F350 purchase help

[Jeff&Karen39MB]

Good morning everyone, going to order truck in a few days and don't want to have to go back like I did on RV and add disc brakes and H axle system, so need some input.
Getting 2015 Lariat \ Platinum pkg, F350, DRW, CREW CAB, 8ft bed, 6.7L diesel, dual 357 alt, eng blk ht, rear axle limited slip, pto, uppfitter switches, exterior backup alarm with camera, roll up tonneau bed cover, 5th wheel tow pkg, spray in liner, now comes delima?
Should we get 4x4 or 4x2 not planning to go off road, thinking weight and fuel, and what type of suspension, they offer as opts, camper pkg, heavy service front susp pkg, high capicity trl tow pkg, or is std F350 suspension ok.

Appreciate your feed back on this.
Jeff& Karen

[piper guy]

Mine has the camper pkg and after having it I would order the next truck with it. Very minimal cost (think it was $350) It gives you heavier overload springs. They don't come into play during normal driving, just when the coach is hooked up. When I'm hitched, rig sits level without any help from the airbags. Airbags are used for ride and handling control only, not leveling the rig.

I didn't know there was a PTO option for the F350. If so, I can't think of any reason you would need it. PTO stands for power take off which is used to drive a mechanical accessory like a pump.

Unless Ford changed it for 2015, the Lariat Ultimate package gives you all the good stuff and then you add the other things needed.

I would go 4x4 unless you never plan to be in a grass setting or anywhere that isn't level and paved. Had an instance last summer where we were in a campground that required a pull through a large grassy area to get out of our site. Made it a WHOLE lot easier on wet grass to put it in 4wd Low and just let her creep out happily pulling coach and not tearing up grass or getting buried. My .02 but I would do 4x4. Also, on resale, it would be a hard truck to sell if 4x2

[piper guy]

Also get Auxiliary Heat.

[johnboytoo]

Once you get the GVWR & GAWR you need (I suggest the max gvwr and rear gawr you can get), most of the rest is personal preference so take this with a grain of salt

I went into order mine and they had one VERY close to what I wanted on the lot... the 2013 350 CCSB platinum - I LOVE IT - best engine they've made !
Love the heated steering wheel, air conditioned and heated seats, spray in bedliner...
I had a rear sway bar thrown into the purchase, a maintenance package so oil changes are free for a while, and they moved my 5th wheel subassembly and hitch to the new truck (since it didn't have the 5th wheel prep)

Everything you mentioned is top of the line and functions perfectly,
except

I dislike the ford tonneau cover -
while it looks great, unrolls and closes up real well,
the 'rollup' process can be troublesome for me since I'm only 5'10"..
I can roll it up by myself and MOST times are able to use the too short velcro connectors to tie it down, but unless you are over 6'2" or drag a short ladder out, it's a stretch and a fight to reach them, much less get them connected...
and when rolling up by yourself it will many times roll up 'uneven'...

See if you can get a 2nd camera mounted IN the bed so you can see your hitch with the tailgate down if you get the crew cab... (can always be done aftermarket, but use this as the 'one more thing' in the purchase negotiation!)

Not sure I would ever have a use for pto, but you might...
re 4x4 vs 4x2... the old adage of
"better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it"
comes to mind ...

While I only use the 4x4 sometimes, and have actually NEEDED it only 3 or 4 times, I use the low range MANY times, like every time I go to the storage lot or when backing into a tight site, the low range allows better control of throttle etc...

good luck !

[almcc]

I'm not sure what they call it these days (and you may already spec'd it) but be sure to get what Ford used to call the "tow boss" option, it gets you the wide track front axle which reduces the turning radius over the standard 350 DRW front axle and the option also increases the carrying capacity. It basically gives you the equivalent of the 2011-14 F-450's with the 17 inch wheels

It may only be available with the 4X4

[amron]

When looking for my F350, I specifically did not want 4x4 (more to break, less cargo capacity, lower fuel mileage). However, purchased truck off dealer lot with 4 x 4. I've used it a couple of times when towing, and been glad to have it. Next time, I would order truck with 4x4.

[travelin' texans]

Can you order it with the Duramax/Allison option?

[spindrift]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Can you order it with the Duramax/Allison option?

No. Ford uses their own 6R tranny and it is quite stout.

