1200 miles and still snap, crackle and pop during and after running. Kind of unnerving, but everyone seems to be having it.
BTW, does any Lariat owner have instantaneous gas mileage readout? So far, in answer to my question, only average MPG, miles to go and temperature are available.
Also, the average is pretty darn accurate. On the last tank, the average was 10.0 for 294 miles. The fillup was 29.4 gallons. Not bad for a computer. Couldn't have been a pentium.
involute, I have my eye on a mini CB at Walmart that I think will fit in the cubby hole to the right of the steering wheel. I don't remember the brand. I was thinking I might mount it where you did above the TC shifter too. But I would like to have it go on and off with the key switch instead of constant power like the lighter would have. Anybody have an idea where an easy place to tap into for automatic on/off with the key switch? I really haven't looked yet, but there may be an empty fuse slot that I can tap into in the fuse box. thanks, Ken
From reading everyone's information on the F-250SD I came to the realization of not to order and to buy what is available on the lot. My local dealer has two available but not color we are looking for. But I don't think waiting several weeks or months is worth if for just a color change. Sticker price is a shocker but it's the 90's now and everything costs more. The other draw back on the two available is the fact they are both diesels and I would prefer gas.
If you come up with a good place to tap in to a spot that only powers with the ignition please let me know. I wouldn't mind setting mine up that way also. The owners manual shows some spots in the fuse box as "not used". Whether or not there is power to them, I didn't take the time to find out. If there is power I am still not sure how to go about tapping in to it easily. I am not all that confident in my electrical skills.
Here's the latest scoop...on Ford & 5th's... With my '99 SD, Ext Cab, 4x4...I've got a problem..SIDES of truck measure 57"(exactly)...underside of new'99 Terry 5J(and most 5th's) measures 59"(exactly), leaving 2 inches..NOT ENOUGH! Closer to 8" is best!! Here's the hitch(pun!!). Feb 1st, Ford issued TSB, authorizing Dealers to install KIT(by removing 4" block, resizing brake lining, etc.)Feb 15th...per Ford Dealership in Glendale, AZ....Ford issued their latest TSB..NOT TO AUTHORIZE ANY DEALERSHIP TO INSTALL KIT THAT DROPS TRUCK NEARLY 4 INCHES...why? Because in the field, there were incidents of the DRIVE SHAFTS shattering due to the increased pressure on the pinion flanges, etc. in addition to the trucks, "sagging" as the AZ dlr put it! Keep in mind, however, per the AZ dlr....that latest TSB was only on the computer system for 2 days!! If your local dlr. missed it...to keep you as a satisfied customer, he'll change the trk hgt. by removing the blocks totally. WRONG!!! Per the engineers at Ford, Ky. Plt., 4X4"s will now come down the line with a 2 inch block, not a 4". Without question, I will be calling Mark Wilson(suprv. of eng. changes)on Monday to verify this latest procedure. I apologize for the length of this msg....but it's critical to the 5th wheel haulers...what it means...yes, you will probably have to "flip" the axles on your 5th...and get the trk lowered by 2 inches!! And, undoubtedly, you'll be PAYING for both procedures! P.S. With only 1000 mi., our V-10 is currently sitting at the serv. ctr...."Serv. Eng. Soon" light went on...acceleration became intermittent and severe vibration of entire trk. almost caused us to pull the unit to the side of the road on the way to the service center...we're lucky!! Good Luck to All!! JB
I ordered the trailer towing package on mine. I was asking the same question you are, to this forum about six months ago. Nobody ever answered. I think that almost everyone gets the trailer towing or camper package or both. My dealer said that the trailer towing included a tranny cooler and engine oil cooler even though it is not listed in any of the information sheets. The engine oil cooler is a strange set up by the way. There are oil lines coming from near the oil filter and running into the lower radiator hose. I bet the lower radiator hose will cost a lot to replace when it gets old. Anyway, the trailer towing package includes a heavy duty battery and alternator and some electrical crap that will let you hook up electric trailer brakes easier. So for about $175, it isn't too bad a deal even if the oil coolers are standard. I figured on a 30 grand truck, whats 175 bucks? So I ordered it. Plus it enabled me to get the factory trailer hitch that you can't get unless you order the trailer towing or camper package. I could kick myself in the butt for not ordering the back door privacy glass on my crew cab for about $100. If you order a truck without the towing package and find out that you don't have the oil coolers, you will kick yourself also.
