Help spec a new F-250

[nryn]

Well at least in my case, it’s a tow vehicle. I’m not going to be piloting any tight corners with a 27’ trailer attached and I’m not dragging that trailer through downtown Chicago.

After ordering the 250 I started looking around where I live to see how many of these things are on the streets. Turns out quite a few, and even bigger. They pull landscaping trailers and are the chassis for huge utility trucks. I’m not a truck guy so I’ve never noticed these things before. But it’s clear that these trucks can get around because I see them in alleys and on really narrow city streets all the time.

Anyway, I’m not sure what CR was comparing the 250 to. It’s a big truck and to me it handled like a big truck (actually much better than I was expecting).

[OTRA15]

You will be fine with the 250. No need to over-think this, and end up with analysis paralysis.

There are times in each journey when you have to resist the temptation to keep looking in the rear-view mirror.

This is one of those times!



Peter

PS -- John Steinbeck said it best in Travels With Charley: In Search of America:

"Once a journey is designed, equipped, and put in process, a new factor enters and takes over. A trip, a safari, an exploration, is an entity, different from all other journeys. It has personality, temperament, individuality, uniqueness. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. Tour masters, schedules, reservations, brass-bound and inevitable, dash themselves to wreckage on the personality of the trip. Only when this is recognized can the blown-in-the glass bum relax and go along with it. Only then do the frustrations fall away. In this a journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it."
[emphasis added]

[nryn]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

You will be fine with the 250. No need to over-think this, and end up with analysis paralysis!

Nope none of that here. I already placed my order and am totally good with it.

I was telling s friend the other day—I don’t get my truck until Dec/January and don’t get my trailer until March. It’s going to be the longest school year ever and I’m not even in school!

[OTRA15]

Amen!

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally Posted by Narayan

Well at least in my case, it’s a tow vehicle. I’m not going to be piloting any tight corners with a 27’ trailer attached and I’m not dragging that trailer through downtown Chicago.

After ordering the 250 I started looking around where I live to see how many of these things are on the streets. Turns out quite a few, and even bigger. They pull landscaping trailers and are the chassis for huge utility trucks. I’m not a truck guy so I’ve never noticed these things before. But it’s clear that these trucks can get around because I see them in alleys and on really narrow city streets all the time.

Anyway, I’m not sure what CR was comparing the 250 to. It’s a big truck and to me it handled like a big truck (actually much better than I was expecting).

I live full time in my Airstream so my F250 is my daily driver. Rarely do I have to avoid going somewhere because of its size. Mostly happens if I'm trying to find parallel or parking deck parking in a city. But you learn to adapt.

Before sightseeing I use Google streetview to see the height restrictions in parking decks. Or I look for surface parking.

Small price to pay for much more satisfying towing experience. And I actually love driving the truck. Passengers are constantly surprised at how comfortable it is in motion.

[Moflash]

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

And glue is only used in certain areas, like the roof panel.

A combination of glue and rivets are used throughout the body and bed with very little welding.

[Moflash]

Originally Posted by pteck

Hah, randomly came across this review from Consumer Reports. I'm sure the owners are reviewing it more accurately.

Laughable review.
The FX4 suspension includes Hill Decent and Skid plates.No change in suspension firmness.
It did come with phony (junk )Rancho shocks (that were actually softer riding )up until 2018 when they were discontinued.

[gypsydad]

Saw a post few back regarding 4x4 vs 4x2. You only need 4x4 when you "need 4x4"! Best of intentions...we just left Capital Reef National Park where we boondocked up on a bluff, overlooking the park...beautiful location and dark sky night...but I digress...(like BHO!) LoL….anyway, getting in was pretty straight forward; coming out, I had to navigate up a short incline, and turn right to stay on road...rear tires started slipping, plenty of torque, but I needed 4x4 to stop the tires from spinning and get up slowly on to the road...just saying, an example of where I needed it.

Also...power running boards....had them on my platinum F150 and now on my king ranch F250...wife's idea, but we love them. Never a problem..

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Saw a post few back regarding 4x4 vs 4x2. You only need 4x4 when you "need 4x4"! Best of intentions...we just left Capital Reef National Park where we boondocked up on a bluff, overlooking the park...beautiful location and dark sky night...but I digress...(like BHO!) LoL….anyway, getting in was pretty straight forward; coming out, I had to navigate up a short incline, and turn right to stay on road...rear tires started slipping, plenty of torque, but I needed 4x4 to stop the tires from spinning and get up slowly on to the road...just saying, an example of where I needed it.

Also...power running boards....had them on my platinum F150 and now on my king ranch F250...wife's idea, but we love them. Never a problem..

Hi

.... but ... did you have a fully locking rear axle to try on the same situation?

Bob

[mojo]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

.... but ... did you have a fully locking rear axle to try on the same situation?

Bob

Nice to have when heading in a straight line but not useful with sharp turns or pavement.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by mojo

Nice to have when heading in a straight line but not useful with sharp turns or pavement.

Hi

Just to be clear, on the F-250 this is an optional "manually controlled" lock up and not one of the "limited slip" things.