[mhs4771]

While not a Ford person, I too opt for the 4x4 or is that 6x6. As others, use Low Range to get into the perfect spot. Also used it this summer in Colorado after rains flooded the CG we were headed for. Park personnel were directing us to our spot, but let us get off the pad onto the grass and the RW Sunk. They figured they would have to get their tractor, but just put the TV into low range and walked right out.
The new generation 4x4s don't really hurt MPG like those of old and only minimum effect on GVWR.

[lwg]

Can you even get a dually without 4x4? I know the F-450 only comes that way, not sure about the F350 DRW.

Either way, 4x4 greatly improves resale value if that matters to you.

[atom ant]

Just bought ours a few months ago and this is my input -


I can tell you for positive after this last week's snow - this dually couldn't climb out of its own tire tracks in snow if it didn't have 4X4. My wife and I were laughing because we couldn't get it up our street in 2X4! Between nothing in the back and 4 wheels to float up on top of the ice, it's a snowboard

What used to be called "Fat Boy" until 2010 when it was dropped, was the same front wider axle and front fender flares as the F450. This has been resurrected as the "high capacity towing package" for 2015 which is hard to find on the Build-your-own for some reason. It is not the heavy duty front springs. The downfall is the gear ratio for the high capacity package automatically changes to 4.30 instead of the standard 3.73 on the dually. It wasn't available yet on our 2014, but not sure I would have went that way anyway because of fuel mileage. We are tickled with our mileage now vs what we had on our 2008.

Auxiliary heat option agreed- Tried the auxiliary heat (electric) on mine last week as well - awesome. -14 degrees at the airport and truck had been sitting there for a week. I had warm air before I left the parking garage, and the temp gauge never moved until I was over halfway home.

Just not sure I would worry much about the alternators unless you are really going for something fancy in the truck. The charge capacity on the truck to the trailer is limited by the OEM trailer wiring, so the standard HD alternator feeds it fine. Personal thoughts.

Mine has the FX4 which I wouldn't have went out of my way to order, but it does come with skid plates and Rancho shocks, but the striping and lettering on the hood is kind of ridiculous. The lettering is deleted on the Platinum. My brother saw my truck the other day and said - "is that a super duty?" Then started laughing because it says it in about 10 places all over the truck and the extra lettering on the hood makes it look like I added the lettering from Pep Boys

[CV67Cheng]

Lots of great input so far. I would definitely go 4x4, add snow plow prep and rapid supplemental heat (aux heat). Looks like you will have an awesome truck, especially if it is white over gold.....😊

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by CV67Cheng

Looks like you will have an awesome truck, especially if it is white over gold.....��

Do they make other colors!


Unfortunately, the gold is gone. Caribou only and only in the KRanch. The Caribou two tone is not available on the Dually in the Lariat, but can be selected for the SRW as an option. Hate to say, but that swayed me a lot from going 2015 and going to a leftover 2014, even though I should have been looking at technical aspects instead of color.

[TerLar]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Can you order it with the Duramax/Allison option?

Pretty good humor from the Travlin Texan's but you FFFFFord guys all missed it or just ignored it.You Generous Motor guys,don't be intimidated by the F350-450 and cummins people.Even the Colorado Ant didn't pick up on that one and he is great at humor.Keep up the good dialogue you guys,it's very interesting in old cold Michigan!! Larry

[spindrift]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Can you order it with the Duramax/Allison option?

Ohhhh...this was sarcasm?

[johnboytoo]

We didn't miss it, just have enough class to ignore it and not respond in a childish manner

YOU GOOBERMENT MOTORS FANBOY TROLL !!!!

just kidding (or not )

[Dave&Ginny]

Speak for yourself.......I'm not above childish manner....I've even perfected stupid manner a time or two.

[travelin' texans]

WTF is "Fanboy Troll". Didn't realize you were so sensitive about your truck!!

[atom ant]

Actually I've come to expect those from Tex - and yes I was chuckling

I was kind of waiting to see where Spindrift was going go with it, but I think it went over the top of his head.

[spindrift]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Actually I've come to expect those from Tex - and yes I was chuckling

I was kind of waiting to see where Spindrift was going go with it, but I think it went over the top of his head.

If in fact it was intended sarcasm, then it certainly went over my head. OTOH, #1, Tex didn't respond and #2, I've heard crazier things come out of people's mouths and some of them are Ford owners.