CB-Radio for the F250's I agree that the handhelds are not a good CB to use. Being a good old HAM Radio opertor, I am in the progress of installing ham gear and of corse a good CB which I think is a must for treaveling on the road with friends or just to get road information. What I have came up with so for is to make an angle bracket that mounts on the fenders. In that I mean that it will fits down in between the hood and fender and screws into fender on the inside. I will have this set-up complete in a next week and if you guys want a picture of it, I will take one and have it scanned in and can send you one by email. I have used this set-up on several vans and trucks. It does not harm the paint and all screws are hidden when the hood is down. however, uyou will have a bracket on the front of the hood just to the left of the driver. Other that that the best method I have seen on loder trucks is to find a ant. that will mount flush in the roof. This type os set-up requires drilling a hole in the roof. This can be accomplish by removing the interior light to obtain access to the bottom of the ant. mount and ease of running the coax. Mor on this type os set-up if anyone is interested. As far as running the coax inside the cab, I will have that worked out next week since I will be leaving for a 4 day bussiness trip later on tomorrow. PS still upset with the fuel mileage. Will take the truck in for service next week and will talk to the dealer about it. only 15 MPG max on interstate empty at 70 MPH. Question: can anyone tell me what the RPM should be at 70 with the 3:73 limited slip Rear-end?
Thanks for the thought, I will check in to it this weekend. It sounds like a good idea. As long as I can figure out where to tap in. As I said, I am a little lacking in electrical know how.
Leman's,
I am interested in a picture of your bracket. As far as the coax being fed in to the cab, I just sliced a small cut in the boot that is on the hood release cable. I also used a thinner cable that I bought at Radio Shack ("RG258 Mini-Thin" or something like that). I paid about $3 for 6 feet of it. The downside to this method is that I had to put the end adaptors on the coax myself. I thought it was a pain in the neck. But with the adaptors in place there was no way to feed the coax through the small rubber grommet.
I just heard about this site today. It seems that they have some pro Ford mechanics that volunteer to answer questions. I haven't tried them out yet, but may some time. They also have other subjects to ask experts about. The site is: http://www.allexperts.com/cars/fordr.shtml
I'm retiring. My wife and I would like to tour the country. We're considering buying a new Ford F-350 4x4 SRW Super Duty extended cab longbed pickup and a camper. The camper will weigh between 3,400 and 3,600 pounds with options and fluids. We plan to tow a motorcycle on a trailer. We'd like to avoid a dually, because our garage opening is only 8.5 inches wider than the dually's rear end. We've heard 'horror stories' about the Triton V10 getting only 9-10 MPG, on the highway and UNLOADED. The Powerstroke offers much better fuel economy. However, if I get the Powerstroke engine (additional 635 pounds) and 4x4 (additional 445 pounds), my cargo carrying capacity will be significantly reduced. Ford says that the maximum cargo weight of the F-350 Superduty with an 8' box, 4x4 and diesel, is only 2,922 pounds. Questions: Can you tell me what gas mileage to expect with the V10? Can the F-350 be 'strengthened' with any of Ford's 'packages' to allow us to have the diesel, 4x4 and camper? Any suggestions? THANKS!
rkquinn: For full safety with a heavy camper, you really want the DRW. That gives you a greatly enhanced payload capacity, and makes it a lot less likely that you get tire failure (a concern with a heavy load in an SRW).
As for the V10, I have the 4.30:1 gears in a crew cab 4X4 DRW and get around 11.5mpg highway unloaded (fairly fast). The 3.73:1 (all you would need) would get you 13-14 mpg based on the numbers reported here.
The diesel pays for itself, but only after 100K miles. If you're doing 40K highway a year, go for the diesel! If not, remember that it's close on a $4000 option -- which can buy a lot of gas! Its also noisier (although a lot less so than it used to be) which was a factor for me on long highway trips. Buying diesel can also be a pain in more remote areas when you're way-low on fuel (I speak from experience, my last truck was an F350 diesel that I loved, and put 100K on).
Personally -- I'd take the V10 with 3.73:1 gears. If you want to, you could add a Gale Banks powerpack (around $2.5K) you can get somewhat better power and mileage, and it should pay for itself in around 65K miles.
I have a question for you knowledgeable people out there. I am trying to place an order for: 1999 F 250, SC,long bed,diesel, 6 gear manual trans,4x4, (no esof).I communicated with a few dealerships that priced it from $200 to $1000 over invoice. Point is - I need it no later then early June. Home base will be California.Currently residing in Israel,I have to 'shop' - negociate,order and pay via phone / email / fax. Maybe someone knows of a decent,honest,good hearted Ford dealer that is able to take my business - delivery by June and near invoice price ??? Any help will be HIGHLY appreciated. TIA, Isaac (from Israel).
Just received the kit today. Will install tomorrow. Very simple installation. According to Pat Barret at Level 10, this kit will make the tranny come to life and is much better than the electronic versions. The kit consists of 3 springs and 2 valves. They developed this same kit for Ford to put into trucks and expeditions that were sent over seas to the middle east. Along with the hydro kit, I ordered a pcm chip that adds 70ft/lb. of torque to motor and fine tunes the tranny. Will post tomorrow on the results.