Can't say that 4x4 or manual lockup ever really seemed to be a need on dry pavement. Same thing with sharp turns at speed. In the cases that something *was* needed to pull out of a "problem" an electronic of manual full lockup has been pretty useful for me.

Why the yack about this?

When you put 4x4 on a truck a lot of things change. The weight goes up, cost goes up, and the suspension heads in a "not tow friendly" direction. With a locking drive axle, not much at all changes (other than a small(er) price bump).

Yes indeed, the real answer will always be "have it all". There will always be some weird situation that can only be worked out with a winch .... (and a lot of cable)

One *might* try to avoid some of those situations .... a truck yesterday proved that just because the posted limit is 80, going that fast in a driving rain is a quick route off the road .... From what I could see, he wasn't going to drive out of that one ....

Bob

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

.... but ... did you have a fully locking rear axle to try on the same situation?

Bob

The locking diff on my F350 has come in handy in wet weather. People will see a trailer slowing for a light and immediately position to go around it when the light changes and the road narrows. Without lockup I will end up #10 in line. With lockup...maybe one car will make it 😎

[pteck]

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

The locking diff on my F350 has come in handy in wet weather. People will see a trailer slowing for a light and immediately position to go around it when the light changes and the road narrows. Without lockup I will end up #10 in line. With lockup...maybe one car will make it [emoji41]

4x4 and locking diffs in a full size truck are archaic at best. Sure, they'll get you out of a bind. The operation might as well be akin to farm equipment. Full time 4WD is where it's at. Always sure footed, and one doesn't have to consciously enable it when needed, or after loosing traction and digging in.

3/4 and 1 ton trucks are great for burdening loads, but really come with some compromises.

[Moflash]

So many misinformed posters on this thread.Wow

[Lara Me]

My 2500 is 22 feet long, which means I can rarely find parking in Seattle garages, and street parking is tough. I thought it would be a good daily driver but just added up the fuel savings of parking it and you quickly realize you can afford the monthly on a Honda Accord getting 33mpg. So 5 years later, I have a great tow rig with less than 40k miles and a great commuter with less than 30k miles. Best of both worlds.

My 2500 with an 8ft bed has a poor turning radius that you quickly get used to and deal with. But on the road towing, the longer wheelbase pays dividends in comfort and control, and the payload and extra room makes the larger rig worth it. You do have to pay attention when backing the AS into a tight spot as the radius and length conspire against you.

Not really interested in a gas vs. diesel discussion, but I love the torque and pull and range of the diesel, and it’s worth the extra cost of service to me.

[AirstreamCSH]

Like the OP, I agonized over my F250 purchase last year. Scoured the boards here and on the truck forums. Once I narrowed it to Ford, went through the same concerns about comfort and drivability with FX4 and all the other options. After adding the snow plow to a diesel platform and driving it for a year, I can say with absolute confidence that if you learn how to drive your vehicle, there is virtually no spot you can’t get into or out of that you couldn’t do with a F150. The truck is big but with the tech package giving you very helpful camera views, I can place this anywhere. Including the very tight back in only spot at Hershey Campground today which is otherwise populated only by B-class and much smaller trailers or cars.

As to the options listed, I didn’t see the upfitter switch option. This is a must have. It lets you add accessories easily including the coveted always on option. We use it for a dash cam and an ARB refigerator that always stays in the bed.

As for the ride, our diesel KR handles easily and drives smoothly. Won’t get into the gas vs diesel argument here as it’s like pornography. You understand it only when you see or experience it.

As to the FX4, so far the shocks have been great but we’ve never experienced a need for the hill assist. Took the stickers off, though as I didn’t like how they looked.

If you really want the tire locks, post a want add on the forum or look on eBay. Most people after their first flat and then failing to find the super special key take them off.

Went with the snow plow option so it rides level as opposed to nosing down and for the dual extra HD alternators upgrade in addition to the attraction it has for buyers in resale.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

One can never say "all" ... but...

All of the "limited slip" rear ends I have ever owned or seen or tried will put a tiny amount of power into the "other" wheel. The loose wheel still spins wildly and soaks up most of the power. If you really *need* to get out of a bind .... not much help at all.

On all of the vehicles I've had it on, "full time" 4WD works the same way. You now can get two wheels spinning rather than one wheel. Maybe 10% of the power goes to a wheel that is not loose. Again, not really much help in a situation where you really need traction.

Now, it is possible that every single one of the maybe dozen vehicles I've had or have driven a lot with full time 4WD have been defective. I have absolutely zero brand loyalty on cars and trucks so, I've used a lot of them over the years.

In the context of "my trailer is stuck and I need to pull out of this space / situation" ... I'll take a system that can be manually locked up any time. I've lived my entire life where it snows in the winter, I get the "opportunity" to use this stuff on a pretty regular basis.

Bob

[nryn]

Originally Posted by Lara Me

I have a great tow rig with less than 40k miles and a great commuter with less than 30k miles. Best of both worlds.

