2015 F-350 DRW

[Phil805]

Final pull the trigger on new truck with training wheels.

It was pretty hard to trade in 2010 F-250 with only 28000 miles, and paid for. But I do feel better knowing that I'm no longer over GVWR.

New 350 has a GVRW 14,000 lbs, RAWR 9650. Draw back dealer had it on lot, no hitch plate prep, and a plastic bed liner. Have to sell or toss liner.

Bed is pre punched (dimpled) at the factory for proper drilling location of holes for pucks. After drilling come spray in liner.

Will order Fords OEM under the bed Hitch Plate Adapter, and install.
Reese sells adapter rails for top so I can use old 16K Reese hitch.

Then come the long wait for spring to try it out. going to be a long winter.

[oldelmer1]

VERY NICE!!! You could still take it up to Elk Neck state park in North East, MD for a test ride. Its only up the road from you.

[Simpson9508]

You are going to love the truck.

[1retired06]

6.7 is a great engine.

[maximo]

You are not going to believe the power in the 2015 compared to the 2010. Also the new 2015 has the exhaust brake that is great. The first time I pulled my Big Sky with my new 2015 it felt like there was nothing behind me. Going up grades and down grades is a whole new experience.

[Keywestparrothead]

Going from my '08 to this is like night and day! Although, I think I got one of the good 6.4's, it pales in comparison to this beast :-)

[Tom S.]

The new trucks, no matter what brand, have improved so much in the last 7 or so years, it's just amazing. I can't wait to see what they're like in 2022!

Probably replace diesels with Mr. Fusion units that power generators for electric motors.

[mlh]

Tom I think we can get a peek of what they will be. The bodies will be all aluminum. The 2015 F150 fords will be and 2017 F250 and 350 will be all aluminum bodies. By then they will all pass the SAE 2807 tow standards. All of the 1/2 ton trucks will pass that standard this year but not the heavy duty trucks. During the last several weeks I've read dozens of articles on tow standards. Most of the authors if not all think our present tow standards are for bragging rights and have little or nothing to do with the truck. The new standard will give us a level playing field and something to compare.
Lynwood

[CORattler]

quote:Originally posted by Phil805

Final pull the trigger on new truck with training wheels.

It was pretty hard to trade in 2010 F-250 with only 28000 miles, and paid for. But I do feel better knowing that I'm no longer over GVWR.

New 350 has a GVRW 14,000 lbs, RAWR 9650. Draw back dealer had it on lot, no hitch plate prep, and a plastic bed liner. Have to sell or toss liner.

Bed is pre punched (dimpled) at the factory for proper drilling location of holes for pucks. After drilling come spray in liner.

Will order Fords OEM under the bed Hitch Plate Adapter, and install.
Reese sells adapter rails for top so I can use old 16K Reese hitch.

Then come the long wait for spring to try it out. going to be a long winter.

Good for you! Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

[Tom S.]

quote:Originally posted by mlh

Tom I think we can get a peek of what they will be. The bodies will be all aluminum. The 2015 F150 fords will be and 2017 F250 and 350 will be all aluminum bodies. By then they will all pass the SAE 2807 tow standards. All of the 1/2 ton trucks will pass that standard this year but not the heavy duty trucks. During the last several weeks I've read dozens of articles on tow standards. Most of the authors if not all think our present tow standards are for bragging rights and have little or nothing to do with the truck. The new standard will give us a level playing field and something to compare.
Lynwood

My jury is still out on the aluminum bodies. It saves weight but is a major pita to work with, from both a manufacturing stand point and a repairing standpoint in the case of an accident. Ford may have bitten off more than they can chew with this one, we'll see. Because of the problems of repairing aluminum, I also wonder what the insurance industry might tack on in the form of extra premiums. This became an issue with the Pontiac Transport and Fiero's, both of which used a space frame. When damaged in an accident, body shops were unequipped to bring the space frames back to stock location - which was needed to remount the outside panels. Repair costs soared, which of course was passed back onto the consumer.

[mlh]

Tom I think the new trucks are going to be an improvement. When I can order one I'm going to get one with their new 2.7 Ecoboost.
Lynwood

[bigred715]

You can count on the insurance industry to charge us more for the aluminum changeover. Hope you can all afford the increased premiums. Will stick with my 2007 Classic until my traveling days are over.

[commish]

You can not have too big of a truck. Ours is old but can do the job.

[mlh]

I have found my 5 passenger King Ranch school bus is too big. That's why I'm getting a short bed single cab truck. I might pull a small boat with it but NOT a camper.
Lynwood

[Recumbent]

Nice Ride

[Eagleback]

My wife and I are from the Detroit and flint areas. and my father not to mention all of my family worked for the big three and my father worked in the experimental engineering dept. for GM. and talking to him the main problem with aluminum panels not to take away the high cost of manufacture or repair is longevity of the paint on the panel itself. aluminum has a large coefficient for expansion and contraction so it will come down to did they get the right alloy for the right application so the paint will stay adhered to the panel and also the problem of corrosion and having to isolate the panels from the steel. IMHO the auto manufactures should have followed Saturn and used plastic in there assembly. we have a 2001 SL2 Saturn with 200000 miles and the paint still looks brand new even though the Michigan salt has done its damage to the rest.

[Rondo]

I worked for the Post Office and when they switched to the LLV(Long Life Vehicle) that you see around today they made a drastic mistake! The vehicles are to light to be on the streets of the northern cities because they have no weight for traction in the snow and on ice. You can't put chains on the wheels because it they break the chains come right on up through the body or wheel wells. If you check out some of the LLVs you will see what Eagleback stated- the paint is chipping off because that aluminum is expanding and contracting so much the paint just cracks and flakes off. I'll keep my heavy truck even though it my use a little more diesel but I know if I bump something it will not crinkle like foil too!

[Eagleback]

Very well stated Rondo, Result do not lie. "Numbers dont lie BUT liars use numbers"

[Tom S.]

Aluminum can be painted successfully. British Land Rovers have had aluminum panels for decades. However I'm not sure what the Land Rover's success is. I do know that GM had a nasty time with the paint on aluminum hoods made back in the late 1990's. I'm sure Ford is aware of this issue and has developed a work around, but the question is: can it be replicated in the average body shop or will it require special equipment and techniques? If that's the case, it may be a while before any accidental damage will be able to be fixed, or at least fixed correctly so it will last. Aluminum is also soft by nature and while it can be alloyed with other materials to make it strong, it also becomes brittle depending on the alloy content. So what might be a dent on a repairable dent on a steel panel could be a non repairable crack or hole on an aluminum. Time will tell.

[mlh]

Audi builds their flagship cars the A7 A8 and RS out of aluminum and I think the A5 and TT. The 2017 Super Duty Fords will be aluminum and as fast as Ram and GM can secure a supply of aluminum their trucks will be to. Alcoa and Kiser can only make so much and Ford has it all tied up for the next 3 to 4 years.
Lynwood