I currently have 2 tired old pickups that I am going to sell or trade in on a new one. I've looked at Dodge Rams, Chevrolets and Fords. The only domestic pickup I've ever owned are Fords, they were pretty tough. I may decide to buy a Ford SD F250, crew cab, Lariat with just about every option. Yesterday I drove a powerstroke diesel and a 5.4L with a 4.10 LS diff., there is a world of difference between them. I usually keep my vehicles for at least 10 yrs., so I will probably opt for the diesel. I see some of you frustrated with the long delivery dates and talking about priority numbers or something to that effect. Just what exactly do these numbers mean and who sets them?
My Ford dealer told me my truck arrived at his dealership in Beaverton, Oregon yesterday. That's an F250SD SC XLT SB V10 Auto 4x4 3.73LS ESOF Camper Package -- white. This put my wait at just under 13 weeks from the date I ordered it. The dealer had estimated 10 weeks -- close enough. My expectant waiting -- and my talking about it -- inspired my co-workers to give me a "shower"...with truck-related presents even. I pick up my baby in two days. Yippee!
I just got my new F350 SRW and loaded a 2900# dry camper on it to bring it home. Its too much camper. The rear sags and sway is bad. I am getting additional helper springs put on today and will install RS 9000 shocks ASAP.
If you don't off road a lot, get the F350 and put air bags on it. I've seen 3500# campers on F250's with air bags and they ride very well. I just wouldn't use them in off road, actually off pavement, situations.
I have the V10 with the 4.30 read end. I get 10.0 to 10.5 (with 1500 miles on truck) in the city unloaded and 12-13 on the highway unloaded. That's better than my old 460 on my 92 F250. We'll see what happens when I put the camper on.
The payload capacity is a misnomer. My truck supposedly has a payload capacity of 3536#, but my camper ceritificate in the glove box is only around #2750. I believe it after seeing the rear end sag with only 2900# in it.
Now I may be paranoid about sag and sway, but I was not comfortable driving it around town, much less in the mountains on rough, dirt roads. So I will supplement the suspension with additional springs and RS9000 shocks. There are a lot of people who are very happy with the air bags solution also, I just don't trust them in the hills.
Any other questions, just email me or post. Good luck.
Its well worth checking the information that your Ford dealer has for campers, detailing the capacities of the trucks with varying equipment and packages.
What's the difference in weight limits for campers vs. other cargo? Is the weight typically distributed differently? I could see that if you had an over-the-cab section it would force more weight on the front axle than a standard load in the bed -- is this the difference?
We want to be safe, first and foremost. Can the F350 be rendered "safe" with the spring/shock modifications? If not, we'll just have to get a lighter camper? (Or we might chance parking a DRW in our garage, with only 4" clearance on either side.) Bigfoot makes an excellent 1,660 pound (dry weight) 9.5 foot camper that we could live with. Of course, we'd prefer the better insulated and equipped 2,450 pound (dry weight) 10.5 footer.
Are the RS9000 shocks a brand or a classification? Where would I go to get springs modified (what sort of shop)? Is there a particular spring setup that you will ask for, or will you leave it up to the shop to pick what's needed? What about beefing up the capacity of the tires? As stanford points out, DRW would protect against a dangerous tire failure. I've heard that Goodyear makes a tire that is rated to 3,400 pounds. Any suggestions about tires?
Stanford and crcrain, I'd be interested to know why you picked the V10 over the diesel, if you have the time.
Your shocks should never (IMO) be used to carry the weight of your vehicle, merely to smooth out the ride. If your springs aren't strong enough, or your tires are too weak, making your truck 'feel' better won't help you when you break down 20,000 miles down the road in the middle of nowhere.
I went with the V10 because of several reasons:
First was that I'm concerned about the long-term maintenance costs (after the 100Kmile warranty expires). You may not have that concern, but if you're planning to sell the vehicle before that point I don't think the fuel savings will more than cover the initial cost of purchase.
Second, while the new cab insulation combined with engine mods make the new diesels a lot quieter than before (my '93 was a pain on the highway), the gas is quieter still. With a few layers of dynomat, its darn near inaudible.
The new V10 is a much better design than the old 460, for my purposes at any rate. It gets decent mileage (and I do think that 11-12 highway mpg for a vehicle waying over 7000lbs with 4.30:1 rear-end gears is decent). Its strong enough to pull 7000# without really straining. Empty or with a couple of thousand pounds in the bed, I can start off in 2nd gear without much difficulty -- I'm not regretting the 4.30s though, they do make it more spritely with the trailer, and make heavier trailers (record so far is ~11000#) feel more like a managable u-haul :-)
Filling up with gas is a lot more convenient than filling up with diesel. On the interstates its not too bad, but in town I was caught in no-diesel-here land more than once when I'd waited too long to fuel up.
Having said all that, I still miss my diesel. Nothing quite makes up for the feel of all that power underfoot, and the extreme low-gear power that it has. Still, for the same price as the diesel markup I can add a supercharger to the V10 that will put it in the same power category if it comes to that (probably won't). I will add the Powerpack when its finally released in full production -- from the reported gains in mileage it'll pay for itself in 60-70K, but will have no negative maintenance issues (like the diesel does) and will add a fair bit of power.
