Truck decision help

[Hortense]

Originally Posted by firestation12

What year and model and trim level did this involve? Our business operates 14 superduty trucks ranging in years 2017-2022 including F-250 and F-350 crew cab all with 4wd and 6.7 diesel. First I’ve heard of this. What was the amended capacity you ended up with?

Hi. Mine was a 2020 F350 4wd 6.7L diesel. For my specific case, cargo capacity went from 4368 lbs to 3787 lbs. That's non-trivial, especially as regards pin weight on a 5th wheel.

If you're effected, you should have received the recall. Here is a Safety report that'll let you track down the rest if you are interested.

For me, it's more than this specific recall. Ford no longer stands by their products. I contacted them and the dealer, asking to be made whole. Essentially, the reaction was "We sold it to you with this cargo capacity, but that was BS. You got something less capable. We'll keep the money."

[Sparatacus]

Originally Posted by clintv

Thank you everyone for your great advise. I think we have made the decision to get a 4x4 dually for our safety and the safety of others on the road. We think we have found the best truck right here in Elkhart. We are so thankful that we came to the MOC Rally and learned what we didn't even think we needed to ask. We are already making plans to come back to next year's Rally.

Good choice you won't regret it, I bought my first truck was a 4x2 and I regretted it every time I got in it.

[Doug Brown]

My question is how much liquid did you have in the truck and trailer when it was weighed ? did you have a lot of other equipment you could’ve taken out or you didn’t need? I personally wouldn’t consider a duly. I would look at a single axle 1 ton with a two days in a new tires. I think it would be fine although talk to an expert.

[Chris K]

I think 4x4 would be the only purchase I would make. I've never heard anyone say " I wish I had a 2 wheel drive".

[Carl n Susan]

I had a 2WD originally. The only advantage is the SRW models have a 2" block on the axles v. the 4" one on a 4WD model. Consequently, the truck sits lower and the RV isn't nose high.

But having gotten stuck 3 times backing over my lawn to store my RV in the back yard (and several other times) convinced my wife a 4WD was needed. I don't use it often, but when I do it keeps me from being stuck.

[bshgto]

[QUOTE=Chris K;1282072]I think 4x4 would be the only purchase I would make. I've never heard anyone say " I wish I had a 2 wheel drive".[/QUOTE

Trying to make something into what it`s not will generally get you in trouble. The Chris`s statement above is 100% true.

[firestation12]

Originally Posted by Hortense

Hi. Mine was a 2020 F350 4wd 6.7L diesel. For my specific case, cargo capacity went from 4368 lbs to 3787 lbs. That's non-trivial, especially as regards pin weight on a 5th wheel.

If you're effected, you should have received the recall. Here is a Safety report that'll let you track down the rest if you are interested.

For me, it's more than this specific recall. Ford no longer stands by their products. I contacted them and the dealer, asking to be made whole. Essentially, the reaction was "We sold it to you with this cargo capacity, but that was BS. You got something less capable. We'll keep the money."

Here are door placards from a 2020 short bed crew F-350 King Ranch with all options (more options equals less useable weight we can carry in the truck). Tires are 275/65/20 load Range E Michelins. In reading the link you provided, it applies only to a LONG BOX F-350 (trim level not specified) and explains that the reason for the change is due to mis-calculated tire loading. It seems the frame, springs and axle, shocks, etc did not cause the change. So what are your tire sizes? My neighbor went to 18” Michelins that are rated 4,400 each @ 80 psi which is far better than my 20” are maxed out at 3,750 each @ 80 psi. Does your new door stickers look any different than mine? Is your GVWR 11,500? I appreciate shining some more light on this recall. At this point, I’m not seeing a finger pointing at Ford for some deceptive advertising. 2020 and later model Chevy and GMC 1 ton SRW weight limits are in line with Ford’s.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by firestation12

....My neighbor went to 18” Michelins that are rated 4,400 each @ 80 psi which is far better than my 20” are maxed out at 3,750 each @ 80 psi....

What Michelins were these? Ford trucks with 18" wheels have less load capacity than 20" wheels which is way the 20's are so popular. And 4,400 equals 8,800 for the rear axle which seem to be major overkill for a 7,230 axle.

[firestation12]

Originally Posted by Carl n Susan

What Michelins were these? Ford trucks with 18" wheels have less load capacity than 20" wheels which is way the 20's are so popular. And 4,400 equals 8,800 for the rear axle which seem to be major overkill for a 7,230 axle.