I came to the same conclusion. Car for home, truck for the road. Went gas instead of diesel for a variety of reasons but am looking forward to not having to worry about payload.

Originally Posted by AirstreamCSH

As to the options listed, I didn’t see the upfitter switch option. This is a must have. It lets you add accessories easily including the coveted always on option. We use it for a dash cam and an ARB refigerator that always stays in the bed.

Added that too when I switched back to 18” wheels. I have an OEM electrical panel / switches on my Honda Pioneer (utility ATV for farm) and that thing is great for all the lights and stuff I’ve added over time.

Originally Posted by AirstreamCSH

As to the FX4, so far the shocks have been great but we’ve never experienced a need for the hill assist. Took the stickers off, though as I didn’t like how they looked.

I’d love to take the decal off...does one just peel that off (for some reason I thought it was under the clearcoat like bicycle decals). I’ll take the truck out for a few dry runs this spring and make a decision on the shocks.

Originally Posted by AirstreamCSH

Went with the snow plow option so it rides level as opposed to nosing down and for the dual extra HD alternators upgrade in addition to the attraction it has for buyers in resale.

Didn’t go with the snowplow option or diesel but did get the HD alternator available on gas models. I appreciated that the option was called the “extra extra heavy duty alternator”...I found that second extra irresistible. 😏

I’ll post a pic here when it arrives. Who knows when that will be...

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

One can never say "all" ... but...

All of the "limited slip" rear ends I have ever owned or seen or tried will put a tiny amount of power into the "other" wheel. The loose wheel still spins wildly and soaks up most of the power. If you really *need* to get out of a bind .... not much help at all.

On all of the vehicles I've had it on, "full time" 4WD works the same way. You now can get two wheels spinning rather than one wheel. Maybe 10% of the power goes to a wheel that is not loose. Again, not really much help in a situation where you really need traction.

Now, it is possible that every single one of the maybe dozen vehicles I've had or have driven a lot with full time 4WD have been defective. I have absolutely zero brand loyalty on cars and trucks so, I've used a lot of them over the years.

In the context of "my trailer is stuck and I need to pull out of this space / situation" ... I'll take a system that can be manually locked up any time. I've lived my entire life where it snows in the winter, I get the "opportunity" to use this stuff on a pretty regular basis.

Bob

UB- have you driven/towed with a new F250/350 4x4?? (2017 or newer) If not, I would expect your not really able to comment accurately on how they perform...and anecdotal comments show ignorance of the actual capabilities in these new tow vehicles...just saying; if you have not had "real" experience with the new family of F250/350's, it's not clear why your so negative here...

Oh, and I too have lived/driven in Montana and Texas and been to most states in between; summer, winter, spring, and fall weather....pulling my AS's over the years...just saying... :-)

[westernjeep401]

It came time a couple months ago for me to "replace" (the 75 IH 200 has only theoretically served a secondary tow truck role, but in practice it rarely gets driven these days).

Had to spec, over the years, MANY 10-11.5K GVWR pickups, mostly 4x4 crews, all meeting a GSA requirement. Worked on them all, too, including a side gig as a Stroke tech during the 6.0 years, the DMAX LB7/LLY era, and the Cummins 24v CAPS, and their successors. I digress. The decision to go Ferd was driven by the ready availability of the SuperCab in a heavy application, along with the short box. Had to fit in the garage...and it does but with less than .5" height and 12" length. Anyways, the budget drove the rest of the story, straight from the commercial catalog - XL 350, 11.4k (technically speaking, the only difference is the overload spring versus the 10K, as both specs showed the Sterling 10.5, Michelin 245/75 17" with argent steel wheels), 6.7 TDI, 4x4, "toughed" spray in bedliner. That's it. Added rear camera, 265/70 17" Duratracs, cruise, trailer brake controller, moulded floor liners, and used (new takeoffs) OE Ford fixed step bars for SuperCab, moulded mud/stone guards, and flush-fit Ford hood protector. The config had to be special ordered, as no sane person gets the rubber seats, wind-up windows, and a basic radio. Not including my labor, it slid under-budget by enough dough to buy a happy meal.

I so dig the Lariats and the like, but since a pickup for me would only pull the AS as a boondocker or backup, but primarily as a simple commercial-duty yet personal truck, it had to fit an otherwise "unrealistic" price point for the role I'd set for it.

I really appreciate the exhaust brake; fuel capacity is a disadvantage however. Wish Ford still offered "Duraweave" vinyl, which does allow your backside to not get so sweaty. Telematics are awesome, but the tech group put me over budget. There's a phono jack input with, with a USB adapter for the power port, allows me to use the smartphone app for streamed music through the truck radio. The engine performs just as you'd expect a torque monster to perform. Fuel economy unladen runs about 16 with combined driving. Ride quality is also what you'd expect from the wheelbase. The frame is very beefy; I didn't think I'd see the day Ferd would use a full-box setup on the heavy's. It's impressive, and doesn't flex like the previous gens (to be fair, there is a designed-in amount of flex on the older rigs, and still many of the 20k-plus rigs).