It comes down to a personal decision. For my driving style (20-30K per year, 1/2 city, 1/2 long trips) the V10 just made more sense. Other people live different lives and drive different trucks.
In your situation, with no real heavy towing and long trips, I'd get an F350 DRW V10 with 3.73:1 gears and add a Powerpack (or equally well respected and tested equivelent). Of course, in the end its up to you.
I haven't updated my situation in awhile as there hasn't been any good news to report. Until today. After fighting with my dealer for the last two weeks on where the truck was, I finally went to the source and called the Ford plant. First the dealer told me that Ford moved my build date from 2-22 to 3-1, the I was told that they thought the truck was built,but not sure where it is at. So I called Bruce at the Ford plant and he told me the truck was built on 2-19 and shipped on 2-22 so I should be close to finally getting it. Today is exactly 28 weeks from order. I will let everyone know when this nightmare is over. I do want to let everyone know that Bruce was extremely helpful and very courteous to deal with.
I don't mind digging back through the 500 or so posts here to find the phone number of the factory/ Bruce, however if you would repost that number it might be helpful for others as well. I have a feeling I'm going to need it in a few weeks.
WELL FORD FANS I JUST ORDERED A SD F250 LARIAT TODAY WITH THE DIESEL, WILL TRY TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ON MY PROGRESS. THIS IS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS THIS IS MY FIRST NEW TRUCK OR CAR THAT I HAVE EVER ORDERED.
I talked to my dealer tonight about my 12 day old order. I told him I would like the priority code lowered from 14 to a 10-13. He seemed suprised that I knew about the priority codes and said he would get it lowered tommorrow. He indicated I am in for a wait, though he is still saying 8 weeks. From what I am reading here, that is overly optimistic, especially since my truck has not been scheduled for production. The great thing about our forum here is that we can learn from each other and I really appreciate that Edmunds provides us the opportunity.
Wonderful results! Firm, solid shifts without jarring your teeth. The Level 10 hydrosystem is the way to go if you want the most from your Tansmission. Have not had the chance to pull my travel trailer because of recent snowfall, but am anxious to see how it performs. The pcm chip was an even bigger boost. Accleration is quicker through every gear. The transmission upshifts solid and holds the gear to just the right moment then grabs the next gear and takes off. The downshifts are less frequent too, accelerates in OD at lower speeds instead of downshifting to 3rd. Best money spent. Highly recommend.
I ordered my f-350 srw, super-cab, 4x4, xlt, v-10, on 2/8/99. I went back to the dealer and checked over the order and it had a priority code of 28. Is this good or bad?
The delivery time is very realistic. If the dealer is being honest with you, 6-8 weeks is very realistic. I know because I received my truck in July after 6 weeks. It was a reorder but, that does not dictate delivery time. If the dealer lowers your priority, has a good allocation, and is not backed up on there orders, you should be ok. Profit can also dictate dealer priority.
TNT,
Would this tranny upgrade be applicable for the PSD engine. I really did not know if you had the gas or diesel. I have the PSD and I'm very happy with it. If performance and/or efficiency can be enhanced then I'm all for it. Fill me in. Thanks!
I ordered my V-10 CC SRW 4X4 ON JAN 15TH Can anyone tell me if I should get the limited slip axle. I'm getting the 3.73. I will be towing a 28 foot travel trailer. Appreciate any input.
I looked through the "Ford Pickup Trucks 1999 Model Year Consumer Information Truck - Camper Loading" booklet (see your dealer) and the it looks like there is no way to get anywhere near 3600# camper onto a SRW SuperCab 4x4 F350. Even if you go with the lightest options available it's under 3000#. DRW will allow you to carry it even with some of the heavy options, although the PSD may be close. Take a trip to your dealer and ask for the booklet (and maybe a quick lesson from the truck fleet manager on how to read it if the salesman doesn't know). It's very useful for those of us with weight concerns. (I may have upgraded to a F450 if I had seen it soon enough. I'll be OK with my DRW PSD CC LWD, just won't have the margin I wanted.)
I'm sure the F350 SRW will be fine. I got the spring package put on yesterday and RS9000's tommorrow. I will load the camper saturday and see how it looks and feels. I've seen a Squire 9800 on an F250 SC 4x4 diesel with air bags and it was just fine on the road - as long as you inflated the air bags.
Bigfoot is a nice camper, but too pricey for me.
The RS9000 is a 5 position adjustable shock from Rancho, the off road suspension people. I want it to improve the ride unloaded (setting 1) and to provide some more sway control loaded (setting 5). Everyone that has them that I've heard from really likes them.
I had a triangle spring package installed that boosts the load capacity to 5500#. On an F350, the single overload is removed and a whole new set of springs installed over the factory. They are engaged by the overload stops on the frame, so they never come into play until the truck is loaded. A local suspension shop installed them. They were recommended by the Camper dealer.
