2002 Ford 350 Diesel Lariat, bought it! endof ? - Montana Owners Club

Montana_2194 · 10-20-2004, 04:49 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm a real newby who's about to buy a 32 foot Montana (I think). I came across a 2002 diesel Lariat Crew Cab automatic through my sis-in-law who works for the owner of a local Ford dealership. It's a drw but 2 wheel drive. The truck is beautiful and immaculate, and drives like a car (almost). (I'm driving a Subaru and a Nissan Murano, so it's a bit tough to compare.) It was received as a trade about 6 hours ago.

They are asking $34,000 Canadian. (about $26,000 U.S.) Any opinions. I think I need to act fast to get it.

October 21, 2004 -- bought it ($32,300 C) (and love it)

Jack Hadley Trenton Ontario

BillyRay · 10-21-2004, 03:03 AM

I wanted to buy a ford in 2004 , but it wouldn't tow the montana at the time. they said I would have had to have gone to a f-450...I didn't want to go that big.

if your towing a 32' you may be ok...just check your weight limits first to make sure. I know the truck would have handled it, but didn't want it to void the warrenty...that's why I went to a chevy this time....things change from year to year so make sure you have the correct facts. I bought mine in 2002 that's why I'm replying.

lightningjack11 · 10-21-2004, 04:42 AM

The 7.3L Diesel is a great engine. Check out www.thedieselstop.com forum. These guys are running these engines to 400000 without overhaul. Thats the point where the speedometer goes back to zero.

You might check the NADA value of the truck before you buy. But the price does not seem too bad.

As I understand Canada is a little tough on weight limits. The Ford F350 DRW should meet the requirements hands down on a 32 foot Montana.
Test drive the truck and take it straight to truck scales and weigh it. Subtract this value from the GVWR on the door frame and that will give you the weight margin you have for passengers fuel, hitch, cargo, and pin wt. Do the math.

Glass Guy · 10-21-2004, 05:49 AM

That truck will any Montana made I'am pulling a 3295rk with an older f-350 and don't even now the 5er is back there, the newer power stokes have more horse power and torque so I would think that they could handle the 5er a lot better than the older power strokes, and the price seems to be pretty good. Roman

Bob Pasternak · 10-21-2004, 10:33 AM

We are pulling a 2955RL that weighs 10800 loaded for the road with our 2001 Dodge 2500 3/4 ton. The pin weight is 2400 lbs. and the gross combination weight is 17,500. We've pulled it over 27000 miles over western mountains and all other terrain and never a problem anywhere. Of course the Cummins has a little more torque than the Ford and torque is what turns the wheels.

OntMont · 10-21-2004, 11:37 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by lightningjack11

The 7.3L Diesel is a great engine.

As I understand Canada is a little tough on weight limits.

Although I like my Chev, I have a friend who had that truck and it worked well for him, he traded it for 6.0 l, which may not have been a good idea. At the rally, we were camped near a fellow who hauled trailers for a living, he swore by his 7.3 F-350.

So far as weight limits in Canada, I don't think they are treated any differently than in the U.S. EXCEPT that there is one RCMP detachment in the mountains of British Columbia where they are quite diligent, especially on truck campers hauling boat trailers. Given the terrain in that area, they are probably right, and going on their experience.

kdeiss · 10-21-2004, 11:45 AM

As stated above this truck will pull any montana made.If you like and the price is right buy it. Just my two cents

Montana_2194 · 10-21-2004, 01:19 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Bob Pasternak

We are pulling a 2955RL that weighs 10800 loaded for the road with our 2001 Dodge 2500 3/4 ton. The pin weight is 2400 lbs. and the gross combination weight is 17,500. We've pulled it over 27000 miles over western mountains and all other terrain and never a problem anywhere. Of course the Cummins has a little more torque than the Ford and torque is what turns the wheels.

Hi Bob,

I bought it, --- you related to Boris? Great Book! Thanks for your input.

