the 25th. -Lee
As far as being over GVWR, I'm not over by much. I'd venture a guess that I am over by less than most people with hard side campers on single rear wheel trucks, especially the more deluxe ones like the Fleetwood Caribou, Lance Legend and the Bigfoots. All three manufacturers make light models, so there are options, but clearly a lot of people are running over weight. The GVWR for my truck is 11,200 pounds. Loaded for a trip, including 38 gallons of gas, 30 gallons of water, two full tanks of propane, camping gear, clothes and me and a passenger, and I'm sitting around 11,700ish.
Everyone has their opinion on being a little over GVWR, and I would never encourage anyone to run overweight, but in my opinion, that's well within the comfort zone for brakes and other vehicle components. Although I never had a rear end sag that made the back squat lower than the front, the addition of the airbags raised it back up to around the normal level, which is optimum for braking and handling. The duallys eliminate much of the side to side and I plan to add Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks, which will further improve handling. The truck runs great with the load, and I'm not over the GAWR of either axle.
My question is do I go with the 350, or the 250 with the camper package? Whichever way I go, I'm looking at a crew cab, V-10, 4.30LS, SRW, tow package, + bells & whistles. Also, I want to stay with the short box if possible. Will that be a problem?
From everything I've read, these are hard to come by. Anybody know of a dealer with some available? I'm in eastern North Dakota. Any help would be appreciated.
http://www.ford-diesel.com/faq/1999faq/FAQ-Hauling.htm