BTW, my camper certificate reads 2466#. That is a lot lower than I expected, but if they included 6 adults and 38 gals of gas, that's pretty close to what I expected.
The V10 was not a hard decision. I only live 9 miles from work. Not good for a diesel. I only drive 10-15k miles per year. Not enough payback for the investment. Gas is easier to find than diesel and if I ever get another boat, it will run on gas, not diesel. (Use the old Oklahoma Credit Card.)
I'm one step closer to joining the "club". Ordered the truck tonight: F250 SC Lariat 4x4 158" WB V10 Auto 3.73LS. $200 over invoice came out to $28,764, wityh a priority 10. Dealer is Atchley Ford in Omaha, NE. They said the truck could come in as soon as 5 weeks-they said most of their orders since Jan. have been running that length-unless there's a hold up for a certain part. They didn't know of any hold ups currently. Atchley is the largest volume Ford dealer in cars in the state and the gen'l manager said because of that Ford gives them priority on all orders, including trucks. We'll see about that. Anyway, this could be a long five weeks or so. Can't wait.
I also have the PSD in my CC 4x4 DRW 4.10. Here is the best part. After a full day of mixed rural and highway driving, stopping and starting, I got 19.7 mpg! That was babying it though. I was still shocked. I was fully expecting the mpg to go down with the extra performance of the chip, added 70ft/lbs. It is hard to resist all that extra power, though. I'm quite certain I can get 21-22 on the highway, I will check today on a section of highway that I've measured many times, best has been 17.2. Might pull the chip to see what the hydrosystem alone will do for mpg. Wonder what it would do for the v-10? ..... TIM
Does anybody have any idea what the average price over/under invoice that the new F250 Crew Cab/ Lariats/PS diesel trucks are going for? Is there really such a shortage out there?
Heard from my dealer just now, Prestige Ford in Garland, Texas. My truck is scheduled for production the week of March 8th and the Dealer ETA is the week of March 22nd! This was without a change in the #14 prority status. Kudos to Karl Thormalen and Glen Wilson at Prestige Ford.
Remember, Prestige is the #1 volume F-Series dealer on the planet. Last time I checked they had over 1,000 F-150s on the lot! Because of this, they have huge allotments. Waiting for your order to actually go to Ford is the only wait that's really long -- and the easiest one to control. I went there, but they were rude and abrupt, so I ordered my $36K truck from Texoma Ford in Dennison. Volume works both ways -- I got the impression that they didn't need my business, and they knew it.
4 weeks into my wait... Not too bad if you keep really busy. Can anyone enlighten me as to whether or not the passenger side airbag has the key disable feature in a crewcab? I saw a conversion with it, but at a recent expo, the stock CC had none. Thank you!
I talked with US Gear and they couldn't tell me anything definite on their chip, except that it would be at least 6 months before they would have it. Bank's is to release theirs next month, but that's also "iffy". Level 10's chip was $100 more, but is out now and was tuned to my truck specs, pcm code, and their hydrosystem.
Stanford - After being treated like that, I would have gone elsewhere took, the last thing I want is a salesman with an attitude. I will say that my experience with them has been good, so far.
Primespt - 4 weeks wait may be a new record <?>, congratulations. As for the #99 Priority code, I have no clue.
TNT2 - I spoke with U.S. Gear last week and they said the '99 chip would be ready within a month. They put my name/address on a notification list. Meanwhile, Im going to check into Level 10 chip you mentioned. Thanks....
The passenger side air bag disable switch is only on the regular cab and super cab. I guess they figure with a crew cab you will put all the little tykes in the back. --------------------- I would guess that getting the truck in one month with a priority 99 my be that it is a regular cab. Regular cabs make up a small amount of Super D purchases, so there is less "competition" waiting to be built. Also if it wasn't an XLT or Lariat there are less "short supply" parts. ... Just a guess.
I'm about to order a 250,CC,4X4,AUTO,V10 and I am having a hard time deciding between the 4.30 limited slip and the 3.73 limited slip. will probably be towing 5000lbs + occasionally and that makes me tend towards the 4.30, but I am concerned about the difference in gas mileage. My dealer wasn't much help with this issue. I would appreciate any information.
lemans, I never saw where you published your rear end ratio. You have some good points about the cost and maintenence of the PSD. I would buy a V10 if I could get good fuel milage AND be able to withstand the mid summer heat down here in Texas. So far the only trucks I see with cool occupants on a construction site are guys with PSD's. Keeps the dog happy, too.
mje - many thanks for the phone number, I did get the VIN yesterday when my dealer faxed over the latest update he has
I saw an '99 SD 350 4x4 with Goodyear 305/70R-16 tires and aftermarket aluminum wheels, probably 8 inches wide. This setup looks terrific. The trucks owner says he has not had any clearance problems whatsoever. I was considering the 285/75R -16 B.F.G. All Terrain TA's, which I am running on my 97 P.S. Has anyone used the Goodyears?