I had to find the photo of my neighbor’s truck, and in doing so need to make a correction to my memory from a year ago. Here is the sidewall of his 18” Michelin Defender tire. The correct load is 4,080. Total is still over 8K which is impressive.

[BB_TX]

Haven’t looked in a long time, but the Ford spec charts used to list a truck with 20” wheels with a higher load rating than the same truck with 18” wheels. In my case the new truck came with 20” Michelins.

[Hortense]

Hi, Firestone12.
The figures I gave are the difference between the original placards, and the placards Ford installed as a result of the recall, for my truck. It is the values in the line "The combined weight ...". My original cargo capacity was 4368; it is now 3787.
To be clear, this is the ONLY remedy for their miscalculation – I just have less of a truck than I bought; they keep the $$. And that cargo capacity did have a major role in my buy decision.
As you can see in the Safety Report, 9,979 vehicles were impacted. If you haven't received the recall, it probably doesn't apply to your vehicles. If you aren't sure, I'd recommend contacting your dealer and asking about Recall 21S06, as referenced in the Safety Report.
That said, I personally hope this does not apply to your trucks. It’s not a nice thing to deal with, if you are counting on the cargo capacity you bought. FYI, as I understand it, which may be wrong, in addition to being specific to Long Beds, it may only apply to 12K and 12.4K GVWRs (mine is 12.4K). I note that the GVWR for the truck you took the picture of is 11,500 lbs. Again, I hope you are not impacted, and suspect you’d already know if you are. But if you have doubts, get the official word.
I don’t know as tire size matters to this; the Ford Spec’s I’ve seen don’t differentiate on that. I WOULD note that the Safety Report also states that suspension overload can occur as a result of it. This is what really bothers me; I buy good tires and keep them current. I have contacted lift specialists to talk about ways to address it – they are very quick to say that nothing they do can change those placards.
I want to be clear that I posted this to give information to the Original Poster, who's making a truck purchasing decision. Had I known Ford would do something like this for a $90k truck, purchased for towing as they advertise, I would have knocked Ford off my decision list without a second thought. They sold me that truck on the basis of a max cargo capacity that was false. That's not something I expect for a $90k truck.
If that helps the Original Poster’s decision, that’s a good thing.


Regards,



Best regards,

[dfb]

Originally Posted by JTINNEL2336

Clintv, I’m new to the RV community and was 1000lbs overweight in our new F250 SD. Once I realized my newby mistake , I added airbags and even put lower gears in the diffs from 3.11 to 3.55 to make up the difference. I called my local Ford dealer to see about upgraded axels and was told that no matter what upgrades I did, the sticker on the drivers door frame will not change. So the search started for a new truck, I drove 5 hours to a Ford dealership in NC to look at a F350 DRW and drove away in a F450 DRW 4x4. I took the rig out camping this past weekend and can’t believe the difference between SRW and DRW. From this point forward, I will only own a DRW for towing a 5th wheel. I did have to use my 4x4 in the F250 once while towing, but again, rookie mistake, but I’m very thankful I had the option.

You could have gotten a new sticker for the door. All it is is springs.. that's it..

[dfb]

4x4 also means higher resale.

[firestation12]

Assuming he could have gotten a revised door sticker, the fact that his new new F-450 performed so much better than the F-250 with different axles, and air bags, The updated door sticker wouldn’t have made that F-250 suddenly perform as the F-450.

[sidgod1018]

I have a question in regards to the airbags. I have a chevy 3500 SRW with airbags. What is the PSI I should use for the airbags?
2020 Montana 3791rd.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by sidgod1018

I have a question in regards to the airbags. I have a chevy 3500 SRW with airbags. What is the PSI I should use for the airbags?
2020 Montana 3791rd.

Really depends on what you are trying to get from them. In my case I air them to 40 PSI to get the truck level.

[jsb5717]

Originally Posted by sidgod1018

I have a question in regards to the airbags. I have a chevy 3500 SRW with airbags. What is the PSI I should use for the airbags?
2020 Montana 3791rd.

There's no right answer to that question. Is your goal to level the trailer or smooth the ride? Either way, the answer is "whatever works best for you".

[Sparatacus]

When I had airbag I put my to about 35 psi was a sweet spot for me, but you have to find what work best for your setup.