Jack

lightningjack11 · 10-21-2004, 03:02 PM

Now that you bought it, I have a great link for you from International. I is an online manual for the 7.3L engine.

http://www.nav-international.com.br/...rStroke/hs.asp

sreigle · 10-21-2004, 04:32 PM

Don't say it too loudly 'cause there's an awful lot of us out here towing Montanas with Fords. In fact, until the new 3400 and 3685 came out, the 3295 was the heaviest of the Montanas. We towed ours with a '99 F350 V10 and it did a very good job. Then a '03 F350 with the new 6.0L PowerStroke and it was simply awesome (as all the magazines attest). And now (haven't towed with it yet) an '05 F250 with the 6.0 and i expect it to be just as awesome.

Plus, the new Fords have much higher ratings, up to 17,000 lbs tow rating and 23,500 GCWR for the F250/350. Our new F250 Crew Cab Shortbed 4x4 has tow rating of 16,400, GCWR 23,000, and GVWR 10,000. All of those numbers are higher than for our '03 F350 with the same engine and transmission (6.0L powerstroke diesel and torqueshift 5spd automatic). The front end is all new and the frame is the same wall thickness and design as the F550. What amazes me most is the short turn radius on the new ones. This crewcab shortbed easily turns inside our '03 supercab (extended cab) shortbed by a significant margin.

Northstar · 10-21-2004, 09:00 PM

jhadley, you did good! This truck will pull any Montana just fine. Keep us posted. Happyrving.....

sreigle · 10-22-2004, 01:46 AM

OntMont, that feller was right next to us and tried to tell me every diesel engine other than the Ford 7.3 is crap and has fallen apart and all their owners are dumping them. I think I ticked him off when I pointed out he's surrounded with at least forty owners of that other "crap" whose experience says otherwise. I've been so thrilled with my 6.0PSD that yesterday I bought another one. Should be able to take delivery tomorrow if they get the hitch and other things in today.

fulltimedreamer · 10-22-2004, 09:29 AM

Steve,

I just noted that you had a new '05 F250. How long have you had it? I'm looking at them and drooling a little bit. Sounds like a great truck. Do you notice any great differences from your F350? Did you opt for the Tow Command option? Your opinions are appreciated.

Montana_621 · 10-22-2004, 10:23 AM

Congrats on your new truck!!!!

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by sreigle

OntMont, that feller was right next to us and tried to tell me every diesel engine other than the Ford 7.3 is crap and has fallen apart and all their owners are dumping them. I think I ticked him off when I pointed out he's surrounded with at least forty owners of that other "crap" whose experience says otherwise. I've been so thrilled with my 6.0PSD that yesterday I bought another one. Should be able to take delivery tomorrow if they get the hitch and other things in today.

vickster · 10-22-2004, 10:41 AM

Steve - I am glad you are keeping an "eye" on us! Just noticed it along with fulltimedreamers comments on new truck! Congratulations
on the new F250! How exciting. How do you like the break controller built into the dash?

sreigle · 10-22-2004, 11:53 AM

Fulltimedreamer and others, I've "owned" it for just about 28 hours but don't have it yet. They're adding some things for me and hoped to have it ready tonight for pickup tomorrow. The dealer is 130 miles from here. He just called and they need the new Rhino Liner to have a couple days more to cure so it will be Monday afternoon before I can pick it up. But meantime we're putting our miles on their 2004 F150 loaner so I won't complain. Although I am getting antsy to get it.

Yes, it has the Tow Command. Sure hope I like that controller. I've heard the guts of it are the Prodigy or same as. I really like our Prodigy so I hope that's right. Otherwise I'll have to figure out how to mount the Prodigy and bypass the Tow Command brake module.

Differences I noticed in just driving it for about 45 minutes of test drive, including highway and city, and a known to be very rough brick road - This truck rides even better than my F350 tradein even though the new one is 4x4 Off Road while the old one was 4x4 regular. Maybe that's because the new one has the Rancho shocks?

It also has a much shorter turn radius. The brochure says the full circle turn radius is 5.1 feet less than last year's. That means you can do a full 360 in a road that's 10 feet narrower or a 180 degree u-turn in 5.1 less feet.