Comments
BTW, does any Lariat owner have instantaneous gas mileage readout? So far, in answer to my question, only average MPG, miles to go and temperature are available.
Also, the average is pretty darn accurate. On the last tank, the average was 10.0 for 294 miles. The fillup was 29.4 gallons. Not bad for a computer. Couldn't have been a pentium.
I have my eye on a mini CB at Walmart that I think will fit in the cubby hole to the right of the steering wheel. I don't remember the brand. I was thinking I might mount it where you did above the TC shifter too.
But I would like to have it go on and off with the key switch instead of constant power like the lighter would have. Anybody have an idea where an easy place to tap into for automatic on/off with the key switch? I really haven't looked yet, but there may be an empty fuse slot that I can tap into in the fuse box.
thanks, Ken
No expert here, but find out where your wipers are tied into. That's the first thing that comes to mind as far as being powered at startup.
With my '99 SD, Ext Cab, 4x4...I've got a problem..SIDES of truck measure 57"(exactly)...underside of new'99 Terry 5J(and most 5th's) measures 59"(exactly), leaving 2 inches..NOT ENOUGH! Closer to 8" is best!! Here's the hitch(pun!!). Feb 1st, Ford issued TSB, authorizing Dealers to install KIT(by removing 4" block, resizing brake lining, etc.)Feb 15th...per Ford Dealership in Glendale, AZ....Ford issued their latest TSB..NOT TO AUTHORIZE ANY DEALERSHIP TO INSTALL KIT THAT DROPS TRUCK NEARLY 4 INCHES...why? Because in the field, there were incidents of the DRIVE SHAFTS shattering due to the increased pressure on the pinion flanges, etc.
in addition to the trucks, "sagging" as the AZ dlr put it! Keep in mind, however, per the AZ dlr....that latest TSB was only on the computer system for 2 days!! If your local dlr. missed it...to keep you as a satisfied customer, he'll change the trk hgt. by removing the blocks totally. WRONG!!! Per the engineers at Ford, Ky. Plt., 4X4"s will now come down the line with a 2 inch block, not a 4". Without question, I will be calling Mark Wilson(suprv. of eng. changes)on Monday to verify this latest procedure.
I apologize for the length of this msg....but it's critical to the 5th wheel haulers...what it means...yes, you will probably have to "flip" the axles on your 5th...and get the trk lowered by 2 inches!! And, undoubtedly, you'll be PAYING for both procedures!
P.S. With only 1000 mi., our V-10 is currently sitting at the serv. ctr...."Serv. Eng. Soon" light went on...acceleration became intermittent and severe vibration of entire trk. almost caused us to pull the unit to the side of the road on the way to the service center...we're lucky!!
Good Luck to All!! JB
I could kick myself in the butt for not ordering the back door privacy glass on my crew cab for about $100. If you order a truck without the towing package and find out that you don't have the oil coolers, you will kick yourself also.
PS still upset with the fuel mileage. Will take the truck in for service next week and will talk to the dealer about it. only 15 MPG max on interstate empty at 70 MPH.
Question: can anyone tell me what the RPM should be at 70 with the 3:73 limited slip Rear-end?
I hear you big guy, I hear you!
Tnt,
Tell me more about what your plans are for your tranny and what you will accomplish. It sounds interesting.
Mroffshore
Thanks for the thought, I will check in to it this weekend. It sounds like a good idea. As long as I can figure out where to tap in. As I said, I am a little lacking in electrical know how.
Leman's,
I am interested in a picture of your bracket. As far as the coax being fed in to the cab, I just sliced a small cut in the boot that is on the hood release cable. I also used a thinner cable that I bought at Radio Shack ("RG258 Mini-Thin" or something like that). I paid about $3 for 6 feet of it. The downside to this method is that I had to put the end adaptors on the coax myself. I thought it was a pain in the neck. But with the adaptors in place there was no way to feed the coax through the small rubber grommet.
The site is: http://www.allexperts.com/cars/fordr.shtml
rkquinn: For full safety with a heavy camper, you really want the DRW. That gives you a greatly enhanced payload capacity, and makes it a lot less likely that you get tire failure (a concern with a heavy load in an SRW).
As for the V10, I have the 4.30:1 gears in a crew cab 4X4 DRW and get around 11.5mpg highway unloaded (fairly fast). The 3.73:1 (all you would need) would get you 13-14 mpg based on the numbers reported here.
The diesel pays for itself, but only after 100K miles. If you're doing 40K highway a year, go for the diesel! If not, remember that it's close on a $4000 option -- which can buy a lot of gas! Its also noisier (although a lot less so than it used to be) which was a factor for me on long highway trips. Buying diesel can also be a pain in more remote areas when you're way-low on fuel (I speak from experience, my last truck was an F350 diesel that I loved, and put 100K on).
Personally -- I'd take the V10 with 3.73:1 gears. If you want to, you could add a Gale Banks powerpack (around $2.5K) you can get somewhat better power and mileage, and it should pay for itself in around 65K miles.
250, SC,long bed,diesel, 6 gear manual trans,4x4,
(no esof).I communicated with a few dealerships
that priced it from $200 to $1000 over invoice.
Point is - I need it no later then early June.
Home base will be California.Currently residing
in Israel,I have to 'shop' - negociate,order and
pay via phone / email / fax.
Maybe someone knows of a decent,honest,good hearted Ford dealer that is able to take my business - delivery by June and near invoice
price ???
Any help will be HIGHLY appreciated.
TIA, Isaac (from Israel).
probably opt for the diesel. I see some of you
frustrated with the long delivery dates and talking about priority numbers or something to that effect. Just what exactly do these numbers mean and who sets them?
This put my wait at just under 13 weeks from the date I ordered it. The dealer had estimated 10 weeks -- close enough. My expectant waiting -- and my talking about it -- inspired my co-workers to give me a "shower"...with truck-related presents even.
I pick up my baby in two days. Yippee!
I just got my new F350 SRW and loaded a 2900# dry camper on it to bring it home. Its too much camper. The rear sags and sway is bad. I am getting additional helper springs put on today and will install RS 9000 shocks ASAP.
If you don't off road a lot, get the F350 and put air bags on it. I've seen 3500# campers on F250's with air bags and they ride very well. I just wouldn't use them in off road, actually off pavement, situations.
I have the V10 with the 4.30 read end. I get 10.0 to 10.5 (with 1500 miles on truck) in the city unloaded and 12-13 on the highway unloaded. That's better than my old 460 on my 92 F250. We'll see what happens when I put the camper on.
The payload capacity is a misnomer. My truck supposedly has a payload capacity of 3536#, but my camper ceritificate in the glove box is only around #2750. I believe it after seeing the rear end sag with only 2900# in it.
Now I may be paranoid about sag and sway, but I was not comfortable driving it around town, much less in the mountains on rough, dirt roads. So I will supplement the suspension with additional springs and RS9000 shocks. There are a lot of people who are very happy with the air bags solution also, I just don't trust them in the hills.
Any other questions, just email me or post. Good luck.
What's the difference in weight limits for campers vs. other cargo? Is the weight typically distributed differently? I could see that if you had an over-the-cab section it would force more weight on the front axle than a standard load in the bed -- is this the difference?
Thanks for your help!
We want to be safe, first and foremost. Can the F350 be rendered "safe" with the spring/shock modifications? If not, we'll just have to get a lighter camper? (Or we might chance parking a DRW in our garage, with only 4" clearance on either side.) Bigfoot makes an excellent 1,660 pound (dry weight) 9.5 foot camper that we could live with. Of course, we'd prefer the better insulated and equipped 2,450 pound (dry weight) 10.5 footer.
Are the RS9000 shocks a brand or a classification? Where would I go to get springs modified (what sort of shop)? Is there a particular spring setup that you will ask for, or will you leave it up to the shop to pick what's needed? What about beefing up the capacity of the tires? As stanford points out, DRW would protect against a dangerous tire failure. I've heard that Goodyear makes a tire that is rated to 3,400 pounds. Any suggestions about tires?
Stanford and crcrain, I'd be interested to know why you picked the V10 over the diesel, if you have the time.
Thanks again, everyone!
I went with the V10 because of several reasons:
First was that I'm concerned about the long-term maintenance costs (after the 100Kmile warranty expires). You may not have that concern, but if you're planning to sell the vehicle before that point I don't think the fuel savings will more than cover the initial cost of purchase.
Second, while the new cab insulation combined with engine mods make the new diesels a lot quieter than before (my '93 was a pain on the highway), the gas is quieter still. With a few layers of dynomat, its darn near inaudible.
The new V10 is a much better design than the old 460, for my purposes at any rate. It gets decent mileage (and I do think that 11-12 highway mpg for a vehicle waying over 7000lbs with 4.30:1 rear-end gears is decent). Its strong enough to pull 7000# without really straining. Empty or with a couple of thousand pounds in the bed, I can start off in 2nd gear without much difficulty -- I'm not regretting the 4.30s though, they do make it more spritely with the trailer, and make heavier trailers (record so far is ~11000#) feel more like a managable u-haul :-)
Filling up with gas is a lot more convenient than filling up with diesel. On the interstates its not too bad, but in town I was caught in no-diesel-here land more than once when I'd waited too long to fuel up.
Having said all that, I still miss my diesel. Nothing quite makes up for the feel of all that power underfoot, and the extreme low-gear power that it has. Still, for the same price as the diesel markup I can add a supercharger to the V10 that will put it in the same power category if it comes to that (probably won't). I will add the Powerpack when its finally released in full production -- from the reported gains in mileage it'll pay for itself in 60-70K, but will have no negative maintenance issues (like the diesel does) and will add a fair bit of power.