I also went "down" from a 1-ton truck to a 3/4 ton truck. Conventional wisdom would say stay with the 1-ton but this new 3/4 ton has ratings well in excess of last year's 1-ton except rear axle GAWR. I forgot the axle numbers but the front GAWR is more than last year and the rear GAWR is a little less, maybe 400 or 500 pounds. I had the room so that shouldn't be a problem.

The 2003 F350 GVWR was 9,900. The 2005 F250 is 10,000. Other models higher.

2003 F350 GCWR was 20,000. The F250 is 23,000. One of the new F350's goes to 23,500.

FW tow rating for the '03 F350 was 13,400. ON the '05 F250 as equipped it's 16,400. Other models go as high as 17,000.

OK, here's what I remember about the truck.

2005 F350 Lariat, Crew Cab, Shortbed, Oxford White over Gold (Arizona Beige) (twotone), Premium somethingorother 17 inch wheels, Leather interior in tan, captain's chairs, automatic climate control, power everything, trip computer and lots of doodads, like cruise, temp controls, cd/radio controls in the steering wheel and dash I don't yet know for sure what they are, 3.73 axle, 6.0L PowerStroke Diesel, 5spd TorqueShift automatic (same engine and tranny as the old one), electronic shift on the fly 4x4 with offroad (fx4) package, reverse vehicle auto sensor (beeps inside the cab when something's within 6 feet and you're in reverse and gets louder the closer you get), tow command with brake controller and telescoping trailer towing mirrors (same mirrors as now), heated mirrors, turn signals and clearance lights in the mirror housing. There's more but that's all I can remember. So you Ford guys can see why I'm in lust for this truck. It rides and drives amazingly nice.

The 2005 models have the F550 front control arm, coil springs up front, "F550 architecture frame" meaning same thickness of the frame walls and same general structure as the F550.

We didn't like the standard step so are having the dealer install the chrome tubular step. Can't find in any catalog the full length over the wheels step like we had on the old one. They're also putting in the Rhino Liner (dealer does that), moving my toolbox and fw tailgate to the new one, removing the fw hitch and slider and installing them in the new one. Jim, salesman we've used for years, promises me his people have done lots of the hitches and know what they're doing. I'll check it out closely.

I think that's most of it. Do I sound happy?

8.1al · 10-22-2004, 02:39 PM

Steve,
Congratulations on the new truck.
My new Trailer Life has an article on the new brake system and gave it high marks. They said it was developed with Tekonsha's involvement. It uses brake fluid pressure rather than inertia to determine the level of braking. They said once it was adjusted for the trailer that the braking is very smooth. It is also tied into the ABS system and will automatically adjust trailer braking to avoid trailer brake lockup. It really sounds great. Let us know all about it after you have had a chance to use it.

P.S. Nice eye there.

fulltimedreamer · 10-22-2004, 05:19 PM

Thanks Steve. Now I know we're gonna have to look at this truck a little closer. My Trailer Life just came and the article on the new Super Duty's is very complimentary. With these new ratings and the issues with the 6.0 Powerstroke resolved maybe us Ford drivers can have the bragging rights for a while.

I have the 2003 F250 with the 7.3 PSD and it is a great truck, but I may be seeing a reason to upgrade with all the recent improvements not the least of which is the bigger brakes. We're going to go to a fifth wheel, its just a matter of finding the right unit at the right price.

Congrats again.

sreigle · 10-22-2004, 05:28 PM

If you think the TL article is complementary you should read the September issue of Motor Trend where they did a head to head to head towing and solo test.

Thanks for the comments. I haven't yet read much of the current TL magazine. Forgot it's sitting there, to tell the truth.

The eye is because the old picture no longer fits since the truck is gone. I may reinstate it soon, though.

stiles watson · 10-24-2004, 10:41 AM

Congratulations on your purchase. Best I can tell, you got it for about loan value which is $2,000 below trade-in, which is a bunch below retail. Sounds like you got a good deal.

As far as pulling, my 2002 F250 Lariat 7.3L PSD is hauling the 3670RL just fine and has for 8,000 miles for the previous owner and for 600 miles for me. I checked the weights and did the math. You are good to go in my opinion. With my opinion and $1.73 US, you can buy a cup of Starbucks coffee.

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