It comes down to a personal decision. For my driving style (20-30K per year, 1/2 city, 1/2 long trips) the V10 just made more sense. Other people live different lives and drive different trucks.
In your situation, with no real heavy towing and long trips, I'd get an F350 DRW V10 with 3.73:1 gears and add a Powerpack (or equally well respected and tested equivelent). Of course, in the end its up to you.
After fighting with my dealer for the last two weeks on where the truck was, I finally went to the source and called the Ford plant. First the dealer told me that Ford moved my build date from 2-22 to 3-1, the I was told that they thought the truck was built,but not sure where it is at. So I called Bruce at the Ford plant and he told me the truck was built on 2-19 and shipped on 2-22 so I should be close to finally getting it. Today is exactly 28 weeks from order. I will let everyone know when this nightmare is over. I do want to let everyone know that Bruce was extremely helpful and very courteous to deal with.
CAR THAT I HAVE EVER ORDERED.
I told him I would like the priority code lowered from 14 to a 10-13. He seemed suprised that I knew about the priority codes and said he would get it lowered tommorrow. He indicated I am in for a wait, though he is still saying 8 weeks. From what I am reading here, that is overly optimistic, especially since my truck has not been scheduled for production.
The great thing about our forum here is that we can learn from each other and I really appreciate that Edmunds provides us the opportunity.
Wow! What a great response. THANKS for the time you spent! I just printed out your message and will study it.
The delivery time is very realistic. If the dealer
is being honest with you, 6-8 weeks is very realistic. I know because I received my truck in July after 6 weeks. It was a reorder but, that does not dictate delivery time. If the dealer lowers your priority, has a good allocation, and is not backed up on there orders, you should be ok. Profit can also dictate dealer priority.
TNT,
Would this tranny upgrade be applicable for the PSD engine. I really did not know if you had the gas or diesel. I have the PSD and I'm very happy with it. If performance and/or efficiency can be enhanced then I'm all for it. Fill me in.
Thanks!
Mroffshore
Take a trip to your dealer and ask for the booklet (and maybe a quick lesson from the truck fleet manager on how to read it if the salesman doesn't know). It's very useful for those of us with weight concerns. (I may have upgraded to a F450 if I had seen it soon enough. I'll be OK with my DRW PSD CC LWD, just won't have the margin I wanted.)
I'm sure the F350 SRW will be fine. I got the spring package put on yesterday and RS9000's tommorrow. I will load the camper saturday and see how it looks and feels. I've seen a Squire 9800 on an F250 SC 4x4 diesel with air bags and it was just fine on the road - as long as you inflated the air bags.
Bigfoot is a nice camper, but too pricey for me.
The RS9000 is a 5 position adjustable shock from Rancho, the off road suspension people. I want it to improve the ride unloaded (setting 1) and to provide some more sway control loaded (setting 5). Everyone that has them that I've heard from really likes them.
I had a triangle spring package installed that boosts the load capacity to 5500#. On an F350, the single overload is removed and a whole new set of springs installed over the factory. They are engaged by the overload stops on the frame, so they never come into play until the truck is loaded. A local suspension shop installed them. They were recommended by the Camper dealer.
BTW, my camper certificate reads 2466#. That is a lot lower than I expected, but if they included 6 adults and 38 gals of gas, that's pretty close to what I expected.
The V10 was not a hard decision. I only live 9 miles from work. Not good for a diesel. I only drive 10-15k miles per year. Not enough payback for the investment. Gas is easier to find than diesel and if I ever get another boat, it will run on gas, not diesel. (Use the old Oklahoma Credit Card.)
really such a shortage out there?
If you order one, you should be able to get it for around invoice (+- 1%). Going off the lot depends entirely on the supply and demand in your area.
Primespt - 4 weeks wait may be a new record <?>, congratulations. As for the #99 Priority code, I have no clue.
TNT2 - I spoke with U.S. Gear last week and they said the '99 chip would be ready within a month. They put my name/address on a notification list. Meanwhile, Im going to check into Level 10 chip you mentioned. Thanks....
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I would guess that getting the truck in one month with a priority 99 my be that it is a regular cab. Regular cabs make up a small amount of Super D purchases, so there is less "competition" waiting to be built. Also if it wasn't an XLT or Lariat there are less "short supply" parts. ... Just a guess.
I never saw where you published your rear end ratio. You have some good points about the cost and maintenence of the PSD. I would buy a V10 if I could get good fuel milage AND be able to withstand the mid summer heat down here in Texas. So far the only trucks I see with cool occupants on a construction site are guys with PSD's. Keeps the dog happy, too.
I saw an '99 SD 350 4x4 with Goodyear 305/70R-16 tires and aftermarket aluminum wheels, probably 8 inches wide. This setup looks terrific. The trucks owner says he has not had any clearance problems whatsoever. I was considering the 285/75R -16 B.F.G.
All Terrain TA's, which I am running on my 97 P.S. Has anyone used the Goodyears?